German

The Department of Modern Foreign Languages doesn’t just recommend but, rather, highly encourages all of its students to participate in study abroad opportunities. Through these immersive experiences, students are able to go beyond their books and ingrain themselves into culturally rich and vibrant communities. Very few experiences truly allow students to absorb language in its natural habitat - ultimately allowing students to soak up cultural surroundings, traditions and language like a sponge.

A Foreign Language degree is a means of communicating with other communities whose native tongue is different from your own. With over 6,000 alternative languages in the world, there is a large language gap that is ever evolving. For this reason, a degree in any foreign language is beneficial to both the individual and society, as it allows for better communication between differing cultures - both abroad and stateside.

Due to the nature of shifting course loads, SVSU can not guarentee a native speaking professor for each subject.

SVSU does not have a specific foreign language requirement, however, it does have an Oral Communication requirement that heavily incorporates elementary and intermediate language courses.

No matter what the field, double majoring will always be a challenging experience for any student. It requires dedication and hard work in two separate fields of discipline. However, double majoring in a foreign language adds greater value to a student’s degree as it boosts their marketability and opens many doors to a wide variety of potential career paths that may not, otherwise, be open.

A language major is a student who majors in a secondary language, outside of their native tongue, and continues to build upon their communication skills over time. Ideally, the goal of the major is to feel at ease within their non-formative culture, so much so that they are comfortable with using various forms of communication both verbally and nonverbally.

Students who are majoring and minoring in a foreign language are expected to develop advanced or intermediate fluency in their chosen secondary language. Those taking courses to fulfill a general education requirement or simply out of curiosity are not held to the same fluency standards. However, they will be expected to communicate on an elementary level by the end of their chosen course.

The ease of learning a foreign language varies from person to person, though it is the intention of the MFL Department to have each major and minor graduate with an intermediate or advanced comprehension of their chosen language.

It’s virtually impossible to truly grasp another language, without understanding the customs and traditions of its native speakers. For that reasoning alone, students at SVSU are given every opportunity to explore and familiarize themselves with cultures other than their own. From immersive study abroad opportunities to multicultural events and more, students have every chance to grow and enrich their collegiate experience. Furthermore, the MFL Department encourages students to get involved in cultural events, organizations and activities - particularly in regards to the traditions and customs of the language a student is actively pursuing as a secondary language. 

The MFL Department does its best to introduce students to native speakers through on-campus events, organizations and lectures. Students are also highly encouraged to study abroad to immerse themselves amongst native speakers of the language they’re pursuing.