The Language Institute, established in 2004 as a joint initiative of the College of Letters & Science and International Division, is a center for collaboration in research, education, outreach, and advising related to the study of human languages.
Our work is guided by the four main pillars of our mission to promote:
- excellence in language teaching, and innovation in the design and delivery of effective and inclusive language programs
- student success in reaching their professional and personal language learning goals
- research in second language acquisition (SLA) and related fields, and
- increased awareness of the value of language learning and of linguistic diversity
In each of these areas, we strive to foster productive collaboration across campus and beyond, exemplifying the Wisconsin Idea.
Interested in learning more? Please contact Language Institute director Dianna Murphy.
Major Activities
The Language Institute:
- Serves as the administrative home to two interdisciplinary academic programs: the Doctoral Program in SLA and the undergraduate Russian Flagship Program
- Carries out research in areas such as language program design, student perspectives on language learning, and learning outcomes in postsecondary language education
- Hosts invited lectures by leading scholars in applied linguistics and SLA
- Provides pedagogical training and professional development for UW-Madison language educators, including through local as well as inter-institutional initiatives
- Maintains the Languages at UW-Madison website that provides information about the extensive opportunities for language study at the university, including language offerings, majors/certificates, and policies related to language study and placement. The site also includes information about career advising, events, and resources for multilingual students.
- Offers a career development course, pre-major and career advising for students interested in language studies and for other multilingual students
- Leads collaborative initiatives that raise awareness of linguistic diversity and bi/multilingualism such as the Language Ideologies and Linguistic Discrimination working group and initiatives that improve language education such as the Wisconsin Language Roadmap
- Spearheads outreach programs such as Languages of the World Day that help to connect Wisconsin K-12 students and teachers with UW-Madison expertise in languages, literatures, and cultures, and inter-institutional collaborative initiatves such as the Big Ten Language Center Alliance