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School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

World Languages

Explore the richness of world languages and cultures in a Christian learning community.

Join a group of highly-motivated, inquisitive students to examine, investigate, and analyze languages from around the globe. You'll study with professors who bring years of experience and research opportunities, and a distinctly Christian viewpoint to the classroom. Get ready to immerse yourself in a vibrant linguistic community.

At Calvin, you'll serve God and one another through language preservation, cultural appreciation, and global communication. You'll marvel at the diversity of languages and cultures through everyday encounters with the world's incredible linguistic diversity. And you'll graduate ready to lead in fields as diverse as translation, diplomacy, and international relations.

Online language placement assessment

Take our French, German, or Spanish language placement assessments online to find out what level is the right fit for you.

Take the language assessment

Explore Programs

French Education (Pre-K to 12th Grade) Major

Delivery Mode
On Campus
Degree Options
Major

French Major, Minor

Delivery Mode
On Campus
Degree Options
Major
Minor

German Studies Minor

Delivery Mode
On Campus
Degree Options
Minor

Netherlandic Studies Major

Delivery Mode
On Campus
Degree Options
Major

Spanish Education (Pre-K to 12th Grade) Major

Delivery Mode
On Campus
Degree Options
Major

Spanish Major, Minor

Delivery Mode
On Campus
Degree Options
Major
Minor

Our Scholarships

You are eligible for our department scholarships!

Named Scholarships

are gifts from real people who care about your success.

Apply

for named scholarships between December 1 and January 31.
1

Application

to match you with any scholarships you qualify for!

World language opportunities

When you study a language at Calvin, you unlock a wealth of opportunities and experiences. Explore just some of the ways you'll step beyond the classroom at Calvin.

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A community festivals with flags

Community activities

Plug into community activities like language-specific chapel services, festivals, and other enriching experiences.

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Students in a conversation group

Conversation groups

Hone your conversation skills in a friendly environment by joining one of Calvin's many language conversation groups.

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Studying abroad in Asia.

Study Abroad

Immerse yourself in a language and culture by participating in one of Calvin's incredible off-campus programs.

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Students performing at Rangeela

Study Asian languages at Calvin

In addition to degrees in French, Spanish, German Studies, and Netherlandic Studies, Calvin offers language courses in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

World Languages Faculty

Alison Bristol

Alison Bristol

Adjunct professor, French
526-7725
Abraham Ceballos-Zapata

Abraham Ceballos-Zapata

Assistant professor, Spanish | Director of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
(616) 526-7717
Herman De Vries

Herman De Vries

Professor, Dutch and German | Frederik Meijer Chair in Dutch Language and Culture
526-6804
Scott Lamanna

Scott G Lamanna

Associate professor, Spanish
526-6355
Lourdes Lancel

Lourdes Lancel

Adjunct professor, Spanish
526-6276
Eun K Lee

Eun K Lee

Teaching staff, Korean
526-7540
Dr. Emily O’Brock

Emily O’Brock

Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow French
Maria Rodriguez

Maria Rodriguez

Assistant professor, Spanish
526-8641
Kaori D Schau

Kaori D Schau

Assistant professor, Japanese
526-7708
Otto Selles

Otto H. Selles

Professor, French | Department chair, World Languages | Department Co-Chair, Visual and Performing Arts
526-6805
Susan Stoneman

Susan Stoneman

Adjunct instructor, Spanish
Becky_Toly

Becky Toly

Adjunct instructor, Spanish | Director of Spanish Immersion
Professor Jolene Vos-Camy

Jolene Vos-Camy

Professor, French | Chevalière dans les Palmes Académiques
526-6324
DSC_0185

Kelly Wooters

Adjunct professor, German
DSC_0202 (1)

Yue Zhuo

Adjunct instructor, Chinese