If you love languages and cultures and wish to attain proficiency in three languages beyond English, you’ll appreciate this degree program which will increase your personal interactions and lead to a wide array of careers and possibilities.
With on-campus courses focusing on acquiring linguistic and cultural skills and a required Study Abroad program in two other cultures, such as Argentina, France, Germany, Spain, Russia, China, or the Middle East, you will engage in personal interactions and discover other civilizations first-hand. You will also have the opportunity to develop a dynamic Christian worldview as you encounter differing cultural values and beliefs.
The International Languages major is designed to equip students to interact in authentic situations in three languages beyond English and to live intentionally as global citizens. The major focuses primarily on proficiency, specifically developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills as well as cultural awareness. Furthermore, through the Study Abroad program, students will be enrolled in advanced language and civilization courses in Grace College’s member institutions abroad and have opportunity to apply their faith in the context of other cultures.
SPA101–102 Beginning Spanish Language and Culture I and II
Students are put in the presence of authentic, unsimplified Spanish and are trained to use it in the dynamic context of communication. The emphasis is placed on oral proficiency, the development of skills, self-expression and cultural insight.
CHI101–102 Beginning Chinese Language and Culture I and II
This course is intended to be an intensive learning course for students without prior knowledge of Mandarin Chinese dialect or written Chinese. The emphasis is placed on Chinese Pinyin Romanization system, Chinese characters, the development of language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing and cultural insight.
FRE101–102 Beginning French Language and Culture I and II
Students are put in the presence of authentic, unsimplified French and are trained to use it in the dynamic context of communication. The emphasis is placed on oral proficiency, the development of skills, self-expression and cultural insight.
FLC464 Methods of Teaching a Foreign Language
A study of curriculum and methods of teaching a foreign language on both the elementary and secondary level, with special emphasis on performance objectives and methodology with classroom practice.
FLC490 Senior Seminar
An exit course for seniors developed around languages and cultures. The purpose of this course is to provide a capstone course in order to allow students to reflect upon and apply what they have learned in previous language courses and to provide a bridge between their language study and their life calling. Students participate in community service and conduct a scholarly research throughout the semester on a topic relating to foreign language study.
ENET, the Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo diploma from the Instituto Biblico Palabra de Vida, Argentina; M.A. in Intercultural Studies, Grace Theological Seminary
About
Prof. Navarro was born and raised in Argentina. After receiving his bachelor's degree, he taught Spanish in Buenos Aires for seven years before receiving an invitation to teach Spanish at Grace College in 1996. Since arriving at Grace, he has taught for the institution's Prison Extension Program at the Indiana State Penitentiary in Michigan City and at the Miami County Correctional Facility. He has been recognized multiple times in the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Prof. Navarro is active in his community, having served on the Board of the Kosciusko County Soccer League and participated in the planting of a Hispanic Ministry through his local church. He has spoken at conferences in Washington, California, Indiana, and also in Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, Mexico, and Spain.
B.A. in Art Education, Grace College; M.A. in French, Middlebury College
About
Professor Jacqueline Schram teaches French and also serves as the Associate Dean of Students. In her role as professor, she oversees the language programs at Grace College, and in her role as dean, her responsibilities include coordinating the general education core curriculum. In addition, she also helps coordinate the Study Abroad Programs in Dijon and Paris, France. Prof. Schram was raised in France, where her family served on the missionary staff of Grace Brethren International Missions. She moved to the United States to attend Grace College, and joined the Grace College faculty in 1992.
B.A. in Japanese Language and Cultural,Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, China Certificate in Teaching Chinese as Foreign Language, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Certificate in Mandarin Teacher in Foreign Country, Beijing Language University, Beijing, China
About
Prof. Shen currently works at Biomet, Inc. in Warsaw, Indiana as an International Regulatory Specialist. She and her two boys, who are both tri-lingual, live in Winona Lake. She is a member of Swiss Chinese Teacher Association, OSMA, and part of the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Warsaw, IN.
Careers
Some of the positions you can obtain:
Translator
Translates documents and other materials from one language to another. Reads materials and rewrites materials in specific language or languages. May specialize in particular type of material such as news, legal documents, or scientific reports.
ESL Teacher
ESL stands for English as a Second Language. It refers to teaching English to people whose native language is not English, both in the U.S. and other countries around the world.
Import/Export Agent
Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff re-classifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.
Foreign Sales Representative
Direct the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
International Management Consultant
Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplifications and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively.
Linguist
One who is concerned with the exact equivalent of a unit of the source translation text without referencing cultural or contextual factors. Linguists write syntactic and grammatical rules for translation programs.
Missionary
Immersion within and forming relationships with the people of another culture with the purpose of sharing Christ in word and in deed. Often times missionaries will form relationships through the application of their gifts and talents, meeting the needs of the people within the culture. Those talents may be in the areas of construction, agriculture, literacy, teaching, or business to name a few.
Study Abroad Coordinator
Study abroad coordinators, who work at colleges and universities, advise students in researching, selecting and coordinating a location out of the country at which to study. Reporting to the director of study abroad programs, the coordinator is knowledgeable of all policies regarding cross-cultural training programs.
Subtitler/Voice-Over
One who provides synchronized captions in the target language for film and television dialogue. Subtitling is one of the two main methods of language transfer used in translating types of mass audio-visual communication. The other is dubbing, which is narrowly defined to be a lip-sync process, designed to give the impression that the actors in the film are actually speaking in the target language.
Transcriptionist
One who listens to the sounds and words of a spoken message and converts it into a written translation. Generally, transcriptions refers to an interlingual transfer preserving forms of original sounds, letters, or words unchanged in the target translation.
Testimonials
What others are saying:
The professors at Grace are so helpful and willing to work with students no matter what difficulties we may be facing. I have been blessed with professors who push me to do better and to work harder in my classes. They are open and willing to answer questions, offer help when I need it, and give encouragement when I am doing well. Grace has also helped me discover more about what it means to be one of God's children and what it looks like to be a part of His family. —Elizabeth Bennet, B.A., International Languages, graduating 2013