Program calendar icon Program Length

  • 2 Years

Program credential icon Credential

  • Certificate

Program location icon Location Offered

  • Nanaimo

Do you want to learn Mandarin, Japanese, French or Spanish? VIU’s Proficiency in Language and Culture certificate is a two-year program that merges reading, writing and oral practice with culture and literature in your chosen language specialization. Choose from French, Spanish, Japanese or Chinese (Mandarin) language courses to give you a competitive advantage in career and business and a better understanding of how to connect with people you are dealing with.

A recognized language credential can open doors, deepen your interest in international business culture, and provide the language skills required to develop a career in education, research, business, tourism, fisheries, forestry and federal government services.


The Proficiency in Language and Culture Certificate Program

The Proficiency in Language and Culture Certificate consists of 15 credits: 4 courses (12 credits) at the first- and second-year level in the language of specialization, and 1 course (3 credits) relating to the culture or cultures associated with that language. Students who are native speakers of a language are not able to obtain a certificate in that language since they cannot take lower-level courses in that language for credit. Students would have the option to substitute an additional culture course for one of the language courses, an option which may be of interest to students who have done languages in high school and thus do not need to take all 12 credits from 100/101 onwards.

Chinese Concentration

Year 1Credits
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 Total6
Year 2Credits
CHIN 200 - (Intermediate Chinese Language I)3
CHIN 201 - (Intermediate Chinese Language II)3
Select one of the following:
ASIA 230 - (Introduction to Asian Cultures)
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 Total9
Total Credits15

* Note: LANG 390 must have prior permission of the program coordinator.

Japanese Concentration

Year 1Credits
JAPA 100 - (Basic Japanese I)3
JAPA 101 - (Basic Japanese II)3
Year 1 Total6
Year 2Credits
JAPA 200 - (Intermediate Japanese I)3
JAPA 201 - (Intermediate Japanese II)3
Select one of the following: 
ASIA 230 - (Introduction to Asian Cultures)
LANG 390* - (Internship)
LING 111 - (Introduction to Language and Linguistics)
LING 112 - (Language and Linguistics in Use)
3
Year 2 Total9
Total Credits15

* Note: LANG 390 must have prior permission of the program coordinator.

Spanish Concentration

Year 1Credits
SPAN 100 - (Beginning Spanish I)3
SPAN 101 - (Beginning Spanish II)3
Year 1 Total6
Year 2Credits
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 Total9
Total Credits15

* Note: LANG 390 must have prior permission of the program coordinator.

French Concentration (for students who have no background in French)

Year 1Credits
FRCH 100 - (Beginning French I)3
FRCH 101 - (Beginning French II)3
Year 1 Total6
Year 2Credits
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 Total9
Total Credits15

* Note: LANG 390 must have prior permission of the program coordinator.

French Concentration (for students who have completed high-school French)

Year 1Credits
FRCH 121 - (Intermediate French I)3
FRCH 122 - (Intermediate French II)3
Year 1 Total6
Year 2Credits
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 Total9
Total Credits15

* 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 1Credits
INDG 110 - (Coast Salish Language: Hul'q'umi'num' I)3
INDG 111 - (Coast Salish Language: Hul'q'umi'num' II) 3
Year 1 Total6
Year 2Credits
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 Total9
Total Credits15

*Other VIU courses with an Indigenous cultural focus will be considered. Please consult with the Indigenous/Xmulmuxw Studies Department Chair. 

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.

There is an identified need for people with second language skills in a wide variety of employment areas such as primary and secondary education, research, business, tourism, fisheries, forestry and other federal government services. The Certificate option targets students who are not able to complete a Minor but wish to obtain a recognized language credential.

Domestic Fees | International Fees

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 $163.14 per credit) 2,447.10
Student Activity fee (4% of tuition) 97.88
Student Services fee (15 credits x $7.21 per credit) 108.15
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $26.59 per month) 212.72
Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) 265.00
Approximate cost for books 500.00
Notes

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 10,870.72
Ancillary Fee 463.40
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $26.59 per month) 212.72
Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) 265.00
Approximate cost for books 500.00
Notes

Tuition in the above table is based on $776.48 per credit, up to a maximum of $10,870.72 per semester for 15 credits; $776.48 per credit beyond 15 credits. Ancillary Fees in the above table are based on $33.10 per credit, up to a maximum of $463.40 per semester for 15 credits; $33.10 per credit beyond 15 credits.

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
Next Intake(s):

The Proficiency in Language and Culture has one intake each Fall.

Application Fee:
$44.27
Accepting Late Applications:
No
Waitlist:
No
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Assistant:
Name: Donna Kist
Phone: 250.753.3245 ext. 2526
Email: Donna.Kist@viu.ca
Chair Contact:
Name: Hope Leith
Phone: 250.753.3245 ext. 2154
Email: Hope.Leith@viu.ca

Further information on this program can be found on the Department website.

Visit the Department Website

Previous versions of this program can be found in the Program Archive.