Languages Across the Curriculum

The Languages Across the Curriculum (LxC) Program is a College initiative that couples additional language-focused sessions with courses across disciplines at the undergraduate level.

In LxC sessions, students access texts and other resources about the course content in a language other than English. Through this additional engagement with the language, students broaden their knowledge of the subject matter, improve their language skills, and deepen their understanding of the course content in relation to the other cultures.

Sessions are led by language or course assistants (depending on the course needs) and are held separately from the regular class. Participation in the LxC sessions is elective. Previous knowledge of the target language is required, and the level of language required will depend on the goals of the LxC session. Successful completion of the LxC component will be recorded in student transcripts.

For further information, please contact Veronica Vegna, LxC Program Coordinator, at vvegna@uchicago.edu.

Click here to read some comments by students who attended LxC courses, and view the video below to hear what graduate students serving as LxC Language and Course Assistants had to say about this experience.

Duties of Language and Course Assistants in the LxC Program

Language Assistant

(workload of about 6 hours per week, wks 1-9)

Attend all classes taught by the course instructor
Lead a weekly session (1 hour, wks 2-9); the session typically includes reading and discussion of course materials in the target language and/or additional resources in the target language related to the course content
1 hour preparation for the weekly session
1 weekly office hour

Course Assistant

(workload of about 11 hours per week, wks 1-9)

Attend all classes taught by the course instructor
Lead a weekly session (1 hour, wks 2-9); the session typically includes reading and discussion of course materials in the target language and additional resources in the target language related to the course content
1-2 hours preparation for the weekly session
1 weekly office hour
Select additional materials for the LxC session in collaboration with the course instructor and, where necessary, create an LxC syllabus for the weekly sessions
Develop, correct and grade specific assignments for the LxC session, in consultation with the course instructor

Additional Information for Course Instructors

Funding for language and course assistant positions is contingent upon having a minimum enrollment of five students in the LxC session, so it is important that course instructors advertise the LxC session to students during the first week of classes. Enrollment in the LxC session is finalized by the end of the first week of classes.

Course instructors are encouraged to identify and recommend graduate students as suitable candidates for the LA or CA positions. It is preferable to have a graduate student with the requisite language skills from the same department or program as the course instructor. If that is not possible, the LxC Program Coordinator can help identify graduate students in the language programs on campus.

When contacting graduate students, course instructors should not guarantee their appointment, since it is contingent upon enrollment.