Mission Statement

If I do not speak in a language that can be understood, there is little chance for a dialogue.
~bell hooks~

What are the Goals of the Foreign Languages Convening Group?

The primary goal of the Foreign Languages Convening Group at the School of American and International Studies is to provide you with the skills needed to communicate efficiently and confidently in a second language. Because this overall objective requires more than the mastery of a grammar code, the Convening Group is committed to developing proficiency not only in speaking, reading, writing, and listening, but also in the cultural and socio-linguistic aspects of the language you choose to learn. Through the teaching of these features tied to language learning, we aim to foster the cross-cultural understanding indispensable in today’s global world.

Another of our aims is to give you an edge in today’s competitive job market by instilling a broad-based knowledge of other cultures through language. In our upper-level courses, we promote an in-depth knowledge of the concentration disciplines in consultation and collaboration with faculty in other Schools. Both broad-based and in-depth knowledge are necessary for success in a wide range of careers in business, education, community organizations, law, and government.

All of our students, including heritage speakers, benefit from exposure to the literary, linguistic, and cultural diversity of the countries in which the target language is spoken. This diversity is at the center of our pedagogy. Aware of migration and transnational and postcolonial realities, we also strive to validate both national and heritage cultures in our courses. The study of Latino/a cultures and francophone literature, for example, are integrated into our curriculum in courses that focus separately on these areas, and others that span metropolitan and diasporic experiences.

The Convening Group upholds the international, intercultural, interdisciplinary, and experiential learning missions of Ramapo College.

What Does the Foreign Language Program Offer?

The Foreign Languages Convening Group offers programs leading to a major in Spanish with concentrations in Literature and Teacher Education. It offers minors in French, Italian, and Spanish. In conjunction with the Teacher Education Program at the School of Social Sciences and Human Services, teacher certification is offered also in French and Italian.

Additionally, instruction is provided in the less-commonly-taught languages of Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, and Russian by native speakers of the language who are in some cases visiting faculty from universities abroad.

How is the Program Implemented?

Language students at Ramapo work in small classes and receive close, individualized attention and encouragement from their instructors, who are familiar with the latest language instruction techniques and technology. The instructors are prepared to support you through demanding but rewarding courses that are student-centered and proficiency-oriented. Technical support and personal assistance are also available in our state-of-the-art language lab where leading-edge technology is at the service of language instruction.

In all of our language courses, the target language is used as often as possible in task-based and fully contextualized activities. We spend most of the time using the language in meaningful contexts. Because research has shown that this is the best and most efficient way to acquire language, we work to help you increase your proficiency as you move up. Textbook instruction is complemented with the use of multimedia in order to engage students and facilitate the learning process. A variety of texts, films and videos, “authentic” documents, audio and interactive CD-roms, and other materials are fully integrated into the curriculum, providing reinforcement and enrichment.

Teacher: "My mom pampers me. My mom loves me."
Mafalda: "I'm happy for you, Ms. I see you have a wonderful mother."
Mafalda: "Now, please, can you teach us something important?"

Created by Quino, Mafalda, a well-known character in Latin America, pokes fun at her teacher's phonetic approach to reading through mechanical drills. Unlike Mafalda, in Ramapo's language classes you will use the language in meaningful contexts relevant to everyday life.

Click here to view other Mafalda comics

Programs