Ashley Thorsberg, French, BA French, 2010
Ashley credits a strong undergraduate experience and the skills she learned from studying abroad as a huge factor in her success today.
Multiple studies link the benefits of language learning to:
The following professions are seeing an increased need for language skills:
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. Learn more about why language?
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:
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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.
Ashley credits a strong undergraduate experience and the skills she learned from studying abroad as a huge factor in her success today.
During his time at GVSU he was a recipient of the Critical Language Scholarship, an intensive overseas program that allowed him to study a year's worth of Chinese curriculum in just eight weeks.
Veronica says "Learning French fed my degree in Anthropology and certainly helps me get along when I visit Paris! The French professors were fantastic at teaching not just the French language but also French culture and history..."