Mission Statement

The world languages and cultures department is an integral part of the liberal arts education at Viterbo University. It fosters cultural awareness, understanding and respect by developing the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills of other languages through interactive, experiential learning. The department provides Spanish courses for Spanish majors and minors and for elementary and secondary pre-service teachers as well as language courses (Italian, German, French) that meet the needs of other programs.

Goals and Student Learning Outcomes of the World Languages and Cultures Department

By the end of their second semester in a given target language, students will have demonstrated the ability to:

• Apply basic knowledge and understanding of the target culture and its legacy
  • Describe, evaluate and use authentic materials
  • Compare and contrast different aspects of target culture vs. USA culture
  • Reflect on target culture contributions to the development of USA culture
• Understand the target language in written form
  • Read a variety of texts
  • Compose a simple text in an intelligible manner for a native speaker
  • Translate simple texts
• Understand the target language in verbal form
  • Apply listening skills
  • Engage in simple conversational exchanges in the target language
  • Apply basic knowledge of pronunciation and grammar rules of the target language
• Apply basic rules of grammar in target language usage
  • Demonstrate command of vocabulary in a variety of topics
  • Create with the target language
  • Apply basic rules of pronunciation while reading, speaking or singing