Modern Language Program

In addition to the two semester beginning language sequence and the two-semester intermediate language sequence, HPU offers various literature and culture courses in Spanish and is developing courses in Spanish for special purposes such as medical Spanish and Spanish for Business.   Japanese courses are offered through the  4000-level  

According to some sources, there are close to 900 million native speakers of Mandarin Chinese in the world today. It is the official language of Mainland China and Taiwan, as well as one of several official languages in Singapore. It is also spoken widely in Malaysia and Indonesia. Mandarin Chinese is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. 

The Chinese sequence at HPU includes CHINESE 1100 and 1200 followed by CHINESE 2100 and 2200. Each college semester is roughly equivalent to one year of high school Chinese. If you have taken Mandarin Chinese before and plan to continue at HPU, be sure to arrange through your academic advisor to take the Chinese Placement Exam (for more information go to the Center for Academic Success).

You can also take our language study further by studying abroad.  HPU has 3 partner schools in Taiwan, and there are numerous affiliated programs (AIFS, SIT, TEAN that offer sites in China and Taiwan.

Did you know ...? Thirty two nations in the world claim French as an official language, second only to English. French is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. More than one third of the words in the English language come from French.

The French sequence at HPU includes FRENCH 1100 and 1200, followed by FRENCH 2100 and 2200. Each college semester is roughly equivalent to one year of high school French. If you have taken French before and plan to continue at HPU, be sure to arrange through your academic advisor to take the French Placement Exam (for more information go to the Center for Academic Success).

 HPU Cinémathèque brings French cinema (often including films from Francophone Africa) to HPU for a six-week festival each year, and intermediate students can play a role in introducing the films.

 There are more than 40 approved study abroad programs in France including exchange partner programs in Lille, Paris and Lyon.

Students at HPU can choose to minor in two languages: Japanese and Spanish.

Why Study Hawaiian at HPU?

Hawaiian is the language of this land and it is the key to learning about the culture and people of Hawai`i.

In language there is life and the Hawaiian language is preserved here in these islands by those who learn and make the commitment to speak it each and every day. To learn Hawaiian is to be a part of Hawai`i's rich cultural past and to contribute to its future.

Take a class and start learning more about Hawai`i through its beautiful language. The sequence in the language at HPU begins with HAWAIIAN 1100 and continues with HAWN 1200, 2100, 2200. Each college semester is roughly equivalent to one year of high school Hawaiian.

E OLA KA OLELO HAWAII - Long live the Hawaiian language

Did you know ...? Japan has one of the highest literacy rates in the world at over 99%. The popular Japanese comics known as Manga account for 40% of all publications in Japan.

The Japanese sequence at HPU begins with JAPANESE 1100 and continues with JPE 1200, 2100, 2200. Each college semester is roughly equivalent to one year of high school Japanese. We also offer upper-division courses on an as-needed basis. If you have taken Japanese before and plan to continue at HPU, be sure to arrange through your academic advisor to take the Japanese Placement Exam (for more information go to the Center for Academic Success)

HPU offers a minor in Japanese to undergraduate, degree-seeking students. There are numerous opportunities through our student exchange programs to study Japanese language and culture at various sister schools, such as Osaka Gakuin University and Hakodate University. Please contact the Study Abroad Office for more information.

According to some sources, there are around 450 million speakers of the Spanish language in the world today, making Spanish the second most-spoken language (after Mandarin Chinese). Of that large number, between 300 million and 400 million speak Spanish as their first language. Here are some more interesting facts about Spanish:

• There are 44 countries in the world that have 3 million or more Spanish speakers;
• Spanish speakers are among the fastest growing population of Internet users;
• In the US around 34 million people speak Spanish at home;
• Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations

The Spanish sequence at HPU begins with SPANISH 1100 and continues with SPAN 1200, 2100, 2200. Each college semester is roughly equivalent to one year of high school Spanish. We also offer upper-division writing, grammar, conversation, and culture and literature courses. If you have taken Spanish before and plan to continue at HPU, be sure to arrange through your academic advisor to take the Spanish Placement Exam (for more information go to the Center for Academic Success)

HPU offers a minor in Spanish to undergraduate, degree-seeking students. There are many opportunities through our student exchange programs to study Spanish language and Hispanic cultures in Spain and in Spanish America. Please contact the Study Abroad Office for more information.