Learning another language opens the door to opportunity. Whether you want to travel the world, explore new cultures, connect with new communities, discover your family heritage or conduct international business, the ability to communicate in another language can provide new perspectives, enhance cultural experiences and help you achieve your goals.
You have the option to take individual courses, choose a learning pathway to complete a credential or choose one of our shorter format Summer Language Institutes.
The content, which focuses on building your practical conversation skills and/or developing your reading and writing skills, is delivered by passionate and creative instructors in a fun and lively atmosphere. Cultural teachings are woven into every lesson providing historical significance and meaningful social insights. Expect to come away with a love of language and the desire to explore cultures and make connections wherever you may go.
Meet Catherine and Vinicius, two UBC Extended Learning language students, who share how learning a language has impacted their lives. One of our French instructors, Annick, shares her passion for teaching and how learning even a few words in another language can open doors.
Improve your Chinese language skills, enhance your knowledge of Chinese culture, prepare for travel and increase your career opportunities in this part-time program.
Expand your French language skills in this part-time program, and prepare for study, travel or doing business at home or throughout the French-speaking world.
In this part-time certificate program, improve your practical and business Spanish language skills, and deepen your appreciation of Spanish and Latin cultures.
Improve your English communication skills in this six-course program. Learn to communicate clearly and interact effectively with colleagues in the Canadian workplace.
Take your French language experience to the next level by exploring the connection between heart, body and mind in this all-levels yoga series offered entirely in French. Learn or practice your French vocabulary as it relates to movement, breath and spiritual wellbeing.
Other start dates: Sep 07, 2025; Oct 05, 2025; Nov 09, 2025
Sound more natural and confident when you speak English by learning about rhythm, stress patterns, linking sounds and intonation. Understand your pronunciation as it relates to sounds that may not exist in your first language to improve the clarity of your English and increase others' understanding of your speech.
Other start dates: Jul 02, 2025; Sep 08, 2025; Sep 17, 2025; Nov 13, 2025
This course is designed especially for professionals who speak English as an additional language. Improve your pronunciation, fluency and presence in speaking English publicly. Build your confidence in different speaking situations, such as talking to one person, or presenting in a team meeting or in front of a large audience.
Other start dates: Jul 02, 2025; Jul 03, 2025; Sep 17, 2025; Oct 27, 2025; Nov 13, 2025
Learn to communicate with clarity and confidence in a variety of workplace, professional and personal settings. Understand how native English speakers handle conversations at work fluently and effectively by using appropriate words and vocabulary, implied meanings and non-verbal communication.
Other start dates: Jul 03, 2025; Sep 08, 2025; Sep 15, 2025; Sep 18, 2025; Oct 29, 2025
Address more complex workplace communication scenarios. Gain more advanced skills and fluency for negotiating, interviewing and leading meetings and teams. Practise your presentation and public speaking skills, and acquire the language and business vocabulary you need for leading others, teambuilding and training or teaching.
Designed especially for professionals whose first language is not English, this fast-paced and dynamic course empowers you to improve your conversational skills for today's business environment. Develop the confidence to feel successful in one-on-one discussions, workplace meetings, interviews and business negotiations.
Other start dates: Jul 05, 2025; Sep 18, 2025; Oct 29, 2025
Dig deeper into how English sounds are structured to understand your own speech rhythm and patterns and how your first language influences your spoken English. Receive continual and immediate feedback in class to help correct common mispronunciations.
Get an introduced to ASL, a complete visual language with distinct grammar and sentence structures. Learn in an immersive signing-only environment with no spoken English. Our experienced Deaf instructors use ASL, gestures, slides and occasional written English to help you learn.
Learn how to describe family members and how they are related, and how to specify someone's age using American Sign Language (ASL). Formerly Sign Language Lower Intermediate.
Arabic Beginner 1 is designed to help you gain basic communicative ability in Egyptian Arabic, the most widely spoken and understood dialect across the Arabic-speaking world. You will also learn to read and write the beautiful Arabic alphabet.
Speak and hear French from the first day as you quickly gain basic conversation skills to communicate information about yourself, your family and friends, your work, and your daily life. Learn grammar, pronunciation, expressions and vocabulary that allow you to function in everyday settings.
Add to your base of French vocabulary and expressions in order to communicate in everyday situations involving travel, food, shopping, family, and business. Continue to improve your pronunciation and learn to talk about future plans and express past events. This immersive course focuses on oral communication skills and uses meaningful scenarios to help you use the language in authentic situations.
Focus on using French in authentic real-life situations. Continue to expand your vocabulary, and start to elevate your level of language by learning more complex structures with a communication goal in mind. Concentrate on speaking correctly, and distinguishing between the past, present, and future tenses.
Gain basic German conversation skills to communicate information about yourself, your family and friends, your work and your daily life. Learn grammar, pronunciation, expressions and vocabulary that allow you to interact in everyday settings using primarily the present tense.
Learn to share information about yourself and ask basic questions of those around you in Japanese. Learn structure and vocabulary that allow you to function in everyday settings such as introducing yourself, discussing your family and your likes and dislikes. Begin to understand complex language structures in an immersion classroom setting while learning to speak primarily in the present tense.
