Foreign Language Skills

Peace Corps foreign language requirements vary by language.

Working across cultures often entails verbal and nonverbal languages distinct from your own. Building foreign language skills is thus a second key component of the PC Prep curriculum.

Where would you like to serve? PC Prep minimum course requirements align with those needed by applicants to the Peace Corps itself, which vary by linguistic region.

  • Latin America: Individuals wanting to serve in Spanish-speaking countries must apply with strong intermediate proficiency. Students can satisfy this requirement by completing two 200-level courses.
  • West Africa: Individuals wanting to serve in French-speaking African countries should be proficient in French, or a prominent language in their country of interest. Students can satisfy this requirement by completing one 200-level course in the specified language (typically French).
  • Everywhere else: The Peace Corps has no explicit language requirements for individuals applying to serve in most other countries. However, you will still likely learn and utilize another language during service, so it is only helpful to have taken at least one foreign language class.

Note: If you are a strong native speaker and want to serve in a country that speaks your same language, you can skip this requirement!