Why Foreign-Language Study is a Good Idea for Every Student

If you are a junior or senior who has engaged with foreign-language study while at Wesleyan, the rationale below will help you explain to prospective employers the skills you have gained through such a course of study.

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Why Foreign-Language Study is a Good Idea for Every Student

We assume if you have reasons to learn a particular language (to study, work, travel, or live abroad or for resources not fully available in English translation), you already know why it is important. Here are reasons to study any language besides English or whatever you regard as your native language:

  1. Many employers, professional schools, and graduate schools see serious study of a second language (potentially, a double-major) as evidence that you can (a) put yourself more easily in others’ (colleagues’, clients’) shoes and (b) communicate more effectively even in English.
  1. You will never know your own language and culture more deeply than by studying another–by looking at it from the outside. Learning to thrive with the unfamiliar is often linked to creativity in many intellectual and professional contexts.
  1. Language learning teaches you to think more clearly and sharpens your brain’s ability to make sense of the world.
  1. Deep study of another culture through its language brings home how much of value will never be made available in English.
  1. Puzzling out another language and culture will help you understand (and empathize with) the difficulties of non-anglophone immigrants, colleagues, clients, and travelers in the U.S., even if you never leave American shores.
  1. Learning another language well makes it easier to learn any language in the future. Even if you never need this, the experience–especially if you study abroad–will make you far more confident in your ability to face any intellectual or professional challenge.  
  1. Foreign-language courses fit easily into study plans: offered on highly varied schedules, they provide a stimulating (and fun!) break from problem-set driven, heavy-reading or arts courses.

Wesleyan offers:

Arabic language and culture: http://www.wesleyan.edu/academics/faculty/aaissa/profile.html

American Sign Language: http://www.wesleyan.edu/lctls/courses.html

Classics (Greek and Latin): http://wesleyan.edu/classics/

East Asian Studies (Chinese, Japanese, Korean): http://wesleyan.edu/ceas/

German studies: http://wesleyan.edu/german/

Hebrew language and culture: http://www.wesleyan.edu/academics/faculty/dkatz01/profile.html

Romance Languages & Literatures (French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish): http://wesleyan.edu/romance/

Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies program: http://wesleyan.edu/russian/

Any other language: http://www.wesleyan.edu/lctls/silp.html

Please note, there are now 2 forms of Course and Teaching Evaluations

Juniors – Please be sure to complete your course and teaching evaluations to avoid delays in seeing your course grades. There are now two forms of the evaluations. – Dean Thornton

New Teaching Evaluations Update

Wesleyan is implementing a new teaching evaluation form this fall.  The majority of classes will use the new teaching evaluation form, with new questions.  However, a small number of classes will continue to use the old form for a few more terms, so some students will complete a different form for certain classes.  There will be one landing page for all student course evaluations, with a link to the correct form for each course.

Pre-Registration Starts Today

Dear 2018’ers,

I am writing to remind you that pre-registration for the Spring 2017 starts today. There are three parts to the process:

  • Planning – from today, Tuesday, 11/1/16 (at 8:30 am) until Monday, 11/14/16 (at 5 pm)
  • Scheduling – Tuesday, 11/15/16
  • Adjustment – from Wednesday, 11/16/16 (at 8 am) until Tuesday, 11/22/16 (at 5 pm)

RESOURCES

Use this link to WesMaps to select your desired Spring 2017 courses:

https://iasext.wesleyan.edu/regprod/!wesmaps_page.html

Help Line – x3222 from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

Additional information about pre-reg can be accessed via http://www.wesleyan.edu/registrar/registration/pre_registration.html.

Please Note:

Pre-Requisite Override Requests require a brief written justification to the instructor.

Pre-Reg plans must be approved by your faculty advisor, so please schedule a time to meet with your advisor before time runs out.

Please feel free to come to one of my drop-in sessions or schedule a meeting by contacting Mrs. Maheu in my office.

 

Class Dean Announcement March 2016

Dear Students in the Class of 2018,

Now that Spring is “officially” here, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Pre-registration will begin next week (Monday, March 28th) and end on April 11 at 5 p.m.

  • Sophomores are advised to declare a major using the Electronic Portfolio prior to the start of the pre-registration period. Students who declare their majors by this date may be notified about their major advisor. Students who have submitted major deferral forms because they are still completing prerequisites or General Education Expectations courses, should inform their pre-major advisors about their continued need for support during the pre-registration period. If you have neither declared a major or submitted a major deferral form, please come to see me immediately during one of my drop-in sessions.
  • Note, the scheduling period will take place on April 12, after which you may adjust your schedule until April 19

  • For Spring 2016 course, note the deadline for course withdrawal is Wednesday, April 27

Best Wishes for Productive End of Semester

Dear Class of 2018,

It is 10:30 P.M. on Monday night. It is raining outside and buzzing with excitement in the Exley Science Center Lobby where I am taking in the vibe of this time of the school year. Several students dressed in festive colorful costumes, capes, and masks just skipped through the lobby joyfully tossing candy and spreading the joy. The Office of Residential Life has set up a table of free coffee and snacks.

Whether you are alone in your room or in one of the bustling common spaces like the one I am in, you are likely writing a paper or studying for one or more exams at this time. As your dean, I wish you all the best and I want to share a few tips to make it through this hectic time of year.

  1. Pace yourself

If you have several papers and/or exams ahead, it is unrealistic and unwise to hold multiple consecutive “ALL NIGHTERS.”

  1. Eat healthy snacks

Moderate your intake of caffeinated beverages and sweets. Opt instead for apples, bananas, power bars, and nuts.

  1. Move your body

Pay attention to the length of time you spend in a particular location. Move every couple of hours, stand up, walk around, stretch, and maybe even change your location.

  1. Practice stress management.

Pickup a stress ball or a jar of Play-Doh from one of the Study Break tables on campus or the WesWell Office.

Remember – you are surrounded by resources. If you need to talk to someone, don’t hesitate to drop-in to see me, your Class Dean.

Very truly yours,

Dean Thornton

Upcoming Department and Program Open Houses 10/14-10/21

The following is a list of Department and Program Open Houses that will be taking place through October 21.

Computer Science 10/21/15
Math Lounge, 601 Exley Science Center
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch will be served. Undergraduate CS majors, graduate students and professors will be present.
Dance 10/15/15
247 Pine St/Schonberg Dance Studio
12 PM – 12:50 PM
Serving variety of pizzas, salads and cider. All are welcome to stop in to hear important information and overview of the Dance Department as a major. Talk with our Chair, Nicole Stanton, other Dance Department faculty and hear our current Dance majors’ experiences.
Mathematics 10/20/15
Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch will be served. Undergraduate math majors, professors and graduate students will be present.
Neuroscience and Behavior 10/14/15
Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch
Religion 10/15/15
Religion Department Seminar Room, 171 Church Street
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Snacks and drinks
Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies 10/15/15
Fourth floor of Fisk (405-8)
12 PM – 1:10 PM
There will be hot pizza at noon in the hallways of the Russian Studies department offices. Everyone interested in things Russian is welcome!

Department and Program Open House Schedule

Academic departments and programs are hosting open houses for prospective majors in the Class of 2018 from October 6 through November 13.  Please check this page often for updates.

Department/Program Place/Date
Notes
African American Studies 11/10/15
Center for African American Studies Lounge
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Ice cream social and hot chocolate
American Studies 11/3/15
Center for the Americas, 255 High Street
12 PM – 1 PM
Great Typhoon Thai Food will be served, plus Superb Apple Cider from Lyman’s Orchards, plus Amazing Almond Cookies from the Famous Lucibello’s Bakery in New Haven.
Anthropology 11/11/15
Anthropology. 281 High Street.
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Cookies and soda.
Archaeology 11/4/15
200 Downey House Lounge, 294 Hight Street
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch will be provided
Art History 11/3/15
Davison Art Center, Print Reference Library
12 PM – 1 PM
Pizza lunch provided. Also open to prospective minors.
Art Studio 11/3/15
Zilkha Gallery Room 202
4:30 PM –
Refreshments. This more of an informational meeting and the program director will be speaking to everyone at one time, so please arrive at 4:30.
Astronomy
Prospective majors are urged to speak at their earliest convenience with any members of the Department
Biology 11/4/15
Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center
12 PM – 1 PM
Pizza and salad
Classical Studies 11/5/15
200 Downey House Lounge, 294 High Street
12 PM – 1 PM
Pizza lunch
College of East Asian Studies 11/12/15
Usdan 110
4:15 PM – 5:30 PM
We will have dumplings from Tibetan Kitchen.
College of Letters 10/12/15
COL Library (third floor) 41 Wyllys Ave.
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Refreshments will be provided.
Computer Science 10/21/15
Math Lounge, 601 Exley Science Center
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch will be served. Undergraduate CS majors, graduate students and professors will be present.
Dance 10/15/15
247 Pine St/Schonberg Dance Studio
12 PM – 12:50 PM
Serving variety of pizzas, salads and cider. All are welcome to stop in to hear important information and overview of the Dance Department as a major. Talk with our Chair, Nicole Stanton, other Dance Department faculty and hear our current Dance majors’ experiences.
Economics 11/4/15
CSS Lounge (PAC 406)
12:15 PM – 1 PM
Pizza and drinks
English 11/3/15
Downey House Lounge, 294 High Street
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Light Refreshments will be served.
Feminist, Gender, & Sexuality Studies 11/3/15
ALLB 215 (FGSS Lounge)
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch (pizza) will be provided
Film Studies 11/10/15
Goldsmith Family Cinema CFS100
8 PM – 9:30 PM
Light refreshments. The November 10th Open House is designed for Sophomores who intend to apply to Film Studies as either a Major or Minor.The Film Studies department additionally requires face-to-face meetings with Professor Scott Higgins for all students who intend to apply.
German Studies 11/6/15
Fisk 403
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Refreshments will be served.
Government 11/10/15
PAC 002
12 PM – 1 PM
History 11/3/15
CSS Lounge, PAC
12 PM – 1 PM
Pizza Lunch
Jewish and Israel Studies Certificate 11/5/15
Allbritton 311
12 PM – 1 PM
Food and drink will be provided
Latin American Studies TBA
Mathematics 10/20/15
Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch will be served. Undergraduate math majors, professors and graduate students will be present.
Medieval Studies 11/2/15
200 Downey House Lounge, 294 High Street
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Snacks
Molecular Biology & Biochemistry 11/11/15
Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch will be provided.
Neuroscience and Behavior 10/14/15
Woodhead Lounge, Exley Science Center
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch
Philosophy 11/5/15
Russell House
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch. The open house will be held in the Millet Room on the first floor.
Physics 10/13/15
Physics Lounge (ESC 255)
4:15 PM – 5 PM
We will be providing pizza, soda, chips and a cheese platter.
Psychology 10/6/15
Judd Hall 116
12 PM – 1 PM
Pizza. PSYC Majors Meeting – Overview for New and Prospective Majors.
Andrea Patalano (Department Chair) will provide an overview of the major to sophomore prospective majors and to review requirements with junior and senior majors. This meeting is not appropriate for first year students (due to a change in major requirements). The chair will be available before and after the meeting to sign forms (e.g., study abroad, transfer credits).
Psychology Majors manual: http://www.wesleyan.edu/psyc/about/psychman_pre2019.pdf
Religion 10/15/15
Religion Department Seminar Room, 171 Church Street
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Snacks and drinks
Romance Languages & Literatures 10/12/15
300 High Street
The Highwaymen Common Room

12 PM – 1 PM
Pizza & Soda. Information about the French, Italian, Spanish and Romance Studies Majors, as well as information about the French Minor
Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies 10/15/15
Fourth floor of Fisk (405-8)
12 PM – 1:10 PM
There will be hot pizza at noon in the hallways of the Russian Studies department offices. Everyone interested in things Russian is welcome!
Science in Society 10/30/15
ALLB 311
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch (pizza) will be provided
Sociology TBA
Theater 11/2/15
Theater Studios, Jones Room (TST-101)
12:15 PM – 1 PM