Languages

Our programs develop your communication skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing, as well as cultural knowledge and collaborative experiences, while you advance in proficiency. 

    How is language competency measured?

    There are two major frameworks for the assessment of receptive and productive language skills: the scale of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR).  This chart from the Goethe Institut in Germany compares these scales.  

    ACTFL scales
    Goethe Institut 

    Our majors engage in advanced level language environments and are trained at B2 levels and above. 

    Sidebar:

    Being Bilingual

    In language learning, students come to realize there is no perfect bilingual person who is two monolinguals in one body.  Multilingualism is dynamic.  Competencies as well as abilities are in constant flux as our lives change.  When learning an additional language, we should strive for and expect to move beyond monolingualism in incremental steps of skill and perception.  There are many levels of bilingualism and bi-cultural awareness that represent an expansion of a person's communicative potential. 

     

    What are the Romance Languages and why is linguistic diversity so important?  View tree and map    

    Languages of the World

    Support us

    We appreciate your financial support. Your gift is important to us and helps support critical opportunities for students and faculty alike, including lectures, travel support, and any number of educational events that augment the classroom experience. Click here to learn more about giving.

    Every dollar given has a direct impact upon our students and faculty.