World Languages

The Department of World Languages at Framingham State University offers a variety of classes in the areas of language arts, literature, linguistics, and culture.

The mission of the Department of World Languages is to teach communicative competence in modern world languages and to introduce students to the peoples, cultures and artistic expressions of other countries. The Department is constantly streamlining and adapting our courses and instructional methods to the changing environment of twenty-first century American society.

The Department is unique in the Massachusetts State University system. Through the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education, it offers a M.Ed. in Spanish, and a M.Ed. in TESL, which primarily enroll public school teachers. The Department also prepares and trains Post-Baccalaureate students for their initial license to teach world languages in the Massachusetts public school system.

The World Languages Department’s mission, to teach communicative competence in modern world languages, extends to all levels of language instruction. World language study develops a student’s proficiency in the four basic language skills of listening comprehension, reading, writing, and speaking. Training in any world language carries over to the student’s native language as well, making him/her more articulate, self-confident and thoughtful in his/her writing and speech. Through the literature and culture courses offered by the World Languages Department, students gain knowledge and understanding of the cultures where the foreign language is spoken, through readings, research, and the use of contemporary and historical cultural materials, including literature. These courses increase students’ understanding of cultural differences and global and national interdependence through course work and study-abroad opportunities, so that students acquire skills for critical analysis.

In the Spotlight

Student Spotlight
Spanish major Mariah Prosansky
Mariah Prosansky '20

Spanish, Elementary Education

"The World Languages Department is small but mighty, and the small class sizes have given me a chance to get to know my classmates and professors, who all share a passion for language learning."

Alumni Spotlight
Jesús and a lady
Jesús Ruelas García '19

Spanish

Jesús Ruelas García, ’19, walked across the stage at graduation on May 26th. A week later, Jesús was walking almost two hours in the desert heat in El Paso, Texas to his site of service. Jesús was tasked with organizing transportation and reunifications for the families and contacts of migrants and asylum seekers. For two weeks, Jesús made close to 500 calls a day during his 15 hours of daily service. When not making phone calls, Jesús helped distribute clothing, food, and took charge of distribution of medical supplies and administration of medicine for those in urgent need.
After spending close to three years with the World Languages Department, Jesús had the social skills and tools to be able to communicate with the migrants and asylum seekers, who were coming from Honduras, El Salvador, Cuba, Brasil, Mexico, and the Congo.

Faculty Spotlight
Bruce and the ram
Bruce Bucci

American Sign Language

Bruce Bucci is the new Assistant Professor in the American Sign Language program. Professor Bucci has worked in the field of Deaf Education and ASL/Deaf Studies over 24 years as a teacher, team leader, trainer (Deaf Education, Leadership and Organizational Change), ASL storyteller, and Instructor (McDaniel College, Holy Cross College, Rhode Island College, and Boston University). As the Director of Boston University’s Programs in Deaf Studies Bruce helped expand the program and its influence earning University-wide recognition. Most recently he has partnered with the Jamaican Association for the Deaf and the Jamaican Ministry of Education in developing training curricula for teachers of Deaf children. He has made numerous presentations on the role of leadership, building alliances, and the role of American Sign Language fluency in content area learning to professional organizations across the country.

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