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Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Faculty

Dánisa Bonacic, Chair and Associate Professor

Helena Sofía Belío Apaolaza, Lecturer

Pía Cúneo-Ruiz, Lecturer

Max Ehrsam, Lecturer

Daniela Fagnani, Lecturer

Eduardo Febles, Associate Professor

Alister Inglis, Professor

Zhigang Liu, Associate Professor

Marda Messay, Assistant Professor

Arlene Ovalle-Child, Lecturer

María Dolores Peláez-Benítez, Professor

Overview

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish at various levels, enabling students to strengthen their command of a language they have already studied or to begin study of a new language. In these courses, students learn to speak and understand as well as to read and write with increasing facility and accuracy. As students become familiar with a particular language and its literature and culture, they develop knowledge of the intellectual and social history of the people who speak that language. Moreover, the knowledge and experience gained in the critical reading of foreign literature broadens students’ perspectives and provides a foundation for further study and travel. Students may elect courses in modern languages and literatures as a part of a liberal education or choose a modern language major with a career objective in mind. The study of a modern language can be combined with diverse career areas, for example, in social sciences, in science, in other fields within the humanities, or in professional fields. A major in French or Spanish, when combined with a major in the humanities, social sciences, communications, health studies, or management, prepares students for careers in many areas, such as government service, employment with publishers or international agencies, health professions, teaching, or graduate study. Students may wish to study or work abroad in the future. To do so, they must achieve competence in all basic language skills. Likewise, if plans include further study in graduate school, they will need to acquire reading proficiency in one or more languages to fulfill the requirements of many graduate programs. Upon arrival at Simmons, previous language study is evaluated, and placement in a course is determined based on previous experience or a test given by the Center for Academic Achievement.

Learning Outcomes

Through the Major in French at Simmons College, students who apply themselves to their studies will be able to:

Language

  1. Use the French language at the B2 proficiency level according to D.E.L.F. standards (Diplôme d’études en langue française.)
  2. Communicate orally in different language registers; express ideas and arguments in class presentations and class discussions.
  3. Listen and discuss with others relevant topics, understand and respond to questions about class materials.
  4. Write well- organized papers or reports, which include a thesis and critical analysis of key passages.
  5. Read complex texts to identify main topics and to analyze key parts of them.

Literature

  1. Study main authors and works in the Francophone literary tradition.
  2. Be able to know and recognize rhetorical figures, styles, and genres.
  3. Be able to do research about specific issues within each literary context using appropriate bibliography and correct format according to discipline standards.

Culture

  1. Recognize and discuss cultural concepts and traditions in the Francophone world.
  2. Compare different cultural and historical events with the student’s own culture.

Through the Major in Spanish at Simmons College, students who apply themselves to their studies will be able to:

Language

  1. Use the Spanish language at the B2 proficiency level according to D.E.L.E. standards (Diploma de español como lengua extranjera.)
  2. Communicate orally in different language registers; express ideas and arguments in class presentations and class discussions.
  3. Listen and discuss with others relevant topics, understand and respond to questions about class materials.
  4. Write well- organized papers or reports, which include a thesis and critical analysis of key passages.
  5. Read complex texts to identify main topics and to analyze key parts of them.

Literature

  1. Study main authors and works in the Hispanic literary tradition.
  2. Be able to know and recognize rhetorical figures, styles, and genres.
  3. Be able to do research about specific issues within each literary context using appropriate bibliography and correct format according to discipline standards.

Culture

  1. Recognize and discuss cultural concepts and traditions in Spain and Latin America.
  2. Compare different cultural and historical events with the student’s own culture.

Departmental Honors

French:

Students register for FREN 350 Independent Study in the fall semester. Upon satisfactory completion of that course and with departmental approval, they register for FREN 355. Thesis in the spring. Honor students fulfilling the capstone experience with an Honor Thesis must give a formal presentation about their research project at the end of that semester.

Spanish:

Students register for SPAN 350 Independent Study in the fall semester. Upon satisfactory completion of that course and with departmental approval, they register for FREN 355. Thesis in the spring. Honor students fulfilling the capstone experience with an Honor Thesis must give a formal presentation about their research project at the end of that semester.