2007 Foreign Languages and Literature Newsletter

Language for Success

Mastering a second language is a necessity as business, technology, and nations become more interconnected. Proficiency in a second language gives you an advantage in today’s complex world, expanding your ability to understand cultures beyond your own.

As you study another language and develop communicative skills, you also learn about the people who speak the language. By studying their literature, films, and music, you will develop intercultural skills that will broaden your career options and increase your appreciation of life and other peoples.

Degree Options

Lafayette offers majors and minors in French, German, and Spanish. You may also study Hebrew, Japanese, Russian, and classical Greek and Latin. You may also major in interdisciplinary studies programs with a strong foreign language component such as:

• Asian Studies
• Government & Law and Foreign Language
• History and Foreign Language & Cultures
• International Affairs
• International Economics and Commerce
• Latin American and Caribbean Studies
• Russian and East European Studies

Engineering majors may pursue a two-degree program in which they earn a B.S. in an engineering field and an A.B. in international studies. Students who choose this double degree select a language as part of this program.

The department also offers minors in comparative literature, classical languages and literatures, and classical civilization. Hebrew language courses may be applied to the Jewish studies minor.

The FLL Resource Center

Lafayette’s Foreign Languages and Literatures Resource Center (FLLRC) is a full-service, multimedia facility whose mission is to foster a dialogue between cultures through the appropriate use of educational technology. The Resource Center currently boasts a software development studio, a worldview encounter space with satellite connections, and two state-of-the-art computer rooms (Mac and PC). The latter are used for class assignments as well as self-paced and cooperative learning activities. Students may frequently be seen together producing their own projects, subtitling movies, or working on speaking and listening skills with world-class Divace language learning software. Advanced language students and native speakers of all languages taught at Lafayette are available for help and tutoring. The newest addition to the center is a rear-projection interactive Smart Board, which is used for annotating and editing student written assignments, videos, and presentations.

Big-dish satellite and SCOLA receivers bring international programs into the Resource Center where the news is recorded daily. The center also houses an extensive collection of nearly 1,000 titles of videos, CDs, DVDs, laser disks, and software language learning materials for French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish.

Additional Opportunities

Majors may also take advantage of:

• foreign language teaching assistantships and internships;
• language clubs and conversation tables (French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish);
• foreign film screenings; and
• excursions to New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and the German-speaking regions in Pennsylvania.

Study Abroad

All majors are encouraged to participate in a study-abroad program. It is most common for our students to study abroad during their junior year, either for the entire year or for one semester, or for the summer session.

For detailed information on Lafayette's study abroad opportunities go to the home page of Office of International and Off-Campus Education (IOCE) or contact Dr. Michael Jordan, Director of IOCE, 208 Scott Hall, jordanm@lafayette.edu.

Foreign Language Honor Societies

In addition to Phi Beta Kappa, top students may be invited to join the following national honor societies:

• French: Lambda Tau chapter of Pi Delta Phi
• German: Kappa Nu chapter of Delta Phi Alpha
• Russian: Gamma Ro chapter of Dobro Slovo
• Spanish: Sigma Phi chapter of Sigma Delta Pi

Plan Early

It is highly recommended that you continue with your foreign language studies during your first year at Lafayette if you have taken two or more years in high school. Although you do not declare your major until the second semester of your sophomore year, taking language courses during your first year will ensure the continual improvement of your proficiency. Upon your first visit to the college, plan to visit the foreign languages and literatures department in Pardee Hall and to speak with either the department head or one of the professors. You may also request a tour of our state-of-the-art FLL Resource Center.

Groups and Clubs

• African and Caribbean Students Association
• Asian Culture Association
• German Club
• Hispanic Society of Lafayette
• International Affairs Club
• International Students Association
• Japanese living group (Farber Hall)
• Le Cercle Français
• French and German living groups (Keefe Hall)

Faculty

For general information:
Office of admissions
Lafayette College
Easton, PA 18042
(610) 330-5100
FAX (610) 330-5355
admissions@lafayette.edu