This one-credit activity allows partnerships of two students to exchange conversation in two different languages they wish to share and learn. The courses is graded as Pass/No Credit and will not affect a student’s GPA.
Students are partnered to exchange conversation in both languages with one of their peers once a week for an hour at a regular time period that fits their schedule. Language Exchange partners meet three times throughout the semester with a supervisor who validates the Exchange. Students record short entries after each partner meeting noting the linguistic skills practiced and the cultural elements and topics discussed.
At the end of the course, pairs produce a five minute video presenting their exchange and highlighting all the fun they've had! All student-partners who successfully complete the Language Exchange will be validated by their supervisor to receive one credit and a Pass grade at the end of the term. No incomplete exchange will be validated for credit, regardless of the reason why the exchange could not be completed.
Student Video
To get an idea of how a Language Exchange works, watch this compilation of previous Language Exchange participants. Hear about their experiences in their own words and see clips from their final video projects.
About the Language Engagement Project
The Language Engagement Project (LEP) is not a traditional language requirement. Coordinated by The Language Center, it consists of a series of curricular initiatives across three schools reporting to the Chancellor of Rutgers-New Brunswick: the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Communication and Information, and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. Other RU-NB Schools are welcome to join; some may do so in the near future.
The LEP is built on two premises:
Languages are everywhere. They are not an insular subject nor a niche specialty. As a vital part of the very fabric of the “globalized” world in which we live, they are best learned in active connection with other domains of experience and areas of study, from the Humanities to the Sciences to Professional fields. This is particularly true of multilingual and multicultural New Jersey, where more than 30% of the population speak a language other than English at home, second language education is rising, and a Seal of Biliteracy was recently instituted.
Languages are already here. Meaning here at Rutgers, which is host to one of the most linguistically diverse student, faculty, and staff populations in America. Dozens of languages are present and spoken on campus every day. The LEP strives not only to honor this amazing diversity, but to give it a prominent, unprecedented role both in student life and in academics. Its fundamental goal is to embrace and nurture the language culture(s) of Rutgers students, whether they are heritage speakers, native speakers from other countries, or new learners of languages entirely different from their own.
To learn more about this exciting new initiative at Rutgers, follow this link.