Courtesy of Morgan State University
In response to increased student demand, Morgan State University’s Department of World Languages and International Studies is offering more variety in its foreign language program courses, further strengthening its commitment to providing students with a global perspective and culturally inclusive education. The new language course additions include the return of Mandarin Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese and Yoruba. Coincidingly, due to the popularity of Italian 101, which was introduced in 2018, the department is expanding the availability of the course throughout the academic year. Three of the courses — Mandarin Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Italian 102 — began being offered to students during the fall 2022 semester, while Yoruba will launch in spring 2023. Swahili, Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Spanish and Latin round out the remaining world languages the University currently offers.
The courses are designed to provide practical foreign language training for students looking to enhance global opportunities and expand career choices across numerous industry verticals. Housed in Morgan’s James H. Gilliam, Jr. College of Liberal Arts, the Department of Foreign Languages and International Studies has offered foreign languages on campus for more than 40 years, and presently is the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to offer courses in Italian. At the start of this academic year, Morgan has seen a 60 percent increase in student interest in second language learning, with some classes currently at capacity.
“The Department has created learning opportunities for our students that not only adds value to the academic community, but provides cultural knowledge and appreciation for global awareness,” said Xiaoli Gong, professor of Chinese language at Morgan. “With this type of preparation, our students can continue to gain valuable and tangible skills that are in alignment with our mission of producing scholars who are able to compete internationally.”
The language program is designed to support the growing diversity of society, and to meet the increasing demand for bilingual and multilingual professionals. The University offers a variety of languages ranging from elementary, intermediate, and advanced levels with the opportunity to obtain minors and certificates of language proficiency in French and Spanish.
Morgan is the first HBCU to receive a grant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Government to support the emerging Italian language program mostly utilized by students majoring in music. The grant was acquired through the efforts of Nicolino Applauso, Ph.D., language professor and director of the Foreign Language Laboratory, to cover the salary of instructors for additional classes. Dr. Applauso also raised funds through the Baltimore-based Associated Italian American Charities of Maryland to create the World Languages Scholarship of Excellence in Italian. Awarded annually, the scholarship is granted to two Italian language students who exhibit not only excel in the program but also aspire to utilize their acquired language skills in their chosen profession.
“We are committed to offering students opportunities to learn a variety of languages, including those which are of critical importance for national security,” said Helen Harrison, Ph.D. associate professor and interim chair of World Languages and International Studies at Morgan State University. “Learning a new language changes your perspective of the world and could mean as much as a 15% bump in your starting salary. Further, demonstrating the ability to acquire languages can make you an attractive job candidate, even if your employer needs to give you additional language training.”
Morgan currently has membership with two honor societies, Sigma Delta Pi, which honors the Universities strongest advanced students in Spanish, and Alpha Mu Gamma, which recognizes excellent students at the 102 level and above in all languages. The Department of World Languages and International Studies strives to provide students with valuable and useful linguistic tools, while offering collateral cultural training that can be used in business, public administration, teaching, and international relations
