Foreign Languages and Literatures
Nowadays one need not travel far to hear another language. Moreover, travel
or study abroad or a career with an international company will quickly
expose the fallacy of the phrase “Everyone speaks English there; don’t
worry!”
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures serves a variety of
educational goals, including study of the humanities through a foreign
language; teacher training for the elementary, secondary, and community
college levels; language training for use in other professional areas;
and preparation for those who wish to pursue graduate studies. Majoring
in a foreign language means studying the language, literature, and culture
of the country concerned. In addition, knowledge of a foreign language
enhances and deepens people’s understanding of their own culture and language
and contributes toward a greater appreciation of other cultures.
The department offers majors and minors in French, German, and Spanish,
a minor in Italian, and courses in Japanese and Latin. A new, state-of-the-art,
multimedia Computer Laboratory was installed in 1998. The uses and applications
of this new technology are limitless and they will greatly enhance the
department’s capability to fulfill its mission in teaching and learning.
Students interested in a program of study in other foreign languages such
as Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Portuguese, and Russian, should refer to the
program entitled Self-Instructional Language Program under “International
Studies” in The University Catalog.
International Programs
Qualified students have an opportunity to study for a year in one of 16
countries through the California State University International Programs.
For example, students studying German can spend a year at one of the German
universities located in the Federal State of Baden- Württemberg. CSU, Chico
also has an exchange scholarship program with the University of Mainz in
Germany and exchange programs with universities in Mexico, Costa Rica,
China, Taiwan and Japan. Students also have the option of studying abroad
for a semester, year or summer in Italy, France, Spain, and many other
countries. In conjunction with the Latin American Studies Program, the
Mexico and Costa Rica programs offer 10 weeks of preparatory study in Chico
and six weeks of work experience in Mexico and San Jose, Costa Rica. All
students have the possibility of participating in the summer International
Education Program from Foothill College.
The German program encourages students to take courses, for credit, with
the Goth Institute in Germany. In connection with the Goethe Institute
in San Francisco, students enrolled in CSU, Chico German classes are eligible
to take an examination that qualifies them for an internationally recognized
certificate, called Zertifikat Deutsche als Fremdsprache (ZDaF) and Zentrale
Mittelstufenprufüng (ZMP), which is administered locally by the German
section of the department.
Career Outlook
A degree in a foreign language, especially in conjunction with a second
major, increases employment prospects with such employers as the government,
multinational corporations, airlines, shipping companies, wineries, and
travel agencies, hospitals, education, technology, and music.
Foreign language competency is necessary in different international programs
(international relations, international business) and area studies programs
(Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, and Pacific Basin).
In California and many other states, Spanish is a very useful adjunct to
your education in the fields of social welfare, medicine, elementary and
secondary teaching, and other areas of public service.
For students planning to attend graduate school, the knowledge of a foreign
language is an important research tool and is a requirement in most disciplines.
Scholarships
The Department offers several scholarships in conjunction with the College
of Humanities and Fine Arts. The Italian Program offers two or more scholarships
a year for the study of Italian.
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