UMass Boston

Student & Language Resources from the Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department

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Language Assessment & Proficiency

Conversation Practice & Clubs

Boston Area Resources

Information on Language Assessment and Language Proficiency

Language Assessments are offered for students to place into a higher level language class or to remove a Language Proficiency requirement. Methods for assessment can include reading, writings, and/or oral competency. 

Elementary and Intermediate Language Proficiencies are typically required for B.A. seeking students, Honors College, and International Relations majors. Not all students need to satisfy a Proficiency requirement. 

World Culture/World Language course requirements are different from Language Proficiency and cannot be removed through assessment. Students must complete courses to satisfy this requirement. You can search for courses that satisfy these requirements by using the Course Finder and filtering "General Ed Distribution" for World Cultures or World Languages.

For Arabic, Chinese, German, French, Japanese, Italian, Russian, or Vietnamese:

Please e-mail our department MLLC@umb.edu to schedule an assessment. We are typically available for assessment Monday-Friday 9:30AM-2:30PM, in McCormack, 4th floor, 233.

Looking for Spanish or Portuguese?

The Latin American and Iberian Studies Department hosts studies in Spanish and Portuguese. Please contact their department (LAIS@umb.edu) to inquire about their assessments.

Need to verify Proficiency in another Language?

If you are seeking a Language Proficiency in a language that is not currently taught on campus, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies: Betsabe.Gomez@umb.edu, visit Campus Center U01-1300, or call 617.287.6330 to make arrangements.

Conversation & Student Clubs

The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures offers a variety of ways to engage with and learn about cultures across the globe and to practice your language skills. Anyone is welcome to join!

Arabic

If you are interested in Arabic conversation, please contact mllc@umb.edu and join the Friends of Arabic Studies mailing list. 

Chinese

The Chinese language program offers tutoring. To learn more, contact mllc@umb.edu.

French

The French Club is hosting a weekly meeting to speak French and discuss a variety of topics pertaining to French or Francophone culture. Join the French Club here. 

To receive updates about French at UMass Boston, join the French Studies mailing list.

German 

Kaffeeklatsch, the German conversation hour, takes place every week on Tuesday @ 3:30 in the MLLC Conference Room (M04-0214).
No matter what your level of German--whether you are a complete beginner or pretty fluent--everyone is welcome! To receive updates and reminders, join the Friends of German Studies mailing list or email german@umb.edu

Italian

The Italian conversation hour, Caffè italiano, takes place weekly this Fall on Thursdays from 12:30-1:30PM in the MLLC Conference Room (M04-0214). For further information, please contact Professor Carlo Carratelli (carlo.carratelli@umb.edu).

Japanese

The Japanese Book Club takes place every Monday @ 4:00PM in the MLLC Conference Room (M04-0214). Japanese learners of ALL levels are welcome to attend and participate. To learn more, contact Professor Miyuki Yamamoto (miyuki.yamamoto@umb.edu).

Global Cultures Club

The Global Cultures Club offers events and activities related to various different cultures in English. To receive updates and invitations, join the Global Cultures Club mailing list..  

Culture in the Community

The focus of our "Culture in the Community" page is to provide a list of resources around the Greater Boston Area that promote access to different cultural activities within our own community. Please take note that this list is always open for growth: contact us at MLLC@umb.edu if you have a suggested resource/program that we should add to the list.