Institute for Cross-Cultural Training

Through on-campus and online courses, special workshops, publications and consulting, we focus on these three key areas:

Skills for learning a new language
Practical help for those who work with on-field language and culture learners
Preparation for teaching English to speakers of other languages

Online Courses for Learning a Second Language

Our four ICCT fully online SLA courses prepare pre-field and on-field personnel to become more effective and efficient language learners regardless of learning methods – attending a language school, working with a tutor, independent learning, or a combination of approaches.

Our most popular SLA course is for individuals who plan to learn one or more new languages while living in a cross-cultural setting. Most are planning for significant use of the heart-language of the host community. Offered six times each year, and requires approximately 3-4 hours per day for six weeks. Customized to meet individual needs, and includes frequent one-on-one Skype interaction with instructor(s). Flexible scheduling for those with other commitments. Courses start on these dates*:

2018:

September 10 - October 19
October 29 - December 7

2019:

January 7 - February 15
March 11 - April 19
May 13 - June 21
June 24 - August 2
September 9 - October 18
October 28 - December 6

*If these dates do not work for you, please contact us for customized course dates.

SLA for Beginning Learners

This SLA course for non-beginners is for those who already have an intermediate grasp of the language and want to develop the competence needed for deeper conversations in the language of the host community and more meaningful heart-language relationships. Offered six times each year, and requires approximately 3-4 hours per day for six weeks or 1-2 hours per day for twelve weeks. Highly customized to meet individual needs, and includes frequent one-on-one Skype interaction with instructor(s). Flexible scheduling for those with other commitments.

Courses start on these dates*:

2018:

6-week course

September 10 - October 19
October 29 - December 7

2019:

6-week course

January 7 - February 15
March 11 - April 19
May 13 - June 21
June 24 - August 2
September 9 - October 18
October 28 - December 6

12-week course

January 7 - March 29
May 13 - August 2
September 9 - November 29

*Course can last for 6 weeks or 12 weeks. If these dates do not work for you, please contact us for customized course dates.

SLA for Continuing Learners

This course is for beginning learners who need a basic grasp of the language for daily life activities. It is ideal for those who plan to serve 1-3 years and those who may serve longer but do not plan for significant heart-language ministry. Offered multiple times each year, and requires approximately 3-4 hours per day for three weeks, or 1.5-2 hours per day for six weeks. Customized to meet individual needs, and includes frequent one-on-one Skype interaction with instructor(s). Courses start on these dates*:

2018:

September 10 - 28
October 29 - November 16

2019:

January 7 - 25
March 11 - 29
May 13 - 30
June 24 - July 12
September 9 - 27
October 28 - November 15

*If these dates do not work for you, please contact us for customized course dates.

Introduction to Language Learning

For those who plan to serve four years or longer, this course begins with the 3-week Introduction to Language Learning course (listed above) followed by individual coaching, and then an additional 3-week course that is similar to an abbreviated version of the SLA for Continuing Learners course (listed above). The three phases usually span about 7-9 months:

Phase 1: Three weeks of online instruction, requiring 3-4 hours per day, for beginning learners who have been on the field no more than about two months and pre-field learners who will begin language learning within a few weeks.

Phase 2: For 6-7 months of the language learning process, individual coaching by ICCT faculty via email and Skype.

Phase 3: Three weeks of online instruction, requiring 3-4 hours per day, that is highly customized to meet each learner's individual needs.

Courses (for Phase 1) start on these dates*:

2018:

September 10 - 28
October 29—November 16

2019:

January 7 - 25
March 11 - 29
May 13 - 30
June 24 - July 12
September 9 - 27
October 28 - November 15

*If these dates do not work for you, please contact us for customized course dates.

Just-In-Time SLA

Online Courses for Language Coaches

These non-credit courses equip coaches with practical preparation for helping their on-field personnel to be more successful language and culture learners. We currently offer three five-week courses, each addressing a key topic for language coaches.