World Languages and Literatures

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Resha S. Cardone
CHAIRPERSON
Engleman D 163
(203) 392-6758-Fax (203) 392-6136
cardoner1@SouthernCT.edu
Department Secretary: (203) 392-6132

Carlos Arboleda, Professor
Resha Cardone, Associate Professor
Luke Eilderts, Assistant Professor
Jesse Gleason, Assistant Professor
Rafael Hernandez, Professor
Erin Larkin,Associate Professor
Sobeira Latorre, Associate Professor
Giuseppina Palma, Professor
Ruben Pelayo, Professor
Luisa Piemontese, Professor
Elena Schmitt, Professor
Lisa Vitale, Associate Professor
Miaowei Weng, Assistant Professor

MAJORS IN WORLD LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES

Liberal Arts and Secondary Education Programs

The major in a world language develops mastery of a language (French, German, Italian, or Spanish). The primary aim of the beginning courses is to develop effective skills of communication: listening, speaking, reading, writing and cultural awareness; the advanced courses reinforce these while familiarizing the student with foreign culture and literature. Students in the B.S. (required for certification) secondary education program who receive their degrees will be recommended for Initial Teacher Certification. Passing ACTFL at the Advanced Low Level is one of the prerequisites for Student-Teaching and the Student-Teaching Seminar.

The specific professional requirements for Initial Teaching Certification in Connecticut are listed in the secondary education section of the School of Education.

French, German, Italian and Spanish Majors

The program consists of 30 credits in the major language and 3 credits in a world literature course in addition to satisfying the Liberal Education Program Multilingual Communications requirement.

A score of Advanced Low on the ACTFL OPI and WPT is required prior to student teaching. Students seeking world language teaching certification must take WLL 403 in addition to other requirements for the program.

Students planning to major in a world language select courses, with the consent of their adviser, carefully observing sequential relationships.

Study abroad is strongly recommended. To explore study abroad opportunities, please contact Dr. Erin Heidkamp, Director of International Education, at x-26975, or visit the Office of International Education in Engleman Hall.

World Language majors are required to take a 3-credit literature course in a literature of a language other than their major. They may take one LIT 300- or 400-level course focusing on works by authors of French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese or other literary traditions or related topics, such as literary theory, the relationship of literature and other arts, or comparative approaches. (See options below)

Additional courses of interest that deal with language, considered theoretically or historically, or with the teaching of language to speakers of other languages will be found listed under Linguistics.

WORLD LANGUAGE WAIVER POLICY

Students who have already achieved oral and written fluency in a language other than English may take a waiver examination. They should contact the Department of World Languages and Literatures for details. Students who have studied a language other than English for three years or more in high school or are native speakers cannot take an entry level elementary language course (for example, SPA 100, ITA 100, FRE 100, GER 100) in that language for credit.

Students who are native speakers of a language other than English may be granted a waiver of world language requirement with credit based on one of the following documents:

High school diploma or its equivalent from the student's native language country, not an American high school.

ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Written Production Test (WPT) passed at Intermediate-Low level. To register for these tests, you may contact www.languagetesting.com.

STAMP test – contact the department for instructions.


TESOL/BILINGUAL EDUCATION

Elena Schmitt
COORDINATOR

The Department of World Languages and Literatures in conjunction with the School of Education offers a dual program in elementary education and bilingual education. Students who successfully complete the program and receive their B.S. degrees will be recommended for Initial Teacher Certification in both elementary education and elementary/ bilingual education. Passing ACTFL is one of the prerequisites for student-teaching and the student-teaching seminar.

The Elementary Education/Bilingual Education program is a dual major program. Students earn a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and complete a second major in a content area of their choice. Additionally, students must pass three courses in bilingual education. Students should be advised that the minimum number of credits required to complete this program is 127. For a complete description of this program, refer to the Elementary Education section of this catalog.

Coursework:

TSL 315 — Foundations of Bilingual Education
TSL 321 — Assessment for English Language Learners
TSL 418 — ESL Methods in Content instruction

MINORS IN WORLD LANGUAGES

Students enroll in one of the languages listed under majors in world languages, at a level consistent with their past background, and complete 18 credits in the sequence of offerings.  The department also offers a minor in Medical Spanish for health and human service professionals and a minor in Linguistics.

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Rafael Hernandez
COORDINATOR

For details on comparative literature, please contact the Coordinator.