Languages and Cultures

Faculty

Distinguished Professor: Robert von Dassanowsky
Professors: Edgar Cota-Torres, Robert von Dassanowsky, and Fernando Feliu-Moggi (Chair)
Professors Emeriti: Douglas McKay
Professor Emerita: Inés Dolz-Blackburn
Associate Professors: Teresa Meadows
Senior Instructors: Andrea Brehm, Suzanne Cook, Carmen Frank, Blanca Glisson, and Maria Goni
Instructors: Allison Tyler, Mioko Webster, and Ida Wilding
Senior Instructor Emerita: Ilse Stratton

The University of Colorado considers the study of languages an essential part of a sound liberal education. Competence in a language other than English promotes international understanding and communication, and increases students’ career opportunities in fields such as commerce and finance, government and diplomacy, library science, education, social work, criminal justice, publishing, communication, scientific and technical research, medical professions, media and the arts. It also prepares them for graduate school, which normally requires proficiency in at least one foreign language. Students might consider taking language classes, minoring in a language, or completing the certificate in European Studies as excellent complements to their major.

Programs of Study

Basic courses are also offered in Arabic, Chinese, Greek (Classic or Koiné), Italian, Latin and Russian. Courses in Greek and Latin satisfy requirements in the Classics minor. Students desiring to major in American Sign Language, French, German and Japanese may do so through a Interdisciplinary Studies, BA or by completing requirements for the major in French or German at the Boulder campus, by approval of the appropriate Boulder department.

Language courses at the 1000 and 2000 levels introduce students to essentials of grammar, reading, oral fluency, and aural comprehension, as well as to a general understanding of the cultural context. Courses at the 3000 and 4000 levels are taught almost exclusively in the language and help students develop higher levels of competency and application of all language skills assessed through and practiced in a broad cultural and historic context.

Foreign culture studies courses are designed to give students the opportunity to explore different facets of foreign culture, film, and literature in courses, including on-site experiences.

Study Abroad

The department strongly recommends that all majors and minors include study in a setting where the language of concentration is spoken. Credit earned will normally count toward satisfaction of the major/minor requirements, but the student must see the department chair before enrolling in an external study program to assure full transfer of credit. The Department offers opportunities for study abroad in Spanish-, French-, and German-speaking countries. Additional options are available through exchange programs, third-party programs, and field studies courses. The Global Engagement office can help explore these additional options. The National Student Exchange Program also offers options for study abroad in Francophone Canada and Puerto Rico.

Additional Language Courses

Arabic
A language of intense historical, cultural and strategic importance in the contemporary world and the official language of twenty-two countries, Arabic is a strong corollary to studies in the arts, business, diplomacy, literature, history and philosophy.

Chinese (Mandarin)
Chinese is the most widely spoken first language in the world and is the language of one of the world’s oldest and richest cultures. The study of the Chinese language opens the way to important fields such as Chinese politics, economy, history or archaeology and complements future careers in business and diplomacy as well as studies in the arts, literature, history, philosophy and others.

Italian
The language of the great literature of the Renaissance, grand opera, and the influential neo-realist cinema, Italian is not only a language of artistic achievement, but one of strong American ethnic heritage and international business.

Greek
Greek has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language. Classical Greek is the language of Homer and the great works of literature and philosophy which are the foundations of modern mathematics, science, and western cultures. Classical Greek is a strong corollary to studies in the arts, sciences, and literature.

Latin
With 50 percent of English vocabulary derived from Latin, it is not surprising to discover that students who have studied Latin score about 150 points more on such standardized verbal tests as the SAT than do students who have not had Latin (Washington Post). Latin is also the basis of the five romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Rumanian) and as such helps students with further language study.

Russian
Russia, expanding in social and economic importance, has a history of great literature and great art. Turgenev, Dostoyevski and Solzhenitsyn as well as the artistic treasures of the Kremlin are revealed through a study of this language.