World Language Degrees at ÂÌñÒùÆÞ
Discover World Languages at Aquinas
The Department of World Languages at ÂÌñÒùÆÞ promotes an understanding of and exchange with other cultures both within and outside the United States. Our integrated program of language learning incorporates all of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students learn to use the language in a communicative, interactive environment within the classroom. The Department also offers a variety of courses for advanced study in culture, literature, applied language for the professions, translation and interpretation. These courses are designed to enhance an understanding of the richness of the human experience over the centuries and across cultures, and prepare our students for graduate school and/or the professional world.
Choose a Language of Study
Student Research
Check out the current and past research that Aquinas students do with faculty to further the world's knowledge.Read More about Student Research
1. With the second highest number of majors on campus, World Languages offers courses
in French, German, and Spanish.
2. Students in the German Senior Capstone Course engage in interdisciplinary research
projects by connecting their thesis with their second major to conduct and present
original research.
3. The French studies program offers project-based language courses where students engage
meaningfully with the target language and real-world issues of France and other Francophone
societies.
4. The Spanish program is focused on excellence beyond the classroom into the global
community by promoting an understanding of an exchange with Hispanic cultures both
within and outside the United States.
5. Aquinas is the regional examination center of the Paris Chamber of Commerce where
students take the Diplôme de Français Professionnel A aires B 2 de la Chambre de Commerce
et d’Industrie de Paris Ile-de-France
6. Graduates have been accepted to renowned graduate and professional schools including
The University of Chicago, New York University, Monterey Institute of International
Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, and University of Massachusetts.
7. The Spanish program offers 300-level courses covering topics such as literature, film,
art, linguistics, culture and civilization, ecology, business, medical interpretation,
community engagement, and dance.
8. The German Studies program offers courses that integrate hands-on classroom teaching
with experiential learning opportunities by collaborating with institutional partners
in Grand Rapids.
9. Students of Spanish conduct and present their original research at academic conferences,
shadow medical interpreters, and conduct service learning projects within the community
and abroad.
Benefits of Language Learning
Learning another language is a fun experience, and it has a lot of different benefits throughout your life. No matter what age you are, learning a language helps your . Here are some of the assets you gain when you learn a language.
Youth - Learning
Bilingual students perform better in math, reading, and vocab on standardized tests.
Life skills: Children who speak multiple languages develop superior attention, , and .
Bilingual students outperform monolingual students in forming scientific hypotheses
Adulthood - Career
Students who study languages perform better academically in college.
Bilingual workers can earn as much as $128,000 more in their lifetime.
88% of job recruiters say speaking multiple languages is critical to business success.
Maturity - Health
Longevity: Onset of Alzheimer’s disease is delayed by 4-5 in bilingual adults
Bilingual adults who get Alzheimer’s disease suffer less brain damage
Bilingual adults are twice as likely to retain full brain function after a stroke