The Department of Modern Languages gives students the opportunity to become cross-cultural experts in an ever more globalized world

Programs in Arabic and French offer the chance to explore languages that provide an excellent basis to further a variety of careers in fields such as education, international development, diplomacy and government, national security, communications, journalism, arts and culture, fashion, medicine, and global business and finance.

Requirements & Languages Offered

View the 2023-2024 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Requirements for a Modern Language Certificate

  • Five LANG courses at the 1000-level and above, with a minimum grade of B- for each course. The Language Certificate will be noted on the student transcript.

Why Study Arabic?

The Arabic language is the key to understanding the culture and history of North Africa, the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula. Arabic is also the language of the Quran, the holy book of over 1 billion Muslims, and it is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Today, learning Arabic is crucial to understanding the social, political, and economical situations that affect the world around us. Emmanuel College prides itself as a teaching college with a global mission and small attentive classes. In fact, Emmanuel is the only college within the Colleges of the Fenway that offers Arabic language courses.

In beginning-level Arabic courses, students are introduced to Modern Standard Arabic. It assumes no prior knowledge of Arabic. Therefore, the course begins with an introduction to the Arabic alphabet together with a substantial amount of basic vocabulary, and basic grammar to allow students to form phrases and simple sentences. The course is intended to enable students to develop language and skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening).Intermediate Arabic I should help you develop proficiency in reading and writing Standard Arabic and in developing your knowledge of spoken Arabic. The course of Arabic Conversation and Composition is designed to introduce students to complex Arabic grammatical constructions, expand vocabulary, and improve both conversational and writing skills.

Why Study French?


French is spoken on five continents and by over 200 million people in 43 countries. Our program in French strives to connect students at Emmanuel College with these people and places, providing them access to the cultural and professional possibilities of today's global reality. Emmanuel College prides itself as a teaching college with a global mission and small attentive classes.

In beginning-level French courses, all four language skills (listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing) are developed simultaneously, each supporting and reinforcing the others. Emphasis, however, is placed on aural and oral proficiency. Intermediate students improve their linguistic skills through discussions centered on popular French films and participation in language tables.

The Department also offers the popular faculty-led travel abroad program Darkness in the City of Lights, which is a literature and film course taught partially in Boston and partially in Paris. This exciting course explores locales in Paris that were especially important to its cultural and historical development during the 19th and 20th centuries.