FAQs
Content of Seminars
What will participants learn in the seminars?
All seminars include strategy instruction in and practice with analytical reading in order to synthesize key points, arguments and evidence. Participants will learn to read and summarize excerpts in their discipline, respond to analytical questions about a text, and render short passages into idiomatic English–exactly what they would have to do with secondary research in their work.
What kinds of texts do participants read in the seminars?
Along with instruction in reading strategies in a given language, a unique feature of APRI’s Reading for Research seminars is that they feature assignments for which participants find and work with actual journal articles and other resources in their discipline.
What happens during synchronous meetings?
While each instructor will have their own style and procedures for synchronous meeting sessions, participants can expect some combination of instructor-participant Q&A, review of assignments and common problems, and collaborative and/or timed reading tasks in large group, small group, and individual settings.
What is the expected workload?
APRI does not have predefined guidelines for seminar workload. These are intensive seminars that result in significant development of advanced reading proficiency. Participants should expect around 15 hours of asynchronous coursework each week.
Seminar and Assessment Schedules
Are the seminars asynchronous with flexible deadlines?
While being held online, all seminars have scheduled synchronous meetings. In the case of the Reading for Research Seminars, the Academic Reading Comprehension Assessment (ARCA) serves as the final exam for the seminar and is held during the final seminar meeting.
Do I have to do both the Foundational and the Reading for Research seminars in one summer?
No. Participants who place into the Foundational Reading Seminar are strongly recommended to take both seminars in one summer, but may choose to take only the Foundational Reading Seminar.
Can I just take the ARCA?
No. That exam is integrated into the certification process as the culminating assessment in the Reading for Research Seminars. Participants who are University of Chicago students can email apri@uchicago.edu for information about exam offerings.
Registration, Matriculation, and Certification
Do I have to be accepted to the University of Chicago to take a seminar?
No. APRI’s non-credit seminars are available to participants outside the university who are not enrolled at the University of Chicago.
What is the difference between applying and registering?
Every participant must complete an online application and placement process to ensure appropriate placement into Foundational Reading and/or Reading for Research seminars. After successful completion of the online placement process, seminar participants will be invited to register for the appropriate seminar(s).
Do I receive University of Chicago credits for the seminars?
No. All APRI offerings are non-credit seminars. Those who successfully complete the Reading for Research Seminar will receive a certification. Participants who are University of Chicago students will receive a notation on their transcript.
Does APRI support visa sponsorship from the University of Chicago?
APRI seminars are taught entirely online, which means there is no residency required and as such no visa sponsorship support.
I’m not a University of Chicago student; will my institution accept the certification as fulfillment of its graduate reading requirement?
Participants should check with their own institutions; their Director of Graduate Studies or Dean of Students can answer this question.
What if I want a four skills course (not just reading, but also listening, speaking, and writing)?
Intensive four-skills language courses are offered through the Summer Language Institute.
Can I take multiple seminars in different languages at the same time?
We encourage participants to complete both courses within a given language in one summer, when applicable, but due to their intensive workload we do not recommend taking multiple Reading for Research seminars (and/or Foundational Reading seminars) in different languages within one summer. However, there is no prohibition against this.
Can I retake the placement test?
No. Those who fail a placement test are encouraged to try again next year. If a participant does attempt to take a test twice, their first attempt will be used for their placement.
APRI Offerings
The language I want is not listed; will other languages be offered?
As the language offerings increase, they will be listed at academicreading.uchicago.edu/languages.
What is the difference between the two types of seminars?
The Foundational Reading Seminars are meant to prepare participants for the Reading for Research Seminars so that they successfully pass the ARCA and receive the certification.
How do I know which seminar to register for – the Foundational or the Reading for Research?
For the language level required for each type of seminar, see our Seminars page. You may need to take a placement test to determine which seminar you should enroll in. The placement tests are free and part of the application process.
Cost and Payment
How much do the seminars cost?
The fee for each seminar is $1,500 and will be assessed at the time of registration. UChicago PhD students should contact their Dean of Students for information about registration fees.
How do I pay for the seminars?
Payment is part of the registration process. All major credit/debit cards are accepted.
What if I need to cancel my registration?
Please view our refund and cancellation policies at academicreading.uchicago.edu/policies.
Prerequisites
How do I know if my language level is high enough to perform well in the Reading for Research Seminar and pass the ARCA?
APRI requires that most participants take a free placement test and offers Foundational Reading Seminars to ensure that participants are prepared for the Reading for Research Seminars.
I am an undergraduate student studying one of these languages; can I take a seminar in the summer?
At this time APRI seminars are only open to those who already hold a bachelor’s degree or higher at the time the seminar begins.
Applications for Summer 2025 are now open! Apply now