Modern languages
Language is the primary medium of human culture and expression. It is the fundamental vehicle not only of the routine of daily life but also of our highest intellectual aspirations and achievements.
I never forgot Concordia. And once in a while, in my own classroom at Bishop’s, where I now teach German, its language and literature, I quote [former CMLL] Professor Helmut Famira and smile.
Nathalie Lachance
BA Honours German, 2003
Our undergraduate programs open doors to new ways of understanding the world and the self through the study of other languages, cultures and literatures.
Starting from the four basic language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing, our programs integrate innovative approaches to the study of literature and culture with practice and experience in translation, second language pedagogy and critical inquiry.
In all cases, students are provided with a sound linguistic foundation that will prove advantageous in career areas such as education, business, government, the travel industry or international organizations.
BA Programs
The Honours, Specialization, and Major programs in Spanish are designed to give students ample knowledge of the language, spoken and written, as well as a coherent overview of Spanish culture, tradition, history and literature. The flexibility within the programs allows our students to concentrate on language, translation, culture and/or literature.
Language courses are intended to develop all the basic language skills: speaking, understanding, reading and writing. All courses above the introductory level are offered exclusively in Spanish. In the language and translation courses students are provided with a sound linguistic basis that will prove advantageous in career areas such as business, government, the travel industry or international organizations.
Literature courses cover all the major areas of Hispanic literatures and give students an overview of the major literary periods. Through the study of literature students acquire the ability to undertake a critical approach to the analysis of literary texts, as well as of secondary materials and research literature. These skills enhance students' ability to read, understand, enjoy and appraise literary and other texts. Most 400-level courses are offered every 2 or 3 years in rotation.
Minors
The department also offers a 30-credit Minor in Spanish and a 33-credit Minor in Spanish Translation. Minor programs give students majoring in another discipline a valid and adequate background in language studies.
NOTE: It is our understanding that students admitted to any specialization in teacher education may enroll in the minor in Spanish and have their capacity to teach Spanish as third language recognized by a school board or private school. Since regulations can change, interested students should confirm this understanding with the department which will provide their teaching certification for Quebec.
BA Programs: Honours and Major
The Honours and Major programs in Italian are designed to give students ample knowledge of the language, spoken and written, as well as a coherent overview of Italian culture, tradition, history and literature. The flexibility within the programs allows our students to concentrate on language, translation, culture and/or literature.
Language courses are intended to develop all the basic language skills: speaking, understanding, reading and writing. All courses above the introductory level are offered exclusively in Italian. In the language and translation courses students are provided with a sound linguistic basis that will prove advantageous in career areas such as business, government, the travel industry or international organizations.
Literature courses cover all the major areas of Italian literatures and give students an overview of the major literary periods. Through the study of literature students acquire the ability to undertake a critical approach to the analysis of literary texts, as well as of secondary materials and research literature. These skills enhance students' ability to read, understand, enjoy and appraise literary and other texts. Most 400-level courses are given every 2 or 3 years in rotation.
Minors
The 30-credit Minor program gives students majoring in another discipline a valid and adequate background in language studies.
There are many good reasons to study German. The 30-credit Minor in German program gives students majoring in another discipline a valid and adequate background in language studies. Courses offered include translation, civilization and German for business purposes. Program requirements and course descriptions can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
All courses above the introductory level are offered exclusively in German. Upon consultation with the department, advanced students may not be required to take any courses at the 200 level.
Top 10 Reasons for You to Study German
- Germany is the economic powerhouse in the Euro-zone and the second largest export country in the world.
- German is one of the three most important languages worldwide for business, tourism and diplomacy.
- German shares many roots with English words and shows structural similarities with French, making it easier to learn for speakers of these two languages.
- You already know more German than you think:
Angst, Autobahn, Blitz, Bratwurst, Danke schön, Doppelgänger, Gemütlichkeit, Gestalt, Gesundheit, Kindergarten, Kitsch, Leitmotiv, Lied, Oktoberfest, Prost, Realpolitik, Weltanschauung, Zeitgeist...
- Many of the most seminal works in almost any discipline have originally been published in German.
- You have heard these names for good reasons: Adler, Adorno, Benjamin, Benz, Hildegard von Bingen, Bismarck, Daimler, Einstein, Freud, Gauss, Gropius, Hegel, Heidegger, Hertz, Horkheimer, Humboldt, Hundertwasser, C.G. Jung, Kant, Robert Koch, Luther, Marx, Nietzsche, Max Planck, Porsche, Röntgen, K.F. Schinkel, Siemens, Schliemann, Winckelmann, Zeiss...
- German is important for a degree e.g. in art history, archaeology, biology, chemistry, engineering, international business, linguistics, medicine, pharmacy, philosophy, physics, psychology, sociology, theology, translation studies and more.
- Many of the most important composers, writers, painters and movie directors are / were native speakers of German: Bach, Beethoven, Benjamin, M. Bleibtreu, Brahms, Brecht, Bruckner, Otto Dix, Dürer, C.D. Friedrich, Goethe, Brüder Grimm, Gründgens, Heine, W. Herzog, Hesse, Kafka, K. Kinski, Klimt, F. Lang, Mahler, Th. Mann, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Mozart, Armin Müller-Stahl, Riefenstahl, Schiller, Romy Schneider, Schubert, Schumann, Wagner, Chr. Waltz, W. Wenders...
- German offers you a chance to travel, study and work in Germany, Austria or Switzerland by participating in one of the many available exchange programs.
- In today's global market, knowing German gives you an advantage in your career.
Deutsch lernen ist cool.
At Concordia.
The department offers two 30-credit programs in the Modern Standard Arabic Language and Culture: the Minor and the Certificate. The Minor program gives students majoring in another discipline a valid and adequate background in Modern Standard Arabic language and culture studies.
The department offers two 30-credit programs in Modern Chinese Language and Culture: the Minor and the Certificate. The Minor program gives students majoring in another discipline a valid and adequate background in Chinese language and culture studies.