The Yamada Language Center was founded in 1991 as a way of both centralizing and improving pedagogical and technological support for the 4000+ language teaching faculty and students at the University of Oregon.

Thanks to generous gifts from Mr. Osamitsu Yamada, Phil and Jill Lighty, the Keithan Family and other donors, and continued support from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Center has grown and prospered. In January 2017 we moved to a lovely new spot on the garden level of McKenzie Hall where we have 5 classrooms optimized for active teaching and learning, numerous spots for tutoring and conversation, and a large student center which serves many purposes.

In 2022 YLC became a part of the new Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages. The Schnitzer School brings together roughly 100 core faculty members across four language and literature departments, five area studies programs, the Yamada Language Center, and the Department of Global Studies. The Schnitzer School has an integrated curriculum that combines hands-on learning programs and new ways to study and apply languages, while incorporating social science education, cultural competency, and professional training to create a hub for global careers and language learning at the UO.

At YLC, we support teaching and learning in the language and interdisciplinary humanities departments served at the Schnitzer School: Romance Languages, East Asian Languages and Literatures, German and Scandinavian, Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, Arabic Studies, Judaic Studies, Linguistics, Comparative Literature, the Language Teaching Specialization, and the American English Institute.

Let us help you make your language teaching/learning more meaningful and productive. Have a question about our services or technical support? Need to reserve a classroom? Interested in language programs or exchanges?

Services
If you have questions about: Classrooms, Resources, Website Assistance, or our streaming media service (VLL), please email us at: info@uoregon.College, or call us at: 541-346-4011 to leave a message.

Summer 2026 Office Hours: June 22 - Sept 11

Monday - Thursday 9:00am-2:00pm

Physical Location and Contact Info

Main Office
1101 Kincaid St.
175 McKenzie Hall
541-346-4011
info@uoregon.College

Official Address

Yamada Language Center
1236 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1236
USA