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Alternate Languge Study Option (ALSO)

Member of the Division of Humanities

Alternate Language Study Option (ALSO) program is not offered as a major or concentration at Grinnell College.

The Alternate Language Study Option (ALSO) program is designed for self-motivated and disciplined students who want to learn a language not taught through the regular curriculum at Grinnell in order to prepare for an off-campus study program or to enrich their liberal arts education.

The program provides a two-semester sequence of beginning level self-instructional study in a variety of languages, including but not limited to, Italian, Portuguese, Korean, Hindi, Czech, and Kiswahili. The specific languages offered depend on the number of students interested and the availability of materials and native tutors.

Interested students must register for ALS-100L-01. When determined which language they will study, students will be registered for that specific language. Prerequisite: second-year standing, a cumulative grade point average of 2.75, experience learning a foreign language (at least 3 years in high school or 1 at Grinnell) or coursework in Linguistics.

Students must coordinate and adhere to a schedule of intensive daily individual study, supplemented by three practice sessions per week conducted by a native speaker of the language. Student learners use online language learning materials and assessments to track their progress. Tutors, trained and monitored by the director, lead groups in practicing assigned material and develop listening comprehension and speaking skills.

ALSO courses are 2-credits and graded A-F only. The S/D/F grading option is not available for ALSO courses.  You may audit the course by filling out the Audit Registration form.