Mission

The Santa Monica College Department of Modern Languages and Cultures promotes a community of respect and understanding of different ethnic groups and their cultures through the study of language, literature, and culture. We train students to understand, speak, read, and write in the target language, enabling them to interact with and contribute to the global community by giving students a global perspective, including the appreciation of other cultural heritages, which promotes community, national, and international cooperation.

Goals

  1. To provide excellent language instruction in sound structured programs that enable students to communicate effectively in oral and written form in the target language.

  2. To provide language instruction at all levels feasible, insuring consistency so students may advance through the sequential courses and achieve their maximum language potential.

  3. To provide students with the best technology available for language acquisition and integrate new techniques and technology, creating an educational environment that maximizes opportunities to acquire language skills.

  4. To promote student interest, understanding, and participation in the many diverse cultural activities available to them in the community and abroad, including the arts, overseas study, and other cultural exchanges.