Two streams are available to students for each language offered in the Department of Language Studies:

•    the Beginners stream for those who have little or no knowledge of the language, and
•    the Advanced stream for those who enter with a Year-12 level of proficiency in the language (or equivalent).

At first-year level in the Beginners stream, teaching is designed to lead students to develop basic skills in their chosen language and to communicate simply across a range of routine topics. In the Advanced stream, students work towards developing fluency in relation to a range of familiar personal and socio-cultural issues.

In the second and third years, the range of material widens to covers many aspects of past contemporary society and culture associated with the language. Students are exposed to more advanced features of the language, as well as to cinema/drama, literary and expository texts with the view of developing their language fluency, spontaneity and their analytical skills.

The Department has an active fourth year Honours program, and Honours courses are available in the languages and their cultures. There are also opportunities for postgraduate study in a variety of fields.

Classes taught by the Department involve active participation and interaction in small groups. Instructors do all they can to create a relaxed atmosphere in which students can enjoy learning and participate in listening and speaking activities. All languages make extensive use of multimedia and on-line materials, which are chosen to develop both linguistic competence and cultural understanding.

The Department of Language Studies does not normally allow people to audit the topics it offers, except in certain circumstances. For further enquiries, please contact the Director of Studies of the relevant section.