The Department of Modern Languages at Florida Southern offers a major and a minor in Spanish, a minor in Latin American Studies, and courses in French and Portuguese. Our faculty come from a variety of backgrounds and represent many professional interests and experiences. Our courses are student-centered and employ engaged and communicative strategies to help students develop speaking, listening, reading and writing, as well as cultural literacy. We have small classes, which give students and faculty a chance to work closely together. We encourage students to study abroad and to become engaged in activities outside the classroom, such as community service, internships, Spanish Club activities, and community outreach.

The understanding of other cultures and the ability to communicate with people from other countries gives one the ability to empathize with others, and to develop a consciousness of historical, political and aesthetic perspectives. Speaking other languages opens doors and creates connections to people in the community, and is professionally and personally enriching.

Graduates in foreign languages go on to work in business, education, government, foreign service, sales, non-profit management, politics, banking, research, law, medicine, entertainment, journalism or the hospitality industry, to name a few. Many graduate programs require knowledge of foreign languages for admissions, and most employers look favorably on potential employees who are functional in another language.