Foreign Languages (BA, minors)

Program Goals

The Foreign Languages and Literature program offers a broad program that emphasizes oral and written proficiency in such languages as Arabic, French, Japanese, and Spanish. In addition, it plays a major role in the promotion of language studies and intercultural awareness and communication. Through a well-designed curriculum, it provides students with a solid foundation for a global perspective and helps them acquire strong translingual and transcultural competence to be effective citizens in today’s global society. The Foreign Languages and Literature program emphasizes oral and written proficiency in such languages as Arabic, French, Japanese, and Spanish and prepares students to use the languages in their academic and professional careers. It offers majors in French and Spanish. It also offers minors in Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish.

Language Placement Examinations

All students who have previously studied a foreign language in a school or otherwise for two years or more must take the Language Placement Exams before continuing their study of the language at Lincoln. This will allow the Department to place students into the level of instruction that best meets their existing abilities. These exams are administered by the Languages and Literature Department and are given just before the beginning of the fall and the spring semesters (for new and transfer students) and just prior to registration periods during the academic year (for returning students). Results are normally posted within 24 hours in the Languages and Literature Department. Once students are placed, they are expected to follow the appropriate sequence of courses until completion of the language requirement. Students who test above the 202 level are eligible for the Bachelor of Arts degree and are encouraged to pursue the language as a minor or major.

Credit by Placement Exams

Matriculating students may earn credits for foreign language courses when they demonstrate proficiency at or beyond the level of the courses. The courses will be added to their transcript with a notation that the credits were earned by placement exams and with a grade of “P” (pass). Credits earned by placement exams are not included in the computation of grade point averages. Students who are eligible to receive credit by placement exams will receive a memorandum from the Languages and Literature Department that they may take to the Office of the Bursar for payment of the required fees and then to the Office of the Registrar for placement of the entries on the transcript.

Eligibility 
These exams are offered only to students who took two years or more of a foreign language in Junior/High School and plan to study that same language at

Lincoln University for the first time. Students are not eligible if:

  • They have already taken that language at Lincoln or transferred a course in that language from another institution.
  • They have already taken Lincoln University's Language Placement Exam.

The Language Placement Exams cannot be used to improve grades earned at Lincoln or skip levels of classes. The Department does not honor course placement or any credits earned through Placement Exams taken at other institutions.

 

Study Abroad

Lincoln University recognizes the tremendous value of study abroad and therefore encourages students to consider a number of opportunities for international studies.

Foreign language majors are required to have a study abroad/total immersion experience. Students with a minor in a foreign language are strongly encouraged to study abroad. Students have studied abroad in such countries as China, Russia, Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica, France, Morocco, Japan, Belgium, Botswana, Nigeria, and Egypt.

The cost of studying abroad, including transportation, tuition, and living expenses in some cases may be less that the cost of studying at Lincoln. Student financial aid can be used to pay for the costs of most study abroad programs.

Students may study abroad at a foreign institution for a single semester, an academic year, or over the summer. Students in semester programs usually earn 15 to 18 credits just as they would as a full-time student on campus.

Students who are majoring in a foreign language will generally want to select a program that offers full-time study of the language, literature, and culture of the country. Students who are just minoring in a foreign language may be able to select a program that combines the study of the language with regular college level courses that can satisfy other requirements of their majors.

All language majors and minors are encouraged to take an active role in the language clubs. These are student organizations whose officers are elected annually. There are currently four language clubs (Arabic, French, Japanese and Spanish). They are involved in many co- and extra-curricular activities, including tutoring, fund-raising, educational trips and language fairs. They also actively participate in departmentsponsored events such as International Food Festival and Language Night.

Outcomes

FRENCH:

  • Identify and describe major French and Francophone literary genres, writers, movements and trends.
  • Compare and contrast major contemporary cultural, social, and political issues and trends of ones own society and French and francophone societies.
  • Communicate orally in French at the Advanced level of the ACTFL rating scale.
  • Communicate in writing about a variety of topics and disciplines such as history, literature, art, and political science at the Advanced level of the ACTFL rating scale.
  • Complete successfully a study abroad program or an intensive immersion 

SPANISH: 

  • Identify and describe major Peninsular and Latin American literary genres, writers, movements and trends.
  • Compare and contrast major contemporary cultural, social, and political issues and trends of ones own society and Spanish-speaking societies.
  • Communicate orally in Spanish at the Advanced level of the ACTFL rating scale.
  • Communicate in writing about a variety of topics and disciplines such as history, literature, art, and political science at the Advanced level of the ACTFL rating scale.
  • Complete successfully a study abroad program or an intensive immersion experience.

 

Requirements

Majors

  • French
  • Spanish

Minors

  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • French
  • Japanese
  • Spanish

Please see the University Catalog for more information and program requirements.

Contact

For more information contact the Languages and Literature Department.