Languages and Undergraduate Programs

In our Department, you can familiarize yourself with cultures from around the world. This page provides an overview of all the languages and cultures we teach. Follow the links after the brief introductory statements to find information on Major and Minor programs as well as on the individual language and culture courses offered in the Department.

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Arabic Language and Culture

Arabic Language and Culture

Spoken daily by over 400 million people worldwide, Arabic is one of the world’s major languages. The programs in Arabic language and culture provide you not only with a good knowledge of the language itself, but also with an invaluable perspective into Arabic culture, history, literature, philosophy, religion and society. In addition, agreements between the University of Ottawa and other universities in the Arab world allow you to go on exchange programs in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt.
Asian Studies

Asian Studies

Chinese languages, with more than 1.3 billion speakers, represent the world’s largest linguistic community, while Japanese is the language of one of the world’s largest economy. Besides Chinese and Japanese language courses at all levels, this program also features topics in Asian culture, literature, history, religion, philosophy, anthropology, politics and development. It is designed to give you a comprehensive understanding of Asia’s multi-faceted role in the contemporary world and of its historical and cultural transformations. Students are encouraged to participate in summer programs in China and Japan as well as to engage in volunteer opportunities offered through the Centre for Global and Community Engagement of the University of Ottawa.
Celtic Studies

Celtic Studies

Here is your chance to discover Celtic culture from antiquity to the present. The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a minor in Celtic Studies which allows you to explore the full range of subjects associated with this discipline, starting with modern Celtic languages (Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh and Breton). The program also includes courses devoted to the rich cultures of the Celtic world, in which you will have the opportunity to study a whole range of themes from early history to contemporary events, such as the story of King Arthur, the music of the Celtic peoples or the various Celtic peoples in Western Europe and in the Americas. What’s more, through this multidisciplinary approach, you will gain a thorough understanding of the important Celtic roots of Britain, Ireland, France and parts of Central Europe as well as the vitality of Celtic cultures wherever Celtic peoples have settled or lived, including Canada.
German Language and Culture
German Language and Culture

If you truly want to broaden your horizons in the 21^st century, learning German will give you the edge you need. One of the most widely spoken languages in the world, German is a leading language of science, literature, art, philosophy and history. Our courses not only allow you to acquaint yourself with contemporary German, but also give you insights into the cultural and political history of German-speaking countries, and into German cinema and literature. Through exchange programs with Germany and Austria, you can complete courses toward your degree in a native-speaking environment. Closer to home, the activities of the German Club provide an informal setting for honing your German-language skills.
Italian Language and Culture

Italian Language and Culture

The Bel Paese has it all: art, fashion, fast cars, Dante, dolce vita, cinema, popes! Enroll in these programs to learn about Italian language and culture from the Middle Ages to the present, including North America’s fascinating Italian heritage. Through our study-abroad and Italian summer programs, you can practice speaking the language by living and studying in Italy. Our Italian courses allow you to partake in this ancient tradition as well as in modern-day Italian culture. You will learn the language while studying Italian cinema, literature, fashion and other cultural aspects. Students quickly acquire the tools needed to enter the workplace with an excellent knowledge of the language.
Latin American Studies

Latin American Studies

The minor in Latin American Studies provides a comprehensive understanding of the cultures, histories, languages and societies of a region that has roughly five hundred million people, as well as close and growing ties to Canada. This program presents a unique chance to discover a new and exciting field of studies, expand your knowledge base by acquiring insights into the multiple facets of Latin America, gain intercultural and multidisciplinary competence, and become well acquainted with the polyphonic discourse of this immense region of the world. You have the opportunity to study Latin America from the perspective of multiple disciplines thanks to interdepartmental and interfaculty courses, conferences, discussion groups and cultural activities.
Polish Language and Culture

Polish Language and Culture

The department offers several courses in Polish language and culture which give important insight into the thousand-year history of this fascinating and rapidly developing member of the new Europe. The sixth most populous country in the European Union and economically the sixth largest, Poland has one of the fastest rising economies in the world. Polish, a heritage claimed by more than a million Canadians and now the second most widely spoken language in England, is also an official language of the European Union. Thanks to a recently created private fund established by the Polish community of Ottawa, beginning in the fall of 2015 a Visiting Professor from Poland will assist in offering additional courses of study. Polish, along with Russian, serves to enhance the work of The Slavic Research Group of the University of Ottawa.
Portuguese Language and Culture

Portuguese Language and Culture

Portuguese is spoken by approximately 240 million people in Portugal, Brazil, and in parts of Africa and Asia. Portuguese is the third most spoken European language in the world, the first most spoken in South America, the third most used on the internet, one of the six most widespread and used on our planet – a language of international communication in expansion. Our courses in the language and cultures of the Portuguese-speaking countries, together with a program of conferences, exhibitions and cinema, organized in cooperation with the embassies of Angola, Brazil and Portugal and the Portuguese Club, provide, in a dynamic and interactive way, the tools to learn, to know and understand the vast, diverse and rich Portuguese-speaking world.
Russian Language and Culture

Russian Language and Culture

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a range of courses focusing on the language, history and culture of a fascinating country—Russia. Spoken in Russia and throughout the former Soviet Union, Russian ranks fourth among the world’s most widely used languages, after Chinese, English and Spanish. The achievements of Russian writers and artists in ballet, cinema, theatre and painting are internationally recognized. Since the fall of communism, Russian life and its economy in general have gained new vigour.
Spanish Language and Cultures

Spanish Language and Cultures

Spanish is spoken by over 400 million people around the globe and 21 countries list it as an official language. The increasing global influence of Hispanic communities and the richness and importance of the Spanish language open up an array of career opportunities. As a student in the Spanish program, you will learn the language and study Hispanic cultures, cinema, literatures and linguistics. You will gain a broader perspective on Hispanic America and Spain, and also learn about the importance of Spanish as an international language. In addition, you can complement your formal studies with a wide range of social and cultural activities (films, lectures, conferences, Spanish Club, etc.), often held in partnership with various embassies and organizations in the National Capital region. You can also complete part of your studies abroad through exchange programs at universities located in Hispanic America or Spain.
Yiddish Language and Culture

Yiddish Language and Culture

Yiddish is the language of a thousand years of Jewish civilization in Europe and its immigrant centres. Spoken by 75% of the world Jewry at its peak, the language and culture has spanned millions of speakers in Warsaw, Lodz, Moscow, New York, Montreal, Melbourne, Buenos Aires and boasted a rich literature, theatre, cinema and musical traditions. Today it is a language that many consider to be endangered while it is actually spoken by over a million people. Come and study Yiddish language, literature and cinema and learn about the past, present and future of this rich culture!

Languages and Undergraduate Programs

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures