The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures is committed to helping students become informed and liberally educated citizens of the world. Through the acquisition of language skills and cultural awareness, our students prepare for careers that have an international dimension. To that end, we strongly encourage students to spend their junior year abroad in order to immerse themselves in a foreign culture and perfect their language skills. We offer eight Study Abroad opportunities within the department. 

We work closely with other university departments and interdisciplinary programs as well as with the cultural institutions of University Circle to provide students with a broad understanding of the many opportunities that language and culture study offer. The department has strong interdisciplinary ties with the college’s programs in Asian studies, French and Francophone studies, German studies, international studies, women’s and gender studies, and world literature. Students also gain practical experience in different cultural and language environments through service learning in the Spanish-speaking and Russian-speaking communities of Cleveland.

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News

Women’s Literary Friendship Lecture

Please join us for a lecture with Victoria Gutsche Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

New Book Publication

German Studies’ Professor Susanne Vees-Gulani Icon Dresden is published.

CAS Outstanding Staff Awards

Daisuke Fujimoto is a recipient of the CAS Outstanding Staff Awards.

2025 Municipal Literature Prize

Professor Cristián Gómez Olivares wins the Municpal Literature Prize in the genre of poetry.

Cultures in Context: Global Citizens – Spain

CWRU first-year cohort in Madrid, led by Dr. Damaris Puñales-Alpízar.

Slow Food, DMLL, and Our Sustainable Future

The US representative to Slow Food International, Bilal Sarwari, visits CWRU.

Korean Hangout

Korean program hosts its second Korean Hangout Explore Event.

FRCH 377 Special Topics-Climate-Fiction

Local Author Alison Stine Visits FRCH 377 Class.

US Representative to Slow Food International Visits CWRU

Please join us for a talk with Bilal Sarwari Friday, November 21, 2025.

Pocha Night

Korean program and KASA hosts Pocha Night.

Amistad Spanish Conversation Club

Amistad Spanish Conversation Club Visits Centrovilla 25 – Cleveland Latino Market and Food Hall.

RUSN 305: Folk Music of Eastern Europe

Students explore folk music of eastern Europe.