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Modern Languages and Literatures

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We define culture broadly to include both the academic and the everyday. Guided by creative and enthusiastic faculty committed to language immersion, students explore topics ranging from literature and film to politics to cuisine. Today, students may study francophone or Latino/a literature; tomorrow, they may learn French or Spanish “business-speak”. Cultural immersion and potential internship experience complement the student’s program of study.

Because of our close ties to Chicago’s cultural institutions, students pursue internships with organizations like the Alliance Française and the Chicago Latino Film Festival. Academic excursions to immigrant neighborhoods like Chinatown and Pilsen, allow students to meet and learn from native speakers.

We offer coursework in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish as well as occasional courses in Italian and Portuguese. Most language majors and minors enhance their linguistic and cultural knowledge by taking advantage of the College’s numerous options to study and complete internships abroad.

Check out the Living Learning Community (LLC) associated with the MLL Department

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  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2148-lisa-pattavina-15"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1758,1678/34368_lisa_pattavina3.rev.1477320507.jpg" alt="Lisa Pattavina ’15" title="Lisa Pattavina ’15" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1758,1678/34368_lisa_pattavina3.rev.1477320507.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1758,1678/34368_lisa_pattavina3.rev.1477320507.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1758" data-max-h="1678"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p class="p1"> “I cannot emphasize how supportive the Modern Languages and Literatures Department is.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2148-lisa-pattavina-15">Lisa Pattavina ’15 says that being a multilingual communicator has really helped her in the job market.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2604-evelyn-s-bello-17"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,265,400/39868_evelyn-bello.rev.1507820821.jpg" alt="Evelyn S. Bello ’17" title="Evelyn S. Bello ’17" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="265" data-max-h="400"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “My professors at Lake Forest College were very approachable, so they made me comfortable talking to them whenever I wanted to.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2604-evelyn-s-bello-17">Learn more about Evelyn’s experience at Lake Forest College.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2131-katelyn-mcauliffe-15"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,337,311/33102_katelyn_mccauliff2.rev.1472668482.jpg" alt="Katelyn McAuliffe ’15" title="Katelyn McAuliffe ’15" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="337" data-max-h="311"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “Success is driven by collaboration and by sharing knowledge. I work on a team – and I rely on a team – Lake Forest College helped to develop me individually so that I could be successful collectively.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2131-katelyn-mcauliffe-15">Katelyn McAuliffe ’15 is now a strategic analyst in Chicago.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2444-erin-kummer-11"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1278,1495/37845_erinkummer.rev.1497469117.jpg" alt="Erin Kummer ’11" title="Erin Kummer ’11" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1278,1495/37845_erinkummer.rev.1497469117.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1278,1495/37845_erinkummer.rev.1497469117.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1278" data-max-h="1495"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “Having studied and interned in Paris was a boon to my application for graduate school in Germany. Also, it furthered my interests in history and, though I didn’t realize it at the time, was helpful in my studies of the ‘history of the book.’”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2444-erin-kummer-11">Learn more about Erin’s work and study around the globe</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/1508-matthew-spehlmann-16"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,1203/31831_spanishstudent.rev.1461595258.jpg" alt="Matthew Spehlmann ’16" title="Matthew Spehlmann ’16" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,1203/31831_spanishstudent.rev.1461595258.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,1203/31831_spanishstudent.rev.1461595258.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1200" data-max-h="1600"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “The Spanish professors imparted the friendliness and encouraging spirit that is so characteristic of Spanish-speaking people.” </p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/1508-matthew-spehlmann-16">Matthew Spehlmann ’16 studied economics, Spanish, and computer science.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/676-kevin-hsu-14"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,600,600/29357_kevin_hsu.rev.1447957856.jpg" alt="Kevin Hsu ’14" title="Kevin Hsu ’14" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,600,600/29357_kevin_hsu.rev.1447957856.jpg 2x" data-max-w="600" data-max-h="600"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “As a future physician, I am certain that my time spent studying Chinese will prove valuable, allowing me to connect with a more diverse demographic.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/676-kevin-hsu-14">Kevin Hsu ’14 double majored in biology and Chinese.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2586-leticia-lazcano-15"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,960,773/39325_leticia_lazcano.rev.1506964634.jpg" alt="Leticia Lazcano ’15" title="Leticia Lazcano ’15" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,960,773/39325_leticia_lazcano.rev.1506964634.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,960,773/39325_leticia_lazcano.rev.1506964634.jpg 3x" data-max-w="960" data-max-h="773"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> Leticia’s focus has always been on giving back to her community, and she is now preparing to attend law school so that she can continue to do so. </p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2586-leticia-lazcano-15"/>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2983-sandra-de-la-riva-15"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,214,297/41074_Sandra_de_la_Riva_.rev.1517237373.png" alt="Sandra de la Riva ’15" title="Sandra de la Riva ’15" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="214" data-max-h="297"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “I have worked in France multiple times and will be seeking my master’s degree in Europe.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2983-sandra-de-la-riva-15"/>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/604-camille-lemieux-17"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,163,163/37758_c_lemieux_graduation_photo-crop2.rev.1496674797.png" alt="Camille Lemieux ’17" title="Camille Lemieux ’17" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="163" data-max-h="163"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> Camille Lemieux ’17 is making big strides in her career goal of becoming a language education professor at a research university.</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/604-camille-lemieux-17">Read more about what Camille is doing now</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/581-jonas-mikolich-11"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,335,335/27199_edited_jonas.rev.1436971926.jpg" alt="Jonas Mikolich ’11" title="Jonas Mikolich ’11" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="335" data-max-h="399"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> Jonas Mikolich uses his bachelor’s degree in Spanish and economics to work with the Mexico operations team at Coyote Logistics in Chicago.</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/581-jonas-mikolich-11">Read more about why he chose to double major in Spanish and economics.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2644-william-vaughan"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,210,243/40122_40110_WilliamVaughn.rev.1509120689.jpg" alt="William Vaughan" title="William Vaughan" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="210" data-max-h="243"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “Language education is about more than acquiring language skills. Cultivate a cultural openness and curiosity; they will help you to succeed.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2644-william-vaughan">Learn more about William. </a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/599-victoria-johnson-12"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,720/27503_photo_on_4-6-15_at_459_pm.rev.1438461243.jpg" alt="Victoria Johnson ’12" title="Victoria Johnson ’12" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,720/27503_photo_on_4-6-15_at_459_pm.rev.1438461243.jpg 2x" data-max-w="1080" data-max-h="720"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “I’m very grateful for my (theater) internship in Paris. I don’t know many people who had such a fulfilling experience in the field they love.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/599-victoria-johnson-12">Now Victoria Johnson ’12 produces theater in Chicago.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/650-caroline-tibbetts-12"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,200,200/28857_unknown.rev.1445454689.jpeg" alt="Caroline Tibbetts ’12" title="Caroline Tibbetts ’12" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="200" data-max-h="200"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “I think nearly every professor I encountered was strong, inspiring, and impactful upon my life.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/650-caroline-tibbetts-12">Caroline Tibbetts ’12 double majored in French and communication.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/667-mahir-mameledzija-14"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/197,0,1446,1249/29252_image2.rev.1446742373.jpg" alt="Mahir Mameledzija ’14" title="Mahir Mameledzija ’14" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/197,0,1446,1249/29252_image2.rev.1446742373.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/197,0,1446,1249/29252_image2.rev.1446742373.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2048" data-max-h="1536"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “<em>I had an extreme passion for languages</em>. The Spanish language stood out for me because of its worldwide understanding.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/667-mahir-mameledzija-14">Mahir now works at the Center for the Neurobiology of Language Recovery at Northwestern.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2985-evelyn-johnson-18"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,235,235/41110_Evelyn_Johnson_18.rev.1517422194.jpg" alt="Evelyn Johnson ’18" title="Evelyn Johnson ’18" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="235" data-max-h="235"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “Business is so global, and I realized a Mandarin minor would be a perfect complement. I was able to take something away from every class and utilize it in my current role that requires strategy, optimization and financial forecasting for an industry-leading company.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2985-evelyn-johnson-18"/>

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