Language Other Than English (LOTE) is a campus requirement outlined in the General Education Policy. This page provides details, policy language, and processes for the LOTE requirement and course approval.
Current Gen Ed Language Policy
EP.17.74 (September 18, 2017) is the most recent Policy outlining the Guidelines for General Education Courses with details on Language Other Than English (LOTE).
EP.17.74
3. Language Other Than English
To ensure that all UIUC graduates will have a working knowledge of a language other than English, each student must obtain credit or demonstrate proficiency at the third college semester level or satisfactorily complete the third secondary school year of language other than English.
3.1 To have its language course sequence approved as meeting the General Education requirement, each language department must develop a statement of competencies expected of a student satisfactorily completing the third-semester level course. These competencies should be stated as a range of skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening that demonstrate general language proficiency and contribute to cultural understanding. These competencies will vary from one language department to another.
3.2 Courses approved as meeting the Language Other Than English requirement should have well designed systems for the preparation and ongoing supervision of teaching assistants by faculty.
3.3 Courses approved as meeting the Language Other Than English requirement should be taught with section sizes small enough to promote development of a substantial working knowledge of the language.
Language Level Requirement
The LOTE requirement to the third level is a campus requirement for all undergraduate degree programs as listed in the Gen Ed Policy. Colleges and units may determine if additional levels of LOTE beyond the third level are required for individual degree programs. The Academic Catalog provides details on the Language Other Than English level requirements.
Language Course Approval
Language course sequences are determined and administered by each individual language department, following the Gen Ed Policy. At least one course must be listed at Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4. The language department is in charge of maintaining the list of courses, determining the learning outcomes for the courses, oversight of instruction and assessment, and offering course sequences on a regular basis so students may complete the sequence to the fourth level. In some instances, one language course may fulfill multiple levels.
Language Course Competencies
“These competencies should be stated as a range of skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening that demonstrate general language proficiency and contribute to cultural understanding.” (EP.17.74)
Language departments should determine the learning competencies/learning outcomes for the language sequence they oversee based on the Gen Ed Policy. Departments should regularly monitor and assess LOTE offerings to ensure they are meeting learning outcomes set by the department and campus needs.
Changing Language Courses
Departments may add, change, or remove courses from the language sequence they oversee at any time. When a language department decides to make a change to the language sequence within the department, they should follow the following steps:
- Review the current Courses Approved for Language Requirements website to determine the current courses listed for each level
- Email cmss-catalog@illinois.edu and genedboard@illinois.edu to notify of the change
- Change must include one or more courses at each of the four levels (one course may fulfill more than one level)
- Determine semester when change will be active
- Adding Courses: Change may be effective immediately
- Changing/Removing Courses: Must be planned for a future semester to allow for current students to complete the sequence
Once submitted, the Office of the Registrar will update the listings in campus systems and on the Courses Approved for Language Requirements website.
Language Course Equivalencies
Students may take courses at other institutions for transfer credit or through study abroad programs. Language course equivalencies will be evaluated by the corresponding language department, following the campus review procedures. The language department will determine if the course should be articulated as a specific language course offered on campus, or as general credit. If the course is articulated as general credit, the language department must determine if the course is approved as at a certain language level. More information may be found on the Alternative Gen Ed Course Review page.
Proficiency and Placement for Languages
Language department should also work with the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL) on Placement and Proficiency Testing to determine any proficiency and placement details for language courses associated with the unit.
Historical Policy Language
Below are previous General Education Policies about the Language Other Than English (LOTE) requirement. Find additional details and links to the full policies on the Senate Gen Ed Policies page.
EP.89.09 (April 10, 1989) Revisions of 1962 Policy with Notes
Foreign Language
To ensure that every UIUC graduate will have a working knowledge of a foreign language each student will obtain credit at the third college semester level or satisfactorily complete the third secondary school year of one foreign language. Students may also satisfy this requirement by demonstrating proficiency through the third college semester level.
EP.89.09 (April 10, 1989) Revisions of 1962 Policy with Notes
3. Foreign Language
To ensure that every UIUC graduate will have had a substantial exposure to foreign language study, each student will take three college semesters or three secondary-school years of one foreign language. Students may also satisfy this requirement by demonstrating proficiency at the third college-semester level.
(Informational note: 59% of the freshman class entering in Fall 1988 had studied three years of the same foreign language in secondary school.)
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
a. Add following paragraphs:
This foreign language requirement will be implemented in concert with an increase admission requirement of three years of a single foreign language or two years each of two foreign languages at the secondary school level. Students who do not meet the new admission requirement may be admitted with a deficiency to be made up.
In order to allow secondary schools sufficient time to adapt to the new foreign language requirements, these requirements should be implemented in stages.
Chief Undergraduate Advisors in the Department of Chemistry,
Larry Faulkner, Head, Department of Chemistry
b. To ensure that every UIUC graduate will have had a substantial exposure to foreign language study, each student will take [three] two college semesters or [three] two secondary-school’ years of one foreign language. Students may also satisfy this requirement by demonstrating proficiency at the [third] second college-semester level.
College Educational Policy Committee, College of Agriculture
William Arts (AGR 07-1), William George, Dean of Resident Instruction
c. To ensure that every UIUC graduate will have [had a substantial exposure to foreign language study] a working knowledge of a foreign language each student will take three college level semesters [or three secondary school years of one foreign language.] Students may also satisfy this requirement by demonstrating-proficiency^[at the third college semester level. (Information note: 59% of the freshman class entering in Fall 1988 studied three years of the same foreign language in secondary school.)]
The foreign language requirement will be implemented in concert with an increased admission requirement of three years of a single foreign language or two years each of two foreign languages at the secondary school level. In order to allow secondary schools sufficient time to adapt to the new foreign, language requirements. these requirements should be implemented in stages.
Committee of Executive Officers on Undergraduate Education,
Emmanual Donchin, Chair (LAS 20-4)
Chief Undergraduate Advisers in the Department of Chemistry
Larry Faulkner, Head, Department of Chemistry