Foreign Languages
As interaction between nations increases and the United States becomes more diverse, other languages becomes more and more important. The UW-Eau Claire majors in French, German and Spanish provide students with two years of basic language followed by advanced composition and conversation, civilization, literature, and phonetics courses as well as courses in business foreign language. Instruction at all levels emphasizes practical usage combined with a solid liberal arts education with an emphasis on cross-cultural understanding. The department also prepares K-12 teachers in the fields of French, German, Spanish and TESOL.
Why study foreign languages?
- Studying a foreign language develops your oral and written skills — even in your native language. These are among the first skills at which employers look.
- Increased activity in international business, government and tourism has created a need for improved understanding and communication.
- The number of careers that require a major in a foreign language is increasing. Insight into a particular culture and capacity to learn languages will interest employers in a variety of fields including education, social work, health services, business, banking, insurance, advertising, travel, publishing and public service.
- Starting salaries for students graduating with proficiency in one or more foreign languages are at least 20 percent higher than for students who speak English only.
- Training in foreign languages is essential for jobs with multinational companies, in the U.S. Foreign Service and numerous other governmental agencies.
- With a minor in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), you'll
be prepared to teach English as a foreign language overseas.
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Learn about the advantages of studying foreign languages at UW-Eau Claire. |
Career options
- Work in international business.
- Work with corporations in cities with significant minority populations.
- Work in the travel industry.
- Serve in a governmental agency (Peace Corps, Armed Forces, Foreign Service, etc.).
- Teach a foreign language in the United States or abroad.
- Continue your education for a master's or doctoral degree.
- Increase international collaboration in the health industry.
- Teach English as a foreign language overseas (with a TEFL minor).
Undergraduate programs
The UW-Eau Claire department of foreign languages offers:
Major and minors
- French – liberal arts
- French – teaching
- German – liberal arts
- German – teaching
- German – liberal arts with business/professions emphasis
- Japanese - liberal arts (minor only)
- Spanish – liberal arts
- Spanish – teaching
- Spanish – liberal arts with business/professions emphasis
- TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Special programs
- English as a Second Language courses for international students.
- Latin American Studies (see separate Fact Sheet) offers three majors and a minor.
- Russia/East European Studies minor.
- Ancient Studies minor.
- The German section administers internationally recognized Goethe-Institut certificate exams in German (Zertifikat Deutsch) and business German (Deutsch für den Beruf).
Other
- First-year instruction in Chinese, Latin, Greek, Hmong and Russian.
High school preparation
- Students interested in studying foreign languages at the university level are encouraged to complete high school courses in English, public speaking, world civilization, Latin and modern foreign languages.
- All students who enroll at UW-Eau Claire are required to have a
minimum of 17 college preparatory units including:
– 4 years of English (at least 3 composition and literature)
– 2 years of a single foreign language
– 3 years of math (algebra, geometry, 1 advanced college preparatory math)
– 3 years of natural science
– 3 years of social science (1 must be world or American history)
– 2 additional units in the areas already mentioned or other academic areas
Placement in foreign language courses and programs
Foreign language competence at the second-semester level is required for the bachelor of arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students seeking the B.A. degree may demonstrate competency by earning the required grade in foreign language coursework or by achieving an appropriate score on a foreign language placement test taken prior to registration.
Retroactive credits
Students may obtain credit for previous non-college language experience by taking a "confirming course." Based on the results of the foreign language placement test and previous language study, the student enrolls in the appropriate UW-Eau Claire course. If the student earns a grade of B or better, he or she can receive credit for work at the levels lower than the confirming course.
Department scholarships
The UW-Eau Claire Foundation awards at least 10 foreign languages scholarships each year. To learn more about the various scholarships, requirements and the application process, contact the department of foreign languages.
Freshman course work (sample first year)
Fall semester
- For. Lang. 101, Beginning Foreign Language, 4 credits
- Engl 110, Introduction to College Writing, 5 credits
- Hist 124, World History to 1500, 3 credits
- Fltr 250, Classical Mythology, 3 credits
Spring semester
- For. Lang. 102, Beginning Foreign Language, 4 credits
- Comm 202, Fundamentals of Speech, 3 credits
- Phys 115, Survey of Astronomy, 3 credits
- Art 105, Introduction to the Visual Arts, 3 credits
For more information
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