Search El Camino College

Foreign Languages FAQs

World Languages & Cultures (formerly Foreign Languages) FAQs

No, if you plan to transfer to a college/university that requires a foreign language and you believe that you could test out of their language course, you should contact your transfer institution to find out if they provide that option.

No, we don’t provide placement exams. However, if you have studied the language of interest before and you aren’t sure which level is best for you, please contact the Humanities Dean, Scott Kushigemachi skushigemachi@elcamino.edu.

Not necessarily. For further information, contact the Humanities Division office, humanities@elcamino.edu or a full-time faculty teaching the language.

Important:
If you need to know the content covered in a particular language taught at ECC, you can find it in the catalog: http://catalog.elcamino.edu/ For additional information on the COR (Course Outline of Record), contact the Humanities Division office, humanities@elcamino.edu.

Some colleges/universities require a foreign language to be admitted and other institutions require one language level other than English to graduate. Be aware that elementary and intermediate language courses are 5-unit classes. If you take courses to satisfy these language requirements at ECC, they will be more affordable. Also, it might be easier for you to continue to higher levels if you have taken introductory courses recently.

If you are not sure if you need higher language levels, contact an ECC counselor to get help to make the best decision for you.
Here is the Languages, Composition, and Journalism counselor’s website
Also, our full-time LCJ meta major counselors are listed here: Maribel Hernandez mhernandez@elcamino.edu
Dr. Sabio ssabio@elcamino.edu
Rocio Diaz rodiaz@elcamino.edu

Important: If you need to know the content covered in a particular language taught at ECC, you can find it in the catalog: http://catalog.elcamino.edu/ For additional information on the COR (Course Outline of Record), contact the Humanities Division office, humanities@elcamino.edu

Improving your oral skills might be challenging when you cannot practice the language learned. Taking a conversational course is highly recommended to improve speaking in the target language. Check the ECC class schedule to see if the language of interest offers these courses in the current semester. NOTE: WLAC Conversational courses are those numbered “21” or “22.”

If you wish to further your knowledge about the culture of a particular language offered at ECC, literature and culture courses are available. You will increase your knowledge by reading engaging literature and by enriching your understanding of the countries that speak the language of interest. Check the ECC class schedule to see if these classes are offered in the current semester. NOTE: WLAC Culture courses are those numbered “24” or “25”; Literature courses are those numbered “5” or “6.”

Yes, we offer a Study Abroad program in Spanish. For further inquiries on Study Abroad programs contact Dr. Andrade.

Yes, we offer Associate in Arts degrees for French, Japanese, and Spanish.

  • French, AA
  • Japanese, AA
  • Spanish, AA

We offer Associate in Arts for Transfer degree in Spanish.

  • Spanish, AA-T

For further information on the requirements, click on the links to the ECC catalog or contact one of our Languages, Composition, and Journalism counselors by visiting the counseling chat webpage

There are many reasons to learn a second language besides the amazing experience of being able to communicate with people from different cultures and countries. Many careers require proficiency in a foreign language. We also strongly encourage you to consider a double major or a minor in a foreign language and another discipline such as Nursing, Business Administration, Film, English, or Anthropology. A double major or minor will enhance your academic profile and make you a more attractive candidate for graduate study or employment. Here a list of the common careers:

  • Business
  • Diplomacy
  • Education
  • Government Interpreting/translating Health
  • Interpreting
  • Social services
  • Tourism
  • Vocational fields

For further information about career opportunities for foreign language majors, you can visit our career center to request handouts on What can I do with this major? Or visit the site by clicking the link: https://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/foreign/#bottom

To get the right advice on career pathways, you can contact an ECC counselor. They are available for in- person and online drop- in academic advisement. To make an appointment, here are the Languages, Composition, and Journalism counselor’s webpage.
Also, our full-time LCJ meta major counselors are listed here: Maribel Hernandez mhernandez@elcamino.edu
Dr. Sabio ssabio@elcamino.edu
Rocio Diaz rodiaz@elcamino.edu

Visit the Dual Enrollment Webpage for complete information about Dual Enrollment procedures and requirements. Here is a summary of the process.

High school grade level requirements for World Languages and Cultures (formerly Foreign Languages) classes:

  • Students in 9th or 10th grade can enroll in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish courses.
  • 11th and 12th grade students do not require approval from a division dean to take a world languages & cultures (formerly Foreign Languages) class.

All dual enrollment students must complete Dual Enrollment Application. This form requires a parent/guardian signature and the signature of a high school principal or counselor.
Note: Students in 9th or 10th grade who wish to take a World Languages and Cultures (formerly Foreign Languages) course must also obtain instructor and division dean approval on their dual enrollment form.

The steps for instructor and dean approval are as follows:

  1. To obtain the contact information of the professor teaching the class, contact the Humanities Division office, humanities@elcamino.edu
  2. The student (not the parent) should schedule an appointment to meet with the instructor of the course to obtain their approval.
  3. Instructors will notify the dean if they approve the request. At this point, the dean will sign the form and email it to the Dual Enrollment office.