WELCOME
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
WORLD LANGUAGES & CULTURES!

Pictured, back row: Dr. Yvonne Unnold, Chair, Stephanie Dogo, Gabriela Sanchez, Xiaoyun Wu, Dr. Ernesto Lombeida, Dr. Robert Baum, Hanne Pardos, Isaac Ong'oa. Front Row: Ana Romero, Dr. Juan Pablo Gil-Osle, Dr. Ruth Owens, Myrna Abdallah.

"The Limits of Language Are the Limits of the World"
[Ludwig Wittgenstein]

Our Mission

The Department of World Languages & Cultures seeks to facilitate the communication skills, knowledge and appreciation of diverse languages and cultures that are necessary for students to achieve a successful professional career in today's global society.

The Department of World Languages & Cultures prepares students to be linguistically competent and literate in the culture(s) associated with the languages studied and offers introductory to advanced level instruction, as well as major and minor degree programs in diverse languages.

Message from the Chair:

Welcome to the Department of World Languages & Cultures at Arkansas State University and congratulations to making languages part of your academic career!

Globally, nationwide, statewide, and locally, the ability to communicate in more than one language is providing college graduates an increasingly stronger competitive edge in the job market. With more than 1/5 of the US population speaking languages other than English and millions of tourists visiting the country each year, there is a huge demand for workers who can communicate in more than one language in all areas of employment. As interdependence comes to dominate our economic, social, and cultural relations in the world today, the need for multilingual communication skills and a comprehension of world cultures becomes more and more critical. The decision to become multilingual opens your door to an infinite array of possibilities.

The Department of World Languages & Cultures at Arkansas State University invites you to explore the cultures of Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, and Swahili speaking countries of the world and to learn their languages. Our courses and academic programs provide you an understanding of these cultures' historical and contemporary significance, and facilitate development of proficiency in their languages.

The faculty members of the Department of World Languages & Cultures come from across the globe and represent a diverse array of experiences, backgrounds, cultures, and traditions. Their support of the University's many study abroad programs to our partner institutions in Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East make the study of languages and cultures at Arkansas State University an especially attractive option for those whose future plans include teaching, business, international relations, law enforcement, healthcare, or social and legal services.

In the name of the Department of World Languages & Cultures and our entire faculty and staff, I invite you to take advantage of the multifaceted resources available to you. Please peruse our departmental web pages for information on how to contact specific professors, the various programs offered through our department, linguistic and cultural events, study abroad opportunities, placement examinations, as well as many other resources that may be of interest to you. Please feel encouraged to visit our department office for additional information or support.
We look forward to supporting you in your language studies.

Sincerely,

Dr. Yvonne Unnold
Chair and Associate Professor of Languages & TESOL

Department of World Languages & Cultures
Wilson Hall, Room 220
Phone: (870)972-3887
Email: languages@astate.edu