Instruction in nine modern languages is offered through the Department of Languages and Applied Linguistics:
In addition to language courses for second language learners, we offer several types of specialized courses such as:
- Courses for heritage speakers of Spanish (SPHS).
- Applied Linguistics (APLX) courses that cover a variety of topics including second language teaching, inter-cultural communication, language and gender, discourse analysis, and more.
For most languages, the sequence of courses begins in the fall. Some languages offer entry-level courses in other quarters as well; please check the schedule of classes for details.
Our language courses give priority to the development of students’ ability to function in the language in actual communicative settings and to create meaningful written and oral discourse in the target language. In addition to the development of productive and receptive language skills, we also emphasize the study of cultural values pertaining to the communities of speakers where the language is spoken. In the process, we aim to foster the development of other skills essential to language learning, such as learning strategies, and analytical, synthetic and critical thinking skills that are fundamental in the overall academic learning process.
Language learning provides students with the means to access information in a wide range of areas of intellectual inquiry and interpersonal communication. This experience not only adds enormously to a student’s cognitive development but it is also instrumental for future professions.
Greeting from the Department Chair
Welcome to the Department of Languages and Applied Linguistics (LAAL) at the University of California, Santa Cruz! Our mission in our teaching, research, and service is to advance our understanding of second language acquisition, bilingualism/multilingualism, language contact, and language learning from a wide range of perspectives.
We are committed to outstanding teaching and mentoring of students in twelve different languages, as well as in two interdisciplinary majors in Spanish Studies and in Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism. Our faculty are widely recognized for their research on the linguistic and communicative competence of the multilingual individual with an explicit orientation towards practical, everyday problems related to language and communication. Areas of specialization in the department include second language acquisition and teaching, heritage language acquisition, discourse analysis, intercultural communication, sociolinguistics and language contact, L2 pragmatics, bilingual and multilingual phonetics and phonology, language and cognition, computer-supported collaborative writing, and historical linguistics.
I invite you to learn more about our course offerings, the research projects of our faculty, and our departmental events. I also encourage you to consider the benefits of studying another language in today’s hyper-connected fast-paced world, such as having an advantage in today’s global economy, being able to communicate and interact with diverse communities around the world, gain cultural knowledge and perspective, improve your communication skills, and strengthen your cognitive abilities. In other words, consider how becoming proficient in another language can enrich your studies, give you access to a brighter future, and ultimately,open up a world of opportunities for you.
Mark Amengual
Professor and Chair
Department of Languages and Applied Linguistics
Resources
Online Material
Transfer Students
Additional Resources
Language learning at UCSC is also supported by a variety of technologies. There is a campus language laboratory in the Media and Electronic Resource Center (MERC) at McHenry Library; the library also houses an abundance of print and audiovisual material in the languages taught at UCSC, including music recordings and videos. Television programs are received from countries around the world. Faculty in the Languages and Applied Linguistics department are incorporating new technologies into their teaching on an ongoing basis, including computer software and web-based resources.
Contact Information
Office Location
218 Cowell College
Mailing Address
Mailstop – LAAL
UC Santa Cruz
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Hours
Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Please email for advising appointments
Contact
Phone: 831-459-2054
Email: languages@ucsc.edu