About the Department
Welcome to the Department of Foreign Languages.
In choosing a foreign language as an area of study, you will not
only be preparing yourself for an interesting and rewarding career
but you will also be learning to better comprehend the world in
which we live and work.
Students at Berea College can take courses in, major or minor
in, Classical Languages (Latin and Greek), French, German, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.
Classical Hebrew is also taught. Beginning courses are taken by
those who have no previous foreign language experience. For students
who have had some foreign language study in high school or elsewhere,
a waiver test, administered by members of the Foreign Language
Department, usually determines the proper advanced level, either
in the language (including conversation) or literature. Up-to-date
methods and aids, including a digital language laboratory and computer
assisted instruction are used to provide the excellent instruction
in all foreign language courses.
All the language programs at Berea College are designed to help
students learn and understand the language, literature, and culture
of others countries. A major emphasis in the modern languages is
on developing an ability to speak, read, and write in French, German,
and Spanish. An important step in reaching these goals is our Term
Abroad Program. Foreign language students may qualify to study
either in Germany/Austria, France, Italy/Greece (for classical
studies), Mexico or Spain, with a percentage of the expenses paid
by departmental grants. All students have the opportunity to study
and travel in Europe, Asia and Latin America during the summer.
Students taking foreign language courses also have the opportunity
to take part in activities on campus throughout the year. There
are clubs, language tables, and foreign films.
The Labor Program provides still another way to pursue an interest
in foreign languages. Within the department, jobs are available
for tutors, language laboratory and teaching assistants, secretaries
and clerical assistants.
Why Study Foreign
Languages?
If you decide to include foreign language
in your studies at Berea, you will find that you have taken an
important step in preparing
for a career in today’s world. There is an increasing demand
for people with foreign language skills in business (from executive
and managers to salespersons and secretaries), health professions,
state and federal governments (a wide range of positions), and
teaching. Many students at Berea College have double majors; e.g.,
Spanish and Nursing, French and Political Science, German and Business,
etc.
Berea College’s foreign language faculty are well-trained
and experienced. The instructors have lived, worked, studied or
traveled extensively abroad. They are dedicated to quality teaching
and are eager to help students both in and out of the classroom.
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