Romance Languages Department
Talented and dedicated faculty engage students in the study of the languages, literatures, and cultures of the diverse populations that once spoke the Latin of the Roman Empire. Majors in Spanish and French learn to speak a second language fluently, explore the history and culture of its speakers through coursework and study abroad, and gain expertise in the literary arts by reading and analyzing texts produced from the medieval to the post-colonial periods.
Students may combine two languages in a Romance Language major, as well as study Italian and Portuguese language and culture. The affiliated Latin American and Caribbean Studies program provides the intellectual excitement of an interdisciplinary approach to the exploration of multicultural societies that speak French, Portuguese and Spanish.
Casa Hispánica, where students live and speak Spanish, annual dramatic performances in French and Spanish, ESOL outreach, Poetry Night, and the National Symposium on Theater in Academe all provide unparalleled opportunities for students of Romance Languages to actively prepare for the multicultural world that awaits them.
Feature Stories
Abroad and on campus, W&L alumni donated their time and shared their knowledge and experiences to enhance several Spring Term courses.
Dyer is looking forward to gaining classroom experience in France before pursuing a career in education policy.
Rutberg is looking forward to building on his French language skills before pursuing a career in the federal government.
Álvarez looks forward to immersing herself in a different culture with the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship and will attend W&L Law when she returns, with plans to become an immigration lawyer.
A new student-initiated program at Washington and Lee invites the campus and wider Rockbridge area communities into informal world language practice.
Harrison looks forward to developing both her teaching and language skills with the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship.
The W&L network is perhaps most illustrative in the early-career assistance and opportunities our alumni provide to current students.
Williams taught Spanish at Ƶ for 40 years.
Professor of French Mohamed Kamara describes his interconnected teaching, scholarship and service.
The professor of Spanish co-authored a book titled “Understanding the Language of Virtual Interaction,” that was released in August 2025.
Michelson’s discussion will be held Thursday, Nov. 6 in Northen Auditorium.
The Ernest Williams II Professor of Romance Languages shares her research on the Spanish author.