Developing a proficiency in a second language allows you to explore foreign cultures, histories and literatures, and gain an understanding and appreciation for culture as embodied in its language.
The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers a variety of courses in language studies. Below is a list and some information about the course subjects.
Students taking the Arabic academic program develop skills in reading, writing, and speaking in Arabic commencing with the study of basic grammar and vocabulary. Students strengthen reading and writing skills through different mechanisms including popular media and literary selections while also noting customs and cultures of the Arabic-speaking world. The mission of the Arabic courses offered is to expand a students’ knowledge of the Arabic language and help students become global citizens.
Students can also learn Arabic in countries where it is spoken. There are semester study abroad programs in Morocco, United Arab Emirates, and Jordan where students have opportunities to take Arabic language courses and other humanities courses.
Visit the Center for Global Education for more information.
The mission of the Chinese Language Program is to serve the needs of the students at Chapman University with a program focusing on aiding students to broaden their educational horizon and achieving their career goals. Chinese language classes stress on learning from authentic materials. Elementary Chinese 101 and 102, and Intermediate Chinese 201 are the introductory courses that fulfill the language requirement at Chapman University. Chinese 202 and 301A are designed to continue students’ Chinese language skills in developing practical conversational skills and to acquire an intermediate proficiency in the reading and writing in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters at the adequate level. Chinese 347(business Chinese) focuses on using the target language properly in a professional business setting. It is designed for students aspiring to China-focused careers and those interested in learning Chinese with materials related to business. In this course students will acquire basic business-related Chinese language skills and gain a cross-cultural perspective of Chinese business practices.
We hold Chinese culture events both in class and after class. Such as Chinese table, Taiwanese Movie day and the Chinese culture hands-on culture workshops in making Chinese festival related handcrafts, writing calligraphy, etc.
Students, with approval for the department, have the option of taking Independent Studies and Research and Conference classes for course credit.
Students can also learn Chinese language during summer/Interterm travel course to Taiwan. Or learn Chinese for a semester abroad in Taiwan or China! Visit the Center for Global Education for more information.
Learn more about the Chinese Program
The B.A. in Global Communication and World Languages (Chinese)
The French Program at Chapman University has a long tradition of excellence with great instructors who enhance the learning atmosphere with their unique insights on various aspects of the Francophone world.
Studying French at Chapman is a tremendous experience that empowers the learner to choose the direction of their own education within the degree itself. The framework for a major or minor is in place with several choices available every semester.
Germany today has the world’s fourth largest economy, and German is the most widely spoken language in Europe. It is the official language of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein.
Our program is designed to meet the individual needs of students from the elementary to the advanced levels, in keeping with Chapman’s mission to “provide a personalized education of distinction that leads to inquiring, ethical and productive lives as global citizens.”
Students taking the Greek academic program develop skills in reading, writing, and speaking in Greek commencing with the study of basic grammar and vocabulary.
Students strengthen reading and writing skills through different mechanisms offered by experts in the Greek language in the department of languages.
Our program offers a full range of instruction from elementary language classes to upper-level courses in Italian and Italian-American literature, film, and culture.
We are a group of committed professors dedicated to assisting individual students in growing professionally and personally, both at Chapman University and on an international level.
Chapman University's italophile character also offers numerous possibilities to experience Italy while on campus through student events organized by the Italian Club, operas performed by the Conservatory of Music, numerous Italian American and International celebrations, and resources such as the Italian Heritage archive and group study room at the Leatherby Library.
The Japanese Studies Program is a vibrant entity in the Department of Languages and Cultures at Chapman University. The program actively pursues the advancement and improvement of the Japanese Studies program benefiting the students tremendously.
Each semester at least one upper-division course is offered to facilitate the completion of a Japanese Studies Minor for interested students.
Non scholae, sed vitae discimus: what does it mean?
If you knew Latin, you would know. But why study Latin and the Classical Humanities? We'll answer this question with Cicero's own words:
Nescire autem quid ante quam natus sis acciderit, id est semper esse puerum. Quid enim est aetas hominis, nisi ea memoria rerum veterum cum superiorum aetate contexitur? "Not knowing what happened before you were born is to be stuck in childhood forever. What does a person's life amount to without the historical consciousness that weaves one's life into the life of earlier generations?" Cicero, Orator XXXIV.
Latin is in our culture, in our language, in our history, in our institutions, in our music, in our sciences, in our religions. Its influence remains as strong as ever, in all fields of human intellectual achievement. If you study English, French, Italian, Spanish, or German, the benefits of studying also Latin are tangible.
If you are interested in literature, law, history, myths, art, find out where it all begun. Studying and knowing Latin gives us the ability to better interpret and understand the world around us, because nos sumus tempora: quales sumus, talia sunt tempora (Augustine). If you learn Latin, you will be standing on the shoulders of giants.
For more information, please contact, Dr. Jared Hammad at hammad@chapman.edu or (714) 997-6843.
Spanish is widely spoken here in California and throughout the United States. The Spanish academic program is dedicated to promoting culturally and linguistically competent citizens in our multicultural and multilingual society.
It is the largest program in the languages department instructing more than 700 students each academic semester. About 100 students choose Spanish as their major or minor for their undergraduate degree.