About Us
The Division of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Humanities, Tel Aviv University, teaches foreign languages as an academic tool for study, research and professional communication. In addition to academic courses, the Division is professionally equipped to meet the changing and challenging language needs of various groups and organizations. We offer a variety of unique courses tailored to cater to specific needs. Please contact the office for additional information.
The Division of Foreign Languages maintains close cultural ties with several foreign embassies in Israel, as well as with many foreign universities and cultural institutions. We are active in promoting and fostering cultural and educational exchange between countries and are continually seeking new affiliations.
Scholarships for advanced language studies abroad are available to students exhibiting excellence in their studies. Please contact the language coordinator of the Division office for further details.
English
The Division of Foreign Languages offers courses in pre-basic, basic, intermediate and advanced levels. The courses are geared toward improving English reading and other academic skills to enable students to successfully complete University language requirements and function competently in the academic and professional world.
In the advanced English courses, English for Special Purposes is taught using authentic material and assignments related to particular areas of study. There are several different advanced classes in this program, such as English for the Health Sciences, Law, Humanities, Arts, Exact Sciences, Social Work, Social Sciences, Engineering, etc.
The final date for fulfilling English language requirements is determined by the individual faculties (as appears in their separate catalogs).
Exemption from English Language Requirements
Candidates are exempt from studying English if:
- They hold an academic degree from an accredited Israeli university or college
- They have studied in an English-speaking high school (grades 11 and 12)
- They have studied at a university where the language of instruction was English
NOTE: A degree from a college in Israel affiliated with a foreign university DOES NOT grant students exemption from Tel Aviv University English requirements.
English Placement Test
Placement is determined by scores on the psychometric examination or on the AMIR exam.
Psychometric Score | Level |
| 1 – 84 | Fail |
| 85 – 99 | Basic |
| 100 – 119 | Intermediate |
| 120 – 133 | Advanced |
| 134 + | Exempt |
NOTE: AMIR scores are 100 points higher than psychometric scores.
Scores for all placement tests are valid for a period of ten years.
Registration - English
Registration for English courses takes place before each semester through the Internet. Check the on-line student handbook (Yedion) for specific dates. Cancellations and course changes are allowed during the first two weeks of the semester. Students are required to pay in full for classes cancelled after the first two weeks of the semester.
Fees - English
There is a fee (in addition to tuition) for all lower and intermediate level courses. There is no additional fee for advanced level courses, provided the student has paid full tuition for the semester. There is a fee for ALL summer courses.
Summer Courses
The Division offers a variety of intensive English courses on several levels during the summer. Placement is determined by the Psychometric or Amir score, or by authorization from a recognized institution. Summer courses are taught by the same professional staff as during the academic year.
First session
Registration: around the third week in June
Courses: July – August
Second session
Registration: around second week in August
Courses: August – September
Contact the office for specific dates.
Courses in Academic Writing in English for Graduate Students
- Academic Writing for PhD Students in the Arts and Humanities
- Technical Writing for MSC-Engineering Students
These courses are specially designed to serve the writing and oral presentation needs of students in specific disciplines who are doing research and are required to publish papers and participate in international conferences. Students meet with the teacher both in small groups and individually to learn and practice the principles of effective writing and to get feedback on their work. Video, PowerPoint and other technological tools are used to enhance the writing and presenting process. Most students write about their current research and produce authentic work in a variety of genres: abstracts; research articles; grant proposals; chapters of theses; progress reports; oral presentations; academic correspondence/email, e.g., to editors of journals.
English for Business Administration
(Executive MBA Program – Faculty of Management)
This course prepares students to meet the English language requirements for the Executive MBA Program by helping them improve their ability to read authentic professional/academic texts in the field of Business Administration. Some of the topics of these texts include: multicultural issues in international business, leadership training, emotional intelligence and management. Students also employ their listening, speaking and writing skills to activate the process of reading.
Participants work in small groups as well as individually to accomplish the following general objectives:
- Improve reading and writing in English for academic purposes
- Increase speed of reading
- Expand general academic and specialized business vocabulary
- Explore genres used in Executive MBA studies
- Acquire "strategic reading" – reading for different purposes
- Use English to critically analyze current issues in management
- Use the Internet as a resource for reading and research
- Practice oral presentation skills, including use of technological aids
Other Languages
The Division offers courses in: Arabic, Czech, Dutch (the H. Spijer-Kok program), French, German, Italian, Israeli sign language, Ladino, Modern Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Yiddish. These full-year courses are offered on three levels:
- Beginners and Advanced: 4 class hours a week for the entire academic year.
- Post-exemption level: between 2 and 4 hours a week for the entire academic year.
We also offer intensive one-year courses in French and German for students studying toward a post-graduate degree. The courses are intended for students whose department or faculty requires a second foreign language for use as a scientific tool. Students are advised to inquire which languages their individual department accepts as second foreign languages. These intensive courses meet for two 3-hour sessions per week.
Exemption Exams
Exemption exams in the foreign languages other than English are given once a year at the end of August. Sample exams are available from the Student Union in the Mitchell Building and on the website www.professor.co.il. For further information regarding dates and fees, please contact the Division office.
Registration - Languages
Registration for language courses takes place through the Internet before the beginning of the academic year. Students should check the on-line student handbook (Yedion) for specific dates. Course cancellations must be registered with the office during the first two weeks of the first semester. Students are required to pay in full for classes cancelled after the first semester.
Fees - Languages
- No fee is required for students required by their departments to study a second foreign language.
- Students whose departments of study do not require a second foreign language must pay for these courses, depending on their course load for the specific year. Students must check with the registrar’s office regarding individual payment requirements.
- All language courses: NIS 3000 for participants not registered as students with Tel Aviv University.
- Intensive courses: NIS 4500 for participants not registered as students with Tel Aviv University
- Attendance in all lessons is mandatory.
- Students who have missed classes due to illness or reserve duty must present a formal authorization.
- A minimum number of students is required to open a course in any given language.
- Language courses (other than English) are yearly courses.
Business Language Courses
The Division of Foreign Languages offers unique business language courses. These courses are held in the language learning center of the Division of Foreign Languages where participants employ a variety of media, such as multimedia programs and web-based materials.
In these courses participants:
- become aware of linguistic and cultural issues in international business communication
- enhance their knowledge of both general and business-related vocabulary
- improve their oral communication skills (e.g. phone conversations, presentations)
- improve their written business communication skills (mainly e-mail)
- improve their understanding of conversations in business situations
- learn the language needed for a variety of communicative functions (e.g. complaints, apologies, requests)
- learn the rules and conventions of business communication in the target language
become aware of linguistic and cultural issues in international business communication
Students with Learning Disabilities
LD (learning disabled) students must present an official assessment to be awarded accommodations such as extra time on exams. Without official assessment no accommodations will be provided. Division policy is to help students, however, it is the students’ responsibility to inform their teacher of their needs. Formal authorization with clear instructions as to the student’s needs is to be presented to the teacher. Students who have not yet been assessed by a recognized institution should approach the Division for the Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities in the Mitchell Building, room 213.
All exams (English and other languages) for LD students take place on the same day as other final exams.
Some of the texts used in English courses are available on tape or CD. Teachers will inform students regarding availability of these recordings and the procedure for obtaining them.
The Language Learning Center
The Language Learning Center (Sharett Building, rooms 1 & 3), used by students of the Division of Foreign Languages, boasts two rooms with 27 computers with Internet access. The rooms are set up to enable pairs or small groups of students to work cooperatively at a computer.
The center is used both by whole classes that come with their teacher during their regular class sessions, or by individuals during self-access periods. The center gives students the opportunity to watch videos, use off-the-shelf language programs, general-purpose tools such as MS Word, or the many custom-tailored materials prepared for the various Division courses on Virtual TAU.
Location: Max Webb Building (University gates 1, 2, 8)
Telephone: 03-6409465 / 6409681. For messages: 03-6405069
E-mail (administrative issues): DorinA@tauex.tau.ac.il.
Office hours, Max Webb Building, room 202:
Sunday – Thursday, 10:00 – 12:00
Tuesdays, 13:00 – 15:00