Eastern Michigan University
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About Us

The Department of World Languages seeks to empower students to undertake professional roles in education and business in a multicultural world by fostering facility in one or more languages and developing the critical thinking skills necessary to deepen and sustain cross-cultural understanding/perspectives.
       
The Department of World Languages teaches languages both for their inherent humanistic value and for their practical application in today's international world of work and careers.

Among the specific goals of the department are:

  • To comply with the National Standards (Cultures, Communication, Connections, Comparisons and Communities)
  • Provide student with experiences (e.g. practice teaching, immersion programs and internship) that will enhance their awareness and understanding of other cultures and multicultural reality of the U.S.
  • Promote critical thinking on a variety of topics.
  • Equip students to communicate and pass on their acquired knowledge to others.
  • Enable students to work more effectively in today's global working environment.

Teaching Programs:
The teacher preparation programs in the Department of World Languages are committed to preparing skilled second/foreign language teachers for a variety of national and international education settings. Graduates of these programs will possess appropriate language competency, cross-cultural awareness and pedagogical skills and resources to provide effective instruction that meets U.S. national standards.

Business Language Programs:
The business language programs provide students from diverse backgrounds with knowledge and skills in modern foreign languages and cultures and international business. The business language programs in the Department of World Languages enhance the lives of students and the community by enabling students' ability to function effectively in international business contexts.

Language Programs: 
The purpose of language instruction within the Department of World Languages is to promote the language acquisition necessary for the understanding of and successful participation in multicultural societies. Through learner-centered approaches, we strive to foster in students awareness of the nature of language and culture.

The Department of World Languages is part of the College of Arts & Sciences, 214 Pray-Harrold, 734.487.4344