Smith has a rich tradition of language learning, with options also available through the Five Colleges.
Languages at Smith
Smith College offers a variety of languages with a focus on relevant cultural, historical and global issues. By studying foreign languages, you will enhance your understanding of the world and gain a deeper insight into your own culture. You will learn to navigate and take advantage of transnational, translingual and transcultural networks. The knowledge of a foreign language will enrich your engagement with your specific field of study, whether in STEM, social sciences or humanities. Study language: it will be your passport to global citizenship!
Why Study Languages at Smith?
Classes are small and taught by a gifted and dedicated faculty that offer real-world experiences.
Study abroad and internship programs offer a wide variety of exciting opportunities.
- Classical Languages & Literatures: Greek and Latin
- East Asian Languages & Cultures: Chinese, Japanese, Korean
- French Studies
- German Studies
- Italian Studies
- Jewish Studies: Hebrew
- Middle East Studies: Arabic
- Portuguese
- Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies: Russian Language & Literature
- Spanish
- Translation Studies
Chinese | Chinese Character Literacy Project (website & videos)
French | “Skyping with the French” (video)
International Study in Geneva (video)
Independent Research in French Studies (video)
Study Abroad in Paris (video)
German | “German All Over Campus” (video)
Italian | The Impact of COVID-19 on Northampton (video; article)
Memory and Recollection (blog)
Japanese | Tadoku Project (website)
Korean | Makeup Tutorial (video)
Language Lunch Tables | Overview
(video: Korean featured)
Portuguese | Brasil Indígena: Passado, Presente, Futuro (blog)
Russian | Learning Russian at Smith (video)
“I couldn’t have been happier with my experience at Smith. Many of the language skills, literary references and cross-cultural understandings that I used while living abroad, post-graduation and in my present career stem directly from my years as a French major.”—Christianne Beasley ’12
Global Encounters
The Global Encounters Photo & Video contests provide a venue for Smith students to share their experiences of living and learning beyond borders and boundaries. From Nepal to Croatia to Cuba, these images and stories offer a unique view of the world.
