Language Development Opportunities

One of the aims of the VU-MMC Framework Grant is the development of multidisciplinary curricula and training opportunities, including topic-specific core competency modules to promote the development of key skills that facilitate the expansion of research, education and service initiatives in global health. Foreign language skills are an integral part of these activities, and access to quality language instruction and thus translation support services to assist participants with their endeavors is an important aspect of developing a comprehensive training framework.

Vanderbilt University benefits from strong undergraduate and foreign language programs in Chinese, French and Italian, Japanese, German and Slavic Languages, and Spanish and Portuguese.  Other schools, such as the Owen Graduate School of Management and the Law School, have worked closely with Vanderbilt’s English Language Center to develop courses in Spanish and Chinese language and culture for their professional students.  The English Language Center also provides a range of English Language courses for foreign students and scholars. Courses in Medical Spanish and in Portuguese are offered to staff in various departments throughout the Medical Center, and two researchers in the Department of French and Italian are developing a Medical French program.    

For languages that fall outside of the scope of campus offerings, the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute located in Nashville offers courses in a multitude of languages, and translation services. Another Nashville company, Open Communication International (OCI) provides interpretation and translation services.