We will have virtual “programming” and resources on our website beginning on Monday, March 8, organized around the themes of Cultures (Monday, 3/8), Language Study (Tuesday, 3/9), and Careers (Thursday, 3/11). Stay tuned for more information!
Ways of contacting us are the following:
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Established to encourage and assist language students to study abroad and gain life experience in the language they are studying at Grand Valley.
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Why language? Language is considered a critical part of a liberal arts education. Part of Grand Valley State University's vision and strategic priorities are to "inspire and equip students to be active life-long learners and global citizens" and to require global learning of all undergraduate majors. This does not mean that we expect all students to become fluent, but instead to have exposure to a second language and culture, which in turn leads to practical language skills. The Modern Languages and Literatures Department's language courses offer not just the chance to study a language, but to actively engage with another culture on its own terms.
Multiple studies link the benefits of language learning to:
The following professions are seeing an increased need for language skills:
Check out our majors, minors, and other language courses. Explore further reading on the importance of learning a foreign language.
Deb believes learning a foreign language has opened up many doors for her to experience life from new perspectives, and continues to allow for friendships and connections that would have otherwise not been possible.
Trazy still uses her Spanish skills every day, whether greeting hungry families, or advocating on behalf of those who are looking for resources within the community, or providing cultural competency to programming happening within immigrant communities.
