Summer Academic Reading Offerings

Gain and document the ability to read scholarly texts in a foreign language within your discipline–even with no prior language knowledge–in just one summer.

Scholars and professionals read research and other secondary literature in their discipline to inform their research and teaching, broaden their perspectives, and stay up to date globally. The University of Chicago offers innovative Academic Reading courses that prepare participants to comprehend and analyze scholarly texts based on a groundbreaking design distinct from similar courses offered at other institutions.

Reading for Research Purposes Courses

Offered virtually, July 1 – Aug 9, 2024

Participants build on their fundamental knowledge of a language by developing reading comprehension skills and working intensively with academic texts in their own areas of specialization. Participants will be able to analytically read scholarly texts and synthesize the key points, arguments, and evidence, in these texts in order and to integrate this information into their work to meet their professional and academic needs, and become familiar with journals and other key sources of secondary literature in their field.

Course offerings in Summer 2024:

  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Spanish

View course descriptions.

Prerequisite Foundational Reading Courses

Offered virtually, June 10 – June 28, 2024

Don’t know the language? Our prerequisite courses are designed to teach the fundamentals of grammar and syntax, vocabulary, and the basic reading strategies needed to read simple paragraphs in the target language. These reading skills are essential for success in the Reading for Research Purposes courses.

Course offerings in Summer 2024:

  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Spanish

View course descriptions.

Academic Reading Comprehension Assessment (ARCA)

 Already know the language, but need to demonstrate your reading proficiency for a graduate program or other professional role? The ARCA is a validated measure of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed when accessing and reading secondary literature in another language. We match the content of each ARCA with the discipline of interest to the test-taker.

Learn more about the ARCA exam.

The ARCA exam is used as a final for all Reading for Research courses. For information about taking the ARCA exam independent of coursework, contact academicreadingexams@uchicago.edu.

Registration

For registration information and other details, visit the UChicago Summer Language Institute.

This page is intended to help promote the pedagogical benefits of these courses, but questions about course details should be sent to summersession@uchicago.edu (after viewing the information on their website).