1. What are my options for earning translation certification?
2. In which languages do you offer Consecutive Interpretation as an academic stream in your translation certifications?
3. Which courses are required for translation certification?
4. How do I determine my proficiency level placement and the course that is the best match for me?
5. How does taking one of your language certificate programs work?
6. What are the requirements for certification?
7. If I need advice before, during or after my course, what do I do?
8. What does each course do as I move up through the proficiency levels in the program?
9. If I enrol in a language course and find the level is too high/low, can I move to another level if you’re offering it that term?
10. May I be a beginner and still study to obtain a certificate in the language of my choice?
11. What class size may I expect in your in-class courses?
12. Tell me about your instructors. Would I have the same instructor throughout the program?
13. What language is used to teach the language I’m learning?
14. What teaching methods are used in your in-class programs?
15. Are the in-class language courses once a week or more than once a week?
16. How often are your language course “starts” during the year?
17. How long do I have to complete my coursework for certification?
18. What is the marking scheme for the in-class courses?
19. Is it all right if I miss a class meeting or two? May I come back and be able to continue the course?
20. Is there homework?
21. What do I receive at the end of an in-class course?
22. What does the in-class course fee include?
23. What if I’m taking the language course to be able to chat on the phone in the language with a branch office of my company abroad?
24. May I register for 1-on-1 private instruction or home study anytime and start?
25. How long is the distance learning language course?
26. Are all distance learning language and translation course assignments mandatory?
27. How do I submit my assignments?
28. Is there a final exam in each distance education language course?
29. What do I receive at the end of the distance learning course?
30. What is the marking scheme?
31. How many hours of study and work does it take to complete a home study course?
32. How many hours a week do students spend on a home study course doing the actual studying and work on the assignments?
33. What do I need in addition to the course materials in order to complete a home study course?
34. What are the technical requirements for your online translation certificate in French?

Q. What are my options for earning translation certification?
A. French, Chinese-Cantonese, Chinese-Mandarin, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, & Spanish are offered through distance learning. Chinese and Japanese are offered in-class. French is available online.

1. In which languages do you offer Consecutive Interpretation as an academic stream in your translation certifications?
French, Chinese, Korean and Spanish.

2. Which courses are required for translation certification?
Students are required to complete three out of the four translation stream courses in the language of their choice:

In the Language of Choice:

• Professional Translation - High Intermediate
• Advanced Professional Translation
• Professional Translation - Post-Advanced
• Advanced Course for Professionals (in the language of choice)

3. How do I determine my proficiency level placement and the course that is the best match for me?
For personalized course counselling and spoken proficiency level placement, call and talk to friendly, expert counsellors at 416/978-2400. You may also fill out the online questionnaire with a legend at the end that indicates what level course you should take based on your score.

4. How does taking one of your language certificate programs work?
It’s easy! You register in the language course of your choice and you are then automatically considered a certificate candidate in that language program. At your own pace you complete the required number of courses which emphasize oral fluency or specialized bilingual skills such as translation. You choose to complete your certificate through in-class courses, home study courses, through private instruction, or online. In consultation with us, you create your own course mix and complete the number of courses required for a certificate either in private or group classes, or through paper-based or Web-based home study. You may finish your certificate in as little as six months or over a three year period. You may start as a beginner and work your way up to an advanced level in the language of choice.

5. What are the requirements for certification?
The Certificate in Continuing Studies in Foreign Languages requires:

1. You register in the language courses of your choice.
2. Successful completion of the required number of courses in the language of choice which are offered in both classroom and distance education formats. (Applicants do not require previous background in the language of choice to begin the program.)  For the certificate in French, Japanese and Spanish, 4 courses are required if you commence at the Beginner level, and 3 courses are required if you begin at the High Beginner level. In all other languages, 3 courses are required.  For certification in translation, 3 courses are required.
3. 75% classroom course attendance and completion. 100% distance learning course assignments completion.
4. Completion of all requirements for certification within three calendar years of date of certification registration.
5. A completed Certificate Form should be forwarded to the Registrar's Office upon successful completion of the required courses. To obtain the Certificate form, please call 416/978-2400 x 2.

6. If I need advice before, during or after my course, what do I do?
We provide one-stop service for all your language learning and certificate program needs. Please contact us by phone at 416/978-2418 or 416/978-5951. We provide course counseling and placement. In addition, we are here to serve you all through your program.

7. What does each course do as I move up through the proficiency levels in the program?
Each course at each proficiency level draws on a set of communications to best prepare you for the next level up; they chiefly include:

• Beginner/High Beginner levels (among other communications): requesting and giving information, relating events (present, past, future), giving directions, making plans, expressing preferences and dislikes, offering opinions, giving advice.
• Low and High Intermediate levels (among other communications): suggesting, persuading, hypothesizing, justifying or challenging an hypothesis, discussion and planning of events, leading or reporting on a conversation, negotiating.

At all levels grammar, expressions of politeness, idioms, and vocabulary necessary for day-to-day communications (i.e., giving your opinion or suggesting) are taught. You build your mastery of the language on this foundation which allows you to engage at your level in everyday, straight forward transactions in any situation.

8. If I enrol in a language course and find the level is too high/low, can I move to another level if you’re offering it that term?
Yes. We offer all levels of our language courses; so you may change levels easily. Speak to your instructor or call the International Languages Dept. at 416/978-2418 or 416/978-5951 to arrange to move to another level.

9. May I be a beginner and still study to obtain a certificate in the language of my choice?
Yes. You do not require previous background in the language of choice to begin your certificate language program.

10. What class size may I expect in your in-class courses?
Our in-class course sizes are limited to 25 students per course, so early registration is strongly recommended.

11. Tell me about your instructors. Would I have the same instructor throughout the program?
Our friendly and approachable educators have experience teaching adult learners and all have university degrees and qualifications to teach the target language as a second language. You will have more than one instructor throughout your certificate program.

12. What language is used to teach the language I’m learning?
All language courses are taught chiefly in the language being learned. At all levels, grammar explanations may be given in English and repeated in the target language.

13. What teaching methods are used in your in-class programs?
Friendly expert language educators serve as coaches in learner-centred classes that stress participation, ability to engage in major communications, pronunciation, grammar, and everyday interactions as well as business communications. We use communicative language teaching and content-based learning methodologies. You may ask your instructor for help appropriate to your level of language proficiency or with respect to communications you need to carry out in your area of professional expertise.

14. Are the in-class language courses once a week or more than once a week?
Most courses meet once a week. In the summer intensives in French, courses meet twice a week.

15. How often are your language course “starts” during the year?
In-class language courses are offered in the Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer sessions. You may also take our courses 365 days a year through the ongoing enrolment option in the private 1-on-1 instruction format.

For distance learning language courses which are available through ongoing enrolment, you enroll at your convenience, anytime throughout the year. Your term begins when you register.

16. How long do I have to complete my coursework for certification?
Successful completion of the required number of courses needs to take place within a three-year timeframe.

17. What is the marking scheme for the in-class courses?
Pass/Fail.

18. Is it all right if I miss a class meeting or two? May I come back and be able to continue the course?
Each class meeting to the extent possible is self-contained in content so that you may miss a class and know that when you return to class you will not be lost. Each class meeting covers new acts of communication and reinforces grammar structures, expressions of politeness, idioms, and vocabulary. Participants are not singled out, put on the spot, and quizzed on content from previous classes. Instead, you complete assigned homework activities which are reviewed by your instructor and returned to you with feedback and evaluation commentary. If you let the instructor know in advance that you’ll miss a class, class handouts and discussion about what was covered in the missed class will be provided to you by your instructor.

We strongly recommend that you miss no more than 2 class meetings (and preferably none) in any one course to ensure maximum progress in learning to express original thought.

19. Is there homework?
Yes. Homework activities supplement your in-class learning, help you retain your learning in long-term memory, and enable you to progress more quickly. This homework is returned to you with personalized feedback. Supplementary assigned homework activities in the form of short spoken or written tasks enable you to assimilate the communication acts, grammar, idioms, vocabulary and material covered in class in order to progress more quickly. The assigned homework, both doable and practical (written and recorded onto audiotape by you), will be given by the instructor, corrected and returned to you.

20. What do I receive at the end of an in-class course?
Upon successful completion of all the course requirements, the in-class Final Project and with 75% attendance in  the course, you will receive an Achievement Report with a Pass/Fail marking scheme.

21. What does the in-class course fee include?
Course fees include course counseling over the phone prior to course selection, diagnostic level placement at the first class meeting, course handouts, customization to the extent possible of the course to suit your needs and personalized feedback on your homework activities.

22. What if I’m taking the language course to be able to chat on the phone in the language with a branch office of my company abroad?
Tell your instructor what you need to be able to communicate in these circumstances. Customized learning activities in the classroom will meet your specific needs; if, for example, you do indeed perform telephone calls in the target language to a branch office, you will be able in class to try out similar transactions during speaking activity role-plays; at class meetings give your instructors input as to what customized activities you wish to have included.

Every in-class language course and every distance learning language course is customized to the extent possible at the level of the individual. You may wish to ask your instructor for help with recurring communications and terminology specific to your area of expertise. For example, you may turn in to your instructor in the form of additional homework beyond what is asked of you, language communications in spoken form on audio-cassette tape along with a written tapescript. You will receive personalized feedback from your instructor on anything you hand in for correction and commentary.

23. May I register for 1-on-1 private instruction or home study anytime and start?
That’s right. You may register 365 days a year to start a course with us. Your term begins when you register. On-going enrolment allows you to register at your convenience, anytime throughout the year, not just for the start of a Fall, Winter or Summer term.

24. How long is the distance learning language course?
You have up to 10 months to complete a distance learning course if you so desire. Each course is a total of 50 hours. You go at your own pace and submit your assignments for feedback and evaluation commentary. Most enterprising students complete a course in 3-4 months and all three courses required for a certificate in approximately six months or less.

25. Are all distance learning language and translation course assignments mandatory?
Yes. All assignments and the Final Project must be completed with ten months of the date of registration. You will receive personalized feedback on all your assignments.

26. How do I submit my assignments?
All written or oral assignments recorded onto audiotape are submitted by mail to the International Languages Dept., School of Continuing Studies, 158 St. George St., University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2V8.

27. Is there a final exam in each distance education language course?
No. A Final Project submission is required and is included in the final assignment packet submission in each distance education course.

28. What do I receive at the end of the distance learning course?
Upon successful completion of the required course assignments and Final Project, you receive an academic Achievement Report with a Pass/Fail marking scheme.

29. What is the marking scheme?
Pass/Fail.

30. How many hours of study and work does it take to complete a home study course?
Each home study course is 50 hours long.

31. How many hours a week do students spend on a home study course doing the actual studying and work on the assignments?
Most students tell us that they do intensive, concentrated studying 5 hours at one time, usually on Sundays, once a week. Most students finish one course in 12 to 16 weeks or less.

32. What do I need in addition to the course materials in order to complete a home study course?
You need to have all your language resources available at all times when studying:

• an up-to-date dictionary in the target language, preferably published after 2001
• a verb book in the target language
• a grammar resource book that has an excellent index which may refer you to a concise explanation of the grammar you have a question about, and provide you with examples.

33. What are the technical requirements for your online translation certificate in French?
Online Courses: Minimum Technical Requirements

If you intend to register in one of our online courses, the following are the minimum system and software requirements.

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