World Languages

The Department of World Languages seeks to advance world language proficiency by educating our students so that each individual can participate in and appreciate the increasingly diverse and multi-cultural society in which we live. We strive to provide students with an opportunity to gain knowledge of the cultures, literature, and grammatical structures of French, Latin, and Spanish. The department pledges to broaden our students’ command of the target language in both the written and oral aspects so that each student can acquire a deeper proficiency, understanding, and appreciation of world cultures and social diversity.

The department strongly recommends that a student take two consecutive years of the same world language for unconditional college acceptance. We encourage students to broaden their knowledge of a world language by studying more than the minimal two years often required by colleges and universities. Please check with the institution of your choice for their specific admission policies.
 
For continuation to the second level of a world language course, the department requires a C semester average. This will provide a firm foundation for continuance to a more demanding level two language course. If a student does not have a C semester average, he or she may choose from the following options:
 
1. Choose another language to study, beginning at the first level: French or Spanish. Due to the difficulty of Latin, we do not suggest this language as an alternative.
 
2. If the student would like to continue on with a level two language class, we strongly suggest outside tutoring over the summer to prepare for the advanced difficulty of the second year. It is extremely important to have a solid foundation of the language’s fundamentals before pursuing more advanced concepts. If this option is pursued, a waiver form must be signed, acknowledging the choice to oppose the department’s recommendation.
 
The department offers world language placement exams (consisting of a written exam and an oral interview in the target language) for all incoming freshmen and transfer students to test the student’s ability in and prior exposure to a world language. We strive to place each student in the course that is best for that individual’s academic progress and success.