The Language Engagement Project (LEP) takes an innovative approach to language learning. It consists of a series of curricular initiatives across three schools reporting to the Chancellor of Rutgers-New Brunswick: the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Communication and Information, and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. Other RU-NB Schools are welcome to join; some may do so in the near future.
The LEP fosters the creation (under the code number 991) of 1-credit interdisciplinary Language Modules, attached to 3-credit courses in subjects ranging from History to Chemistry, in collaboration with our Language Departments and programs. These modules explore the relevance of specific languages to the contents of the fields themselves, and/or to the cultures of the people involved in these fields.
The LEP also encourages the creation of 1-credit 991 Courses designed to reflect on second language learning; on what it feels like to encounter another language; on what it means to think in more than one language; on the myriad ways in which languages interact with culture.
In this spirit, the Project supports the addition of language courses to all Study Abroad programs based in countries where a language other than English is spoken; and to innovative Study Away programs reaching out to language communities here in the United States – in New Jersey particularly.
Finally, the LEP inspires 1-credit language activities, which are not courses in the usual sense but a form of peer-to-peer learning: students receive credit for participating in Language Exchanges (two students “swap” their respective competences in two different languages, including English), Language Mentoring (a student more advanced in a particular language tutors a less advanced one; both receive credit), and Language Service (student activities involving outreach to and/or immersion in communities using languages other than English).
The Language Engagement Project will spearhead countless such innovations over the next few years.
We invite you to join this one-of-a-kind adventure!