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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Intersecting Slow Matters, Collaborations, and Creativity

Panel discussion with Jacqueline Nanfito, Denise Caterinacci, and Italian filmmaker Renzo Carbonera.

Meeting with Japanese Exchange Students

On October 23, CWRU Japanese students participate in a cultural exchange meeting with Japanese exchange students from Kindai University.

“Focaccia Blues” Film Screening

Italian film screening Thursday, October 17- FREE & open to all.

SLOW MATTERS: Intersecting Food and Fields

Students in ITAL 370 and SPAN 370 attend the world summit of Slow Food, TERRA MADRE in Turin, Italy.

Slow Food and Tropical OHIO!

Students in ITAL 370 and SPAN 370 acknowledge National Pawpaw Fruit Day.

Korean Students Visit the Cleveland Museum of Art

In celebration of Chuseok, students from KORE 101 and KORE 201 classes visited the CMA.

Moon Festival

Students and faculty gather to celebrate the Moon Festival.