Think beyond the language requirement
At Carleton, language isn’t just a requirement to check off — it’s at the heart of a robust liberal arts education.
Language study teaches you how to question assumptions, listen deeply, and engage with perspectives different from your own. When you learn another language, you don’t just acquire vocabulary and grammar; you learn new ways of seeing the world and new ways of being in it.
Even if you’ve already met the language requirement, continuing your study can transform your college experience. Advanced courses open new ways of thinking, connect you with global issues, and strengthen the very skills that define a Carleton education.
Studying a language challenges you to step outside your comfort zone, connect across cultures, and communicate with empathy — skills that shape how you think, how you learn, and how you live. In other words, language learning is not just about what you say — it’s about how you understand the world.
Rigorous courses, real community, real-world outcomes
From 100-level courses onward, you’ll build language proficiency while exploring history, politics, media, and culture. Classes are small (typically 10–25 students) and collaborative, and you’ll have countless ways to use your language beyond the classroom.
What you’ll find:
- Courses from elementary to advanced levels that build speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills using authentic materials such as film, literature, and podcasts
- Opportunities to connect language with other disciplines through courses in art, history, politics, and science
- Off-campus study programs that let you live and learn in another culture while earning credit toward your degree
- Conversation tables, film nights, cultural celebrations, and other community-building events
- Campus testing that can lead to credentials like the Global Seal of Biliteracy, recognized by employers and graduate programs
- Language learning that enhances majors across the curriculum and supports internships, research, and international opportunities
- The Language Center, a welcoming hub for all language learners offering tutoring, study spaces, technology for practice and assessment, and events that build community across languages
The research behind language learning
In addition to language learning being one of the most powerful forms of critical inquiry, research shows that it offers wide-ranging cognitive, personal, and professional benefits. Scholars across disciplines have found that learning another language strengthens how we think, connect, and contribute to the world.
Research suggests that language learning:
- Sharpens the mind. Studies show that bilinguals demonstrate stronger memory, attention, and problem-solving skills (Bialystok, Craik, & Luk, 2012).
- Builds empathy and intercultural understanding. Language learners are more likely to recognize and appreciate diverse perspectives and show higher levels of empathy (Dewaele & Wei, 2012).
- Expands career opportunities. A 2019 ACTFL report found that 9 in 10 U.S. employers rely on employees with language skills and that demand for multilingual talent continues to grow.
- Develops identity and adaptability. Language study helps learners explore new sides of themselves and build resilience in unfamiliar settings (Kramsch, 2009).
- Embodies the liberal arts in action. Language learning sits at the center of a liberal arts education — it trains students to analyze, interpret, and engage ethically with the complexity of human experience (Coleman, 2009).
Take it from our students
At Carleton, I love studying Arabic because the department is incredibly supportive and the teachers are great at answering questions. I find that having the opportunity to learn why I was learning the language gives me a strong reason to study consistently and engage curiously. If you’re thinking about taking a class, I strongly encourage you to just try it!
-Caroline Zhou ‘27
Learning German at Carleton has been an incredible opportunity to grow and develop new relationships with professors and students who share similar interests. The small class sizes and engaging teaching styles have allowed me to build confidence and proficiency in a new language and ultimately study abroad in Austria; which was a life changing experience that would not have been possible without Carleton’s language requirement! I highly recommend taking the plunge and learning a new language in college, you never know where it might lead!
-Riley Gibson ’26
I love taking languages at Carleton because of the many opportunities I have to practice outside of the classroom. At Carleton, I am not only just sitting in a formal classroom setting, I am able to go to events/places like the Language Center, Language Tables, movie screenings, and social events that allow me to more practically and comfortably use the language. I think having these resources is something I did not have easily before and is something that I love about learning languages at Carleton.
-Maurice Broadus ‘25
Think beyond the requirement. Study a language. See the world differently.
At Carleton, language learning goes far beyond fulfilling a requirement — it’s how you deepen your education and expand your worldview. Studying another language sharpens your mind, strengthens empathy, and brings the liberal arts to life.