Languages

Southeast Asian Language Instruction

The instruction in Southeast Asian languages at the University of Michigan focuses on four major languages that are taught each term in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures- Filipino, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese. Non-heritage and heritage students, graduate and undergraduate students are all welcome to enroll in these Southeast Asian languages.

The instruction at the university extends beyond the four major languages. Tutorials have been offered for Javanese and Kawi/ Old Javanese, Batak and Burmese, Khmer, and Ilokano. The university also offers multiple years of instruction in other world languages relevant for study of Southeast Asia, including Dutch, French, Spanish, Chinese, Sanskrit, and Arabic. For graduate students preparing for fieldwork in Southeast Asian languages not normally taught at the university, the university is sometimes able to provide tutorials for three hours/week in these languages using locally available native speakers supervised by our tenured faculty members.

Levels of Language Instruction

The four major languages are regularly offered at four levels: elementary, intermediate, and advanced. The advanced class includes students at the third and fourth year, and may be taken twice. Tutorials in advanced reading of Indonesian at the fourth year and above are regularly offered by Dr. Nancy Florida. Advanced reading of Filipino, Vietnamese and Thai may also be arranged. Faculty in departments and professional schools with language ability also often oversee individually structured readings courses in Southeast Asian languages in conjunction with research at the advanced level.

Courses Taught in Southeast Asian Languages

Advanced Southeast Asian language and literature courses are normally offered in the vernaculars. In addition, those students (both at the graduate and undergraduate level) who have achieved sufficient language proficiency frequently use primary Southeast Asian language materials to conduct research for class papers in courses across a range of disciplines--from music and comparative literature to history, anthropology, political science and public health.

The Language Resource Center

The Language Resource Center serves, supports and promotes the study and instruction of foreign languages, cultures, and literatures at all levels within the University of Michigan community, providing leadership and excellence in the application, creation, and dissemination of innovations with respect to information, technology, media, and materials for all University individuals who utilize foreign languages in their studies, teaching, or research.

Other Language Links and Resources:

Summer Programs
Descriptions and Links to Southeast Asian language summer programs, including the Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI)

Summer Language Institute
A summer language program at the University of Michigan that does not include Southeast Asian Languages, but does offer languages useful to studying Southeast Asia, including Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, French, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese, on the Ann Arbor campus.