World Languages and Cultures | Samford University

As a Spanish major and World Languages and Cultures minor, I have not only been taught Spanish and French, but I've been taught how to learn languages in general. I've also gained a deeper appreciation for foreign cultures and peoples in all of my classes. —Andrew Crosson, U.S. Foreign Service, Mexico and Thailand

Due to the COVID-19 health crisis the Department of World Languages and Cultures will now accept approved online world language courses at other academic institutions during summer term 2020 in order to meet the general education language requirement. Learn More

The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers learning experiences and relationships within a Christian community, so that each participant may develop personal empowerment as we learn to communicate effectively across cultures, mature as disciplined scholars and develop enlightened insights and international awareness. Our students develop social and civic responsibility, as they become role models of cross-cultural understanding.

In addition to outstanding teaching in French, German, Spanish, critical languages and interdisciplinary majors and minors, our expert mentoring and extensive opportunities for study abroad give our graduates a distinct advantage in business, missions, education, law or any other profession that values those who can build bridges between world cultures. Our students also enjoy active language clubs, special activities and extensive connections to external language resources.

The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers learning experiences for students to develop ethical and spiritual strength, as we acknowledge a God whose love transcends linguistic and cultural barriers; build value systems that celebrate the diversity and fraternity of God's world; commit ourselves to lives of integrity and service to all God's people, and continuously to improve the effectiveness of the department, the campus, and the community, as together we strive to build bridges to the world.

Study Abroad

Language Technology Forum

The Language Technology Forum is the place where language learning and technology come together. It’s also the place where classroom knowledge is put into practice and conversational skills are developed.

Grace Marquéz Language Technology Forum

116 Russell Hall

Thom Thibeault, Director

What We Have

24 laptop computers
language software installed on computers
board and card games in different languages
ROKU with access to international TV
10-player buzzer set for adding competition to the learning process
optical drives for language software and DVDs
16 headsets with microphones
seating for 24
projection system
Solstice for wireless access to projection system
HDTV
Digital cameras

To take the language placement test please contact Thom Thibeault.

News

Owens Selected for White House Historical Association Slavery Project

Samford French, Global and Cultural Studies and University Fellows alumna Mia Owens ’19 has earned a prestigious two-year fellowship to research and develop interpretive material about the history and legacy of slavery throughout Washington, D.C., and research and write for The White House Historical Association’s Slavery in the President’s Neighborhood initiative.

What Can You Do With That? New Resource Highlights Arts and Sciences Career Paths

The new Career Focus page includes links to external lists of careers in the humanities, STEM and social sciences, as well as news and feature articles showing how our students are refining their passions, finding mentors and creating custom academic pathways to the lives they want to live.

Grant Will Support New Course on The United States In the World

The Stanton Foundation has awarded History Department chair Jonathan Den Hartog a $42,200 grant to develop a new course that will explore how the United States has made decisions to operate in the wider world.