Modern Languages at UNLPathway to Global Education

Presented by:

Prof. Priscilla Hayden-Roy, Interim Chair, Dept. Modern Langs. & Lits.

phayden-roy1@unl.edu

Languages Offered at UNL

• Arabic – with minor in Arabic Studies• Czech – with minor• French – with minor and major• German – with minor and major• Japanese – with minor• Portuguese – first two semesters (under MODL)• Russian – with minor and major• Spanish – with minor and major

Think about starting a new language at UNL!

Why should incoming freshmen be advised to enroll in ML classes?

• Small classes promote community• Beginning classes (101, 102, 110) meet every day and

generally have daily checked/graded homework; this encourages good study habits.

• Starting early with a modern language allows a student to begin planning right away for study abroad.

• Starting early allows a student to attain proficiency during his/her undergraduate career.

Language Tables & Clubs

“How can I meet other people on campus?”• Arabic – Conversation Table, Writing Center• Chinese – Conversation Table • Czech – Komensky Club, Czech Film Series• French – Conversation Table, French Club, Film Club• German – Stammtisch, Lincöln, Kino-Klub• Japanese – Kawasaki Reading Room• Portuguese – Conversation Table & Culture Club• Russian – Conversation Table, Russian Club• Spanish – Mesa de español, Spanish Club, CineClub

Info at: http://modlang.unl.edu/get-involved

Advising entering freshmen about ML classes

• 101, 102: five-hour classes• SPAN 110: six-hour class, 101 & 102 in one semester – fast

paced, previous knowledge and high motivation advised• Three SPAN 202 tracks• Culture, Business, Health Professions

• FREN and SPAN 210: (= 201 & 202); fast-paced, advised for motivated students who want to move ahead quickly

• SPAN 220 (= 203 & 204): Intensive Spanish for the Professions: spring 2016: emphasis on medical translation & interpretation

• MODL 101: Windows to the World (1 cr.) – ideal as a filler class, exciting intro to world cultures and ML study

Retroactive credit

“I got my foreign language out of the way in high school.”

• Students with 3 years of HS classes in a language taught at the 202 level at UNL: ENROLL IN 202, and receive a B or better the first time they take the class, may claim 3 hours of credit for 201.

• Students with 4 years of HS classes in a language taught at the 203 level at UNL: ENROLL in 203, and receive a B or better the first time they take the class, may claim 6 hours of credit for 201 and 201.

Let’s push both of these options – especially the second! This is a way to attract students who might not even consider taking an ML class at UNL to take the plunge!

Modern languages – the ideal second major!

“But I’m a […fill in the blank…] major!”

• Modern Languages enhance ANY major!• 44.7% of our majors are double-majoring• DMLL has majors from every College:• Arts and Sciences: 47%• EHS: 17%• Journalism: 9%• ASNR: 5%• Fine Arts, Architecture, PAC: 5%

Academic & Professional Advantages

“Why should I study a modern language?”

• Proficiency in a second language and study abroad are a mark of academic excellence: they set you apart in interviews and graduate school applications.

• People who have studied abroad generally have learned to be flexible, tolerant, open to new approaches – this is attractive to employers.

• You have a better chance of being awarded prestige scholarships if you’ve studied abroad and have proficiency in a second language.

This is a message especially for our academic high achievers at UNL!

Careers with Modern Languages

“What can I do with a modern language?”

• International Business• Travel & Tourism / International Hotel Management• Foreign Service• National Security• Health-related fields: work with minority populations• NGOs: work with refugees, asylum seekers, homeless• Peace Corps• Teaching – secondary or post-secondary• Teach ESL abroad• Translation• Interpretation• Court Interpreting

ML classes emphasizingthe professions

• Spanish 202 - Business• Spanish 202 – Health Emphasis• Spanish 220 Medical Interviewing• German 307 for Business – to be offered Spring 2017• Discipline-specific internships are available – German

DID Program in Berlin• New class in all languages – 395 – internship – will soon

be available in all languages (has been approved in German, based on Global Studies model)

Going Global withStudy Abroad

UNL has faculty-led programs to:

• Brazil: Salvador – new, summer 2016 – for heritage speakers of Spanish and advanced students of Spanish to learn Portuguese

• China (not offered 2016)• France: Angers – offered summer 2016• Germany: Berlin –offered every spring & summer• Japan – not offered 2016• Russia: Perm – offered summer 2016• Spain: Deusto/Bilbao – offered every spring or summer• Spain: Soria – offered summer 2016

Information at: http://modlang.unl.edu/education-abroad

Scholarship Opportunities

• Early Abroad Scholarships for students who apply to go abroad within their first two years at UNL ($2000).

• Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese: AMP Strategic Language Scholarship up to $1500 for study abroad after one semester of study in any of these languages.

• Czech language: all who enroll and are fulltime students receive $300 (1st-3rd year); additional Czech-specific scholarships available through application.

• Many other scholarships available for study abroad through DMLL and Education Abroad.

Global education through modern languages

“I want to be able to say when I graduate:

• I have studied abroad, where I learned to negotiate life through my second language.

• I am linguistically and culturally proficient in a second language.”

Let’s help our students attain these goals!