Courses in foreign languages at Concord are designed to meet the needs of students seeking to:

• fulfill General Studies requirements (see pages 27-29).  The foreign language courses give students an opportunity to examine "from the inside" a culture which is different from their own, and also enable them to view their native language from a broader perspective by comparing it with another.
• meet requirements in those academic fields which require the study of a foreign language.  These courses help students to attain a very basic reading and speaking knowledge of the language most useful in their fields.
• pursue a personal interest in or professional need for an acquaintance with a specific language.
• Major or minor in Spanish
• Earn certification to teach Spanish

With the increasing internationalization of our population, and a growing appreciation of our cultural and ethnic diversity, we recognize that languages other than English are not really "foreign" to the United States.  In addition to many Native American and immigrant languages, Spanish is spoken as a first or second language by an estimated  35 million people in the U.S., and by over 350 million people in 20 countries in the world.  In certain states and in most U.S. cities, a practical knowledge of Spanish has become essential to practice careers such as medicine, law and law enforcement, social work, nursing, and teaching.  Spanish on the transcript can be a deciding factor in hiring decisions.  French is still an international language, favored in diplomacy and business, and is spoken by an estimated 130 million people in 37 countries and territories.

Given our own national demographic needs and constant evidence of the global and interdependent nature of environmental and economic problems in our world, the acquisition of foreign language skills is assuming ever greater urgency, in order to foster clearer communication and better understanding in diplomacy, ecology, business and economics.

A second year of college-level language study is extremely valuable, for it includes review, reinforcement, and enhancement of skills all too often forgotten after only one year of study.  And it is usually only at this level that one begins to get a "feel" for the language and the culture it embodies, and to be able to use the language as a tool for further learning.

Since language learning is far more efficient if continuous between high school and college courses, or between the semesters or years in college, it is wise not to postpone language courses.

• Students with no high school credit in the language being taken may substitute 101 and 102 credit in that language for two courses in General Studies.  Both 101 and 102 must be passed before General Studies credit can be given.
  
• Students with one year of high school credit in the language being taken may take 101 in that language for credit but may not substitute 101 for a General Studies course.  They may take any courses above 101 for credit and substitution for up to two courses in General Studies.
  
• Students with two or more years of high school credit in the language being taken may take 101 or 102 of that language for credit but may not substitute for General Studies courses.  They may take 201 and/or 202 for credit and may substitute for one or two General Studies courses.
  

Department of Spanish website