Which course is best for you?

Select a course based on your knowledge of the language and the prerequisites listed for each course.

Level I
A beginning course for those who have little or no background in the language.

Level II
For students who can communicate with relative ease in a limited range of everyday situations (for example, greetings, introductions, getting around, shopping, ordering food, and expressing simple feelings and wants).

Level III
For students who can converse on more complex subjects in present, past, and future tense. (Students in Level III courses typically finish a first-year, college-level textbook by the end of the course.)

Level IV
For students who have been introduced to major grammatical forms and who want to build fluency. (Students in Level IV courses typically review grammar and read short stories and articles from magazines and newspapers.)

Level V and higher
These courses are for students who have a good speaking and reading knowledge of the language and can engage in spontaneous conversations and discussions.

Note: Enrollment in all language courses is limited and early enrollment is advised. After the first class session, if you have placed yourself incorrectly, you may transfer to an appropriate level, space permitting.

Download Humanities catalog section

Languages

Learning a new language gives you an entrée into another culture in ways that enrich your social experience and change the way you view the world. UC Berkeley Extension offers courses designed to give you what you need to communicate effectively in another language, whether you want just the basics, seek to build your fluency, or wish to study literature or culture in the mother tongue.

Featured Courses

Spanish for Medical Professionals offers healthcare professionals a thorough foundation for Spanish conversation and comprehension so you will be able to conduct basic professional conversations with Spanish speakers.

Modern Standard Arabic I teaches the Arabic writing system, sounds, basic grammar, and a vocabulary of about 300 words, as well as introduces certain aspects of Arab culture.

Mandarin I covers basic pronunciation, sentence patterns, and reading and writing of Chinese characters.

New! Attic Greek I explores Attic Greek—the language of Thucydides, Plato, and the Greek tragedians—through the study of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary as well as insights into Greek values, customs, religion, and culture.

New! Parlons Français Sans Fautes expands your vocabulary and fluency in French through exercises and discussion that strengthens and refines your oral communication skills. The class is conducted entirely in French.