Department of Modern Languages
About the Department
News and Events
September 28
Round table "Hispanics in the Eastern Shore", Hynson at 5:00 pm
October 5
Flamenco master class, Egg at 5:00 pm
October 7
Spanish Food festival, Language Suites at 6:00 pm
October 10
Ethnography as Exorcism: Cabeza de Vaca by Dr. Carlo Jauregui, U of Notre Dame, Hynson at 5:00 pm
"El que habla dos lenguas vale por dos." ("The person who speaks two languages is worth two.")
Learning a foreign language at Washington College truly opens up a world of opportunities. Our faculty have traveled and studied in all corners of the globe, and we want our students to do the same.
All students take at least one semester of foreign language as part of the College-wide distribution requirement, and for those students who are interested in going beyond the distribution requirement we offer majors and minors in French Studies, German Studies, Hispanic Studies, and International Literatures and Cultures. We also offer classes in Japanese and Latin.
Fichte says: "Die Sprache eines Volkes ist seine Seele." ("The language of a people is its soul.")
Thus, while our goal is for students to gain both oral and written linguistic proficiency, it is equally important that they acquire knowledge of literary and cultural production from the areas in which the languages are spoken. As Louis de Bonald says: “La littérature est l'expression de la société, comme la parole est l'expression de l'homme.” (“Literature is the language of society, as speech is the language of man.”). Finally, through studying a foreign language students gain a greater understanding of their own culture and a greater understanding of self.
"Language embodies the world view of a culture and is unique to the culture that created it. It reflects values and concepts that are deemed to be the most important by a culture. A language describes the culture it comes from." Noam Chomsky
Language study can help you in nearly every discipline, including film, art, music, drama, literature, history, education, economics, philosophy, political science, anthropology, chemistry, biology, economics, and business. The Department of Modern Languages will help you prepare for your role in the world after college, whatever, and wherever, that might be.
Weekly Coffee and Conversation
Looking for a way to practice your foreign language skills? The department offers sessions for those interested in practicing their spoken language. All levels are welcome!
- French pause café: Wednesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Java George
- Japanese Coffee hour: Every Wednesday 8:15 p.m. in Chester Hall
- Kaffestunde: Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 in Java George
- Tertulia: Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.in the basement of East Hall (I-House)
- Chinese Conversation Hour from 2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. TBA
Treason
Treason, Washington College's foreign language literary and cultural magazine, gives students the unique opportunity to express their interests and stories through languages other than English. Through this publication, students not only have the chance to voice their opinions about certain ideas and topics, but it also allows them to expand their study and knowledge of language.
Download PDF
