On behalf of the Modern Languages and Literatures Department faculty and the Language Learning Center at Southwestern, welcome to our site. Our Department houses the Spanish, French, German, and Chinese programs.  We hope to highlight some opportunities available to you as students (or prospective students) and alumni/alumnae while also providing a warm welcome to friends of the Department and University.

The Southwestern Languages and Literatures Department offers students the tools and opportunities to become competent, confident, and culturally literate citizens of our increasingly global society. Our programs in Chinese, French, German and Spanish see the study of languages, cultures, and literatures as integral to a broader liberal arts education. We seek to foster an environment in which students develop multiple cultural and linguistic competencies, enabling them to access information in a wide range of disciplines, understand diverse perspectives in an increasingly interconnected world, and function effectively and responsibly in it.

The Southwestern modern language curriculum provides a broad, cross-disciplinary foundation that prepares students for professional careers (teaching, government, international business), provides them with opportunities for personally fulfilling experiences in pursuit of justice and the common good, and opens opportunities for lifelong learning.

Language majors are expected to acquire a strong grasp of language and a working knowledge of literature, culture and film, as well as greater analytical facility in their target language.

To further expand their studies, students are strongly encouraged to study abroad. You’ll find our students studying in diverse locales throughout the world.