Department of Language and Literature
News: Department to offer Chinese, additional Arabic courses

6/28/2007 | This fall, Benedictine University will offer its students a first-year language course in Chinese and a second year of Arabic thanks to its participation in the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program.

The FLTA, established in 1968 and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides an opportunity for young, international teachers to refine their teaching skills and extend their knowledge of the culture and customs of the United States while engaging in non-degree studies at their host institutions.

Benedictine University will host two foreign language teaching assistants this fall, providing students with an opportunity to learn the language of two key players on the international stage and gain insight into the culture and customs of China and the Middle East.

“This program will be a real enhancement for our students both culturally and academically,” said Elizabeth Kubek, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Language and Literature at Benedictine University.

Prior to this fall, Benedictine University did not offer Chinese and could only offer one year of Arabic. The addition of the two FLTAs will allow Benedictine to expand its language offerings and better prepare its students to participate in an increasingly global society.

FLTAs, on the other hand, may engage in academic study that will enrich their postgraduate studies and enhance their professional development, will learn first-hand about the United States, its culture and its people, and will return home with a higher degree of proficiency in English.

Kubek admitted that one of the attractions for FLTAs was Benedictine University's proximity to Chicago and its many and varied cultural attractions.

“Both of the FLTAs cited our closeness to the city as one of the reasons they wanted to teach here,” Kubek said.

excerpted and adapted from Benedictine press release