CRITICAL LANGUAGES
Employees who speak more than one language typically earn between 5 and 20 percent more per hour than the base rate, according to Salary.com website.
The CIA has a Language Hiring Bonus Program (offering up to $35,000) for individuals who speak a critical language. Arabic, Chinese, Korean and Russian are on the critical language list.
According to World Population Review (2020), the top 10 most spoken languages are: 1) Mandarin Chinese, 2) Spanish, 3) English, 4) French, 5) Hindustanti, 6) Arabic, 7) Portuguese, 8) Bengali, 9) Russian and 10) Japanese.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Muna Osman, Arabic drill instructor, received Perimeter College’s Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award in February.
WELCOME
Arabic
Chinese
Hebrew
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Swahili
Korean
ACCOLADES
Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award
Perimeter’s Critical Languages Program team congratulates Muna Osman, our Arabic Drill Instructor, who received Perimeter College’s Outstanding Adjunct Faculty award in February 2021. Osman, who has been an integral part of Critical Languages for more than a decade, works with classes at Clarkston and Dunwoody campuses, where she helps students learn to read, write and speak Arabic. She also engages with students through attendance at international festivals and cultural events. Osman brings expertise and a hospitable and positive spirit to her instruction. We are truly fortunate to work alongside of her!
FAQs
How is the Critical Languages Program different from other languages in the World Languages Department?
- The Critical Language Program (CLP) is a self-instructional language program that follows the recommended format of the National Association of Self-Instructional Language Programs (NASILP).
- Students attend regularly scheduled classes to practice skills with a native speaker Drill Instructor. Class sizes are small in order to support communication.
- Outside of the drill sessions, students follow a course plan and work through the material on their own.
- Student progress is assessed by an external qualified professor (examiner).
What languages are offered in the Critical Languages Program?
We offer the following courses in the Critical Languages Program:
Arabic
Chinese
Hebrew
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Swahili
How is placement done for students who do not need to begin at the 1001 level?
Native speakers are not eligible to take CL Classes, but heritage speakers are allowed. A heritage speaker is someone who speaks the language but has not been educated in the language.
Students who are new to the language or have only very basic skills will start with 1001.
If you have some background with the language and would like to see if you are eligible to start at a higher level, please contact one of the CL Coordinators to schedule a level placement assessment.
RESOURCES
The National Association of Self-Instructional Programs (https://www.nasilp.net/) has a wealth of information on self-taught programs like our Critical Languages Program.
The National Security Education Program (https://www.nsep.gov/content/critical-languages) has a list of what the US Government considers a “critical language.” There is also much information on how critically important it is for students in the US to study one of these critical languages.
The American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (https://www.actfl.org/center-assessment-research-and-development/what-the-research-shows) has an incredible list of references that support learning second language. The is one of the most complete bibliographies of research that shows how beneficial it is to learn another language.
The Department of Humanities at Perimeter College (https://wlc.gsu.edu/home/about/careers-in-languages/) identifies many careers available to students who speak more than one language.
The Georgia Department of Education (https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Global%20Workforce%20and%20World%20Language%20Resources.aspx) maintains a website dedicated to the Georgia Global Workforce and International Education Resources. There is a significant amount of helpful information on this site.
The U.S. Department of State offers a summer scholarship program for students who are interested in studying a critical language (https://www.clscholarship.org/).
The Atlanta Global Studies Center offers fellowships for students who study critical languages. Visit the Foreign Languages and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships website at https://atlantaglobalstudies.gatech.edu/flasfellowships
Our Team
ND 1304
Dunwoody Campus
[email protected]
770-274-5184
Andrea DiBenardo
CA 1111
Clarkston Campus
[email protected]
678-891-3533
J. Victor McGlone, Ph.D.
Contact Us
J. VICTOR MCGLONE, Ph.D.
CA 1111
Clarkston Campus
[email protected]
678-891-3533
ANDREA DIBENARDO
ND 1304
Dunwoody Campus
[email protected]
770-274-5184