Program Overview

Introduction to the Utah Nahuatl Language and Culture Program

The Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Utah, in partnership with IDIEZ (the Instituto de Docencia e Investigación Etnológica de Zacatecas, Mexico), offers a summer intensive language program for Nahuatl, a Uto-Aztecan language spoken in Mexico. This program has grown to become the most robust Nahuatl program in the country and annually hosts students and scholars from across the country and abroad.

Program Details

About the Program

• Dates: June 23rd - August 1st, 2025
• Location: University of Utah Campus
• Program Application Due: March 31, 2025
• Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) Funding Application Due: January 31st, 2025
• Eligibility: The program is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, community members, and the public at large over the age of 18.

Course Objectives

1. Develop students’ oral comprehension, speaking, reading, writing as well as their cultural wisdom and sensibility in order to communicate effectively, correctly, and creatively in everyday situations
2. Provide students with instruments and experiences that demonstrate the continuity between past and present Nahua culture, through the study of colonial and modern texts and conversation with native speakers
3. Penetrate the historical, economic, political, social, and cultural aspects of Nahua civilization
4. Prepare students to take university-level humanities courses taught in Nahuatl alongside native speakers

Application Deadlines

• January 31st, 2025: Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) Funding Application Due
• March 31st, 2025: Summer Nahuatl Program Application Due

Credit

• Students who complete this intensive language course will be awarded 6-8 credits (8 credits for beginner and intermediate and 6 credit for advanced), equivalent to two semesters of intensive coursework.
• These credits are awarded by the University of Utah and students seeking to transfer their credits institution will need to work with their home academic institution to confirm and process the transfer credits.

Program Cost

• Tuition: $5,000
• Room and board are not included in the $5,000 tuition.
• Housing on campus: Available in shared apartments (2-4 bedrooms, and a kitchen) with approximate costs for on-campus housing ranging from $1,400 to $1,700 for 6 weeks.

Financial Assistance

• FLAS Fellowships: Cover the $5,000 tuition and provide an additional $2,500 stipend that can be used for housing and other incidentals.
• Partial tuition assistance: Available for students in financial need.

Student Testimonials

• The program has received positive testimonials from past students, highlighting the program's effectiveness in improving language skills, cultural understanding, and providing a holistic learning experience.

Conclusion

The Utah Nahuatl Language and Culture Program offers a unique and comprehensive learning experience for those interested in Nahuatl language and culture. With its intensive language course, cultural activities, and financial assistance options, this program is an excellent opportunity for students and scholars to immerse themselves in the language and culture of Nahuatl.