DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
As the world grows dramatically smaller through rapid advances in technology, it becomes increasingly important for students to explore languages and cultures other than their own. By studying literary and cultural values, both past and present, our students gain important insights into themselves and others that enable them to confront the intellectual, social, and political challenges of the future. From a purely practical standpoint, knowledge of other languages and cultures provide students with the competitive edge in the increasingly globalized and complex workplace of the 21st century.
Goals and Outcomes Assessment
The French Program
The goal of CUA’s French Program involves four integrated components: to increase students’ language proficiency, verbal and written; to provide an overall knowledge of the major periods of French history and literature within a socio-cultural context; to introduce students to the basic principles of literary analysis; and to develop their ability to generate and organize a critical interpretation within the different fields previously described. Students majoring in French/Secondary Education also acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become effective teachers of French.
The French Program aims to prepare students to pursue graduate studies and to use their practical knowledge of French language and civilization in a variety of professional careers: translation, business and trade, international law, diplomacy, teaching, etc. Students develop skills that could be applied working for international organizations such as the United Nations, the European Parliament, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the Peace Corps, and Doctors Without Borders.
A practical knowledge of French language and culture is best acquired by spending at least a semester in a reputable academic program in France, Canada, or another francophone country. Our students are strongly encouraged to participate in one of CUA’s Study Abroad Programs currently located in Paris and Nantes.
Evaluation of students’ overall performance takes place during the last two semesters preceding graduation with the completion of the Senior Seminar and the Senior Comprehensives. The final exam administered at the end of the Senior Seminar consists of a set of three tests:
♦ the translation into English of a short article chosen from one of the major French newspapers or periodicals;
♦ a written essay based on a previously studied literary work;
♦ the completion of a twenty-five-page “mini-thesis” on a topic chosen and defined by the student and its oral “defense” before the French faculty
No doubt the best indication that we are meeting the goals of our program is the various paths that our students choose after graduation. In recent years, some have gone on to graduate school in French Studies, International Relations, History, and Law; others have chosen to teach in secondary schools; still others have secured positions with the federal government, with NGOs, or with businesses in which they can use their language skills.
The German Program
The aim of CUA’s German Program is twofold: proficiency in the German language and cultural literacy. By gaining insight into the German mind, students from all backgrounds learn to appreciate their own cultural heritage and gain a competitive edge in the global and complex workplace of the 21st century. German majors acquire tools for verbal and written communication in two languages. They are introduced to creative and scholarly approaches to the interpretation of fictional and non-fictional texts. They learn to appreciate literature, the arts, and a political culture unlike their own.
Students typically enter the language program at the intermediate level of instruction or above. After acquiring the proficiency of an equivalent of six semesters of instruction, students enroll in two sequences of core courses taught mostly in German. The two-part introduction to German literature emphasizes critical reading and reflection on the canon of German literature from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. Students acquire a clear sense of the range of styles and predominant themes of German-speaking writers. Course goals include acquisition of rhetorical/critical vocabulary used in the analysis of literary and poetic language. Literary texts are examined in their historical context as representative for the period in question and serve as models for in-depth interpretations of a literary work of art.
The introductory sequence to German civilization aims to expand students’ focus from literary texts to other artistic expressions in the fine arts and music, and the historical and social setting in which they arose. Goals include an understanding of German identity and the defining forces of religion and of the political struggle of nation building that shaped it. The goal of immersion into another culture is further pursued in interdisciplinary courses on topics such as Weimar or Berlin in Film and Literature, which address issues of Modernism and of Germany’s integration into the European community.
The program offers students the opportunity to study in depth particular artists, genres, and periods, usually focusing on topics from the twentieth century to the present. The overriding goal of all advanced courses is to produce careful readers and good writers who hone skills applicable to various career paths after graduation.
A thorough understanding of German language and culture is best acquired by living in German-speaking countries. Most students participate in various study abroad programs, which are carefully designed and closely monitored by our faculty. They range from intensive language courses taught in the summer to semester abroad options in Eichstätt and Bonn. An exchange program with students from the Katholische Universität Eichstätt facilitates the exchange of ideas even for students who cannot go abroad.
For the evaluation of the attainment of the program goals all German majors must fulfill the senior assessment requirement. It involves the completion of the Senior Seminar and the comprehensive exam in which a grade of pass or high pass must be earned. These two components are described below.
1. The Senior Seminar is typically taken in the last semester of the student’s senior year. It integrates knowledge acquired in German courses and related distribution areas and gives students an opportunity to apply the methods of their field to in-depth critical analysis of selected texts. Since the seminar is taught in German, it gives students the opportunity to discuss literary and cultural topics in verbal and written communication. The major focus of the seminar is the selection of an individual research topic, which is developed in the course of the semester into a substantial piece of writing: the Senior Thesis.
2. The Outcomes Assessment provided by the tasks set for the Senior Seminar is supplemented by the written Comprehensive Examination consisting of two, two-hour periods. The German written Comprehensive Examination assesses how well students have reached the two goals: cultural literacy (two-hour short essay exam), and language proficiency (measured by a translation from German to English and an analytic summary of a text in German). The comprehensive focuses on written expression, since oral proficiency is tested during the Senior Seminar.
Conclusion: While the German major is not designed to provide specialized career training, the outcome of four years of study in the program can be measured by the way recent graduates are using the education they received:
♦ Continuation as graduate students in German and Linguistics
♦ Teaching at the secondary school level
♦ Employment at the World Bank and in international firms
♦ Admission into law or business school where critical thinking, research and writing skills are valued.
The Spanish Program
The Spanish Literature and Education Program
The CUA Spanish Literature and Education Program aims to increase the students’ language proficiency, to expand knowledge of the socio-historical and cultural dimensions of Spain and to a lesser degree of Latin America, to acquire a better understanding of the origins and development of literary genres, and to see the total pedagogical experience in an interdisciplinary context. The goal of this program is to prepare students for graduate work in Spanish literature and literary criticism and, for those pursuing the Spanish Education major, to provide them with the necessary skills to become informed and effective teachers.
To enhance linguistic, cultural, and literary knowledge all students are encouraged to spend at least one semester in Spain and to interact as much as possible with local individuals in and out of the academic world and to become actively involved in all aspects of Spanish life. Travel to various parts of Europe and North Africa is also encouraged.
Evaluation of overall students’ performance is best administered during the final semester in the course of the Coordinating Seminar which brings together the various components of the students’ preparation while assessing their assimilation of subject matter and linguistic proficiency through a series of oral reports, a research paper, and three short written examinations. A final Outcome Assessment is provided by the Spanish Undergraduate Comprehensive Examination which consists of thirty identification items, two essay questions, and two explications of texts. Currently under consideration by the Spanish faculty is the substitution of one essay with a 10-page research project to be discussed in the presence of the Spanish faculty.
The Spanish for International Service Program
The Spanish for International Service [SIS] Program is a pre-professional, career-oriented program to prepare students for service in government or private agencies and business in Spanish language-related fields. A viable alternative to the traditional literature-oriented B.A., the SIS program is centered on the Latin American region which, at present, is experiencing an economic and cultural revitalization and opening new avenues for employment in national and international organizations. The SIS curriculum includes twelve courses of Spanish language and culture and six courses taken from various social sciences-oriented programs. These core courses are designed to develop language proficiency and to provide a better understanding of the Spanish world. Integrated as a core course, Spanish 450 is a supervised internship in national and international organizations in Washington, D.C., which allows SIS students to gain experience in a professional setting and to explore the job market.
Spanish 462 is a senior seminar designed for SIS students, which is taken in the senior year. The Senior Seminar helps students to integrate the different disciplines comprising the SIS program. Emphasis is placed on contemporary historical, political, and social issues pertaining to Latin America. To enhance their knowledge of the Spanish World and get acquainted with the international world, students attend cultural events sponsored by organizations such as OAS, Interamerican Bank, and Spanish-American Embassies.
The SIS Comprehensive exam is a two-day written test administered at the end of the spring semester. The exam consists of three parts designed by the teacher of the senior seminar and graded by the Spanish faculty. The parts are as follows:
♦ Students are asked to answer 25 identifications out of 30.
♦ Students are asked to analyze two expository texts.
♦ Students are asked to answer two essay questions. Currently under consideration by the Spanish faculty is the substitution of one essay with a 10-page research project to be discussed in the presence of the Spanish faculty.
