BCAMTL has consolidated all post-secondary institutions within British Columbia which offer world language studies. We thank members of the Standing Committee On Language Articulation (SCOLA) who have helped to keep this one-page resource current and up to date.
Be sure to visit and plan your future studies at one of British Columbia's award-winning post-secondary institutions below!
Be sure to visit and plan your future studies at one of British Columbia's award-winning post-secondary institutions below!
Alexander College
(Burnaby and Vancouver) www.alexandercollege.ca Languages offered: French, Spanish, and Asian studies Department Head: Sebastian Huebel Email: S.huebel@alexandercollege.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "It’s fun, interactive and with a focus on learning about real-life situations and scenarios, as well as culture." |
Camosun College
(Victoria) www.camosun.ca Languages offered: American Sign Language, English as a Second Language, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish Department Head: Janice Shewey Email: sheweyj@camosun.ca |
Capilano University
(North Vancouver) www.capilanou.ca Languages offered: Chinese, First Nation Languages (Lil'wat, Sechelt, Squamish), French, Japanese, Linguistics, Spanish Department head: Catherine Gloor Email: cgloor@capilanou.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "Capilano's model includes lectures, conversations, and assignments in the multimedia lab. As part of a small class, students will learn in a way that mimics the acquisition of their mother tongue - in an intimate setting using culturally relevant material. Students will practice newly learned material with a native speaker through weekly conversation classes. Professors use a communicative approach towards their instruction including a classroom course, conversation class, and online resource work which allows students to make friends easily because students learn how to communicate with their newly learned languages in and outside classes. A real life experience through our language learning programs is possible!" 
Corpus Christi College
(Vancouver) www.corpuschristi.ca Languages offered: Mandarin, Spanish Contact: Dr. Paul Burns Email: pburns@corpuschristi.ca 
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
(Cloverdale, Langley, Richmond, Surrey) www.kpu.ca Languages offered: Culture Studies, French, Japanese, Linguistics, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish Contact: Dr. Yanfeng Qu Email: yanfeng.qu@kpu.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "KPU offers small class sizes to optimize student participation and provides conversation labs for first and second year language courses which provide individual attention and support. The faculty is composed of dedicated and experienced members with diverse backgrounds. KPU is committed to providing a rewarding learning experience through student-centered teaching styles." Student testimonial: "My experience learning Japanese and French at KPU was the most positive experience I could have ever hoped for. When I started taking language courses at KPU, I wasn't really sure of what I was doing with my life. Sure I was following a typical path that could guarantee "success" in life, I did not feel passionate about it. However, when I started taking language courses at KPU, it was like a whole new world opened up to me. I gained great knowledge and perspective I could never have considered. Taking language courses at KPU didn't only make me a better and more confident person, it allowed me to make connections and life-long friendships with people who I [would] have missed completely had I not bother to learn a language. In the future, I plan to continue my pursuit in learning different languages and I have KPU's language department to thank for helping me find what I am truly passionate about." 
Okanagan College
(Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Vernon) www.okanagan.bc.ca Languages offered: French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish Contact: Franziska Birker Email: fbirker@okanagan.bc.ca 
Selkirk College
(Castlegar, Grand Forks, Nelson, Trail) www.selkirk.ca Languages offered: French, Spanish Contact: Jose Padilla Email: jpadilla@selkirk.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "Selkirk College offers beginner, intermediate and advanced French and Spanish language courses in either an on-line interactive format or face-to-face." 
Thompson Rivers University
(Kamloops, Williams Lake) www.tru.ca Regional Centres in 100 Mile House, Ashcroft, Barriere, Cache Creek, Clearwater, Lillooet, Lytton Languages offered: Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Japanese, Spanish Program Coordinator: Annette Dominik Email: adominik@tru.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "Language classes at TRU are small, allowing maximum speaking and practice opportunities for rapid skill development. The department makes full use of a state-of-the-art language lab as well as using many on-line tools and apps to help learners quickly develop a new identity in the language of their choice." 
University of British Columbia
(Vancouver) www.ubc.ca Languages offered: Arabic, Cantonese, Catalan, Chinese, Danish, First Nations and Endangered Languages, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi-Urdu, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Salish (Musqueam, hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓), Sanskrit, South Asian languages, Spanish, Swedish, Tibetan languages, Wakashan (Kwak̓wala). ** It is advised to contact an undergraduate advisor, not the Department Chair, for information regarding language courses. An advisor can be found using the links below. ** Department of French, Hispanic & Italian Studies Chair: Joël Castonguay-Bélanger Email: joel.cb@ubc.ca FHIS Advisors: https://fhis.ubc.ca/group/advisors/ Department of Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies Chair: Dr. Geoffrey Winthrop-Young Email: winthrop@mail.ubc.ca CENES Advisors: https://cenes.ubc.ca/group/advisors/ Department of Asian Studies Chair: Ross King Email: ross.king@ubc.ca Asian Studies Advisors: asia.undergrad@ubc.ca First Nations and Endangered Languages Program: Patricia A. Shaw Email: patricia.a.shaw@ubc.ca FNEL Advisors: fnel.arts@ubc.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "UBC's language course offerings are for students at many levels of language proficiency and understanding. Programs are designed to enhance active communication skills, solid grammatical training, and to develop an appreciation of many different cultures. Their language courses promote lively, inclusive environments in which to learn a new language or to improve your skills." 
University of Northern British Columbia
(Prince George) www.unbc.ca Languages offered: French, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish Department Chair: Dr. Paul Bowles Email: paul.bowles@unbc.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "UNBC’s Global and International Studies program is very interdisciplinary and allows you to learn from many different subject areas as you navigate the curriculum’s four themes: environment and sustainability; cultures and diversity; governance and social justice; and political economy and development. You will become conversant with the world around you and the challenges that we all face. Our new capstone course enables you work in a small group with a faculty member to bring everything together at the end of your program. Along the way, you will also have become proficient in a language other than English with your choice of Spanish, Japanese, or French." |
Columbia College
(Vancouver) www.columbiacollege.ca Languages offered: French, Spanish Contact: Kosta Kolokatsis Email: kkolokatsis@columbiacollege.ca 
Coquitlam College
(Coquitlam, Surrey) www.coquitlamcollege.com Languages offered: French, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish Department Head: Keith Preston Email: kpreston@coquitlamcollege.com 
Douglas College
(Coquitlam, New Westminster) www.douglascollege.ca Languages offered: Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Japanese, Spanish Department Head: Sandra Huang Email: huangh@douglascollege.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "Douglas offers beginner to advanced courses in five languages. Students will learn in a hands-on environment with experienced and enthusiastic instructors. Our courses have a communicative approach and include an additional conversation lab with only 8 people, so students start speaking and learning about the culture from the first day." 
Langara College
(Vancouver) www.langara.ca Languages offered: Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish Department Chair: Mirabelle Tinio Email: mtinio@langara.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "Langara College offers language courses in a relatively smaller setting. Depending on the semester, language students may have the opportunity to participate in language clubs." Student testimonial: "I started studying French in October, 2013 when I was still living in Brazil because of my plan to immigrate to Quebec. However, I fell in love with the language and even though I ended up moving to Vancouver two years ago, where French is not widely spoken, I decided to continue studying this beautiful language. I’m sincerely grateful for having my dedication to French studies recognized. Receiving the French Faculty Scholarship makes it all worthwhile, it motivates me to continue to work hard and assures me that all my efforts will pay off. I greatly appreciate the encouragement and the opportunity provided by my French instructor." 
Quest University
(Squamish) www.questu.ca Languages offered: Chinese, French, Greek, Latin, Spanish Department Head: Curtis Wasson Email: cwasson@questu.ca 
Simon Fraser University
(Burnaby, Surrey, Vancouver) www.sfu.ca Languages offered: French, Italian Language Training Institutes in: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), German, Japanese, Persian (Farsi), Punjabi, Spanish Department Chair: Dr. Christian Guilbault Email: guilbaul@sfu.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "Under the guidance of expert instructors using innovative methods, students engage in extensive practice with the essentials of language and gain insight into the cultures of those language communities." 
Trinity Western University
(Langley, Richmond) www.twu.ca Languages offered: Chinese, French, Japanese, Russian, Spanish Department Chair: Silvia Brynjolfson Email: silvia.brynjolfson@twu.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "At TWU, language instruction is embedded in the context of culture: students gain greater cultural awareness, while acquiring both oral and written skills. Small class sizes and passionate professors allow for an exceptional amount of classroom interaction." 
University of British Columbia Okanagan
(Kelowna) https://ok.ubc.ca Languages offered: French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish Department Head: Anderson Araujo email: anderson.araujo@ubc.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "All languages can reach level B1 - and can lead to a World literatures concentration. Strong focus on intercultural experience. Interdisciplinary approach with the Creative studies department (performance, visual arts, creative writing)." 
University of the Fraser Valley
(Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, Mission) www.ufv.ca/mola Languages offered: French, German, Halq'méylem, Japanese, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish Department Head: Ghizlane Laghzaoui Email: ghizlane.laghzaoui@ufv.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "UFV's language studies department offers a French major, minor, extended minor, as well as intermediate and advanced language proficiency certificates in French, Halq'eméylem, Japanese, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, German, and Spanish." 
University of Victoria (Victoria)
www.uvic.ca/humanities Languages offered: Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Greek, Indigenous Language Revitalization, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, General inquiries: send email to humsoff@uvic.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "Our programs explore everything from the structure of languages around the world, to how language is organized in our minds and how best to teach languages." 
Vancouver Island University
(Cowichan, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville-Qualicum, Powell River,) www.viu.ca Languages offered: French, Hul'qu'mi'mum, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish Department Head: Dr. Hope Leith Email: hope.leith@viu.ca What is it like to learn languages at this campus? "We offer small classes and a friendly atmosphere, most of our instructors are also native speakers so that students learn not only language but culture, our strong ties with International education provide opportunities for more cultural exchange on campus and off ." |
