Our Organizing Principles

The department's Organizing Principles represent our core values and philosophy with regard to instruction and language acquisition. Our goal is giving students the tools they need to communicate in the target language and nurturing their appreciation of cultures other than their own.

Be Inspired!*

Input is always comprehensible.

Navigate with vocabulary.

Students self-select language based on their linguistic needs & interests.

Proficiency is the goal.

Instructors are risk-takers too.

Risk-taking is nurtured and supported.

Errors are a positive step in language learning.

*Based on John De Mado’s 'The Principled Approach' (TPA)