"English Only"? Protect Languages at UOG!

The purpose of this website is to preserve the traditional education provided to our university students with two required language classes: regional Asia-Pacific languages, including Chamorro, Japanese, Tagalog, Chuukese, and others, as well as French, German, and Spanish, at the University of Guam.

Students and faculty of the University of Guam learn, teach and serve in order to preserve the essential strengths of our region’s cultures and natural resources and to use those strengths to cope with current and future challenges. The perpetuation and revitalization of the Chamorro language and the learning of second or foreign languages are critical for the continuing excellence, cultural skills, and global capacity of the people of the Chamorro archipelago and the Micronesian region.

The Faculty Senate of the University of Guam recently endorsed a proposal, with some dissenting votes, in November 2016 to sharply reduce the traditional language requirement from two language courses to one language course. The Senior Vice President now is asking the deans to review the proposal and to seek further input for review and action on the proposal to change the General Education curriculum at the University of Guam.

We, the authors of this website, outline the ten most important arguments for maintaining the current language requirements at the University of Guam. We invite you to express your support for language learning at UOG and the traditional cultures of Guam and the Micronesian and broader Asia-Pacific region and heritage by adding your name to the list of supporters and by providing additional comments why language learning at UOG should be maintained and advanced, not reduced.