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Thinking of majoring or minoring in a foreign
language at college? Whether you are a prospective student looking for
the right school or a current VU student thinking of going on in foreign
language studies, you will find on this page answers to the questions
most often asked:
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 WHAT
LANGUAGES CAN I STUDY AT VU?
At Valparaiso University, students
may study Chinese, Classical Civilization, French, German, Greek,
Hebrew, Japanese, Latin and Spanish.
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WHAT
ARE FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES LIKE?
The
majority of foreign language classes are kept relatively small
to allow all students the frequent participation necessary to
advance their language skills. Enrollments are often 15-25 students
for the beginning to intermediate level language classes, literature
and civilization courses, while an advanced, specialized seminar
may have only 10 students, to allow the chance for in-depth discussion
from all present. Whether you place into a beginning class, a
conversation class or a literature class, you can be sure that
your professor will know you by name by the end of the first week
of class.
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The in-class experience
will vary according to the level of the course, but students can
expect to take a very active role in class: listening and repeating
at the beginning level, working in the language in pairs or small
groups in conversation classes, and giving presentations or leading
a discussion in the most advanced classes. Outside of class, students
can also count on various
programs in the language laboratory:
on-line audio clips to aid
listening comprehension and pronunciation, computer programs to
practice specific grammar or vocabulary items, word-processing
in French, German, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese, as well as
films on DVD and
VHS to put them in touch with the culture they are simultaneously
studying.
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WHO ARE
THE FACULTY?
Because Valparaiso
University does not use teaching assistants or graduate students
in its classes, foreign language classes at all levels are taught
by professors. The faculty
hold advanced degrees in the area they teach, and moreover, they
are firmly committed to teaching undergraduates the rewards of
learning a new language.
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WHAT
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE?
Every year Valparaiso University
awards foreign language scholarships
to as many as 12 incoming freshman students who plan to major
in French, German, Latin or Spanish. These scholarships are for
$1000 each and are renewable for 4 years, provided that you maintain
a B average at Valpo and remain a foreign language major. If you
wish to be considered for one of these 12 scholarships, you should
contact Professor Nelly Zamora early in your senior year to request
an application.
You will be asked to complete the application form (including
a letter of recommendation from a high school language teacher)
and take an exam in the language you are studying. Scholarships
are awarded with close consideration to several factors: your
score on the scholarship exam (taking into account your level
of language achievement for the time you have been studying it!),
your answer to an essay question on why you are choosing to pursue
your language study, the letter of recommendation, and your overall
performance in high school. Note: all applicants for the Foreign
Language Scholarship must have officially applied and been accepted
to Valparaiso University by February 1. Applicants can expect
to be notified of our decision in February.
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WHAT
ABOUT ADVANCED PLACEMENT?
If you take a high school Advanced
Placement course in a foreign language and earn a grade of 4 or
above on the exam, you will receive 8 college credits at Valparaiso
University.
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WHAT
IS RETROACTIVE CREDIT?
If you place into a third-semester
language class, you will earn a total of 8 college credits upon
passing the course. Four credits will have a grade that will be
averaged into your GPA (Grade Point Average), and the other 4
will have no grade and simply count toward graduation.
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If you place into
a fourth-semester language class, you will earn a total of 12
college credits upon passing the course. Four credits will have
a grade that will be averaged into your GPA (Grade Point Average),
and the other 8 will have no grade and simply count toward graduation.
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IS THERE
A FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT EXAM?
To help students determine the course
most suited to their level, the Department administers a placement
exam in each of the foreign languages it offers. Students of French,
German and Spanish will take their placement
exam on the web before coming to campus for summer FOCUS.
Students of Chinese, Japanese, Latin and
Greek will take their placement
exam when they visit campus in the summer as part of
the FOCUS orientation program (those unable to come at that time
will have the chance to take the test upon arriving in August).
There is no fee for the test, and the grade does not go on any
official record--it is just a way for us to determine in which
class you belong.
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WHERE
CAN I STUDY ABROAD?
Through VU's
13 programs abroad, students may study in Mexico (Puebla),
Germany (Reutlingen, Tübingen), France (Paris), China (Hangzhou),
Japan (Hirakata), England (Cambridge, London), Greece (Athens),
and Africa (Namibia). Students may also study in other countries
through programs sponsored by different institutions.
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WHAT
DO VU LANGUAGE MAJORS SAY ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS?
You may enjoy reading what
some of our students have written about their experiences as foreign
language majors at VU:
Classics:
"As a senior Classics major
preparing for seminary, I'm glad to say that I had some of my most
enjoyable moments studying Greek with our Classics section. The
faculty here is both dedicated to scholarship and personable, taking
a special interest in students' lives without being nosy. Classes
are not only small but flexible, so that I have come to feel most
at home when I study Euripides or Sophocles with fellow Classics
majors. I've also enjoyed participating in our Classics honor society,
Eta Sigma Phi. Through this organization I have been invited to
Prof. Nordling's home for appetizers and socializing, met other
Classics majors, and simply have had fun.
In addition to all this, I have to mention that simply the study
of Classical texts has proven both illuminating and challenging.
It never ceases to surprise me how relevant the work of Greek writers
is for our present time, how they struggled with the same ethical
and moral problems that we do. Studying Classics has also given
me a sharper, more logical mind, as well as a finer sense for the
beauty of well-crafted literature. VU's Classic's section has played
and integral part in my whole education, and I recommend it to anyone
searching for a fun, intellectually-stimulating experience.
Spanish:
"VU's excellent Spanish department
was the major reason that I chose to attend VU. This proved to be
a wise decision because as a student of Spanish, I have learned
so much.
The classes are excellent. I have studied Hispanic literature, history,
culture, art, and of course speaking, reading, and writing. One
of the best parts of VU's program is the professors. All have something
special and different to offer whether it be from their experiences
in Hispanic countries or from their studies. They are extremely
accessible, and all of them know my name and use it when they see
me on campus.
VU's study abroad program in Puebla, Mexico is what has made my
education here truly fantastic. This was one of the most fun and
most educational experiences of my life. I attended classes taught
completely in Spanish at the Universidad de las Americas, lived
in a dormitory with Mexican suitemates, and went out with them on
weekends to experience the Mexican nightlife. In addition, I took
a class from VU's director that included eight weekend trips to
several parts of Mexico. I also traveled on my own, visiting Guatemala,
a friend in Chiapas, and other places."
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WHAT
OTHER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS INVOLVE FOREIGN LANGUAGES?
VU offers
a number of complementary programs
of interest to those who enjoy studying other languages and cultures:
International Economics and Cultural Affairs, International Service,
Modern European Studies, East Asian Studies, and International Business
and Global Studies.
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WHAT KINDS
OF JOBS DO VU LANGUAGE MAJORS HOLD?
Proficiency in a second language
prepares one for any number of careers, and you can find the department's
alumni all over the globe in international firms, service organizations,
the banking industry, classrooms, the ministry, law, medicine,
museums, government agencies, and in graduate programs preparing
for jobs in these and other areas.
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