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Widen your circle of conversation.
Being conversant in other languages not only helps you communicate with native speakers, it also provides insight into the people, traditions, and culture of communities and countries where those languages are spoken. As a combined languages major pursuing a bachelor of arts degree, your knowledge will broaden exponentially as you master two languages and cultures of your choosing.
One of the languages must be Spanish or French; if you wish, you can learn both, or you can select one and then add either American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, or Latin. By studying more than one language simultaneously, you’ll develop a unique multicultural perspective and be prepared to forge connections across cultures — both near and far.
Combined Languages
FREN 145
POPSee what it’s like to be a professional translator! Explore the theory, techniques, and dilemmas of translating a variety of texts — from advertising and journalism to theatre and fiction — from French into English.
SPAN 238
In this course, conducted in Spanish, you’ll read and reflect on the work of Spanish-language poets, writers, and playwrights, on both sides of the Atlantic, during times of 20th-century revolutionary change.
GERM 250
Use psychoanalytic and Frankfurt School criticism to gain insight into masterpieces of German-language cinema, including those by expressionists, Nazi, and queer German filmmakers, and post-WWII directors.
CMLT 130
Explore the concept of a national community as created and critiqued through cultural texts like literature and film, and how a national language can promote a sense of cultural continuity and identity.
As a combined languages major, you’ll study two (or more!) of the languages that Clark offers: American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish. You’ll focus on building linguistic and cultural competencies while you work closely with a faculty adviser to choose your course of study.
The major requires a total of 13 courses, eight of which are in languages. With the assistance of your adviser, you’ll select four additional courses that complement your language courses. A required course for all majors within the Language, Literature, and Culture Department — The National Imagination — explores and critiques how national languages have been used to build and promote cultural continuity and identity through texts, films, and documentaries. Finally, you’ll complete two units of study abroad in a country where one of your chosen languages is spoken — normally, these units will count toward the eight required language courses.
You can access higher-level language classes at other colleges within the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts, and/or engage in directed studies with individual Clark professors.
Skills you will learn include:
Located in the Goddard Library, the Language Arts Resource Center is a multimedia language instruction center. With its extensive collection of computer programs, audio, and videotapes, students studying a new language can access multiple sources of learning. A satellite dish receives international news broadcasts from more than 25 countries though SCOLA, a nonprofit educational organization that receives and re-transmits foreign TV programming from around the world.
During your junior year, you might be accepted into the combined languages honors program. Joining the program means you’ll work closely with a professor to create a thesis on a topic of your choice.
Building your foundation
The Clark Core allows students to take courses across diverse disciplines, helping them develop critical thinking skills and respect for other cultures and perspectives. You’ll connect classroom learning with action through world and workplace experiences.
