Program Length
- 2 Years
Credential
- Certificate
Location Offered
- Nanaimo
Study French, Spanish or Japanese
If you see yourself in a career that involves travel, gaining a language skill is a smart move. Proven skills in a second language give you access to more career opportunities at home and abroad. With VIU’s Proficiency in Language and Culture Certificate, you earn a recognized, official language credential, and gain the ability to have a real conversation in your chosen language. You can specialize in French, Spanish or Japanese.
The certificate is a useful addition to many other degrees, like teaching or business.
Why study a language at VIU?
No matter your language skill level or interest, we have an option that will work for you. You can start this program with no prior experience in a second language. The first-year courses are set at a true beginner level. If you have taken language courses in high school, you can substitute or challenge first-year courses.
The program blends language and culture, and you can choose linguistics courses as your culture component for an interdisciplinary perspective.
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Build a career with your second language
You can complete a language-based internship for credit as your elective. This lets you put your language skills to work in a real-world setting and gives you experience for your resumé. You will need prior permission of the program coordinator for the internship.
Career options with an additional language
Second language skills are in demand across many fields. The certificate expands your career options in any field where the ability to communicate with diverse clients, partners or communities is an asset.
As a graduate you can pursue work in:
- primary and secondary education
- business and international trade
- tourism and hospitality
- federal government services such as translation, immigration and the foreign service
About the Proficiency in Language and Culture Certificate
In this program, you take four language courses that build on each other, moving you step by step from beginner to intermediate. You will cover grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and the four key skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. You will also take a culture course that explores the history, traditions and creative works of the places where your language is spoken, or you can choose linguistics courses to learn how language works.
Through the coursework you develop intercultural communication and the confidence to work across cultures, along with the analytical skills to think about how language works. You also build adaptability and the kind of attentive listening that serves them in any setting.
Every course counts for university credit, so you can apply the credits toward your degree and earn the certificate at the same time as your other studies. If you already have some language experience, you can swap a language course for another culture course or take a Challenge exam to place out of a course you already know.
Courses and Concentrations
Chinese Concentration
| Year 1 | Credits |
|---|---|
| CHIN 100 - (Intro to Chinese I) or, CHIN 103 - (Beginning Chinese for Heritage Students I) | 3 |
| CHIN 101 - (Intro to Chinese II) or, CHIN 104 - (Beginning Chinese for Heritage Students II) | 3 |
| Year 1 Total | 6 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
|---|---|
| CHIN 200 - (Intermediate Chinese Language I) | 3 |
| CHIN 201 - (Intermediate Chinese Language II) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: ASIA 100 - (Introduction to East Asian Cultures - China, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea & North Korea (in English)) CHIN 212 - (Modern Chinese Culture and Communications) LANG 390* - (Internship) LING 111 - (Introduction to Language and Linguistics) LING 112 - (Language and Linguistics in Use) | 3 |
| Year 2 Total | 9 |
| Total Credits | 15 |
* Note: LANG 390 must have prior permission of the program coordinator.
Japanese Concentration
| Year 1 | Credits |
|---|---|
| JAPA 100 - (Basic Japanese I) | 3 |
| JAPA 101 - (Basic Japanese II) | 3 |
| Year 1 Total | 6 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
|---|---|
| JAPA 200 - (Intermediate Japanese I) | 3 |
| JAPA 201 - (Intermediate Japanese II) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: ASIA 100 - (Introduction to East Asian Cultures - China, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea & North Korea (in English)) LANG 390* - (Internship) LING 111 - (Introduction to Language and Linguistics) LING 112 - (Language and Linguistics in Use) | 3 |
| Year 2 Total | 9 |
| Total Credits | 15 |
* Note: LANG 390 must have prior permission of the program coordinator.
Spanish Concentration
| Year 1 | Credits |
|---|---|
| SPAN 100 - (Beginning Spanish I) | 3 |
| SPAN 101 - (Beginning Spanish II) | 3 |
| Year 1 Total | 6 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
|---|---|
| SPAN 200 - (Intermediate Spanish I) | 3 |
| SPAN 201 - (Intermediate Spanish II) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: SPAN 210 - (Introduction to Hispanic Culture – Spain) SPAN 211 - (Introduction to Hispanic Culture – Latin America) SPAN 230 - (Introduction to Hispanic Culture and Literature) SPAN 260 - (Evolution of Spanish Cinema - Almodovar and the Eighties) LANG 390* - (Internship) LING 111 - (Introduction to Language and Linguistics) LING 112 - (Language and Linguistics in Use) | 3 |
| Year 2 Total | 9 |
| Total Credits | 15 |
* Note: LANG 390 must have prior permission of the program coordinator.
French Concentration (for students who have no background in French)
| Year 1 | Credits |
|---|---|
| FRCH 100 - (Beginning French I) | 3 |
| FRCH 101 - (Beginning French II) | 3 |
| Year 1 Total | 6 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
|---|---|
| FRCH 121 - (Intermediate French I) | 3 |
| FRCH 122 - (Intermediate French II) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: FRCH 230 - (Introduction to Francophone Culture and Literature) LANG 390* - (Internship) LING 111 - (Introduction to Language and Linguistics) LING 112 - (Language and Linguistics in Use) | 3 |
| Year 2 Total | 9 |
| Total Credits | 15 |
* Note: LANG 390 must have prior permission of the program coordinator.
French Concentration (for students who have completed high-school French)
| Year 1 | Credits |
|---|---|
| FRCH 121 - (Intermediate French I) | 3 |
| FRCH 122 - (Intermediate French II) | 3 |
| Year 1 Total | 6 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
|---|---|
| FRCH 221 - (French Oral and Written Practice I) | 3 |
| FRCH 222 - (French Oral and Written Practice II) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: FRCH 230 - (Introduction to Francophone Culture and Literature) LANG 390* - (Internship) LING 111 - (Introduction to Language and Linguistics) LING 112 - (Language and Linguistics in Use) | 3 |
| Year 2 Total | 9 |
| Total Credits | 15 |
* Note: LANG 390 must have prior permission of the program coordinator.
Note: These students would also fulfill the recommendation for French competency from the Faculty of Education for Elementary teachers
Hul'q'umi'num Concentration
| Year 1 | Credits |
|---|---|
| INDG 110 - (Coast Salish Language: Hul'q'umi'num' I) | 3 |
| INDG 111 - (Coast Salish Language: Hul'q'umi'num' II) | 3 |
| Year 1 Total | 6 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
|---|---|
| INDG 210 - (Coast Salish Language: Hul'q'umi'num' III) | 3 |
| INDG 211 - (Coast Salish Language: Hul'q'umi'num' IV) | 3 |
| *Select one of the following: HHS 263 - (Elder Teachings Across Disciplines I) HHS 264 - (Elder Teachings Across Disciplines II) | 3 |
| Year 2 Total | 9 |
| Total Credits | 15 |
*Other VIU courses with an Indigenous cultural focus will be considered. Please consult with the Indigenous/Xmulmuxw Studies Department Chair.
Admission Information
Notes on Admission
- All students must be aware that courses in the program may have course prerequisites beyond the program’s admission requirements
- Prior Learning Assessment opportunities: First- and second-year language courses are assessed primarily through the challenge format. The option of the Challenge examination is available for students wishing to "challenge" a Language course when they feel that they have the necessary proficiency in it, equivalent to the requirements of the course challenged. The Challenge exam will have the following parts:
- Written (grammar and vocabulary testing)
- Oral expression and comprehension
- Listening comprehension
- Reading comprehension and composition
- The Challenge exam is NOT available for students whose mother tongue is the same as the language that they wish to challenge
- Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program.
- New students will be placed in language courses according to ability, experience, and previous education. There are no special admission requirements for the program beyond those for the individual courses involved in a student's program of study, and the general admission requirements of the institution. As mentioned above, those students who are native speakers of a language would not be able to obtain a certificate in that language, since they cannot take lower-level courses in that language for credit.
Transfer from other Institutions
Individual courses can be transferred from other institutions as per the BCCAT guidelines. There are no block transfer agreements in place.
Program Regulations
Students must obtain a minimum "C+" average in all required first- and second-year courses to receive the Certificate.
Domestic Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees - 15 credits | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (15 credits x $173.12 per credit) | 2,596.80 |
| Student Activity fee (8 months x $20.78 per month) | 166.24 |
| Student Services fee (8 months x $22.94 per month) | 183.52 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $50.08 per month) | 400.64 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Approximate cost for books | 500.00 |
| Total | 4,132.20 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
International Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees - 15 credits | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (15 credits x $832.09 per credit) | 12,481.35 |
| Student Activity fee (8 months x $20.78 per month) | 166.24 |
| Student Services fee (8 months x $22.94 per month) | 183.52 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $50.08 per month) | 400.64 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Approximate cost for books | 500.00 |
| Total | 14,016.75 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
Domestic (Canadian)
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | Nanaimo | ||
|
Application Fee:
$46.98
Accepting Late Applications:
No
Waitlist:
No
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Donna Kist Phone: 250.740.6400 Email: Donna.Kist@viu.ca
Chair Contact:
Name: Hope Leith Email: Hope.Leith@viu.ca |
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How can I learn more about the program?
To learn more about the Proficiency in Language and Culture Certificate, including how to choose a language to study, visit the department page