Department of Classical and Modern Languages

Professor Carol Lacy-Salazar and Cornell students on a side-trip to Machu Picchu during a semester in Bolivia. Cornell's OCAAT schedule affords many options for off-campus study.

The department offers majors and minors in Classical Studies, French, German, German Studies, Russian, Russian Studies, and Spanish. Language instruction is also offered in Japanese and English as a Second Language.

In addition to learning languages, our students also study literature, culture and civilization, and introductory linguistics.

Cornell's One-Course-At-Time schedule provides our students with a near immersion in their chosen language. What's more, they have many options to study abroad for a term or longer.

Modern language classes are taught in a communicative approach and almost entirely in the target language. Students are encouraged to use the target language from the beginning of the learning process.

Because the number of students is capped at 20, each student has ample opportunity to use the target language in various related activities. Videos, audio tapes, and computer programs are used to develop the four language skills while at the same time presenting language in its cultural context. Departmental faculty have developed special computer exercises to reinforce and complement classroom activities.

The classical languages are taught with more emphasis on Grammar and reading skills. However, role-playing, games, and theater performance are also implemented to aid in the full experience of learning the language.