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Update for 2017-18 Regarding Hebrew Studies
Starting this year, Hebrew will be offered by the Department of Modern Foreign Languages & Literatures, instead of Asian Studies. If you have any questions regarding Hebrew, please contact Revital Ganzi at rganzi@utk.edu. For Persian, Farideh Sedighi will continue to serve as our tutor.  She is an experienced and devoted language trainer.  Mostafa Rahbar, our long time examiner for Persian, continues to support our program.

Welcome to the Taped Language Program. In this program you can learn a less commonly taught language from a native speaker, fulfill UT foreign language requirements, and enjoy the individual attention of smaller class sizes. Currently we offer Persian (Farsi) under the guidelines of National Association of Self-Instructional Language Programs (NASILP). The University of Tennessee is a member of the Association, has access to their services, and is afforded partnership with other programs of the same nature throughout the country.

Components of the Critical Languages Program at UT

  1. Students: Learning a language in a modified self-instructional program will require a great deal of time, energy, self-direction, and self-discipline. Only mature students with such qualities will be successful.  Native speakers are not allowed in. Students are also required to sign a contract to demonstrate that they understand the irregular nature of the program.
  2. Textbooks: The main components of the course are the audio materials that come with the textbook and/or the supplementary audio materials accessible on Blackboard.
  3. Classes: The class size is small and students as a group will meet with a tutor (native speaker) for practice sessions three times (MWF) or twice (TR) a week. The semester schedule is the same as regular fall and spring classes of the university. One semester of course work earns four credit hours.
  4. Tutor: A tutor is a language trainer whose main task is to give students intensive drills for fluency. The tutor is not responsible for students’ final grades, but will provide the director with records of students’ attendance, preparedness for class, performance on drills, homework, and quizzes/tests. For details see the Tutor Guidelines.
  5. Examiner: The examiner serves as a consultant, providing guidance in course development and syllabus design. He / She provides written exams or proofread written exams made by the tutor. Also he/she administers the oral final exam. The examiner is often a faculty at another university. NASILP provides detailed information on the role of an examiner.
  6. Director: The final course grade will be submitted by the director based on: (1) final oral examination given by the examiner, (2) written examinations (both midterm and final), (3) quiz scores, and (4) attendance. The director also coordinates students, tutors and examiners for day to day operations. Any questions regarding the Taped Language Program should be addressed to the director.

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