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The University of Oregon (UO) Language Council promotes awareness of the benefits of language teaching and learning and strives to position the UO to undertake innovative, strategic approaches to pedagogy. The cross-disciplinary council includes faculty in world languages, literature, area studies, academic affairs, undergraduate studies business, study abroad, education, linguistics, admissions, and administrative offices. The council is convened by Harinder Khalsa, Senior Instructor of Italian; Jeff Magoto, Director of the Yamada Language Center; and Dennis Galvan, Interim Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Vice Provost for International Affairs.

The council meets once each term during the academic year, and the fall term gathering was one of the largest attended meetings. During the meeting, Harinder Khalsa shared results of a recently completed market survey designed to understand UO students’ motivations for studying language and culture and the barriers they face.

Students cite their desire to travel and work in cultures that speak languages other than English as their main motivation for language learning. They hope that language proficiency will open career opportunities by allowing them to communicate with others. Many students also indicate a desire to improve their cognitive skills, which research shows accompanies language learning.

Barriers to language study at the UO include administrative structures related to the number and cost of credit hours associated with language courses along with scheduling challenges to fulfill major requirements in addition to language courses.

The UO Language Council plans to work with central administrative offices to address students’ barriers to language learning by exploring collaboration with professional schools and alternative course formats.