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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

  • A wonderful event
    Crepe Soiree
    French Club officers and French professors Hahn and Sermet organized a popular “soirée crêpes” for around 40 students in Cleveland Young International Residence Hall this February.
  • Collage 2019
    Collage Magazine
    Get Published! Don’t miss the deadline to submit your work.
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  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/2105-"><img src="/live/image/gid/20/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/105,5,1172,1075/32706_bridgetkies.rev.1469475494.jpg" alt="Bridget Kies" title="Bridget Kies" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/20/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/105,5,1172,1075/32706_bridgetkies.rev.1469475494.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/20/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/105,5,1172,1075/32706_bridgetkies.rev.1469475494.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1210" data-max-h="1430"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “Don’t be afraid to let the experience profoundly change you.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2105-">Bridget Kies ’02 is pursuing her PhD in Media, Cinema and Digital Studies after majoring in French.</a>
  • <span class="lw_profiles_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/profiles/605-patrick-nicholas-08"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,640,480/27523_photo_1.rev.1438889311.jpg" alt="Patrick Nicholas ’08" title="Patrick Nicholas ’08" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" data-max-w="640" data-max-h="480"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “When discussing the importance of Spanish in my career, opportunities to speak and read the language have been prevalent since I entered the field of finance.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/605-patrick-nicholas-08">Today, in his job at a major corporation, Patrick is the “go-to” person for initiating calls to Latin America.</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/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/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/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/3126-michael-peters"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,639,681/45244_michael_peters_crop.rev.1528383706.jpg" alt="Michael Peters" title="Michael Peters" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,639,681/45244_michael_peters_crop.rev.1528383706.jpg 2x" data-max-w="639" data-max-h="681"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “Languages are always good to learn, as they open up new doors….The Department of Modern Languages recommended the MSID Senegal study abroad program to me, which for me was the most impactful experience of college.”</p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/3126-michael-peters">Learn more about Michael’s career path.</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/2399-tuyen-tran11"><img src="/live/image/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,688,2048/36651_tuyentran.rev.1490806495.jpg" alt="Tuyen Tran’11" title="Tuyen Tran’11" class="lw_image" width="242" height="242" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/57/width/242/height/242/crop/1/src_region/0,0,688,2048/36651_tuyentran.rev.1490806495.jpg 2x" data-max-w="688" data-max-h="2048"/></a></span></span><div class="quote"><p> “Not sure where I would be without my connections to the Forester community. Use the Career Advancement Center – I think I’ve actually contacted them more times after I graduated than while I was a student…”</p><p>  </p></div><a class="recruit-link" href="/live/profiles/2399-tuyen-tran11">Tuyen studied International Relations, French, and Business at Lake Forest College. </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/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/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/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/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/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>

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