Self-Instructional Language Program at Trinity College

What is “SILP”?

Through the Self-Instructional Language Program (SILP), Trinity undergraduates may study practically any foreign language in which regular courses are not offered, provided that suitable instructional materials are available and the College can locate both a qualified tutor and an academic specialist in the language to serve as the examiner.

How does it work?

The emphasis in SILP is on self-instruction.  Thus, only strongly motivated students who have the self-discipline to work effectively outside the structured environment of regular courses should consider applying to the program.  If admitted, they will study their language of choice independently, using a textbook and other written materials (e.g. workbooks), plus audio- and/or videotapes.  Each week, they will meet for one 90-minute session with a tutor.  Tutors are native speakers of the language, but they are not, as a rule, professional language teachers.  Therefore, students should not expect them to engage in the full range of instructional activities that teachers in regular courses do.  The key to learning a language through SILP is the student's own self-instructional efforts.

How do I get credit?

At the end of the semester, a specialist in the language at an accredited American college or university will examine the student and determine his or her grade.  Each semester of successful SILP study is valued at one course credit.  At the start of each semester, the examiner will specify to the student (and also to the tutor) the parts of the textbook and the tapes for which the student will be held responsible on the examination.

What levels of instruction are available?

Most SILP languages may be studied at the introductory (101, 102), intermediate (201, 202), and advanced (301, 302) levels, but in some cases it is not possible to go beyond intermediate.  Students with any significant amount of prior familiarity with the language may start at the 201 or 301 level.  In such instances, the examiner (or sometimes the tutor) assesses the student's proficiency before the start of SILP study and determines the appropriate level of placement.

In recent years, students have successfully completed SILP units in the following languages:

American Sign Language                          Swahili
Thai                                                     Czech
Vietnamese                                           Korean
Hungarian                                              Portuguese
Polish                                                   Serbian/Croatian
Dutch                                                   Finnish
Norwegian                                             Swedish
Modern Greek                                        Tongan

What are the costs and who do I contact?

SILP students are responsible for purchasing their textbook(s), as well as any other required print materials. The College loans them tapes. To help defray the cost of the tutor's compensation and the examiner's fee, students are assessed a $400 tuition surcharge each semester they are enrolled in the program.

SILP is administered by Ms. Isabel Evelein who can be reached by email at isabel.evelein@trincoll.edu

Trinity is a member of the National Association of Self-Instructional Language Programs.  For more information about NASILP, please visit the NASILP Web Site.