DEPARTMENT OF WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

Lucia Harrison, Department head

 

The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers a B.A. in World Languages with concentrations in Spanish, Spanish Education, French, French Education, and Dual Language. Students may choose one or more concentrations. The major in World Languages features interdisciplinary, experiential curricula that prepare students for careers to meet today’s workforce demands and allow them to interact and participate in a global environment. All students must complete sixteen hours of core requirements: FLAN 370, FLAN 401, FLAN 404, HUM 314, HUM 401 (3 hours each) and FLAN 498 (1 hour). All other required courses are listed within the individual concentrations. 

 

Entrance into Foreign Language Courses

If you have taken two or more years of foreign language in High School or have grown up speaking one of the foreign languages taught in the department, you may seek entrance into World Languages courses numbered 102, 201, 202, and advanced level (300 and above) by receiving a passing grade on the departmental entrance test. Your test score will determine your placement in the appropriate course. If you place into a 200-level course, you will receive 6 hours of elementary language credit upon successful completion of a 200-level course in the same language. If you place into a 300-level course, you will receive 12 hours of intermediate and elementary language credit upon successful completion of a 300-level course in the same language. Placement test scores expire after one year. This means that you have one year from the date that you take the placement test to register for the course you place into. Placement tests are offered in the FLRC (Foreign Language Resource Center) located in D Vickers Hall, Room 211. Tests are free and may be taken only once.

 

Majors

All World Language majors are encouraged to participate in a study abroad in a country where the language they are majoring in is spoken. A minimum of six (6) credit hours should be obtained through study abroad. World Language majors are, therefore, urged to complete a minimum of one summer Study Abroad program. To gain desired fluency, a full semester or a year abroad is recommended. Course approval for Study Abroad programs other than Southeastern programs must be obtained from the Department Head before departure.

 

Minors

Students wishing to minor in a foreign language offered in the department are required to complete twenty-one (21) semester hours, nine (9) of which must be at the 300-level or above.

In addition to a minor in a foreign language, the Department of World Languages and Cultures administers two interdisciplinary minors: Francophone and Creole Ethnic Studies and Hispanic Ethnic Studies. These minors consist or eighteen (18) hours each and include the following course requirements:

1. Minor in Francophone and Creole Ethnic Studies:

Required Courses:
FREN 201: Intermediate French I
FREN 202: Intermediate French II
FREN 324: Francophone Civilization and Culture
Nine additional hours must be chosen from the following:
FREN 326: Francophone Literature
FREN 314: French Culture and Civilization
GEOG 322: Geography of Louisiana
HIST 321: History of Louisiana
HIST 448: History of the Caribbean Area
HIST 488: Oral History Techniques
[Alternates for these courses must be approved by the Department Head]

2. Minor in Hispanic Ethnic Studies

Required Courses:
SPAN 201: Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 202: Intermediate Spanish II
SPAN 314: Hispanic Civilization or
SPAN 324: Latin American Culture and Civilization
Nine additional hours must be chosen from the following:
ANTH 405: Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
GEOG 322: Geography of Louisiana
HIST 446: History of Latin America to 1820
HIST 447: History of Latin America since1820
HIST 449: History of Mexico
HIST 321: History of Louisiana
HIST 488: Oral History Techniques
MYTH 204: Mesoamerican Mythology
MYTH 205: South American Mythology
SOC 411: Race and Ethnic Relations
SPAN 423: Special Topics (when content is appropriate)
[Alternates for these courses must be approved by the Department Head]

 

Undergraduate Certificate in TESOL
(Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)

This program is designed for individuals seeking to teach English to speakers of other languages abroad, in traditional and specialized schools, and in the US in non-profit and community settings, language institutes, and online. A TESOL certificate is the most commonly recognized qualification around the world for those wishing to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) courses to non-native speakers. For  more information, please contact the department at www.southeastern.edu/worldlanguages.

Required Courses:
ENGL 312: Advanced Grammar
ENGL 414: Introduction to Linguistics
COMM 210*: Communication in the Classroom
COMM 410: Intercultural Communication
FLAN 401*: Foreign Language Methodology
FLAN 404*: Experiential Learning, Development & Application

(Courses marked with an asterisk include field experience.)

 

Honors Diploma in the Discipline

For information on earning Sophomore Honors Distinction, Senior Honors Distinction, or the Honors Diploma, please consult The University Honors Program section of this catalog, the Director of the Honors Program, and/or your Department Head. 

 

Foreign Study Opportunities

The Department of World Languages and Cultures maintains ties with institutions of higher education in many countries. Summer course work through Southeastern Louisiana University is offered regularly in a variety of international locations.

 

Foreign Language Resource Center (FLRC)

The Foreign Language Resource Center (FLRC) at Southeastern Louisiana University is a computer lab, teaching facility, and study space designed specifically for students taking courses within the Department of World Languages and Cultures. The mission of the FLRC is to provide the students, faculty, and the community of Southeastern with an encouraging space for the promotion, study, and teaching of world languages and cultures. The students and faculty have access to various updated technology tools, educational resources, and to additional materials that accompany their current course textbook. The FLRC staff members are available to assist both students and faculty and tutoring is normally available to students in the various languages offered within the department.

 

English as a Second Language (ESL) Program

International students at any level of proficiency, with beginning to advanced English skills, are invited to participate in our English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Classes can be taken for credit (EGIS 97-98-107-108) or non-credit and are organized by levels of English mastery, determined by an initial placement test. In addition to attending class, students are encouraged to visit the ESL Computer Lab for conversational practice with a native English speaker, viewing and discussing English-language films and television programs, and accessing educational computer programs. For more information about ESL, email: esl@southeastern.edu.