Overview

Directed Independent Language Study (DILS) provides an opportunity for qualified undergraduate, graduate and professional students to study languages that are not currently offered through traditional classroom instruction at Yale.

In DILS, students can learn Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs) for special-purpose needs. Each language program – limited to a maximum of three students – offers the flexibility for students to design individual programs of study based on their academic interests and professional goals. DILS students often combine their on-campus study with further study abroad, field experience, and internships.

Language study in the DILS program is based on a carefully structured relationship among the student, a native-speaker Language Partner, appropriate instructional materials, and an outside examiner, as described below.

The Student

Students in the program are expected to adhere to a daily schedule of work on their own with the instructional materials, and meet for practice sessions with the Language Partner for two sessions per week. They are tested at the end of the semester by an outside examiner, who is certified by ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) to administer the oral proficiency interview. In the case of languages for which there are no official ACTFL examiners, a qualified college or university instructor of the target language carries out the exam. The final evaluations for DILS are normally scheduled during the Yale College Reading Period.

There is no "teacher" in the DILS program, as that term is usually understood in other instructional contexts. Consequently, it is central to the success of the program that students clearly understand what is expected of them in such an independent learning environment: they must be self-directed and self-disciplined, and they must be willing and able to assume full responsibility for their learning. Students do receive support and direction from both the DILS Director and the Language Partner.

DILS is open to qualified undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. While participating in DILS yields many rewards, DILS programs do not earn Yale College course credit or satisfy the language requirement. Graduate and professional school students may wish to consult their dean's offices to determine whether DILS work could be used to fulfill any degree requirements.

The Language Partner

The Language Partner is a person who speaks the principal dialect of the target language. The DILS Director will train the Language Partner and provide him/her with ongoing support during the semester.

Language Partners are not teachers; they are not expected to explain grammar or lead discussions. They do not determine the choice of course materials, the course pacing, or exam results. Their role is to provide students with dynamic interactive practice of the target language and to correct pronunciation and patterns. The main responsibility of Language Partners is to provide students with the opportunity during language practice sessions to use and further develop the language skills that students study on their own. Language Partners also provide invaluable insight into the people and cultures associated with the language being studied.

The Language Partner will be asked to make a simple assessment of student preparedness and performance at practice sessions every week through submission of a weekly report form. The Language Partner receives compensation for conducting the practice sessions and for time spent preparing for sessions.

The Examiner

The outside examiner is an evaluator who has either been trained to test proficiency in the language being studied or who is currently a teacher of the language at another institution. In rare cases, for very uncommon languages, other examiners are sought out.

The examiner tests students individually during a 30 to 40 minute oral interview at the end of the semester. Exams are carried out over the phone or through Skype in some cases. At the discretion of the DILS Director, other test formats may be used. The examiner provides a proficiency rating based on the ACTFL scales and written feedback that is shared with the student shortly after the exam period. For those students who take an official ACTFL exam, a certificate of proficiency is also provided.

The Materials

The materials for each DILS language will be chosen by the DILS Director. The materials will usually include text and audio, and video and software when available. Every effort will be made to find a textbook that has as its explicit goal and methodology the teaching of communicative competence and that is accompanied by audio materials that are fully integrated into the chapters. Students will purchase their own copies of the textbook and any workbook or student manual. Where possible, the audio materials will be made available on the Center for Language Study website; in other cases, students will need to obtain their own copies of these materials.

More Information

For questions not answered on this website, contact dils@yale.edu or call (203) 432-0584.

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