Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Language Institute

Campus Resources

The University of Wisconsin-Madison and MEDLI value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the academic community.

As an institution, we make it our mission to create a welcoming and supportive community for students from every background. For further questions about this promise, please contact us directly at medli@lpo.wisc.edu.

All MEDLI students are considered UW-Madison students for the duration of the program, and have access to a variety of campus resources. Below is a list of some of the resources available while at MEDLI:

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Campus Resources

For additional campus resources, visit the main UW-Madison website

Resources for Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs)

Language Sustainment Resources

Looking for study resources to continue your language study outside of the classroom, or assist you during your MEDLI program? Find your language of study below to explore the resources gathered. 

Arabic Sustainment Resources

Hebrew Sustainment Resources

Persian Sustainment Resources

Turkish Sustainment Resources

Absence Policy

Tardiness and Absence Policies:

The tardiness and absence policy of your instructor may be stricter than the policy listed below and will supersede the MEDLI policies. Please refer to the syllabus of your class for any adjustments to the policies.

Absence:

One absence per semester is permissible.
Two absences in a semester will result in a grade deduction for that semester.
Three or more absences in a semester will result in automatic failure of the course.

Things to note:

  • Absences on days of exams, projects, presentations, etc. will lead to failure of that coursework. There will be no make-ups of exams, projects, presentations, etc. due to absence.
  • Failure of the first/third/fifth semester course prohibits students moving to the second/fourth/sixth semester course, and will result in dismissal from the program without refund.
  • Contact hours for federal grants require that the MEDLI program must end on the last day of class. Requests to leave or take final exams early will not be granted.
  • Pre-program requests for absences will not be granted.

Emergency circumstances for absences can be reviewed on an individual basis.

Tardiness:

Arriving to class on time is important for successful participation in the MEDLI program. Being late to class is disruptive and disrespectful to one’s instructor(s) and classmates, and could result in a marked absence or grade deduction.

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Career & Professional Development

Student Life Resources

Student Wellness

It is just as important to take care of your health and wellbeing throughout the program as any other aspect of your studies. Your instructors, MEDLI Staff, and UW-Madison are all available for you when needed. We understand an intensive program brings its challenges and strongly encourage you to reach out if you are feeling overwhelmed.

Below, are a few resources to help you navigate your well-being throughout the summer. These include ways to check-in with yourself, tips for managing stress, and Campus Services.

  • WISLI Wellness Worksheet is a great first place to start. This worksheet includes helpful questions for reflection, University resources, and more.
  • University Health Services has available mental health, wellness, physical health, and survivor resources available to all students. We encourage you to look at the other UHS services listed under the “McBurney Disability Resource Center and University Health Services” tab.

Student Expectations

What Will Classes Look Like?

Classes will meet online Mondays through Fridays for a minimum of four synchronous instructional hours each day (9-11AM Central Time & 12-2PM Central Time daily, with an hour break in between sessions).

Course materials will be organized in Canvas (See MyUW & Canvas tab) which is the learning management system at UW-Madison. Students may also use digital platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Webex instructor-facilitated class meetings.

All activities, whether synchronous or asynchronous, will be teacher-led, facilitated, or moderated.

Course dynamics can include:

  • Synchronous all-class meetings
  • Daily reflective questions
  • Lectures and presentations
  • Audio and video activities
  • Reading
  • Assignments and tasks
  • Student presentation and interviews
  • Regular formative and summative assignments

In addition to classes, there will also be co-curricular activities to provide opportunities for language practice and use outside of class hours.

MEDLI staff and instructors are committed to students’ language learning goals and will provide support to ensure the highest quality of learning experience possible.

What does MEDLI expect from me?

  1. Daily attendance in class
  2. Your full effort in learning a language, synchronously, asynchronously, and through after-class assignments and study
  3. Respect and courtesy toward your instructors and classmates
  4. Promptness in dealing with administrative matters (registration, payment, etc)
  5. Openness to participating in MEDLI events

What should I expect from MEDLI?

  1. Assistance and encouragement to learn your chosen language
  2. Well-prepared lessons and class activities
  3. Respect and empathy for the difficulties of learning a language, and the added challenge of learning in the remote environment
  4. Engaging and inspiring co-curricular activities
  5. Openness and promptness in dealing with student problems and concerns

Technological Support

Tips for Success

  1. Do the work: This summer’s typical workload consists of 4 hrs of synchronous class time plus extra hours for homework and review. The review time is critical for locking in concepts that you cover in class. If you’re looking for ways to spice up your review time, see the next point!
  2. Go to Office Hours: Your instructors are there to talk you through concepts from class and are a great resource for finding ways to review and practice in your own time. Office hours are the best way to make sure you have control of new grammar or structures before starting your homework and review time on your own.
  3. Make a Plan: Whether for your review time or for group discussions, you need to make a plan. During your synchronous classes or while doing homework, note what doesn’t stick, and reach out to your peers and Instructors to plan how you will address those points in your next session. Think about scripting, reading out loud, asking questions, drills conjugating new verbs, etc.
  4. Share What Works: Connect with your classmates to practice your target language and share your strategy for advancing. Connecting with your peers will not only help advance your technical skills in your target language but also help build a support system and community to lean on now and in your future academic and career ventures.
  5. Do the work: You’re only accountable to yourself.  Take a moment every few days and really look at the time you are putting in, and the effort you’re putting into that time.  If you are struggling, do not hesitate to reach out to your peers, instructors, or MEDLI staff. We know this is an intense program and will do what we can to support you.

My UW & Canvas

MyUW

MyUW is the home of most everything you will need to access for your course while at MEDLI, including:

  • wisc.edu email
  • access to Canvas
  • see your grades
  • set up a calendar

…so much more!

Log in to MyUW: https://my.wisc.edu/

If you have any issues related to MyUW or your wisc.edu email address, including forgetting your NetID and password, please contact the DoIT help desk: https://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/

Canvas Resources

Canvas is the learning management system at UW-Madison. Here you can access your class information, assignments, Zoom links, etc.