Robert Weigel is the current Department Chair.

Welcome and greetings from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures! We have one new faculty member joining us for Academic Year 07/08: Meredith Prince (PhD, Duke) will lead our Minor in Classics in the future. We are also excited to be able to offer an introductory Chinese class this Fall and intend to build on strong initial enrollment. In Summer, we successfully launched new study abroad programs in Vienna and Paris, while continuing our strong presence in Salamanca (Spain), Cuernavaca (México), and Taormina (Italy). More than 180 students participated and developed their languages skills while exploring other cultures. In Spring, the semester abroad program in Alcalá (Spain) had a record 16 students enrolled and we hope for a similar number to participate in Spring 2008.

On campus, students have the opportunity to meet through various activities such as the French Conversation Table, the Spanish Table, the German Club (who gather regularly at the Olde Auburn Ale House), the Auburn Latino Association of Students, and the Italian Club. Students are also able to enjoy foreign language movies presented by the French Film Series, the Cine Auburn Spanish Language Film Series, and movies presented by the German Club. In October (23-24), to celebrate National Italian American Heritage Month, FLL, the Italian Club, and the Multicultural Center will sponsor the viewing of the documentary Prisoners Among Us, presented by director Michael DiLauro and followed by a panel of guests (the President of the COPILAS, the Education Officer of the Italian Embassy in Washington D.C. and AU scholars) at the Jule Collins Smith Museum.

In Spring 2008, as the College of Liberal Arts hosts the annual SEASECS (Southeastern American Society for Eighteenth Century Studies) Conference, Legacies and Contexts (Feb 14-17), FLL faculty Dr. Giovanna Summerfield will sponsor a session, titled “Growing Pains (within the Bildungsroman)”. The conference is interdisciplinary and promotes the interchange of information on the culture, history, literature, philosophy, politics, architecture, art, and sciences of the eighteenth century.

We send greetings to prospective students, and warm wishes to our faithful Alumni and supporters. We thank all of you for your generosity, which our success depends on. Your donations make it possible for us to offer our students instruction of the highest quality, opportunities to study Abroad, state-of-the-art technology, and experiences that make a real difference in our students' lives. Please keep your donations coming, and visit us when you are in town.