ADVISING TOOLS

Course Catalogue
The Educational Goals
Aspirational Goals-Course List
Guide to Completing Goals
Quick Reference Guide for Advising
PeopleSoft Website
Academic Day Scheduler
Four-Year Academic Planner
Online Forms

CONTACT

Sarah Kirk
Provost and Dean of Faculty
Email: kirk@hws.edu

Advising in Foreign Languages

Language learning involves not only acquiring a skill but becoming a different person" wrote Heidi Byrne [ADFL Bulletin 22.1 (1990): 10 15].

Learning another language is more than acquiring a tool to compete in today's global economy, it is a path to world cultures, and it is a way to embrace differences. There is no better way to answer the commitment of the Colleges to the study of global interdependence and intercultural understanding than to study a foreign language.

The Department of French, Francophone and Italian Studies offers courses leading to disciplinary and interdisciplinary departmental majors and minors.

The Department of Spanish and Hispanic Studies offers courses leading to a disciplinary major and minor.

The Russian Area Studies Program offers courses leading to disciplinary and interdisciplinary majors and minors.

The German Area Studies Program offers courses leading to an interdisciplinary and a disciplinary minor. Students can devise an individual major in German.

The Asian Studies Department offers courses leading to an interdisciplinary major and an interdisciplinary minor, which may include serious study in Japanese or Chinese languages.

The Chinese Program in Asian Languages and Cultures offers four levels of language acquisition courses from Chinese 101-102 (Beginning) through Chinese 450 (Independent Studies), as well as cultural courses taught in English, such as Contemporary Chinese Society, Chinese Cinema, Buddhism and Daoism through Chinese Literature, The Golden Age of Chinese Culture, in both the Fall and the Spring semesters. In addition, the Program helps interested students to participate in the Colleges' study-abroad programs in Beijing, Nanjing, and Taipei and develop an Asian Studies major/minor with a concentration in Chinese Studies.

Italian Language: Students interested in pursuing Italian language study can do so at the beginning and intermediate levels and considering a European Studies minor with a concentration in Italy or a major in International relations that requires four semesters of a modern language.

There are also Less Commonly Taught Languages courses being offered in Arabic (on campus through a Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant - beginning and intermediate levels) and Vietnamese (remotely taught from Vietnam - beginning and intermediate levels). Students might consider a major in International relations that requires four semester of a modern language. For more information, contact Sebastiano Lucci (Smith Hall 101, x3630).

Language Placement

Students may only enroll in courses appropriate to their level of linguistic competence. Shortly before their arrival at the Colleges, all students with prior language instruction are individually assessed for placement according to their level of prior instruction. Beyond the first year, students are encouraged to consult directly with foreign language professors for placement in courses.

Please Note:

  • Students who do not enroll in a language course during their first year must be reevaluated.
  • Language courses 100 and 200 level up to 203 must be taken in sequential order.
  • Other 200 and 300 level courses may be taken in any order unless there is a prerequisite. Contact a language faculty if in doubt.
  • 400 level courses are usually recommended for juniors and seniors.

Terms Abroad

All students studying a language are strongly advised to study at least one term abroad. Arrangements are made through the Center for Global Education office and department coordinators. Students should speak to a departmental member as early as possible about potential study abroad programs, in order to assure that they are meeting program requirements and prerequisites.