Mission Statement

The purpose of the Department of World Languages and Cultures (WLC) at Georgia Southern University is to prepare students to use their linguistic proficiency and cultural knowledge to function successfully in local, national, and global communities. The department serves not only students who major or minor in a world language but also students who major in other disciplines. By creating an environment in which students master both linguistic competence and cultural sensitivity, the department supports the university’s broader institutional vision of graduating students who value collaboration, academic excellence, discovery and innovation, integrity, openness and inclusion, and sustainability and who enhance quality of life through scholarly pursuits, cultural enrichment, student life, and community engagement across distinctive campuses. (Georgia Southern Mission Statement).

Departmental programs, including study abroad components, consist of a variety of courses that teach the linguistic skills of speaking, listening, writing, and reading, and engage the student in discussions of intercultural and intellectual traditions, perspectives, and artifacts. Faculty expect students to learn to analyze, understand, and appreciate–in a thoughtful and critical manner–professional, social, political, philosophical, and literary contexts, both historical and contemporary, of the regions where the target language is used. By focusing on these areas, students are prepared to be competent both linguistically and culturally in order to succeed in a global workforce.

World Languages and Cultures faculty apply the framework and guidelines set forth by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) as the standard for facilitating student progress toward functional linguistic and cultural proficiency. ACTFL is a national organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction throughout the USA. We also use the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements to help define our Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs).

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Department of World Languages & Cultures recognizes and celebrates the multiple and diverse identities represented by the university community, including, but not limited to, military status, age, language, race, nationality, ethnicity, ideology, culture, socioeconomic status, gender, gender identity (and expression), sexual orientation, religion, (dis)ability, and place of birth.

As members of the campus community, we share a responsibility for creating and actively maintaining a learning environment in which uniqueness is valued, equity and justice are sought, and inclusive excellence is practiced.  We strive to create a culture where individual differences and identities are strengthening agents for the entire campus. In this environment, all community members can safely live their authentic lives and enjoy a successful learning experience. 

Last updated: 1/18/2023