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Alumni Spotlight

Eliot Westdorp - From the West Coast of Michigan, to the West Coast of Spain (2025)

Alumnus Eliot Westdorp standing next to a marina in Spain

Eliot Westdorp, in front of the Rei do Mar. / Noé Parga

During his time as an undergraduate student at Grand Valley, Eliot Westdorp pursued Spanish and applied linguistic studies, obtaining his B.A. degree in both areas in the fall semester of 2016.

Before graduating, however, Westdorp studied abroad, per the guidance and recommendation of professors in his program, and it was this study abroad experience that encouraged him to pursue a post graduation opportunity that would temporarily relocate him to a small village in Spain's coastal Galician region. Here, he would teach English to high school students, a critical experience he attributes to the foundational skills he learned while in Grand Valley's language program.

In this position, formally called an Auxiliar de Conversación, Westdorp was able to "become curious about the language and culture", fueling his passion to continue his education where he eventually received his Master's degree at Michigan State University in

2020 before continuing on with a PhD at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA where he is currently in his final year.

Westdorp is now back in Spain's Galician region on the small island of Arousa where he is working for a cutting edge language company known as Lingro Learning, all while collecting data for his dissertation work on a sociophonetic study of the Galcian dialect that is spoken on the island; when asked about what his current day-to-day looks like, Westdorp replied, "I get to teach Spanish, work as a [sic] linguist, and be a part of an innovational language company all because of [sic] my time at GVSU. I believe that there is no limit to what you can [sic] do with a language degree".

Westdorp was recently celebrated in a local Galician article describing his accomplishments along with highlighting his dissertation work. You can find the article here!

Our Programs

Michigan Seal of Biliteracy

The Michigan Seal of Biliteracy (MI-SoBL) was created to give a shoutout to high school grads who can show they’re fluent in English and at least one other language. It’s all about encouraging students to learn new languages—or keep using the ones they grew up with.

The seal helps employers spot folks with strong language skills and can also be a bonus for college applications or placement. This site breaks it all down for students, parents, teachers, and school staff, aiming to make sure everyone has a fair shot at earning the seal.

Do you have the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy? Grand Valley is currently in the process of identifying how this critical achievement can support your academic journey! See what it can do for you today!

Multilingualism Badge

Grand Valley’s Multilingualism Undergraduate Badge is a cool way for students to level up their language skills while diving into different cultures. There are three tracks to choose from, depending on how much language experience you already have, so it’s super flexible and tailored to fit your goals.

By earning this badge, you’ll get one-on-one instruction, chances to connect with different cultures on campus and even abroad, and a great way to show off your language skills to future employers. You can knock it out in about a year, so it’s a quick and powerful add-on to your degree.

Being multilingual isn’t just impressive—it’s a big plus in fields like business, education, government, international work, healthcare, social services, criminal justice, engineering, communications, law, and more. See what it can do for you today!

Certificate in Spanish for Healthcare Professionals

Why study Spanish for Health Care Professionals at Grand Valley?

Speak the language of care - ¡Con confianza!

The GVSU certificate in Spanish for Health Care Professionals prepares students to be culturally and linguistically competent to better serve patients from Spanish speaking communities and backgrounds.

Develop language proficiency with an emphasis on health and medical contexts.
Learn and use specialized vocabulary and terminology relevant to the medical field.
Know the health needs of Spanish-speaking communities by understanding the linguistic and cultural diversity of Spanish-speaking communities in the region.
Engage with Spanish-speaking patients by going beyond mere verbal communication to providing care grounded in cultural understanding.

PDF of Certificate in Spanish for Healthcare Professionals Flyer

Why Should You Study World Languages?

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 (MLL) language courses offer not just the chance to study a language, but to actively engage with another culture on its own terms.

Learn more about studying language

2024 GLCF Photos

A shadow puppet performance from Spanish professor Jason Yancey

Critical Experiences Only Found at GVSU

Grand Valley's department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers the opportunity to interact with and often participate in West Michigan's growing language and cultural spheres.

From on-campus events like the Global Languages and Cultures Festival (Pictured Right), to class-specific projects involving local communities, enrolled students are able to be immersed in settings that both challenge their language skills and encourage community building amongst peers and neighbors alike.

Some notable, immersive events include:

Medley
Global Language and Culture Festival
Modern Languages & Literatures PK-16 SUMMIT
The Happenings
LRC & Language or Class-Specific Projects and Events

Language Resource Center (LRC)

The LRC is a learning lab and collaborative resource center for all students, not just language majors, it is a place for community. A few of its offerings include:

Language Placement Exams (LPE)- The LRC manages the LPEs and simplifies the process for students to determine their placement in a language program.
VR headsets- Allows students to tour other cultural sites and speak with native speakers in real life context.
Interactive Puppet Theatre- Provides a medium for students to be creative in any language.
Video games- Having games in English and other languages for the Xbox and PlayStation2 students can unwind and have fun.
Multilingual movies- Students can view movies from a collection spanning over 2,000 films.
Board games- With games in English and various other languages students can just have fun or use them as a learning tool.
Study space- A welcoming space that provides a positive atmosphere for studying, relaxing, and collaboration. Plus it is always stocked with complimentary tea and coffee.
Fun events- There is always some fun event being hosted by the LRC from trivia nights to dance lessons, there is bound to be an event for you.
and More...- Check out their website.

Study Abroad with Us!

Faculty-Led Programs

Studying abroad with Modern Literatures and Languages (MLL) is special because programs are Faculty-Led.

"Faculty-led" programs within MLL are where students travel alongside MLL professors who are fluent in the language of the destination country.
GVSU professors coordinate and lead their own study abroad programs in partnership with the Padnos International Center.
Earn academic credits while participating in transformative and enriching experiences.

Explore the Faculty-Led programs and filter by one of our seven languages to find the right fit.

MLL Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship

The Modern Languages and Literatures Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship was established to encourage and assist language students to study abroad and gain life experience in the language they are studying at Grand Valley. By clicking the adjacent photo, you can donate today and support students in their journey to celebrate language and culture! Once on the webpage, click the "I want to support list" and simply scroll to the "Modern Languages and Literatures Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship".