Department of Modern Languages and Intercultural Studies

Learn a Global Language: Learn French!

When you study French, the world is yours to explore! Did you know that French is officially spoken in 33 countries?! (It is second only to English, with 45 countries.)

French is also the only language, other than English, that is spoken on five continents and is taught in every country in the world.

Surprised? Read On …

• French is the third most used language on the Internet (after only English and German).
• An ability to understand French offers an alternative view of the world through communication with French speakers from all the continents, and news from the leading French-language international media: TV5, France 24 and Radio France Internationale.
• French is both a working language and an official language of the UN, European Union, UNESCO, NATO, International Olympic Committee, International Red Cross and international courts.
• French is the language of the three cities with EU headquarters: Strasbourg, Brussels and Luxembourg.
• A knowledge of French opens the doors of French companies in France, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and North and sub-Saharan Africa. France possesses the world’s fifth largest economy and is the number-three destination for foreign investment.

Thinking Local?

The Eastern Shore is home to nearly 20,000 immigrants from the Francophone island of Haiti, and Maryland is among the top states for Haitian settlement: sixth among the 50 states! Local schools, businesses, hospitals and volunteer organizations actively seek out college graduates who are capable of speaking French.

What Makes SU’s French Program So Unique?

Small class sizes and engaging courses
All French classes at SU are limited to 20 students (and are often much smaller). Whether you are just beginning your study of the language, or are already enrolled in an advanced literature course, you will receive the personal attention that you need in order to progress rapidly. Want proof of our program’s effectiveness? To see what our alums are up, check out the News from Alumni.

SU French courses engage students on a variety of life-relevant and interesting topics (food, comic books, cinema, the Caribbean, etc.) and through practical class projects (community outreach projects, posters, performances, movie dubbing projects…).

Examples of projects:

• Student videos of French dish recipes made for the course “The French and their food”:
  - Les quenelles (YouTube)
  - La Tarte Tatin (YouTube)

SU wants to ensure you get the most out of your French studies: the French program continuously organizes fun events outside-of-the-classroom to practice French and learn more about Francophone cultures. (conversation hours, film screenings, food tastings, outreach to the local Haitian community…) .

Top-notch student-oriented professors

All of your French language courses will be taught by highly-qualified professors trained in the latest pedagogical practices. Upper-level literature and culture courses are taught by professors who have earned their doctoral degrees from the nation’s best universities and who continue to present and publish regularly in their field. One of your SU French professors will also serve as your academic advisor from the moment of your arrival at SU up until your graduation (and beyond!).

Study Abroad Requirement

Our French majors are required to study abroad in a Francophone country through a departmentally approved program. There is no better way to learn a new language and culture than to immerse one’s self! Students are invited to participate in our semester-long program in Lyon, France and in our faculty-led Winter course in the Caribbean island of Martinique. They can also spend a semester, summer or winter term studying in Quebec City, Grenoble, Paris, Cannes, and many more locations! Looking for a truly unique cultural experience? For a complete list of our study abroad partners, visit the Center for International Education.

Thanks to an official agreement with Global Experiences, SU French students can also earn credits toward their major or minor — and fulfill the French major’s study abroad requirement - through an internship experience in Paris, France!

More information about the French Program:

• The French Program at SU (PDF)
• Study French at SU Flyer (PDF)

The German Program at Salisbury University offers students a chance to minor in German through the completion of basic and intermediate coursework at SU's campus, and advanced coursework at one of our partner institutions abroad. Students not only learn the basics of the German language but also are introduced to aspects of German history and culture through classroom instruction and culturally enriching experiences. Have German ancestry and want to know more about your relatives' language and culture? Come join us! We welcome all interested in learning more.

German Club

The German Club is one of Salisbury University’s oldest all student- run clubs on campus under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Since 1972, it has organized and hosted the all campus wide annual Oktoberfest, which has become one of the most popular events held here. The club is very involved in a great many campus activities such as Relay For Life, Habitat for Humanity work days, Student Activities Fairs and Homecoming to name just a few of our activities. The German Club has been named one of Salisbury University’s most active student organizations. Additional activities include camping trips, a Christmas party with German food, and weekly meetings with a German “Stammtisch” every other week. Membership is open to all interested in the German language, culture or traditions.

Discovering Germany, Austria and Switzerland Through our Minor

After completing their beginner and intermediate language courses at Salisbury University, students may complete their German minor abroad by taking advantage of the numerous opportunities available through our the Center for International Education. There are many programs available for transfer credit with our partners in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Salisbury University has a very successful consortium agreement with Philipp University of Marburg which allows students to take courses in Marburg, Germany (in the beautiful state of Hessen) that will apply directly towards their German minor at SU. SU's professors and their colleagues at SU's partner institutions abroad are here to help you discover the German-speaking world!

We are the only department on campus to say: “Welcome to SU ... now please go away!” We require study abroad as a part of being a Spanish major. We have many programs and resources to help you get to where you want to go. Our Málaga, Spain, Summer Study Abroad (SPAN 309) program runs for five weeks in this beautiful Mediterranean city. Our Cuenca, Ecuador, Winter Term Study Abroad program takes you to the Andes mountains in the land of “eternal Spring” for four weeks, while our Argentina Winter Study Abroad program (SPAN 300: Studies in Contemporary Culture) introduce you to the richness of the culture, history, literature, art, music, and dance of Argentina. Both winter seminars are offered alternatively. All summer and winter programs are faculty led. Other exciting abroad programs (including semester programs) and additional resources can be found at SU’s Center for International Education.  

SALE (Spanish Applied Learning Experience) Internships with local partners: “SALE,” from the verb “salir,” means that someone is leaving or going out, and this is exactly what this internship experience is designed to do—to get you out of the classroom to apply your skills and knowledge to “real world” settings. SALE partners have included the Telemon Corporation, a local immigration law firm, and the Wicomico Family Support Center, to name a few.

Talking Up Spanish

The Spanish Club and OLAS (Organization of Latino American Students) are campus organizations run by students under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Both clubs are very active and student-driven. They sponsor yearly film festivals which feature some of the latest films being produced in the Spanish-speaking world. Additional activities include monthly meetings, Spanish-only “tertulias” at local restaurants, volunteer work, elementary school tutoring, and dance gatherings.

Dedicated Gateway Courses: Making Connections Through Speaking and Writing Spanish Oral and Written Composition (SPAN 310)

Our dedicated oral and written composition course is designed, in part, to introduce students to various national standards – such as the Five Cs – and to make linkages between these standards and the Liberal Arts. All majors are required to take this course in order to prepare them for upper-level courses in literature and culture (SPAN 310 is a pre-requisite for all courses above SPAN 202).

Spanish for Heritage Speakers (SPAN 313): SU’s Hispanic/Latin@ students can take advantage of a course specifically designed for heritage or native speakers of Spanish. Spanish 313 is offered each fall, and provides a practical alternative to our bridge course, Spanish 310. This course fulfills an important need as more and more Latin@ students decide to major in Spanish at Salisbury University.

Discover 21 Spanish-Speaking Countries

Just taking a few courses in Spanish? This means that you are missing out on the chance to conceptually travel through coursework to many of the 21 countries which make up the Spanish-speaking world! Our major program focuses on culture for this very reason. You are required to take two culture and civilization courses, and nearly all of our elective courses center upon a cultural topic, such as “Hispanic Culture Through Literature” or “Latinos in the U.S.” or “Hispanic Film.” In your two required literature courses, you will read many Nobel Prize winning authors, such as Gabriela Mistral and Juan Ramón Jiménez.

The Department's mission is to foster students' abilities to think critically, and to communicate accurately and creatively, in another language. Critical reflection in our department often centers upon the products, practices, and perspectives of language communities both within and outside of the United States. The course offerings for the major and minor programs are based upon the following academic disciplines of language study within a liberal arts tradition: literature, cultural studies, and applied linguistics.

In the four skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), a major in French and Spanish should expect to reach the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) advanced-low level, while a minor in French, Spanish, or German should expect to reach the ACTFL intermediate level. This expectation is supported by the department’s belief that a study abroad immersion experience is the best way for students to attain linguistic and cultural proficiency.

With a liberal arts degree from the Department of Modern Languages and Intercultural Studies, language majors have many career options available to them upon graduation: education, international education, international business, media, journalism, government and social work, the medical and legal professions, tourism, and many others. The major also prepares students for graduate work in literature, linguistics, education, and cultural and international studies.

If you decide to major in French, Spanish, or secondary education for either language, you will be required to participate in a study abroad experience. As our mission states, we believe that an extended stay in another country is the best way to attain cultural and linguistic proficiency for the target language and related region. You may take advantage of our “in house” department abroad programs in Argentina, Ecuador and Spain, and our internship program in Paris, France, or explore additional opportunities by visiting the Center for International Education. If you choose a department program, one of your SU professors will lead the trip. Our faculty are deeply committed to study abroad.

Semester Programs: The department offers a semester-long study abroad program in Lyon (France), in Cuenca (Ecuador) and in Malaga (Spain).

Winter and Summer Programs: We also have a summer program in Malaga (Spain), a summer seminar in Seville (Spain) and two winter seminars: one in Cuenca (Ecuador) and one in Argentina, which are offered alternatively. Those summer and winter seminars abroad are faculty led.

Students can also use a third-party provider to go study abroad in any Francophone or Spanish-speaking country for a semester or for a shorter term. The department also collaborates with the company Global Experiences to offer students semester-long internships in Paris for SU credit.

For detailed information on SU's study abroad programs, contact the Center for International Education.

Following a growing national trend in this area, we offer classes in the LCTLs each year. Current offerings include: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean, Russian, and American Sign Language. Contact the department for more information about these language opportunities and upcoming offerings.

Our alumni span the globe! Check out our News from Alumni to see what they are up to.

The department sponsors these student organizations:

• Pi Delta Phi - National French Honor Society
• Sigma Delta Pi - National Spanish Honor Society
• La Société Française - French Club
• German Club
• Spanish Club
• CSA - Caribbean Student Association

Dudley-Eshbach Study Abroad Scholarship

This $1,000 scholarship is given for the purpose of supporting a student who wishes to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country in Latin America.  Scholarships are awarded annually, for any term (winter/spring/summer/fall), for a program of a minimum of four weeks in duration. 

Apply for the Dudley-Eshbach Study Abroad Scholarship Online

Requirements:

• Individuals must have a declared major or minor in Spanish and/or Latin American Studies
• The student must demonstrate financial need.
• The student must be accepted into the study abroad program, and said program must be a minimum of four weeks in duration.
• The student must be full time and have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in all college work already completed, including transfer work, if any.
• The student must submit two letters of recommendation. Letters should be addressed to "Selection Committee" and should speak to the student's overall excellence and qualifications to succeed on a study abroad program.

Knowles Foreign Study Scholarship

The John K. Knowles Foreign Study Scholarship was established by Dr. John Knowles (SU Spanish faculty 1971-1997) in order to expand study abroad opportunities for students studying a foreign language at SU. An application to the John Knowles Scholarship has two goals:

1. To receive funds that will help offset study abroad expenses
2. To serve as practice for more demanding grants and applications in the future

For that reason, your application must be:

• Read the questions thoroughly!
• Well-written. Pay attention to grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and spelling (Use spell check!) If you are unsure of the quality of your application, please visit the Writing Center for help.

Scholarship requirements:

• Students must be at the sophomore rank or above
• Be a foreign language major or minor at SU. Please make sure to officially declare your major / minor before applying to this scholarship
• Submit an application which describes their personal and academic goals and how these will be met by a study abroad experience.
• An unofficial transcript must accompany the completed application.
• Students are expected to participate in Departmental activities that promote study abroad upon their return to campus.

Scholarship recipients are encouraged to keep the Knowles fund alive by donating to the Knowles Scholarship Fund through the University Foundation in the future.

Apply for the Knowles Foreign Study Scholarship Online

Maryland Hispanic Achievement Scholarship

Nelcy Avila (B.A. Spanish Secondary Education and B.A. International Studies) won the Maryland Hispanic Achievement Scholarship in the fall of 2017. Event was held at the Fillmore, Silver Spring.

Outstanding Foreign Language Student Award

• 2018 – Madison Hill
• 2016 – Amanda Raniolo
• 2015 – Brett Cohen
• 2014 – Preston Luckett
• 2012 – Jamie Avery
• 2011 – Stephanie Nhem
• 2010 – Evelyn Michael
• 2009 – Ashley Eschenburg
• 2008 – Laura Schatz Hazen & Christina Pecora
• 2006 – Amanda Kinsel

Outstanding Spanish Major Award

2017 – Miranda Haney

Sale (Spanish Applied Learning Experience) Internship In Salisbury

• STEP ONE – READY!: Contact Dr. Louise Detwiler, our department’s internship coordinator, for available internships. Past community partners in Salisbury have included: The Migrant Clinician’s Network, The Telemon Corporation, La Casita, the Wicomico Family Support Center, Pinehurst Elementary, and Bennett Middle School, among others.
• STEP TWO – SET!: Once approved by a faculty mentor, the community partner, and the chair of the department, sign up for SPAN 498 (Internship). Four credits are usually awarded for one semester’s worth of service. The experience/course, if available and approved, may be repeated for a total of eight credits. SPAN 498 counts toward your major or minor.
• STEP THREE – GO!: You will perform a minimum of six hours of service per week over a 13-week period with an approved community partner. Additionally, you will meet for 50 minutes biweekly in seminar for discussion of assigned readings and reflection.

Global Experiences

SU French and Communication Arts major Caitlin Cleveland completed a semester-long internship in Paris, France, at EICAR - The International Film and Television School - through SU’s partnership with Global Experiences. Other past internship placements have included the humanitarian organization Demain Nos Enfants, the reality gaming start-up Caitlin Cleveland at the Louvre in ParisVirtual Regatta, a boating rental agency on the Seine River Boaterfly, and the National Institute of Sport Expertise and Performance in Paris (INSEP). Visit Global Experiences for opportunities abroad for both French and Spanish.

The Washington Center

Spend a semester in Washington, D.C., with The Washington Center. You will need to take courses there in the target language in order for the experience to count toward your major or minor. We can help you with your plans at each step.

Nonprofit Leadership Alliance

Interested in working with nonprofit organizations? Consider becoming a Certified Nonprofit Professional through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. Contact Salisbury University’s NPA Director, Dr. Carolina Bown, for more information on this opportunity and many, many more!

Below you will find links to frequently used documents and links for our department faculty.

Advising Links:

• Academic Advising Center

Internal Professional Development Links:

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• Travel Forms and Instructions
• Fulton Faculty Grant Instructions and Application
• Faculty Development Committee Grant
• SU Foundation Grant

External Professional Development Links:

• Association of Departments of Foreign Languages
• Latin American Studies Association (LASA)
• Modern Language Association

Internal Teaching Links:

• Student Handbook
• Student Affairs
• Instructional Design & Delivery at SU
• Committee on Human Research

External Teaching Links:

• ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages)
• FairTest (National Center for Fair and Open Testing)
• CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educador Preparation)

Internal Service Links:

• Faculty Senate

Proficiency Testing for Faculty and Students:

• OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview)
• DELE Exam (Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language)
• DELF/DALF Exam (Diploma of French as a Foreign Language)