Language Spotlight
At Drew, the study of foreign languages and literature is a unique personal experience driven by each student’s individual interests. Since professionals in today’s global market often find themselves interacting across national, cultural and linguistic boundaries, multilingual college graduates are becoming increasingly valuable members of the workforce. Knowledge of a foreign language also gives students a tremendous advantage when applying to law, medical or graduate school.
Drew offers instruction in French, Italian, Spanish, German, Chinese, Russian, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic.
Our communicative approach to teaching languages is supported by technology in the classroom and affords students opportunities for original language practice.
On a DIS in Martinique, students met Aime Cesaire, anticolonialist poet and politician, who helped found the negritude movement.
On campus, students get to engage with the cultures of some of the languages offered by living in theme houses, such as La Casa Latina or the Asia Tree House. Student associations such as L’association Francophone, C.I.A.O., ARIEL and others organize on-campus programs and trips to New York City linked to foreign languages. In addition, many of the languages offered at Drew have established chapters of foreign language honor societies.
Abundant international travel opportunities allow Drew students to enhance their linguistic proficiency and cultural awareness. Each Drew International Seminar pairs a semester-long course on campus with a month-long trip to a related destination.
Deeper immersion is available through summer and semester abroad programs, including Drew’s own summer programs in Barcelona, China, Morocco and Venice.
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Meet Our Majors
Major | English and French
"I love theatre—seeing it and being in it—and I always knew I wanted to take courses on Renaissance drama. The medieval literature courses, however, were not something I had foreseen taking. From my first course in that area, my interest in linguistics was sparked." - Read more
Major | Spanish
"When I came back from Spain, I was such a better speaker of Spanish that I was asked to be a translator and serve on the planning board of the Drew Honduras Project." - Read more