Why Choose the Languages Department at Eastern?
Distinguished Faculty: Eastern University’s Language faculty represent several continents and hold degrees from top universities in the U.S., Argentina and France. Their teaching style and Christian worldview engages students in the classroom encouraging them to pursue a lifelong commitment to embrace and serve people from other cultures. Please join us in celebrating Dr. Francois’ Fulbright Award to Burkina Faso, Africa where she taught American literature to African students in the 2009-2010 academic year.
Connect: The identity of a people is inherently linked to their language. The Language Department’s emphasis on cross-cultural communication challenges our students to not simply learn the language, but to seek to understand the culture of the people who speak the language. Many of our students participate in mission trips to French and Spanish-speaking countries where they experience both spiritual and intellectual growth.
Grow: All of our language majors study abroad for one or two semesters as part of our program requirement. Our students return prepared with bilingual skills to enter careers such as education, business, science, public health, community outreach and ministry. There are several opportunities to double-major in Spanish or French and a second area of interest.
What the Languages Department Offers
Majors
Common Double Majors paired with the BA in Spanish
- BA in Missions and Anthropology
- BSW in Social Work
- BA in Sociology
- BA in Youth Ministry
Minors
Courses
Eastern Students can take courses in German, Arabic, Chinese, Biblical Hebrew, Latin and Biblical Greek. For a complete list of our course offering, click here.
Languages Department Mission Statement
The Language Department faculty of Eastern University believes language learning is a vital part of a liberal arts curriculum and of particular importance to a Christian in the 21st century. Our objectives as a department encompass the standards of our national professional organization The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), as articulated in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century: 5Cs. These national standards include: Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons and Communities. As an evangelical Christian university, we seek to honor Jesus Christ in our classes by including reflection about our faith in Christ as a part of our curriculum. "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Col. 1:17)
Languages Placement Levels
Any questions about placement level should be directed to the Language Department. Language majors at Eastern must study abroad to assure a certain level of fluency and first hand experience living in the target culture. Most students go abroad for one semester; however, majors may opt to study for two semesters abroad to assure greater proficiency in the language. For future language teachers the Department recommends two semesters abroad based on the increased expectations of foreign language teachers by school districts. Only in exceptional cases of unavoidable family obligations may a student be permitted to fulfill this requirement with 6 university credits taken abroad in the summer.
Students seeking certification to teach languages must satisfy all requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (contact the Education Department). Students are tested in the methodology of teaching languages and in oral proficiency.
