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Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures
Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures
The study of another language is an adventure, an exploration into the workings of minds both like and unlike our own. As human minds mold language, so language also molds human minds. A language is, therefore, not only a means by which we represent our thoughts; it is also a medium that presents the world to us in a certain way. When we learn a new language, we learn to see differently -- we acquire a new perspective from which to view both ourselves and the world.
Department News
Congratulations to Language and Culture faculty:
Dr. Karen Erickson, professor of French and Chair of MCL, recipient of the 2013 Robert L. Spaeth Teacher of Distinction Award;
Dr. Mark Thamert, OSB, professor of German and director of the Benedictine Institute, recipient of the 2013 Tom Creed Award for Effective Electronic Pedagogy;
Dr. Sophia Geng, tenured and promoted to Associate Professor of Chinese!
Congratulations to our 2013-2014 Language Scholarship Recipients!
Dr. & Mrs. Joseph B. Gaida Family Scholarship for French
Annie K. Hansen '14 and Emily Huber '14
The Dr. & Mrs. Joseph B. Gaida Family Scholarship for French is open to all French majors enrolled at the College of Saint Benedict who will be juniors or seniors in the Fall semester of a given year. This scholarship is awarded each spring on the basis of scholarship, strength of academic purpose, and financial need.
Sister Margretta Nathe Scholarship for German
Rebecca Bilbro '15, Yuan Huang '14 and Addison Novak '15
The Sister Margretta Nathe Scholarship for German is open to all German majors enrolled at the College of Saint Benedict who will be juniors or seniors in the Fall semester of a given year. This scholarship is awarded each spring on the basis of scholarship, strength of academic purpose, and financial need.
Otmar Drekonja German Cultural Studies Scholarship
Rebecca Bilbro '15, Austin Eighan '14 and Daniel Schmit '14
The Otmar Drekonja German Cultural Studies Scholarship is awarded every spring on the basis of a demonstrated commitment to German Studies, aspirations for using German in the future for teaching, graduate studies, or other professional activity in the field of German, and financial need. This scholarship is open to all German majors & minors enrolled at CSB/SJU who will be juniors or seniors in fall semester.
Mr. & Mrs. J. C. Wang and S. Telan Hu, OSB Scholarship in Asian Studies
Bao Thao '15 and Margaret Drews '16
Established by Margaret Man-Hwa Wang in memory of her parents, Mr. Jung-Chun Wang and Mrs. Jui-Chin Liao Wang, who spent a lifetime supporting needy students around the island of Taiwan; this endowed scholarship also honors the three decades of dedicated service by S. Telan Hu, OSB to Asian Studies at CSB/SJU and commemorates her Golden Jubilee as a Benedictine sister in July 2005. The need-based scholarship honors students' commitment to Chinese language, culture, and service.
Overview of Program
Courses in the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department:
- Include instruction in French, German, Greek, Latin, Chinese, Japanese, and English as a Second Language.
- Fulfill one of the requirements for a liberal arts degree
- Are easily combined with other majors and minors
"By majoring in German, I have developed a set of critical thinking skills that have enabled me to achieve major successes in my profesional life." Hear more from Brian Schnese.
Placement Exams
Instructions for our foreign language placement exams:
For information on placement exams for Latin, Greek, Japanese and Chinese, contact Mary at mniedenfuer@csbsju.edu.
For information on the placement exam for Spanish, see the Hispanic Studies website.
Dr. Karen Erickson
Department Chair
Quad 255B, SJU
(320) 363-3074
Mary Niedenfuer
Department Coordinator
- CSB Richarda P15
(320) 363-5067 - SJU Quad 253A
(320) 363-3093
