Summer can be a wonderful time to learn something new. For those interested in learning a foreign language, there are opportunities beyond Madison College classrooms for students.
Madison College has classes in some of the most widely spoken languages worldwide: Spanish, French, Mandarin, Arabic and American Sign Language. However, with several thousand languages spoken worldwide, it is impossible to cater to every individual student’s language learning needs.
For people who want to learn a less common language, the University of Wisconsin Madison hosts summer sessions through its Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI). WISLI is a fast-paced program that covers a year’s worth of foreign language course content in an eight-week summer session.
The program includes beginner, intermediate and sometimes advanced courses in less frequently taught languages such as Lao, Bengali, and Uzbek. Classes meet for several hours daily, typically in the mornings. WISLI usually starts midsummer, and for 2024 runs from June 17 through Aug. 9.
Within the larger institute are seven smaller programs focusing on specific regions in the world. Of these, Madison College has a good standing relationship with SASLI (South Asian languages) and with MEDLI (Middle Eastern languages). Courses from these two programs count for the required study abroad credits in Madison College’s interdisciplinary global studies certificate. In addition, the MATC Gateway Scholarship covers nearly the full tuition cost for Madison College students taking courses within MEDLI.
The priority deadline for the summer of 2024 has passed, but some programs will continue to accept applicants on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. The application deadline for the MATC Gateway Scholarship is May 15.
To learn more about specific programs, course availability, and application materials, visit the WISLI webpage or contact Mary Haight, the advisor for Madison College’s Interdisciplinary Global Studies Certificate.