Policies

All classes offered through the Language Center observe the following administrative guidelines:

Statement on Academic Integrity and Outside Assistance

All students are expected to read and abide by the Stanford Honor Code with regard to classwork, activities, and assignments related to their language classes. Academic integrity is at the heart of language acquisition: only you are responsible for your own learning and can demonstrate what you can do. Plagiarism refers to the unattributed, direct copying of text and/or ideas from a source other than yourself. In language courses, this includes translations of source material into the target language. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden as a part of Stanford's Honor Code. The use of translation services and apps during language exams, including but not limited to online translators such as Google Translate, is considered to be unpermitted aid and a hindrance to student learning.

Within the context of language learning, digital language tools may be helpful if used judiciously with the guidance of your instructor. Permitted assistance on assignments may take various forms. We expect you to use your textbook, dictionaries and grammar resources in the composition process, aligned with what you are learning in class. Under no circumstances, however, is another person, tool, or service to compose an essay for you or contribute to the ideas or substantive expression of individual assignments. For collaborative or group work, your instructor will issue guidelines on what is appropriate. Your instructor may also ask you to declare the amount and type of assistance you have received on any written or oral assignment.

We do not discourage assistance in the preparation of oral assignments. It is always helpful to have another person listen to you practice your oral presentations and provide feedback on your manner of expression. Under no circumstances is another person, tool, or service to compose or develop the assignment for you or contribute to its ideas or substantive expression. Similarly, it is always helpful to practice conversation with native speakers or someone more knowledgeable as a way to increase your comfort level while preparing for oral interviews. Divulging the content of the interview, as with any exam, is not permitted, as this violates Stanford's Honor Code.

Statement on Disabilities

Students who may need an academic accommodation based on the impact of a disability must initiate the request with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE). Professional staff will evaluate the request with required documentation, recommend reasonable accommodations, and prepare an Accommodation Letter for faculty. Students should contact the OAE as soon as possible since timely notice is needed to coordinate accommodations. The OAE is located at 563 Salvatierra Walk; phone: 650-723-1066; To get started, or to re-initiate services, please visit oae.stanford.edu.

Statement on Inclusivity

All language courses at Stanford are inclusive. Everybody has a name and a pronoun. Instructors are committed to referring to students with the correct pronoun. Please feel free to correct the instructor if there is an error.

Accommodation in Stressful Times

Language instructors care deeply about your well-being. Small classes mean individual support in your language learning. Please speak with your instructor if you are having any academic or personal difficulties. It is very important that we stay connected, especially during troubled times. We can be flexible about assignment and project completion dates. However, we want you to continue to attend class. We are a community and we need to support one another.

Language Center Attendance and Make Up Guidelines

In accordance with University standards, students should plan to attend all class sessions of their language courses and review the respective syllabus for specific details. Language courses are governed by the Language Center guidelines on attendance and make-ups as below, consistent with the Language Center mission.

Attendance Guidelines

Stanford Language Center Course Attendance Guidelines

Please see syllabi of the respective language program for course-specific details.

Students are to attend and actively participate in all hours of language instruction. In first-year instruction, this means 50 hours per quarter. Unless you are in class to hear spoken language geared to your level of acquisition, you will not acquire the ability to understand and interact in the language. Language Center guidelines include the record of absences in the overall final grade rather than in the grading scale (i.e., the performance grade). For the first two absences, for example, each absence of one class might count as a 1% deduction from the final grade, and beyond that, each subsequent absence as a 2% deduction. In this example, a performance grade of 90% with 3 absences would be equal to 86% as the final grade.

Due to the importance of attendance and participation in language classes, students will not be permitted to join a class after missing the first full week of instruction. Shopping is not permitted in language classes.

If a student expects regular or extensive absences from class for some reason (such as athletic performances or job interviews), the Language Center recommends taking a language class during some other quarter.

Students who will miss class for official University-sponsored activities should notify their instructor during the first week of class regarding the date(s) of expected absence(s) and the official activity involved in order to make alternate arrangements. Similarly, emergencies may be accommodated at the instructor’s discretion.

Absence and Make-Up Policy

Stanford language classes are taught in the target language, with priority given to student production and practice. Class attendance and time on task are essential to acquiring active language skills. If students are to become proficient, they must speak with each other and with their teacher. They must read things in common and discuss those readings, and they must articulate their reactions to discussion and materials in real time.

Students who anticipate missing class during the quarter due to official University-sponsored activities or scheduled medical procedures, for example, should notify their instructor during the first week of class regarding the date(s) of expected absence(s) and the activity involved (or, in the case of medical or family emergency, as soon as they are able).

All students who must be absent for health and safety reasons have the opportunity to make up absences. Absences must be made up by the end of Week 8. Please be in touch with your instructor regarding procedures for making up absences. No makeup sessions may be scheduled during the university end-quarter or final exam periods.

Auditing of Language Classes

Per Stanford University policy, auditors are not permitted in language classes.

Requesting a Less Commonly Taught Language

The Stanford Language Center does its best to accommodate students who request language services outside regular Language Center offerings.

Requests for instruction in languages not regularly offered need to be made one academic year in advance of beginning instruction. This time lag is necessary because the Language Center needs to find qualified instructors and to budget for courses outside the regular curriculum. Please use the following request forms to request instruction in a language.

To request an African or Middle Eastern Language not already taught at Stanford: AME Request Form

To request another language not already taught at Stanford: SLP Request Form