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Support For Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs)

At our institution, we recognize the profound value of linguistic diversity and the importance of supporting languages that are less commonly taught (LCTLs). These languages open doors to rich cultural traditions, foster global understanding, and equip students with unique perspectives and skills that are increasingly vital in our interconnected world. This webpage aims to serve as a resource to advocate for the teaching and learning of these fundamental languages on our campus and beyond. 

Less Commonly Taught Languages at Northwestern 

The vibrant selection of less commonly taught languages on campus - including Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Hindi-Urdu, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, and Turkish- offers students a chance to dive into captivating cultures, unlock unique worldviews, and develop rare linguistic skills that set them apart in today’s global landscape.


Resources for Instructors

BigTen LCTLs Town Hall Meeting | October 10, 2025

"Sustaining and Strengthening Less Commonly Taught Languages in Precarious Times" 
Session recording, presenter slides and other resources can be found on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Language Institute website.

Sharing Less Commonly Taught Languages in Higher Education: Collaboration and Innovation 
Edited by Emily Heidrich Uebel, Angelika Kraemer, Luca Giupponi
lctl book cover and link
This volume highlights collaborative strategies for strengthening less commonly taught language programs in higher education, tackling challenges such as limited advanced courses and scarce teaching materials while showcasing innovative solutions to expand language offerings.

Northwestern faculty Franziska Lys, Ragy Mikhaeel, Oya Topçuoğlu Judd and Hanna Tzuker-Seltzer authored chapter 5: 

Language Learning Through Three Iconic Cities: A Shared Approach to Curriculum Development in Arabic, Hebrew, and Turkish


National Language Centers Focused on LCTLs

In 1990, the U.S. Department of Education established the first Language Resource Centers (LRCs) at U.S. universities in response to the growing national need for expertise and competence in languages. Currently, sixteen LRCs make up a national network of resources to promote and improve the teaching and learning of languages, including significant work on less commonly taught languages.

LRCs create language learning and teaching materials, offer professional learning opportunities for language instructors, and conduct and disseminate research on language learning and teaching. All LRCs engage in efforts that enable U.S. teachers, students and the public to better work, serve, and lead.

Empowering Language Educators: The Language Resource Center's National Network (The Language Educator, Spring 2024)

List of Title VI Language Resource Centers

 

CourseShare Program - Big Ten Academic Alliance

If you are a Northwestern instructor interested in hosting a language course for BTAA CourseShare, please visit the webpage below for more information and FAQ on how to get started:

BTAA CourseShare for Instructors