Ohio State has launched five self-paced beginner language courses in Catalan; Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian; Persian; Polish; and Romanian, aimed at businesspeople, journalists, doctors and other travelers who need to quickly learn how to navigate countries where these languages are spoken. The online courses last from five to 25 hours and include cultural know-how in addition to useful vocabulary. 

The courses are taught via ScarletCanvas, an online learning portal that gives the interested public who are not enrolled in Ohio State classes access to language learning activities designed by our world-class language faculty, said Elizabeth Marsch Vu, director of the College of Arts and Sciences Office of Distance Education (ASC ODE). ScarletCanvas learners are able to complete each session at their own pace, making it easier to fit the course into a timeframe that works for them.

“Our courses are not just about memorizing vocabulary – they teach practical phrases and cultural context for learners who want to make use of their newly-learned language in real-world settings as quickly as possible,” Marsch Vu said. “Our goal is to help those traveling to other countries to have practical tools to communicate effectively as they work and travel – both through language and cultural education.”

Each course is structured as an introduction to the target language and includes cultural lessons as a key feature, said ASC ODE Instructional Designer Jessica Henderson, who helped faculty build the courses with online learners in mind.

“The first section teaches you how to introduce yourself, letters and numbers – a standard starting point for any language course,” Henderson said. “But subsequent sections focus on the objects you’ll take with you on your trip; the weather of the region and what clothes to bring; how to navigate public transportation and ask about local landmarks; and, of course, how to order food at a local restaurant. It’s really designed as a language survival guide.”

The courses also appeal to U.S. communities with ties to the countries in which these languages are spoken. “For many people whose families came to the United States from Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia or from Catalonia and Andorra, this offers an opportunity to connect with their history and prepare to travel to the places their families came from,” Marsch Vu said.

To register for a course, visit ScarletCanvas at go.osu.edu/ScarletLanguages.