Modern Languages and Literatures
The department of modern languages and literatures offers courses in American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. Majors are offered in French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Studies in World Literature, a program in which students learn textual interpretation and criticism of translated foreign works. Minors are offered in French, German, Italian, and Russian.
Because fluency develops with consistent exposure and practice, students complement their classroom studies by taking advantage of small group practice with native foreign language assistants, weekly language tables, language clubs, honor societies, film series, lectures, and cultural outings. Another level of learning takes place in the College’s state-of-the-art Multimedia Resource Center, where students benefit from a wide variety of instructional videos, tapes, and interactive CD-ROM programs.
Studying languages at Holy Cross takes place both in the classroom and beyond. All students, and modern language majors in particular, are encouraged to avail themselves of study abroad opportunities.