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UA language program accelerates learning

The University of Arizona's Extended University offers programs that teach someone a foreign language in two weekends.

And it isn't a joke.

Marianne Ritter, program director of the Accelerated Language program at the Extended University, said the non-credit foreign language classes teach up to 400 phrases and can instruct a novice to speak conversationally.

"I have taught accelerated language classes, and have been involved with this program since 1991," Ritter said. "And now as the program director, I can tell you that it works. It isn't for credit, but for someone who needs to pick up a language in a hurry, it really works."

The classes, including three levels of Spanish, two of Italian and French, and beginning Japanese, are taught in block sessions on consecutive Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Students taking the classes have a short day Friday, but go all day Saturday and Sunday. The two weekends total 30 hours of study.

Though not geared toward traditional college students, the experience can be helpful for people who are taking trips to foreign countries - for business or pleasure.

Susan Contreras, a Spanish graduate teaching assistant at UA who has taught similar accelerated learning courses at Pima Community College, said her experience with condensed-language classes was fun and informative.

"Students have to be dedicated," Contreras said. "But if they are dedicated, the amount of learning and the total immersion in the language is great. You can really pick up a lot in a short time."

Contreras wasn't alone in that opinion.

Though Ritter said the class is geared more towards non-traditional students, one freshman at the UA said he thought the accelerated language program was an excellent idea.

"Spending a couple of weekends being assaulted with a language sounds adequate to get associated with it," said Geoff Healy, a creative writing major. "It saves you two years of classes."