Off Campus (Corporate, Private, Family Classes)

CUSTOMIZING LANGUAGE PROGRAMS FOR OVER 25 YEARS

Language classes can run in Traditional, Business or Health Care formats:

More than 20 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Polish, Spanish, and others
English as a Second Language

Since 1982, the University of Detroit Mercy’s Language and Cultural Training Program has offered corporate, private, and community-based language instruction in and around the Detroit Metropolitan area. Our programs offer student-centered instruction, available in over 20 languages, in curricula that are tailored to meet the needs of corporate and governmental employees, health care personnel, and a variety of community groups. Classes can occur either on or off campus, at the job site or community center, in one-to-one or group formats.

In the last 25 years, we have served students from the following organizations:

ACCESS, Arab Chaldean Council, Audi of America, Arvin Meritor, AVL, BASF, Calsonic, DTE, Denso, The Detroit Free Press, Detroit Public Schools, Detroit Public Libraries, Detroit Red Wings, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford-UAW, Ford-Visteon, Ford Motor Company, Gedas, General Motors, Guardian Industries, Hacienda Foods, Henry Ford Health Systems, Holy Redeemer Parish, INA USA, Mahle, Merrill-Lynch, Providence Hospital, Rehau International, Volkswagen of American, Wall Street Journal. Contact the department for a complete list.

UDM accepts employer-based tuition reimbursement. Call 313-993-1191 schedule a language class at your organization.

Instructional methodology
Instructors
Program content
Length of instruction
Delivery
Certificate of Completion
Academic credit
Rates

Instructional methodology

The program utilizes the Whole Language Method where the four language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) are used in conjunction with each other to reinforce learning.
Additionally, many of our instructors utilize the Dartmouth Rassias Technique, which puts learning into action through speaking activities such as role-playing and uses drills that both reinforce vocabulary and scaffold knowledge. With this technique, textbooks are used to facilitate learning, but are only open during part of the class session.

Instructors

UDM language instructors possess native, near-native and professional fluency. They are committed to the University's excellence in educational delivery. Professional development is ongoing so they will meet the dynamic needs of students.

Program content

We encourage our instructors to align the course syllabi, format, and focus to the University of Detroit Mercy's objectives for excellence in education. Language instructors work with clients to establish a course outline with content that meets their professional objectives. For example, if the class is comprised of automotive engineers, then the appropriate technical terminology is incorporated into the curriculum. Although instructors are prepared to follow this outline, they are flexible in response to other language-related needs, with may arise at any given time.

Authentic language
Activities/Games/Role Playing
Oral/Aural instruction/response
Written and verbal instruction/response
Interspersed dialogue
Interspersed pictorials
Topics and vocabulary relevant to working adults
Topics and vocabulary relevant to business
Continued engagement to increase language retention
Continued engagement to increase language fluency

Length of instruction

A minimum of 30 hours is required per class. A certificate of completion is issued enumerating the number of continuing education units earned, if applicable. The duration of a typical term for language study is 45 hours (which generally lasts from 11 to 15 weeks, however, accelerated courses are also available). After 45 hours, university academic credit is available. Certificates in Language Study are also available.

Delivery

Delivery of instruction occurs on an open-ended contractual basis, meaning that, after a minimum of 30 hours of instruction, the class can be ended at any time, according to the needs of schedule or progress of the students taking the course. Instruction can also be continued as long as the client/student wishes to continue to hold classes.

Certificate of Completion

All students will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Academic credit

Students can elect to take the course for academic credit by completing a form for academic credit and by paying the non-refundable processing fee. Academic credit goes on a permanent transcript. Students can choose a letter grade or the pass/fail option.

Rate schedule

For current fee schedule, please call 313-993-1102 or 313-993-1191 or write

Lara Wasner--Director
Language & Cultural Training
University of Detroit Mercy
4001 West McNichols Road
Detroit MI 48221