[ Foreign Languages & Literatures ]

About the Department

At Elmhurst, you’ll become proficient in French, German, or Spanish—and gain valuable insights into a new culture. Here’s what you’ll find at Elmhurst:

• Highly qualified faculty. All of Elmhurst’s foreign language faculty members have spent extended periods of time living in the country whose language they teach. In small classes, you’ll interact closely with your professors.
  
• Opportunities for language practice. In foreign language classes here, students communicate in the language at hand—even in beginning courses. You’ll also develop your language skills in small group and partner exercises. You can further develop your understanding of other cultures by joining our Foreign Language Club or our International Club, which features meetings and speakers such as international journalists and foreign businesspeople. The club also sponsors visits to special exhibits, plays, and concerts.
  
• Up-to-date technical tools. Elmhurst has the resources to help you learn quickly and efficiently. Laser disks, computer-assisted instruction, videos, and live telecasts give you access to authentic language—as well as up-to-date lessons in history and culture.
  
• International experience. Nothing will teach you to speak a second language like being in a foreign country. That’s why Elmhurst provides plenty of opportunities to travel—including internships in Costa Rica, Brussels, Paris, Madrid, or Bonn; faculty-led study tours; and a variety of study-abroad programs.