Kenosha, the home of Carthage, is situated in an area settled by Spanish-speaking people from Mexico and various Central and South American countries. The nearby cities of Milwaukee and Chicago offer Carthage students numerous opportunities to learn about and experience Spanish culture first-hand. In recent years students have traveled to both cities with classes and on their own to enjoy Spanish plays, art exhibits, films, lectures, ethnic neighborhoods, and architectural tours.
Five Target language Experts, natives from Mexico, Spain or Colombia work in the Spanish department. Each year the department selects a Spanish Fellow, who receives a small stipend and works closely with departmental faculty to enhance the academic and social aspects of our programs.
The Department of Modern Languages at Carthage offers both a major and a minor in Spanish. Students of Spanish will discover courses and a program that are student-centered and communicative and are aimed at helping students achieve a wide range of personal and professional goals. Beginning courses focus on the spoken language and are usually taught by native Spanish speakers. In addition, students will be exposed to the cultures of the Spanish-speaking countries from the first day of their first Spanish course at Carthage. As they progress in their lingustic proficiency and move on to upper division courses even more emphasis is placed on culture--past and present-- including literature, film, achitecture, and art, as well as everyday life.
When coupled with the programs of supporting displines, the major and the minor in Spanish will satisfy the needs of many students, including those who desire a broad liberal arts education with a multicultural dimension, those who wish to complete a teaching major or minor in Spanish, those who intend to continue their language studies in graduate school, and those interested in government service, careers in international commerce and industry, or in other fields.