Welcome to the Cal Poly World Languages and Cultures Department!
Cal Poly in Spain program (Summer 2026) - Courses count toward the Spanish minor and GE credit!
Next info Session: (TBD). For further information, please contact Dr. Silvia Marijuan (Department Chair) at smarijua@calpoly.edu
Would you like to study in Spain in Summer 2026, explore amazing cities, and earn GE credit while advancing your Spanish?
Join our info session this Wednesday to learn more about the Cal Poly Global Program in Spain.
Depending on your level, you can take your next Spanish course (for example, SPAN 201, 202, 203 or 301/302) and also complete WLC 310 (Cultures of Spain), taught in English, for Upper Area C GE credit.
We offer all levels of Spanish (from beginner to advanced), and all 100- and 200-level courses also count for GE credit in Area C2 - 8 units total.
If you need to start with SPAN 101, we also offer that class—with GE credit!
The program will include visits to several cities in Spain - such as Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, El Escorial, Santander and Valladolid - combining classroom learning with hands-on cultural experiences.
For further information, please contact Dr. Silvia Marijuan (Department Chair) at smarijua@calpoly.edu
Apply for the TAPIF program (2026-27)
This academic year (2025- 2026), three Cal Poly students are participating in the program: two of them are teaching near Lille; one of them is teaching near Grenoble.
"From November 3 until March 15, 2026, apply for the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF), one of Villa Albertine's longest running and most sought-after programs.
Since 1945, the TAPIF program has been at the heart of France’s cultural diplomacy mission in the United States, offering Americans the opportunity to teach English in France. Each year, 1,200 teaching assistant positions in French public schools are allocated to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The Language Assistant Program in France recruits approximately 4,400 assistants annually from 78 countries to teach around 15 languages in the French public school system.
TAPIF is a major initiative led by the French Ministry of Education, France Éducation International, and Villa Albertine, The French Institute for Culture and Education. The program has three main objectives:
- Strengthen English language instruction in French schools by integrating native speakers.
- Provide American Francophiles with a rewarding teaching experience and immersive exposure to French language and culture.
- Encourage students to pursue careers in fields where they can utilize their French language skills.
Program Details
The TAPIF program offers U.S. citizens and permanent residents with an intermediate level of French (B1), the chance to work as teaching assistants in France for seven months (October 1 to April 30). Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are open until March 15 here.
Program Benefits
In addition to salary and health insurance provided to teaching assistants in France, TAPIF alumni have access to significant scholarship opportunities. There are 15 TAPIF Alumni scholarships available at prestigious U.S. universities, including Boston College, Columbia University, the CUNY Graduate Center, Middlebury, and New York University. Additionally, there are 6 TAPIF Alumni scholarships available at French institutions. These scholarships cover between one-third and the full cost of tuition, and some include paid teaching assistantships.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must meet all the following conditions:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a valid passport through the end of the contract in France.
- Be aged 20-35
- Have completed at least three years of higher education.
- Be a native English speaker with intermediate proficiency in French (B1 level on the CEFR scale).
-
Accepted applicants may participate in the program up to three times – four times in total.
-
Job Duties
To be eligible, applicants must meet all the following conditions:
- Assist English teachers for up to 12 hours per week in a maximum of three schools.
- Lead all or part of a class in English.
- Facilitate discussions in English.
- Organize small group tutoring sessions.
- Deliver presentations related to American studies.
-
The contract runs from October 1 to April 30.
Selection Criteria
- French Proficiency
Strong language skills are essential for working in the French school system and integrating into the community. Applicants must provide:
- A 500-word personal statement.
- Official university transcripts
- Scores from a standardized French-language test or recommendation from a university French professor or teacher from the Alliance Française (level B1)
- Recommendation letters: one addressing language proficiency and the other a general professional reference.
- Criminal History Check
- Interest in Education
- Previous experience teaching or working with children, teenagers, or young adults (e.g., tutoring, babysitting, camp counseling) is a plus but not required.
- Applicants should demonstrate an interest in education and a willingness to explore a career in this field, if applicable.
- Skills for Promoting Cultural Understanding
- Experience living, working, or traveling abroad, or working with international communities (e.g., teaching ESL, volunteering at a university international center) is an asset. This highlights an appreciation for other cultures and the ability to adapt to life abroad. However, TAPIF recognizes that this may be the first opportunity for many participants to travel or live abroad.
Starting November 3, 2025, applications can be submitted here.
Application Deadline: March 15th 2026
Our past is multilingual and our future is too!
The World Languages and Cultures Department (WLC), in the College of Liberal Arts, is the most internationally-oriented department at Cal Poly. WLC courses and programs highlight the importance of the study of languages and cultures in a diverse, globalized society. WLC faculty teach courses in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish, as well as General Education cultural studies courses in English. Through WLC classes, activities, and events, students can:
-
build their communication skills and intercultural competence;
-
expand their job and career opportunities;
-
enhance their study abroad and travel experiences;
-
make meaningful connections with communities at home and around the world.
The WLC Department offers a B.A. in Spanish in addition to minors in Chinese, French, German, Italian Studies, Japanese, and Spanish. Students with AP credit may have already earned credit toward a language minor.
We hope you’ll embark on the WLC journey with us!
Cal Poly is in tiłhini, the Place of the Full Moon. We gratefully acknowledge, respect, and thank yak tityu tity yak tiłhini, Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region in whose homelands we are guests.
