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World Languages & Literatures

Explore new cultures, think deeply about your own, and gain the tools to connect with people across the globe.
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Students of World Languages and Literatures don’t just learn another language (or two) — they learn to see the world differently. Choose between Spanish, Japanese, French, Italian, Chinese, and German and more than a dozen study abroad programs to bring a global perspective to any career.

What will you learn? 

Pursue a major in French, German, or Spanish and consider pairing your language learning with another area of study. At the beginning of your Skidmore journey, you'll be asked to take a placement exam to determine your language level. Course requirements differ based on major, but all language students will need to satisfy a 200- or 300-level writing requirement before graduation. 

Our majors:
Our minors:
 

Where could a new language take you?

From intro courses to immersive study abroad, language learning at Skidmore is about more than words — it’s about discovering new ways to see and shape the world. At Skidmore, the world is your oyster.
Interior of ornate temple in China, adorn with gold details and red columns.

Chinese

Gain insight into one of the world’s oldest civilizations and largest economies through the study of Mandarin Chinese.
Learn more
Student takes selfie with Eiffel Tower in the background on a sunny blue sky day. They smile while wearing a beret and sunglasses.

French

Study French to engage with global art, politics, philosophy, and culture across Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond.
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German castles sits on a hillside with town below and mountains and lakes in the background.

German

Explore the language of innovation, literature, and history in one of Europe’s most influential cultural and economic hubs.
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A seagull soars through a blue sky with Italian ruins among a city below.

Italian

Discover the language of design, fashion, and food while exploring Italy’s rich literary and artistic traditions.
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Three people stand close together, smiling at the camera in front of a traditional Japanese-style building with a tiled, curved roof. They are surrounded by lush green trees and shrubs, and one person holds a phone while another has a camera strap over their shoulder.

Japanese

Dive into Japanese language and culture, where tradition meets technology, and explore literature, media, and social change.
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A student swings out overlooking a Spanish village

Spanish

From Spain to Latin America to the U.S., Spanish at Skidmore opens doors to diverse communities and dynamic global conversations.
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Where will you go? 

Language graduates possess the tools to connect the dots, bringing context-rich, intercultural perspectives with them into the next chapter.  

Career paths Employers Graduate schools
  • Author
  • Art administrator
  • Business consultant
  • Content creator
  • Diplomat
  • Editor
  • Educator
  • Journalist
  • Lawyer 
  • Translator
  • Action Solidaire Internationale
  • Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Euromonitors International
  • General Electric
  • German International School of Boston
  • Planned Parenthood
  • U.S. Department of State
  • World Wildlife Fund  
  • Aix-Marseille Université
  • Columbia University 
  • Georgetown University
  • Harvard University 
  • Princeton University
  • University College London 
  • University of Chicago 
  • Université Grenoble Alpes
  • University of Oxford
  • University of Pennsylvania 
  • University of Tokyo 
  • Vanderbilt University
Spanish cathedral constructed out of white stone and a red roof with a blue and pink sky background.

Take your language learning off campus

The best way to learn a language is to live it. You could spend a semester in Buenos Aires, a summer in Beijing, or a year in Montpellier and come back a different kind of speaker. With more than 120 approved programs in over 45 countries, there's a path for every student. Our faculty in World Languages and Literatures can match you with a program that fits your goals and language level. The Office of Off-Campus Study & Exchanges handles applications and most financial aid and scholarships travel with you, making global learning accessible.
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A worldwide network of changemakers

When you choose to study a language, you join a network of thoughtful, informed, and globally minded alumni. See how these language experts are changing the world.
Joseph Kaifala headshot

Joseph Kaifala ’08

French major Joseph Kaifala ’08 founded the Center for Memory and Reparations, which promotes remembrance and shared narratives about Sierra Leone’s civil war.
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Perla Rodriguez headshot

Perla Rodriguez ’01

Spanish major Perla Rodriguez ’01 oversees the Hispanic Federation’s advocacy work in advancing educational opportunities for Latino and other minority students.
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Alum Kevin Ha ’21 smiling while wearing a blue suit

Kevin Ha ’21

Spanish and management and business double major Kevin Ha ’21 founded the Asian American Dream, a nonprofit supporting career access for underserved Pan-Asian American students.
Read more
Professor Diana Barnes poses with plants in the background

Creative thought, current matters

Hear Diana Barnes, senior teaching professor of Spanish, examine the U.S.-Mexico border crisis through the lens of art.
Watch the video

Quick facts

Learn more about what it’s like to study world languages and literatures at Skidmore College. Whether you’re considering a major, minor, or just exploring a new interest, this section answers common questions from prospective students about courses, study abroad, faculty support, and how language study connects with your broader academic and career goals.

Want to know where to start?

Whether you’re starting a new language or continuing one from high school, we’ll help you find the right course level. Skidmore’s language placement process is designed to set you up for success, and our language requirement gives you the flexibility to explore something new — or deepen skills you already have.

Learn about Skidmore’s language requirement and placement

Looking for extra support in your language courses?

Peer Academic Coaches (PACs) are fellow Skidmore students who’ve taken language courses and are here to help you succeed. Whether you’re tackling tricky grammar, prepping for oral exams, or just want to boost your confidence, PACs offer free, one-on-one support in French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Italian, and Japanese.

Learn more about PACs

Faculty

Meet your faculty mentors — the linguists, intercultural experts, and global scholars who make up Skidmore’s World Languages and Literatures Department. 
Meet your professors

World Languages and Literatures Contact

Office

Palamountain Hall, fourth floor
518-580-5200

Department Chair

Mary Kate Donovan
Associate Professor
mdonovan@skidmore.edu

Administrative Assistant

Patricia Ivory
pivory@skidmore.edu