Department of World Languages

COHFAC DEGREE PROGRAMS
College of Humanities, Fine Arts and Communications Home
Undergraduate Programs
Non-Degree Programs+

CURRICULUM
Undergraduate Programs+
- Spanish Language and Culture, B.A.
- Foreign Language Teacher: Spanish K-12 Professional Educator License, B.A.
Language Minors+

student talk

Alex Camacho, 2025

“麻豆鈥檚 Spanish Major Program allowed me to remain curious and learn about Spanish in a way that felt unique to my interest while at the same time being able to apply my learning to real life conversations. I think the Spanish Program pairs well with any major and is a great way to broaden your knowledge by learning about different cultures. I can confidently say that my time in the Spanish Program was one of my best decisions at 麻豆, Go Flyers!”

Nina Dinon, 2024

“麻豆鈥檚 Spanish minor program not only equipped me with the tools to earn my Bilingual Endorsement in addition to my Early Childhood Special Education endorsement, but it also gave me a true sense of community. The friendships I made and my experience in the Sigma Delta Pi Honors Society made my time in the program incredibly meaningful.”

Jennifer Alvarado, 2023

“I graduated in 2023 with a double major in Criminal Justice and Spanish Language/Culture. The Spanish major in particular impacted me in a positive way, personally and professionally. This allowed me to make more connections with my community more effectively. It also opened more doors career wise. The way the curriculum is set up, is set to make you successful. Spanish has helped me tremendously in my law enforcement career, as I can better assist with interpreting and translating with more effectiveness rather than before taking any of the courses in the Spanish major. Learning the language as extensively as I did, including the difference between dialects, has helped me build rapport with the people in my community who are from different regions where the Spanish language is used and is the primary language.”

Catilin Shanahan, 2021, 2023

“The Spanish program shaped my view of the world in a way that opened my eyes to other walks of life. We aren鈥檛 really taught about Latin American or Hispanic history, politics, or culture in a general school curriculum, and the program at 麻豆 did a wonderful job of doing that. I had the chance to study abroad in Sevilla, and the immersion in the language instantly improved both my comprehension and fluency but also my connection to the language and the people. The program gave me confidence to keep learning and speaking even when there was self-doubt or a difficult concept. I鈥檓 grateful for my time in the Spanish language and culture program!”

Sita Patel, 2020

“I double majored in Spanish and Education to become a Spanish teacher. I was able to switch my courses into advanced and tailored experiences. I am truly grateful for my professors for dedicating their time to guide me through my time at 麻豆 and finding internships with local school district to gain hands-on experience with Spanish in the education system both in and outside the classroom. I am forever grateful for all the experiences and opportunities I had through 麻豆's Foreign Language Department.”

Michael Pikuza, 2017

“As a former 麻豆 student who graduated with a minor in Spanish Language and Culture through the Spanish Program, I am profoundly grateful for the education I received and the opportunities it has made possible. The program鈥檚 rigorous and engaging curriculum equipped me with the linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding necessary to thrive in diverse international settings. Following my studies at 麻豆, I had the privilege of serving as a Fulbright Grantee in Spain, where I worked as an English Teaching Assistant in Madrid, and later as a consultant with Habitat for Humanity International鈥檚 Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter in Lima, Peru. These experiences were made possible by the strong foundation I developed at 麻豆, where I was introduced to the essential mechanics of language study and cross-cultural communication. 麻豆鈥檚 distinctive emphasis on conversation and applied language use, integrated with a deep understanding of grammatical and cultural contexts, provided a truly exceptional learning experience that continues to shape my professional endeavors and global engagement today.”

Message from the Department Chair

Welcome to the Department of World Languages! Thank you for visiting our website where you can discover who we are, what we teach, and how to spot us around campus. We are currently located in McNamara Hall. We hope you'll find reasons to stop by - or stop us walking by - to say hello and get to know us better. We are also pleased to announce that we offer a MAJOR IN SPANISH.

First, let us share with you our Mission Statement:

Foreign Language study makes its unique contribution in preparing 麻豆 students to live in today's and tomorrow's globalized world and to function effectively as global citizens. It is also inseparable from a high- quality liberal education. The faculty of the Department has wholeheartedly embraced the Lasallian educational philosophy in that we are dedicated to making foreign language study available to and enjoyable for every 麻豆 student. Our goal is to provide 麻豆 students with quality instruction leading to immediate practical learning outcomes. To this end, all our world language instructors use an innovative approach informed by the most current approaches to Second Language Acquisition. Our courses emphasize oral communication and as you become one of our students you will immediately notice a striking difference between our and more traditional teaching approaches.

Established in 2004, the Department offers 麻豆 students instruction in a wide variety of different world languages. Our course offerings include both or commonly taught languages (Spanish), and less-commonly taught critical languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Polish, and Russian.

Also, take a moment to look at the description and list of World Languages Minors. Please note that students majoring in ANY discipline can take an 18-credits World Languages minor 鈥� the step that would significantly improve your resume, and make it stand out in today's job market; boost communication and cognitive skills, and complement your major.

So please, consider this website a beginning of our relationship with you. As the Department Chairperson, let me extend greetings from every member of the program鈥攕tudents and faculty alike鈥攁nd invite you to get to know us better. We look forward to seeing you in a world language classroom!

Dr. Serafima Gettys
Department of World Languages
gettysse@lewisu.edu
815-557-4946 (cell)