Continuing & Professional Education

World Languages

Courses for everyone

Learn­ing a lan­guage is more than mak­ing unusu­al sounds and learn­ing a new alphabet. 

It’s about com­mu­ni­cat­ing and under­stand­ing — it is a cul­tur­al experience.

Gain an edge on the expand­ing glob­al mar­ket and con­nect with new peo­ple through devel­op­ing com­pe­tence in a sec­ond language.

Do you have a pas­sion for lan­guages? Is your job or your vaca­tion trav­el tak­ing you to oth­er coun­tries? Would you like to have a bet­ter under­stand­ing of your her­itage or anoth­er cul­ture? Or do you need to pre­pare for Uni­ver­si­ty cred­it lan­guage courses?

Par­tic­i­pants in our cours­es come from all walks of life and have their own rea­sons for study­ing a sec­ond lan­guage: work, trav­el, cul­tur­al enrich­ment, friendship/​relationships, study abroad, her­itage, or liv­ing part of the year in anoth­er country.

                                                                                                                                               

No application or prerequisites required – just register in a course.

Learn and practice listening, reading, and writing skills.

Develop your vocabulary and perfect your pronunciation.

Explore aspects of the life and culture of different countries.

Open doors to a world of career and life possibilities.

Daytime, evening, and weekend courses held at Enterprise Square, downtown Edmonton, Alberta.

Sign Language

Learn the basics of American Sign Language (ASL) in this course designed for those with little or no background in ASL. Acquire beginner-level, practical ASL communication skills on everyday topics, both to express yourself and understand conversational American Sign Language. Understand the crucial components of ASL and find out how to use non-manual grammar in ASL. Explore issues related to Deaf culture and the Deaf community. This class will be entirely conducted in ASL.
January 11
starts in 2 months
Online learning, synchronous. With Rouzbeh Ghahreman
Details & register
Improve your basic American Sign Language skills in this course designed for those who completed the ASL 1 course. Carry on conversations in ASL on everyday topics such as family, activities, and interests. Further develop your ASL receptive and expressive skills, and learn how to use storytelling in ASL. This class will be entirely conducted in ASL.
April 5
starts in 5 months
Online learning, synchronous. With Rouzbeh Ghahreman
Details & register
In this class conducted entirely in American Sign Language, you¿ll consolidate and expand your mastery of ASL, as you become capable of carrying on conversations about everyday topics in a variety of contexts. Take your ASL receptive and expressive skills beyond the basics and increase your comfort level with common interpersonal interactions. Deepen your understanding of Deaf culture and the Deaf community.
January 10
starts in 2 months
Online learning, synchronous.
Details & register

French

In this hands-on workshop, you'll explore the rules of French pronunciation, acquire some foundational vocabulary, understand the differences between written and spoken French, and be introduced to grammar structures you'll need to communicate at a basic level. Work on essentials such as days of the week, numbers, introductions, ordering meals, and others. Learn words tailored to you specific needs - tourism, business, wine tasting, etc. Get useful pointers on the rules of French etiquette.
January 10
starts in 2 months
Online learning, synchronous. With Karima Afchar
Details & register
June 6
starts in 7 months
Online learning, synchronous.
Details & register
The language of instruction in French Level I will be primarily English, but you will have ample opportunity to practice your French. You will learn basic grammar structures along with the following vocabulary and conversational topics: greetings, food, ordering a meal, seasons, time, directions, dates, the rooms in a house, classroom, office, age, the family, parts of the body, and health.
October 13
already started
Online learning, synchronous. With Karima Afchar
Details
February 14
starts in 3 months
Online learning, synchronous. With Karima Afchar
Details & register
A basic knowledge of French is required in French Level II. You will learn about more complex sentences and the past tense, along with the following vocabulary and conversational topics: shopping, clothing, professions, leisure, sports, hobbies, entertainment, and travel. Completion of EXGEN 3114 is strongly recommended.
January 11
starts in 2 months
Online learning, synchronous.
Details & register
Take your language skills to the next level as you become more comfortable with reading short articles, carrying on basic conversations, and following most instructions in French. Gather new vocabulary and practice conversation topics such as arts and entertainment, lifestyle and culture, and health habits. Learn how to express your opinion on issues like politics, family, and others. Instruction is primarily in French; grammar concepts are explained in English. Completion of EXGEN 3109 is strongly recommended.
September 21
already started
Online learning, synchronous. With Karima Afchar
Details
April 5
starts in 5 months
Online learning, synchronous.
Details & register
Les étudiants devront être capables de tenir une conversation dans la plupart des situations de la vie quotidienne. L'enseignement sera donné principalement en français. Les sujets de conversation seront les suivants: initiation à la littérature francophone, les nouvelles techniques et l'environnement. D¿autres sujets de conversation seront également étudiés selon les intérêts des étudiants. Completion of EXGEN 3139 is strongly recommended.
January 18
starts in 2 months
Online learning, synchronous. With Karima Afchar
Details & register
Les étudiants devront être capables de tenir une conversation dans toutes les situations de la vie privée ou professionnelle. L'enseignement sera donné exclusivement en français. Les sujets de conversation seront: les différents aspects de la culture francophone; rédiger un curriculum vitae et une lettre de demande. D'autres sujets de conversation seront également choisis en fonction des intérêts des étudiants. Completion of EXGEN 3247 is strongly recommended.
Not currently scheduled – new schedules announced each June and November.
Course overview

German

Aimed at those with very little or no background in German. It takes a task-based approach to learning using practical situations from everyday life. Get introduced to common expressions and acquire vocabulary in topics such as: greetings, introductions, ordering food, time of day, shopping, compliments and more. Discuss the culture of German-speaking countries and learn about basic pronunciation rules, the use of verbs, the use of present tense and past tense, sentence structure, and the use of cases. German I covers level A1.1 of the European CEFR-scale.
Not currently scheduled – new schedules announced each June and November.
Course overview
Aimed at those with some background in German, this course takes a task-based, communicative approach to learning that is focused on practical situations from everyday life. Practice conversational topics such as hobbies and leisure, directions, public transit, being sick and making a doctor's appointment, staying at a hotel, and more. Discuss the culture of German-speaking countries and learn about pronunciation rules, the past tense, prepositions, conjunctions, and the use of the dative case. German 2 covers level A1.2 of the European CEFR-scale.
Not currently scheduled – new schedules announced each June and November.
Course overview
Expand your German language skills in this course that uses a task-based, communicative approach to explore interactions common to situations from everyday life. Practice conversational topics such as public transit and mobility, media, work life, traditions, literature, and more. Discuss the culture of German-speaking countries, learn more about the past tense, and understand pronunciation rules, collocations, reflexive verbs, subordinate clauses, and the use of the genitive case. German III covers level A2.1 of the European CEFR-scale. Completion of EXGEN 3398 or equivalent is strongly recommended.
Not currently scheduled – new schedules announced each June and November.
Course overview

Italian

In this introductory course you will become acquainted with everyday Italian conversation through oral practice, basic grammar instruction, and pronunciation drills. By the end of the course you will be able to competently introduce yourself and others and will be able to pose questions on personal information as well as respond to analogous questions (place of residency, people whom you know, what you possess). You will easily be able to interact at an elementary level of Italian as long as the speaker enunciates slowly, clearly and is willing to be collaborative and supportive in the learning experience.
September 20
already started
Online learning, synchronous. With Antonella Ciancibello
Details
January 25
starts in 3 months
Online learning, synchronous. With Antonella Ciancibello
Details & register
Requiring a reasonable command of basic Italian structure, this course will focus on helping you develop conversational skills. Understand isolated, frequently used sentence's and expressions relative to time and place and of immediate importance to you. [For example, basic information on the person and family, abilities, local geography, and the work place]. Be successful in expressing in simple terms aspects of your life and of your surroundings. Completion of EXGEN 3116 is strongly recommended.
January 24
starts in 3 months
Online learning, synchronous. With Antonella Ciancibello
Details & register
Build on your ability to carry on a simple conversation in Italian through this course, which will stress the development of a more comprehensive vocabulary and idiom, specifically in speaking. Comprehend the essential points of clear messages on familiar topics such as work, school, free time, et cetera. After Level III you should be able to hold your own when travelling to a region where people speak the language. Construct simple, coherent passages on topics that are either familiar or of interest. You will be able to: describe experiences, events, dreams, wishes, ambitions; elaborate on reasons; give explanations on opinions and projects. Completion of EXGEN 3117 is strongly recommended.
Not currently scheduled – new schedules announced each June and November.
Course overview

Japanese

The objective of Japanese I is to provide a solid foundation in the knowledge and skill required to speak functional Japanese. After completing this course you will be able to survive day-to-day situations in Japan such as greetings, introductions, counting, asking and giving simple information, shopping, and so on.
October 5
already started
Online learning, synchronous. With Mineko Koto
Details
The course will start with a review of basic sentence structure, vocabulary, and useful daily expressions and move on to more complex grammatical rules, especially the inflection of verbs and adjectives. We will increase our vocabulary and special idiomatic expressions used in daily life in Japan. English will be used to explain grammatical points only. You will be encouraged to use the target language as much as possible. Upon completion of this course you will be able to handle day to day situations in Japan with more ease. You will be able to express your feelings and ideas on certain topics with more confidence. Completion of EXGEN 3138 is strongly recommended.
January 18
starts in 2 months
Online learning, synchronous. With Mineko Koto
Details & register
Expand your everyday communication skills, learn more advanced Kanji, and increase your command of idiom, vocabulary, grammar, reading and writing. The main focus will be on oral Japanese, but in order to enhance your communicative skills, we will learn further complex verb sentences and idiomatic expressions. Completion of EXGEN 3143 is strongly recommended.
Not currently scheduled – new schedules announced each June and November.
Course overview
Develop your communication and reading skills in Japanese further. By the time you have completed the course, you should be able to handle basic everyday living situations in Japanese. Practice forming complex sentences (including attributive modifiers, tenses, and conditions) and expand your vocabulary. Completion of EXGEN 3414 is strongly recommended.
October 5
already started
Online learning, synchronous. With Mineko Koto
Details

Spanish

This introduction to Spanish uses group work, exercises, and activities to practice vocabulary and structures in a conversational context. The basic elements include pronunciation, numbers, time and dates, greetings, descriptions, and basic sentence structure.
September 14
already started
Online learning, synchronous. With Hansy Herrera
Details
January 11
starts in 2 months
Online learning, synchronous. With Hansy Herrera
Details & register
April 5
starts in 5 months
Online learning, synchronous.
Details & register
The continuation of basic Spanish uses group work, exercises, and activities to practice vocabulary and structures in a conversational context. Beginning with a review of material from Spanish I, this course covers vocabulary for dining and travel, health, business conversation, and grammar related to forms of the present tense and reflexive verbs. Completion of EXCPE 3001 is strongly recommended.
November 2
starts in 11 days
Online learning, synchronous. With Ivonne Quintero
Details & register
March 8
starts in 4 months
Online learning, synchronous. With Teresa Castro-Albarracin
Details & register
May 24
starts in 7 months
Online learning, synchronous.
Details & register
Participants will develop communicative competence through activities related to travel, business, and culture. Material will be reviewed from the two previous modules before moving on to learning the two past tenses (preterit and imperfect). There will be practice reading, understanding, and telling stories, as well as descriptions of past events. Basic techniques for speaking, listening,and reading are included as well as a brief introduction in Spanish to the world of global trade. Completion of EXCPE 3002 is strongly recommended.
January 10
starts in 2 months
Online learning, synchronous. With Ivonne Quintero
Details & register
Participants will explore how to interact in the Spanish world by consolidating what has already been learned, expanding this knowledge into new areas. Students will review and build upon vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar (including present, preterit, imperfect, present perfect, and future tenses). The conditional mode is reviewed and the subjunctive is introduced and practiced in the present tense forms through the use of impersonal expressions, reflexive verse, and commands. Cultural aspects such as shipping, meeting people, exploring cities, and doing business will be focused on throughout. Completion of EXCPE 3003 is strongly recommended.
Not currently scheduled – new schedules announced each June and November.
Course overview
Participants will explore the Hispanic world by enjoying its arts and entertainment while studying the present and past tenses of the subjunctive mode. Learn about celebrations, housing, and stories while discovering the three main concepts of subjunctive and developing your level of comprehension, writing, and conversational skills. Completion of EXCPE 3004 is strongly recommended.
Not currently scheduled – new schedules announced each June and November.
Course overview
  • Tuition is paid on a course-by-course basis as you reg­is­ter for your classes.
  • Some cours­es require a text­book at an addi­tion­al cost.
  • Eli­gi­ble for the Cana­da-Alber­ta Job Grant.
  • Cor­po­rate mul­ti-reg­is­tra­tion pack­ages are avail­able for most Exten­sion cours­es. Con­tact us at excorp@​ualberta.​ca for pre­ferred pricing.
Bursaries and funding opportunities
Funding source
Eligibility
Amount
Apply by
Canada-Alberta Job Grant 

Available for businesses in all sectors across Alberta

 Two-thirds of the training costs (up to 100% if hiring an unemployed Albertan)
any time
Canada Training Benefit 

Residents of Canada, 25-65 years old, who have $10,000-150,000 in earnings for work.

 $250+
income tax return
Skilled Immigrant Micro-Loan 

Whether you intend to work in the same field you trained in outside of Canada, or you wish to apply your transferable skills to a new career, this low-interest loan helps you cover the cost of education and related living expenses.

 Up to $15,000 loan
N/A
Alumni Professional Development Grant 

Any alumnus of the University of Alberta

 75% of course fee
monthly deadline
HRDF 

Employed by the University of Alberta as Non-Academic Staff (NASA)

 $750 annually
Dec / Mar / Jun / Sep

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Over 300 courses and 40 programs to help you build the skills you need.

  • Questions: codesign@ualberta.ca
  • Course planner schedule-at-a-glance