2008 Woodie Awards
Foreign languages to change in fall semester
Joshua Johnson
Issue date: 4/21/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
For the fall semester, the College of Arts and Sciences will be eliminating the French language from the course catalog. In its place, the Arabic language will be added, along with a Middle-Eastern Studies course.
The focus for COAS will be on two main languages and their respective cultures. In addition to Arabic, COAS will continue to focus on its Chinese program, which has been offered for some years now.
The addition of Arabic will come at the cost of the French program. Dr. Mercedes Juan-Saura, the current professor of French and Spanish did not have her contract with the college renewed for next semester. When asked to comment on the removal of French from the course catalog, Juan-Saura said, "I am really upset and disappointed with the situation."
For next semester, an adjunct professor will be hired to teach Spanish. Dr. Richard Bloom, the dean of COAS, stated that for now the Spanish program will not be affected. The course catalog will continue to include Spanish levels one through four, but in the future Spanish will not be a significant focus.
According to Bloom, "Curricula come and go." Bloom emphasized that in the current world climate, Arabic is a higher priority: "We are always striving for the best faculty and the best curriculum for the students. Everything we are doing is to achieve that goal."
With the addition of Arabic, COAS hopes to better prepare students and make more professional opportunities available upon graduation, according to Bloom.
The Global Security and Intelligence Studies degree program will be the prime benefactor of the new Arabic language program. All GSIS majors must have 12 credit hours of foreign language to graduate. Arabic will be available, of course, to all degree programs on campus.
The development for the program has been in progress for years now, according to Dr. Patric McElwain, chair of the Department of Humanities and Communications. "There has been a lot of interest in a Middle Eastern program for several years."
Currently, COAS is in the process of interviewing candidates for a professor to teach both Arabic language and a course in Middle-Eastern culture. The Arabic program will mirror the setup of the Chinese program, taught by Dr. Leanne Chen. Arabic I and II will initially be offered in addition to the culture course, with a possibility of future expansion of the program.
The focus for COAS will be on two main languages and their respective cultures. In addition to Arabic, COAS will continue to focus on its Chinese program, which has been offered for some years now.
The addition of Arabic will come at the cost of the French program. Dr. Mercedes Juan-Saura, the current professor of French and Spanish did not have her contract with the college renewed for next semester. When asked to comment on the removal of French from the course catalog, Juan-Saura said, "I am really upset and disappointed with the situation."
For next semester, an adjunct professor will be hired to teach Spanish. Dr. Richard Bloom, the dean of COAS, stated that for now the Spanish program will not be affected. The course catalog will continue to include Spanish levels one through four, but in the future Spanish will not be a significant focus.
According to Bloom, "Curricula come and go." Bloom emphasized that in the current world climate, Arabic is a higher priority: "We are always striving for the best faculty and the best curriculum for the students. Everything we are doing is to achieve that goal."
With the addition of Arabic, COAS hopes to better prepare students and make more professional opportunities available upon graduation, according to Bloom.
The Global Security and Intelligence Studies degree program will be the prime benefactor of the new Arabic language program. All GSIS majors must have 12 credit hours of foreign language to graduate. Arabic will be available, of course, to all degree programs on campus.
The development for the program has been in progress for years now, according to Dr. Patric McElwain, chair of the Department of Humanities and Communications. "There has been a lot of interest in a Middle Eastern program for several years."
Currently, COAS is in the process of interviewing candidates for a professor to teach both Arabic language and a course in Middle-Eastern culture. The Arabic program will mirror the setup of the Chinese program, taught by Dr. Leanne Chen. Arabic I and II will initially be offered in addition to the culture course, with a possibility of future expansion of the program.
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