Languages Across the Curriculum (LAC)
LAC for Students: Student Perspectives
“Everyone who participates in LAC participates out of interest. This is the attraction—the enthusiasm brought to discussion by peers and teacher. Taking a LAC course is not taking a foreign language course, but taking a specific course in a foreign language. Teachers expect analytical and intellectual discussion at the level that students would discuss the same subject matter in English. Under this exciting expectation, my mind learned to translate and to process complex ideas coordinately. My French improved tremendously: my speech flowed rather than hesitated and I moved toward the ultimate goal of thinking in another language. LAC is fun; it’s a transport out of the classroom and into a unique, intimate space of stimulating conversation in another language. There is only one downside: it’s hard to revert to discussion in English once you’ve experienced the challenge of articulating ideas in another language.”
--Eleanor Saunders, Freshman (Undecided)
“The reason I took the LAC course was because I saw so much value in looking at issues and topics from different angles and perspectives. When you speak a different language, you do more than change the way you are communicating but also alter your state of mind, your attitude and becoming enmeshed with the historical and cultural influences present in this language. I am a huge fan of foreign language. The ability to communicate in a language other than English opens you up to a whole new level of comprehension of a people, a place and a culture. The practical advantage of being able to practice a language in a LAC course is that you become better at expressing ideas and communicating in a language. But, more abstracting, using a LAC to gain a better comprehension of a language is a sign of respect. Taking the time to learn the language of a people shows an amount of humility and respect that cannot be gained through any number of history lessons. LAC courses are perfect for this goal since they allow you to not merely discuss the culture of the country you are learning the language of. Instead they let you communicate other ideas in that language and in doing so create a new vocabulary and proficiency on a variety of topics. Aside from the academic side, LAC courses are a great change to the normal recitation since you get to 'kill two birds with one stone'. You allow yourself to get better in a language while also learning about a wide range of interesting topics so I definitely recommend LAC courses to any and everyone!”
--Alexander Snider, Sophomore (Political Science)
