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Department of Modern Languages

Modern Language Survey Results
(as of 5/23/00)  

1. Which language or languages have you studied?

French (19), German (16), Spanish (14), Japanese (4), Latin (4)
Arabic (3), Russian (2), Hebrew (2);
one each in ASL, Greek, Modern Greek, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian,
Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Swahili, Welsh

2. Where did you study languages?

Elementary school (2), junior high (5), high school (19), community
college (2) college (24), abroad (8), independently (7)

3. Have you studies abroad? If yes, where?

12 have studied abroad in the following countries, in order of
frequency:

Germany (5), England (3), Japan (2), Mexico (2), Austria (1),
Central America (1), Chile (1), France (1), Hungary (1), Israel (1),
Jordan (1), Switzerland (1), Wales (1)

4. Have you worked abroad? Where? In what capacity?

12 have worked abroad in the following areas: teaching (6), military
(2); research (2), travel agency (1), archeological site worker (1),
musician (1), consulting (1)

in these countries: Austria, Crete, England, Germany (3), Hungary,
Iceland, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, South Korea and Spain

5. Have you done an internship abroad?

No one had

6. Do you travel abroad for business? Pleasure?

Business was cited 10 times, pleasure 25 times.

7. How are you benefiting from having studied a modern language?

These personal benefits were cited:
can communicate with family members abroad, personal enrichment, sense of
satisfaction; more in-depth understanding of others, better insight into
own culture and language, more open-minded, travel is more comfortable,
hosts appreciate my efforts to speak in their language, foreigners feel
safer with someone who speaks their language, feeling connected, more
meaningful contact with foreigners, not having to depend on others to
convey meaning, better understanding of the arts and religious
differences; greater appreciation of language

These professional benefits were named:
helps in my work; can better conduct research, important to read the
original manuscripts, better employment opportunites

One respondee summed it up in one word: survival!

8. Of the respondents:

16 were staff, 11 faculty, 3 not indicated

Contact

Humanities Division
phone: (503) 838-8408 . fax: (503) 838-8056
e-mail: braund@wou.edu

Division Chair:
Dr. Curtis Yehnert
HSS 315
yehnerc@wou.edu . 503-838-8362