Why Study a Foreign Language at MC?

Majoring or Minoring in a foreign language will help you become a better communicator and citizen of an increasingly global world. From understanding scholarly articles and literature written in other languages to proficiently communicating with people around the world, you will be prepared for a variety of challenges. Some graduates of our foreign language programs go on to work with people in the U.S. whose English proficiency is limited, while others work overseas in business, foreign relations, politics, teaching, research, missions, journalism and tourism. Wherever your path leads, the study of foreign languages will open doors in exciting ways.

American Sign Language

American Sign Language is currently the sixth most-used language in the U.S., or the fifth most-used non-English language in the U.S. The study of American Sign Language leads students toward careers in interpreting and transliteration for members of the Deaf population as well as toward counseling, social work, teaching, working in schools for the Deaf, and graduate study in linguistics or anthropology. Maryville College is one of fewer than 50 schools nationwide offering bachelor’s degrees in this area of study. The major in American Sign Language- English Interpreting prepares students for careers as interpreters and transliterators; the major in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies leads to a wide variety of other careers serving the Deaf.

French

Beginning and intermediate French language courses are offered. Please refer to the Course Listings section of this catalog for specific course information. Students seeking additional study in French language or culture should consider an education abroad experience from options available through the College Education Abroad programs.

German

German is one of the most important languages of publication for scientific and technical literature worldwide, as well as the language of the country ranked by the World Bank as the fourth largest economy in the world (by gross domestic product, 2012). Maryville College offers a minor in German. A licensure to teach German is available with the minor if a student is already acquiring licensure with the student’s major.

Greek

Beginning and intermediate biblical (koine) Greek language courses are offered. Please refer to the Course Listings section of this catalog for specific course information. 

Italian

Beginning Italian language courses are offered. Please refer to the Course Descriptions section of this catalog for specific course information. Students seeking additional study in Italian language or culture should consider an education abroad experience from options available through the College Education Abroad programs.

Japanese

Japanese is the language of the world’s third largest economy (by 2012 gross domestic product), a country with a history of technological innovation. Maryville College offers a minor in Japanese. A licensure to teach Japanese is available with the minor if a student is already acquiring licensure with the student’s major.

Latin

Beginning and intermediate Latin language courses are offered, as enrollment warrants. Refer to the Course Listings section of this catalog for specific course information.

Spanish

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the U.S. after English, so it opens many opportunities for interaction with major segments of the U.S. population, as well as doorways into the culture and life of Latin America and Spain. Maryville College offers both a major and a minor in Spanish. Moreover, the major in Spanish for Teacher Licensure leads to qualification to teach high school Spanish. So does the minor in Spanish, for those who are pursuing another major involving licensure. 

Related Opportunities

The College’s Center for Global Engagement gives students numerous opportunities (studying, interning and volunteering) to travel abroad and experience other cultures and languages, which help to inform their approach to teaching English learners. Generous scholarships are available to spend summers and semesters abroad.

Photo of Gabriela Walker

Gabriela Walker

Hometown: Johnson City, Tennessee

Gabriela first fell in love with the Spanish language in high school, and her passion for learning the language has grown ever since. Not only does she find linguistics fascinating, but she enjoys learning about the histories and cultures of the many Spanish-speaking countries. Upon graduation, she hopes to find employment working in international business. 

“I chose to major in Spanish because I love the language and value a career where I can connect and communicate with other Spanish speakers,” she said.

 

Photo of Nate Long

Nate Long ’19

Currently: Business Planning Specialist at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc.

Nate enjoyed Spanish so much in high school that he chose it as one of his majors at Maryville College. (The other major was International Business.) He spent Spring 2018 in Pamplona, Spain, studying at the Universidad Pública de Navarra. In addition to improving his Spanish language skills, he learned a lot about Spanish culture.

“I chose Spanish as my major largely because of the idea that I will be able to communicate with a large population of non-English speakers,” he said.

Adjunct Instructor of French
Kristi Caux
Adjunct Instructor of French
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Adjunct Instructor of French
Danielle Coulson
Adjunct Instructor of French
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Adjunct Instructor of English, History, Italian & Latin
Ted Higgs
Adjunct Instructor of English, History, Italian & Latin
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Adjunct Instructor of German
Dr. Zsuzsanna Roth
Adjunct Instructor of German
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Assistant Professor of Spanish
Dr. Naiara Centeno
Assistant Professor of Spanish
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Adjunct Instructor of Spanish
Rosa Toledo
Adjunct Instructor of Spanish
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Adjunct Instructor of Spanish
Pedro Tomas
Adjunct Instructor of Spanish
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Job Placements

Alabama Department of Mental Health
Blount County Schools
Clayton Homes
Eastman Chemical Company
Deaf Access Solutions
Lenoir City Schools
Sorenson Communications

Graduate School Placements

Emory University School of Law
Gallaudet University, School of Social Work
George Mason University, Interdisciplinary Studies
Oklahoma State University, School of Business
Trevecca Nazarene University, School of Library, Information Sciences
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, School of Social Work and School of Global Public Health
University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Foreign Language Education at the College of Arts and Science

Professor Sam Overstreet, Chair, Division of Languages and Literature and Coordinator

Beginning and intermediate Chinese language courses are offered. Please refer to the Course Descriptions section of this catalog for specific course information. Students seeking additional study in Chinese language or culture should consider an education abroad experience from options available through the College Education Abroad programs.

Professor Sam Overstreet, Chair, Division of Languages and Literature and Coordinator

Beginning and intermediate French language courses are offered. Please refer to the Course Listings section of this catalog for specific course information. Students seeking additional study in French language or culture should consider an education abroad experience from options available through the College Education Abroad programs.

The Minor in German consists of at least 15 credit hours above the 100-level.

Required courses include:

Minor and Minor-Related Courses

GER 201: Intermediate German I(3 hrs)
GER 202: Intermediate German II(3 hrs)
GER 225: Intermediate Conversation and Composition(3 hrs)
Six credit hours earned in an approved education abroad program

The Minor in Japanese consists of 15 credit hours above the 100-level.

Required courses include:

Minor and Minor-Related Courses

JPN 201: Intermediate Japanese I(3 hrs)
JPN 202: Intermediate Japanese II(3 hrs)
JPN 225: Intermediate Conversation and Composition(3 hrs)

An additional six credit hours earned either by taking a combination of the following:

JPN 337: Internship in Japanese(0-15 hrs)
JPN 349: Selected Topics in Japanese(3 hrs)
Completion of an approved education abroad program

Professor Sam Overstreet, Chair, Division of Languages and Literature and Coordinator

Beginning and intermediate Latin language courses are offered, as enrollment warrants. Refer to the Course Listings section of this catalog for specific course information.

Professor Sam Overstreet, Chair, Division of Languages and Literature and Coordinator

Beginning and intermediate Italian language courses are offered. Please refer to the Course Descriptions section of this catalog for specific course information. Students seeking additional study in Italian language or culture should consider an education abroad experience from options available through the College Education Abroad programs.

Spanish

The Major in Spanish consists of 47-48 credit hours beyond elementary Spanish.  In addition, Spanish majors spend the second semester of their junior year abroad in an approved program in a Spanish-speaking country. During this semester abroad, 12 hours of approved Spanish courses are completed. Arrangements for study at foreign institutions are described under the College Study Abroad programs.

A second track in the major, Spanish for Teacher Licensure, consists of 43 credit hours beyond elementary Spanish. Spanish majors for Teacher Licensure must also spend the second semester of their junior year abroad in an approved program in a Spanish-speaking country. During this semester abroad, 12 hours of approved Spanish courses are completed. In addition, students pursuing this major must complete 29 hours of professional courses in teacher education.

The Minor in Spanish consists of at least 15 credit hours in Spanish in courses above the 100-level.

The Minor in Spanish for Add-On Teaching Endorsement  requires the completion of 15 hours of Spanish above the 100-level.

American Sign Language

Two majors offered at Maryville College draw on American Sign Language, the major in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies and the major in American Sign Language-English Interpreting. Courses and requirements for each major can be found under those listings.

In addition to required courses for majors and minors, Maryville College students take classes in the Maryville Curriculum, a core program of general education. Consisting of 51 credit hours, the Maryville Curriculum ensures that students see their major in a wider context and develop the basic communication, quantitative, and critical thinking skills that are needed for success in college and career.

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