Languages

Our curriculum encourages students to develop a competent grasp of language and exposes them to a variety of cultural material, both historical and current.

JOYCE LANG, LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT CHAIR

Overview

Blair language classes support energetic interaction as students work with one another and their instructors to learn to speak, understand, read and write in Spanish, French, Chinese, and traditional Latin and Greek. In the modern languages, classroom immersion is key: Students pledge to speak only in the language they are studying for the duration of each class, a teaching tool that has become a hallmark of the language department’s philosophy.

Our modern-language teachers are all native speakers or near-native speakers, and our classics faculty focuses on the art of close reading, fully appreciating the nuance of language and introducing students to the achievements of ancient literature. Connecting students to the broader cultural context of the languages Blair teaches is paramount. Beyond the classroom, students have the opportunity to travel outside of the United States to countries such as Costa Rica, Cuba and Italy—once-in-a-lifetime trips during which they immerse in other cultures, meet local leaders and visit ancient ruins. Closer to home, faculty and students regularly engage with members of Spanish- and Chinese-speaking communities in towns and cities within driving distance of campus.