About
There’s more than one way to look at the world. Modern Languages majors at St. Mike’s often are adventurous souls with broad interests in literature, history, cuisine, film, cultural customs and the structure of language. As a Spanish major you’ll become conversant in the second most widely spoken language in the world (nearly half a billion native speakers). Beyond that practical and marketable skill, immersing yourself in Hispanic culture will give you the valuable insights of a dual perspective on life and the world.
Geography helps us with that. We’re a short drive from the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Montreal. That means you’ll gain fluency not only from your classes, which emphasize conversation, proper grammar, literature and culture, but also from visiting the theaters, museums and Latin Quarter of a multilingual international urban center. You’ll also socialize with our significant cohort of international students and study abroad in Spain or Latin America. You might host a Spanish-themed campus radio show or participate in one of our periodic Spanish Masses at the college chapel. First you’ll take a language placement exam to put you at the right starting-point. Then you either can explore Spanish for the first time or deepen an existing familiarity with Spanish-speaking culture. Film, literature, music, food and customs of the Spanish-speaking world all are in the mix for students in this major.
Faculty
Classical and Modern Languages and Literature
Carolyn Lukens-Olson
Professor of Classical and Modern Languages and Literature: Spanish
Read moreIn Depth
From the beginner level onward, our courses are conducted in Spanish with students participating actively. First-year Spanish courses improve your basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and introduce you to the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Subsequent courses offer further development of intermediate language skills in all areas while also enhancing your understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures.
Some students choose to build proficiency through an Applied Language Component (ALC) or a Conversation course. ALCs allow you to read and discuss, in Spanish, selected texts and materials pertinent to the subject matter of courses taught in English outside the department in a wide variety of disciplines by meeting one extra hour a week with instructors to discuss the texts in Spanish. Conversation courses prepare you to live and get along in a Spanish-speaking society on a practical daily basis.
Advanced Communication and Culture assures that you develop strong writing skills and consolidate your grammar and vocabulary abilities. The goal is to foster students’ critical reflection and self-correction, thereby increasing their independence in the craft of writing.
Advanced culture and literature courses explore a wide variety of historical and contemporary topics pertaining to Spain and the Spanish-speaking Americas. One literature course provides an overview of different genres and styles and the principal literary movements and authors of Hispanic literature. Other courses may focus on a single author, work, movement, or theme. Examples of elective culture and literature courses include: Latin America Through Film, Latin American Literature, Spanish Art & Architecture, Don Quixote, or The Life and Works of Lorca. If you study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country for a semester or more, which we strongly encourage, you will complete multiple electives through that experience.
In the capstone course for majors, you’ll use the skills and knowledge gained over the course of your studies on campus and abroad to produce a substantial academic essay written in the language of the major.
We provide attentive, personalized mentorship to our Spanish majors so that they may get the most out of their classes, select a study abroad experience best suited to their goals, find internships, and expand their professional opportunities after graduation.
Study Abroad
Study Abroad
The hard part might be deciding which study-abroad experience in a Spanish-speaking culture will best suit your personal interests. One in three Saint Michael’s students in general spends a semester or year abroad. As you might guess, the figure is much higher for Modern Languages students. Visit our Study Abroad page for a full list of the College’s Study Abroad locations.
Study Abroad Politi Scholarships:
A limited number of scholarships are available to support study in countries and programs that the College believes offer optimum learning opportunities. The scholarships are made possible through the Dr. A. Francis Politi International Fund.
Applications for study abroad programs emphasizing experiential learning opportunities (field based research, internships, student teaching, and service learning) or study in a language that is not the student’s primary language will be given priority. Grants will range from $1,000 – $1,800. An academic year student can apply for a maximum of $2,000. The scholarships will be applied to the student’s accounts.
Careers
- International Relations (policy analysis, foreign service, diplomacy)
- International Development (NGO, U.S. State Department, or private sector)
- International Business, Law, or Journalism
- Global Public Health
- Refugee Advocacy and Resettlement Services
- Migrant Justice
- Immigration Services
- Library Science
- Translating and Interpreting
- Teaching Spanish in the U.S. or at an international school
- Teaching English in Spanish-speaking countries
- Peace Corps or Jesuit Volunteer Corps
- Travel and Tourism Industries
- Graduate Studies in Spanish literature, linguistics, or second-language acquisition
For more information about career paths and internship opportunities, visit the Careers + Internships page.
In Depth
From the beginner level onward, our courses are conducted in Spanish with students participating actively. First-year Spanish courses improve your basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and introduce you to the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Subsequent courses offer further development of intermediate language skills in all areas while also enhancing your understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures.
Some students choose to build proficiency through an Applied Language Component (ALC) or a Conversation course. ALCs allow you to read and discuss, in Spanish, selected texts and materials pertinent to the subject matter of courses taught in English outside the department in a wide variety of disciplines by meeting one extra hour a week with instructors to discuss the texts in Spanish. Conversation courses prepare you to live and get along in a Spanish-speaking society on a practical daily basis.
Advanced Communication and Culture assures that you develop strong writing skills and consolidate your grammar and vocabulary abilities. The goal is to foster students’ critical reflection and self-correction, thereby increasing their independence in the craft of writing.
Advanced culture and literature courses explore a wide variety of historical and contemporary topics pertaining to Spain and the Spanish-speaking Americas. One literature course provides an overview of different genres and styles and the principal literary movements and authors of Hispanic literature. Other courses may focus on a single author, work, movement, or theme. Examples of elective culture and literature courses include: Latin America Through Film, Latin American Literature, Spanish Art & Architecture, Don Quixote, or The Life and Works of Lorca. If you study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country for a semester or more, which we strongly encourage, you will complete multiple electives through that experience.
In the capstone course for majors, you’ll use the skills and knowledge gained over the course of your studies on campus and abroad to produce a substantial academic essay written in the language of the major.
We provide attentive, personalized mentorship to our Spanish majors so that they may get the most out of their classes, select a study abroad experience best suited to their goals, find internships, and expand their professional opportunities after graduation.
Study Abroad
Study Abroad
The hard part might be deciding which study-abroad experience in a Spanish-speaking culture will best suit your personal interests. One in three Saint Michael’s students in general spends a semester or year abroad. As you might guess, the figure is much higher for Modern Languages students. Visit our Study Abroad page for a full list of the College’s Study Abroad locations.
Study Abroad Politi Scholarships:
A limited number of scholarships are available to support study in countries and programs that the College believes offer optimum learning opportunities. The scholarships are made possible through the Dr. A. Francis Politi International Fund.
Applications for study abroad programs emphasizing experiential learning opportunities (field based research, internships, student teaching, and service learning) or study in a language that is not the student’s primary language will be given priority. Grants will range from $1,000 – $1,800. An academic year student can apply for a maximum of $2,000. The scholarships will be applied to the student’s accounts.
Careers
- International Relations (policy analysis, foreign service, diplomacy)
- International Development (NGO, U.S. State Department, or private sector)
- International Business, Law, or Journalism
- Global Public Health
- Refugee Advocacy and Resettlement Services
- Migrant Justice
- Immigration Services
- Library Science
- Translating and Interpreting
- Teaching Spanish in the U.S. or at an international school
- Teaching English in Spanish-speaking countries
- Peace Corps or Jesuit Volunteer Corps
- Travel and Tourism Industries
- Graduate Studies in Spanish literature, linguistics, or second-language acquisition
For more information about career paths and internship opportunities, visit the Careers + Internships page.
