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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. 

Language in Chicago
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.
A Wide Range of Courses
We offer coursework in Arabic, Chinese, French, 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.

 

Department News

  • Guillaume Lacroix
    Consul General of France in Chicago Guillaume Lacroix Lecture
    Consul General of France in Chicago Guillaume Lacroix gave a very well-attended talk on “Redefining France: ‘Great’ National and International Debates” on Thursday, April 25, for French, International Relations and Politics students as well as community members.
  • Jennifer Valdes Del Valle
    MLL Student Wins McGaw Scholarship

    The McGaw Scholarships are awarded annually to assist one junior and one senior with their tuition costs. Selected McGaw scholars have demonstrated superior leadership abilities and academic excellence. 
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  • <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/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/1512-yipeng-hu-14"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,720,540/31949_pic_yipeng_hu.rev.1462481051.jpg" alt="Yipeng Hu ’14" title="Yipeng Hu ’14" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,720,540/31949_pic_yipeng_hu.rev.1462481051.jpg 2x" data-max-w="720" data-max-h="540"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “The faculty have been amazingly helpful in academic aspects, life-coaching, and career preparation.”</p><p>  </p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/1512-yipeng-hu-14">Today, Yipeng Hu ’14 is a financial analyst in China.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2262-yaritza-cambron"><img src="/live/image/gid/187/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/532,503,1384,1355/34874_yaritza_cambron.rev.1480713732.jpg" alt="Yaritza Cambron" title="Yaritza Cambron" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/187/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/532,503,1384,1355/34874_yaritza_cambron.rev.1480713732.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/187/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/532,503,1384,1355/34874_yaritza_cambron.rev.1480713732.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2048" data-max-h="1536"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “All of the departments at Lake Forest College offer so much help, from building resumes to letters of recommendation.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2262-yaritza-cambron">Yaritza Cambron ’15 is now a GI Tech at Northshore University HealthSystem. </a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/603-gaelle-hollandbeck-12"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/457,0,1460,1002/27563_unknown.rev.1439829791.jpeg" alt="Gaëlle Hollandbeck ’12" title="Gaëlle Hollandbeck ’12" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/457,0,1460,1002/27563_unknown.rev.1439829791.jpeg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/457,0,1460,1002/27563_unknown.rev.1439829791.jpeg 3x" data-max-w="1820" data-max-h="2046"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “The whole experience abroad in Paris was eye-opening, unforgettable, something I wouldn’t trade for anything else. Merci pour cette expérience unique et inoubliable!”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/603-gaelle-hollandbeck-12">Read more about Gaëlle Hollandbeck ’12.</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/613-justin-lansing-07"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,640,474/27696_jl_with_banjo.rev.1440704062.jpg" alt="Justin Lansing ’07" title="Justin Lansing ’07" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="640" data-max-h="474"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “My time in Costa Rica was essential to gaining fluency in the language, and helped to open my worldview.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/613-justin-lansing-07">Learn more about Spanish and sociology major Justin Lansing ’07</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2302-"><img src="/live/image/gid/29/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,450,450/34980_emily_capettini.rev.1481574718.jpg" alt="Emily Capettini ’09" title="Emily Capettini ’09" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="450" data-max-h="450"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “The <strong>Writing Track at Lake Forest College</strong> invites you to smash the barriers of genre and <em>find your own voice</em> among contemporary writers.” </p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2302-">Emily is an award-winning author, editor, and professor of English.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/582-matt-demaris-12"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,289,355/27200_matt_demaris.rev.1436972894.jpg" alt="Matt DeMaris ’12" title="Matt DeMaris ’12" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="289" data-max-h="355"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> Matt DeMaris ’12 says he wouldn’t be where he is today without his French and International Relations majors. </p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/582-matt-demaris-12">Read more about why Matt chose to major in French.</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/641-edward-yonkers-16"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2048,1536/27957_edward_yonkers.rev.1442508159.jpg" alt="Edward Yonkers ’16" title="Edward Yonkers ’16" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2048,1536/27957_edward_yonkers.rev.1442508159.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2048,1536/27957_edward_yonkers.rev.1442508159.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2048" data-max-h="1536"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> After studying French in high school, Edward Yonkers ’16 really wanted to learn Chinese, so he studied in China for a year!</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/641-edward-yonkers-16">In addition to Chinese, Edward also studies economics and environmental studies.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2100-"><img src="/live/image/gid/187/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,180,240/32682_lana_panitch.rev.1469125140.png" alt="Lana Panitch ’14" title="Lana Panitch ’14" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="180" data-max-h="240"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “Employers are impressed that I can speak Spanish in addition to my other hard and soft skills.” </p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2100-">Lana Panitch ’14 became an energy efficiency expert after studying environmental studies and Spanish.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/1510-benedetta-borri-15"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,897,1261/31844_sstory_rome.benedetta2.rev.1461699247.jpg" alt="Benedetta Borri ’15" title="Benedetta Borri ’15" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,897,1261/31844_sstory_rome.benedetta2.rev.1461699247.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,897,1261/31844_sstory_rome.benedetta2.rev.1461699247.jpg 3x" data-max-w="897" data-max-h="1261"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “The College gave me not only a place to <em>cultivate my interests</em>, but the unique opportunity to <strong>travel abroad</strong>, to build n<strong>etworks of friendship overseas</strong>, and to <strong>develop a strong cultural sensitivity</strong>.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/1510-benedetta-borri-15">Benedetta works at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs after studying Chinese. </a>
  • <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/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>

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