{"id":108,"date":"2012-06-04T14:23:06","date_gmt":"2012-06-04T14:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/catalogs.wcsu.edu\/ugrad252624251213\/sas\/programs\/world-languages-and-literatures\/"},"modified":"2025-06-26T15:21:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T19:21:24","slug":"world-languages-and-composition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/catalogs.wcsu.edu\/ugrad\/sas\/programs\/world-languages-and-composition\/","title":{"rendered":"World Languages and Composition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Galina Bakhtiarova<\/strong>, Chair<\/strong><\/em>
\nbakhtiarovag@wcsu.edu<\/a>
\nHiggins Hall, 218B
\n(203) 837-8734
\n(203) 837-8032 (fax)<\/p>\n

Kelli Custer, Assoc. Chair<\/strong>
\ncusterk@wcsu.edu<\/a>
\nHAAS 303
\n(203) 837-3941<\/p>\n

Krista Brooks<\/strong>, Department Secretary
\n<\/strong><\/em>brooksk@wcsu.edu<\/a>
\nHiggins Hall 201, Midtown campus
\n(203) 837-9166
\n(203) 837-8032 (fax)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Faculty<\/span><\/p>\n

D. Anderson
\nG. Bakhtiarova, Chair<\/em><\/strong>
\nK. Custer, Assoc. Chair<\/em><\/strong>
\nS.A. Hawkins
\nV. Rubino<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adjunct Faculty<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
H. El Khalfi, Arabic<\/em><\/td>\nS. Pena, Spanish<\/em><\/td>\nD. Anderson, Composition<\/em><\/td>\nA. Gallagher, Composition<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
R. Ludanyi, German<\/em><\/td>\nJ. Matranga, French<\/em><\/td>\nB. Dyer, Composition<\/em><\/td>\nJ. Geren, Composition<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
M. Purgatorio, Spanish\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\nM. Oliveira, Portuguese<\/em><\/td>\nG. Griffith, Composition<\/td>\nC. Jordan, Composition<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Y. Toma, Chinese<\/em><\/td>\nM. Newell, Composition<\/em><\/td>\nS. Myers, Composition<\/em><\/td>\nL. Purtle, Composition<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0P. Farina, Italian<\/em><\/td>\nB. Dyer, Composition<\/em><\/td>\nS. O\u2019Connor, Composition<\/em><\/td>\nC. Rudkin, Composition<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
E. Fabrizio-Garcia, Spanish\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\nC. Peloso, Composition<\/em><\/td>\nE. O\u2019Donnell, Composition<\/em><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Overview<\/span><\/p>\n

The Department of World Languages and Composition opens doors to the 21st century global economy with the continued growing demand for language skills for business, government, community groups, and international organizations.<\/p>\n

In our composition and language classes, students are encouraged to be critical thinking citizens and leaders of our increasingly interdependent world community. As they study rhetoric in our composition courses, students are more prepared to succeed in college. Our students learn to view the world from diverse perspectives and to cross borders through effective communication based on an appreciation of cultural diversity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Major programs in the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish, and education programs in elementary or secondary education with a concentration in Spanish, offer students a curriculum that is balanced between the study of language, cultures, and literary traditions from Spain, Latin America and Latinxs in the USA with an emphasis on a greater awareness of the vital connections between global and local Hispanic communities.<\/p>\n

Mission<\/span><\/p>\n

Through the study of rhetoric and writing, languages, cultures, translation, and great works, students gain access to professional opportunities: travel, promotions, and an edge in our increasingly competitive employment market. Writing, rhetoric, language and culture proficiency gives students the power to think quickly from diverse viewpoints to make proposals, solve problems, and interact with diverse local and international populations, students, or clients. Even when bilingualism is not the deciding factor for initial employment, evidence confirms that excellent writing and language skills can enhance mobility and aid in admission to graduate study and job promotion.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Learning Outcomes for Students in World Languages<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/strong>The Department of World Languages & Cultures at Western Connecticut State University adheres to national standards for foreign language learning determined by ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) for language proficiency and cultural competency through the: Communication, Cultures, Comparisons, Connections, and Communities<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The ACTFL proficiency scale<\/a> from 2012 established guidelines for language proficiency at the following levels:<\/p>\n