Students of both French and Spanish studies acquire the skills required to not only speak the languages, but also to learn about and appreciate French and Spanish societies, cultures, and artistic expressions. The guiding principle of the curriculum is that one of the best ways to understand a culture is directly through its language.

Students develop a solid grammar and vocabulary base that allows them to become effective communicators with an equal emphasis on cultural awareness through culture, film, and literature courses. The department emphasizes the diversity and multicultural aspects of the Spanish and Francophone (French speaking) worlds through civilization, culture, literature and sociolinguistic courses. 

Western’s Modern and Classical Languages Department is part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.