Support the study of languages and cultures!

On this Day of Giving, we invite you to support the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures at Santa Clara University. Rooted in Jesuit values and the liberal arts tradition, our programs in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish equip students with the linguistic and cultural skills needed for meaningful cross-cultural communication. Through our majors and minors, students develop advanced proficiency, interpret cultures in context, engage diverse communities with empathy, and thoughtfully analyze complex global issues.

Your generosity sustains high-impact learning beyond the classroom by supporting study abroad, internships, and research opportunities that connect language study to diverse career paths. These experiences help students discover meaningful careers while strengthening the intercultural skills essential in today’s interconnected world. With your support, we continue to prepare graduates who communicate across differences, value cultural diversity, and contribute thoughtfully to their communities and professions.

Learning French at Santa Clara has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of my education. I relish the creativity that accompanies a language classroom and the small classes have helped me make some great friends along the way. As a double major, French has offered me reprieve from the rigidity of my science classes, giving me more confidence in the way I communicate my ideas, in both French and English. Most impactfully, my French Major granted me the opportunity to spend 6 months abroad in Dakar, Senegal, sparking an interest in sustainable development and inspiring me to pursue a post-grad career in francophone West-Africa. Choosing to study French at SCU has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my life and I would implore everyone here to pursue a second language (make it French!)

—Alex Crouse '26

Last summer, I had the privilege of interning with the United Black Family Scholarship Foundation (UBFSF), an experience that deeply shaped both my academic and personal growth. I was introduced to UBFSF through Dr. Keziah Poole’s FREN 120E course, Writing Beyond Walls, where I began exploring incarceration not just as a system, but as a lived reality shaped by language, power, and storytelling. I interned under UBFSF’s incarcerated founder, Ivan Kilgore, supporting his Hundred Stories Project. Drawing on my study of Francophone prison systems, I contributed research and writing to help publish the creative works of people in prison and ensure they are fairly compensated for their labor and narratives. I am incredibly grateful to the French Program for making this opportunity possible. The internship strengthened my research, critical thinking, and sense of responsibility as I prepare for law school. Most importantly, it reminded me that meaningful change begins with listening.

—Gianna Madden '26

I am so happy to have had the opportunity to take Chinese classes here at SCU. Growing up in a bilingual household, I spoke both Chinese and English at home, but without steady practice, my skills began to decline. Being able to minor in Chinese and Sinophone Studies through the Modern Language Department gave me the chance to rebuild my fluency while also deepening my connection to Chinese culture.

—Jeni Deneen '26

I look back on my experience as an Italian major with great joy and appreciation. The joy comes from the wonderful peers, professors, and guest speakers I frequently interacted with and built relationships with over the years. My appreciation also extends to the life-changing experiences I pursued along the way, including internships, independent research projects, studying abroad, and my current position in the crowdfunding field, and with the same company, Turbo Crowd, where I first interned during my time abroad in Milan. These opportunities have shaped both my academic path and professional goals, and they continue to influence my plans for graduate study.

—Augstin Pace '25

I really appreciate what an opportunity I had in my internship with the WWII History Project translating historical documents from French and value what I was able to get out of it. Not only was I able to improve my French but I was also able to learn about history and the French Resistance from a dramatic and intriguing first-hand account, provide a resource for English speakers to learn about these same things, and get some experience in a possible future career path that connects directly to my major. The REAL program and Modern Languages & Literatures department funding helped make this summer possible for me.

—Brendan Webb '22

Through my SCU education and experiences there, I gained the confidence to become a first-generation Xicana teacher leader who would change the educational system to be more equitable, culturally responsive, and inclusive. Being selected as the recipient of the 2020 Francisco Jiménez Award reassured me that I was capable of that and more. And I am now a Bilingual Education Specialist for the Lompoc Unified School District.

—Gloria Sevilla '20