Rice University: Foreign Language Program

Our Chinese courses are designed to develop conversational skills that will be especially useful in business or while traveling. The reading and writing of simplified characters are also taught but not emphasized.

Our Japanese courses allow students to develop conversational skills with emphasis on correct pronunciation, accent, intonation and pitch, while learning to write kana and kanji. Kana, which includes both hiragana and katakana, is a phonetically based writing system.

Our Russian courses are designed to provide students with useful language patterns and practical vocabulary. Emphasis is placed on developing conversational skills.

Our Arabic courses place emphasis on conversational skills. All levels of the program include some attention to culture and social customs in Arabic-speaking countries.

Our Portuguese courses are designed to provide students with basic language patterns and practical vocabulary. Emphasis is placed on developing conversational skills that will be especially useful in business or travel.