Program Length
- 2 Years
Credential
- Certificate
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 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 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 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 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 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.
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
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 $166.40 per credit) | 2,496.00 |
| Student Activity fee (4% of tuition) | 99.84 |
| Student Services fee (15 credits x $7.35 per credit) | 110.25 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) | 220.80 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) | 265.00 |
| Approximate cost for books | 500.00 |
| Total | 3,691.89 |
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 | 11,996.55 |
| Ancillary Fee | 463.40 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) | 220.80 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) | 265.00 |
| Approximate cost for books | 500.00 |
| Total | 13,445.75 |
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 | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Proficiency in Language and Culture has one intake each Fall.
Application Fee:
$45.16
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 |
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Further information on this program can be found on the Department website.
Visit the Department WebsitePrevious versions of this program can be found in the Program Archive.