Modern Languages

French, German, Spanish, Other Foreign Languages

Morgan Hall
Room 375
Tel.(785) 231-1010 ext 1714
Fax (785) 231-1067
languages@washburn.edu
www.washburn.edu/cas/ml

The Faculty
The Major
The Minor
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Source: 2005-2006 Catalog

In keeping with the mission of Washburn University and the College of Arts and Sciences to provide a liberal education as a force for continual learning, the Department of Modern Languages seeks to prepare students to be linguistically competent and literate in the culture(s) of the countries studied. It offers majors and minors in French, German and Spanish as well as a one year (or two) in Chinese and Japanese, in order to meet the goals of our various constituencies. Thus, the Department aims to serve students who:

• major or minor in a foreign language
• must fulfill the foreign language proficiency requirement (BA degree)
• wish to combine foreign language with a professional program, e.g. business
• plan to teach
• plan to go on to graduate school.

The Department of Modern Languages offers a Minor in International Studies and in cooperation with the School of Business a Minor in International Business.

Student Learning Outcomes

Modern Languages students at Washburn University, upon graduation, are expected to have:

• engaged in conversation, provide and obtain information, express ideas and emotions and exchange opinions in the target language, on a wide variety of topics, at an advanced level with accurate pronunciation and intonation;
• acquired the ability to understand, interpret, discuss and explain in the target language a variety of written and spoken non-technical topics;
• used with accuracy the grammar, syntax, and basic vocabulary and idioms of the target language;
• acquired the ability to understand relationships between historical and current practices and perspectives of the culture(s) where the target language is used; and
• acquired the ability to understand the institutions, history, social practices, literary tradition(s) and culture(s) of the countries studied, including their socio-historical background and/or their literary significance;

Placement

Students beginning the study of a foreign language who have had no more than 1 to 2 years in high school should enroll in the 101 level. Those who have had 3 years of recent high school foreign language instruction with a minimum grade of B are eligible to enroll in a 102 level class. Students with 3 to 4 years of recent high school foreign language with a minimum grade of B may enroll at the 211 level.

On the basis of examination scores and consultation with the student, the department may grant 0, 4 or 8 credit hours for the CEEB Advanced Placement program. Students should request that their examination scores be forwarded to the department chair.

Rules excluding freshmen and sophomores from junior-senior courses (numbered 300 and above) do not apply if the student's preparation warrants placement at the upper division level.

Study Abroad Opportunities

The department offers semester or academic year direct exchange programs in Austria at the University of Klagenfurt, in France at the University Blaise-Pascal in Clermont-Ferrand, and in Spain at the University of Cantabria. Substantial scholarships are available for language majors and minors with a 3.0 GPA.