International Languages

Read about the International Languages articulation committee

About the Committee

The International Languages articulation committee fosters collegial relationships and enhances communication among institutions to help facilitate increased access and mobility of students within the post-secondary system in Language programs, including:

- Identify differences and similarities of various post-secondary institution International Language programs to assist students in planning their studies.
- Assist in developing transfer agreements among institutions delivering International Language programs.
- To come to an understanding about high school courses and pathways available to students taking languages other than English, French and Indigenous Language courses.
- Provide a forum for exchanging information, as well as enhancing collaboration and coordination among institutions that provide instruction in International Language programs.
- To successfully articulate the high school International Language courses with prerequisite language requirements at post-secondary institutions in order to facilitate successful student transition from high school to post-secondary programs.
- To exchange information about the course content, methods of evaluating student progress and placement, and other information related to the International Languages courses and their relevance to admissibility to post-secondary institutions and their programs.
- To promote International Languages learning in a global context.

In the 2017-2018 academic year, the focus of this committee was revised, and the French committee was initiated.

Contacts

Angela George

angela.george@ucalgary.ca

Activities

A survey was conducted, "Motivation for taking language courses in Alberta universities", in Fall 2022 to determine students’ reasons for taking language courses at post-secondary institutions in Alberta. A total of 192 students completed the survey, representing 12 languages at 5 universities in Alberta. The diverse motivations behind language learning, listed below, underscore the importance of offering comprehensive language programs that cater to various student needs.

Reasons for learning the language:

Travel 48% of students
Career 40% of students
Program requirement 31% of students

Planned use for language knowledge:

Travel 71% of students
Work 36% of students
Personal Connections 52% of students

Objectives

Foster closer collegial relationships and enhance communication among institutions to help facilitate increased access and mobility of students within the post-secondary system in International Language programs.

Including:

Provide a forum for exchanging information, as well as enhancing collaboration and coordination among institutions that provide instruction in International Language programs.
Identify differences and similarities of various post-secondary institution International Language programs to assist students in planning their studies.
Assist in developing transfer agreements among institutions delivering International Language programs.
To come to an understanding about high school courses and pathways available to students taking languages other than English, French and Indigenous Language courses.
To successfully articulate the high school International Language courses with prerequisite language requirements at post-secondary institutions in order to facilitate successful student transition from high school to post-secondary programs.
To exchange information about the course content, methods of evaluating student progress and placement, and other information related to the International Languages courses and their relevance to admissibility to post-secondary institutions and their programs.
To promote International Languages learning in a global context.

Membership

Membership will be flexible and fluid based on the needs of the articulation committee, but will primarily consist of:

Athabasca University
Concordia University of Edmonton
MacEwan University
Mount Royal University
St. Mary's University
University of Alberta
University of Calgary

Request or Manage Committee Membership

Voting Members

Discipline specialists from institutions
Admissions personnel that evaluate language prerequisites for admission to a post-secondary institution

Non-Voting Members

Representatives from Alberta Education (International Languages).
Member(s) of the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT) Secretariat.
Others such as resource persons, representatives of the K-12 language consortia, other guests or observers who may be invited to attend meetings.

Roles and Responsibilities

Chair will:

Serve for a 3-year term.
Serve as the contact person for the ACAT Secretariat.
Canvass committee members for agenda items.
Organize the meeting(s) including arranging a venue and hosting.
Select a Recorder for committee meetings.
Ensure appropriate guests/stakeholders attend meetings (i.e. appropriate ministry staff or professional bodies).
Ensure committee members and the ACAT Secretariat are provided meeting materials.
Ensure open communication amongst committee members and the ACAT Secretariat.

Vice Chair will:

Serve for 2 years
Serve as an alternate contact person for the ACAT Secretariat
Assume the Chair’s duties when the Chair is unavailable.

Committee members will:

Attend scheduled articulation meetings (inform Chair if unable to attend and provide a delegate).
Ensure changes to representation are communicated to the Chair.
Provide agenda items to the Chair prior to committee meeting.
Circulate minutes amongst colleagues, including their delegate and administrators at their institution.

Delegates will:

Attend scheduled meetings on behalf of a committee member when they are unable to attend.

Recorder will:

Take meeting minutes
Provide minutes to the committee chair and vice-chair.

Alberta Education will:

Disseminate information about secondary curriculum (including programs, resources and assessment)

ACAT Secretariat will:

Ensure recommendations and issues identified by the committee are communicated to the ACAT Council.
Monitor membership terms, identify expiring members and notify Chair when new member recruitment is required.
Maintain sub-committee records (meeting minutes/membership list).
Communicate ACAT Council decisions related to recommendations or issues identified by the Committee to the member institutions of the Alberta Transfer system and the Subcommittee.

Language Articulation Sub-committees will:

Be established by language group or program type as needed
Will be accountable to the Language Articulation Committee

Download the committee’s Terms of Reference.

Meeting Minutes

Research and Initiatives

Motivation to take language courses at universities in Alberta (2022)