Dickinson alums: In their own words

“Dickinson presents three primary advantages for acquiring language fluency during undergraduate studies. First, the campus is small. This means students enjoy a close relationship with teachers and that your teachers are able to gauge your language skills so you may understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Second, there are many opportunities to practice speaking your chosen language: in the classroom, at language tables, even during department-sponsored field trips. Third, Dickinson is not limited to Carlisle. Any student of languages knows fluency is a lifelong endeavor; any student of languages also knows study abroad is imperative to forge ahead. After time abroad, Dickinson is a great place to come back to because devoted teachers and on-campus activities help you maintain your language momentum.” Luke Stratton ’04, a French and Russian major, studied abroad in Moscow for one year and spent one semester in Toulouse. Through a Fulbright grant, Luke spent an additional year of study and research in Moscow, and is now preparing for graduate school in Russian literature.

“I don’t think I could have majored so successfully in both theatre and Spanish at many other colleges. My majors complemented each other through my studies of Spanish theatre history and having an internship with a children’s theatre in Spain. I also have been able to study Portuguese at Dickinson, and while abroad, I went to Portugal and had the opportunity to meet my relatives and speak with them in Portuguese. I don’t think I could have gotten that gift or opportunity anywhere else.” Margot Fitzsimmons ’04, a Spanish and theatre major, who studied for a year in Malaga, Spain.

“I truly don’t know where I’d be today if I hadn’t studied German at Dickinson College. Dickinson’s small classes encouraged constant interaction among students, their peers, and their instructors. My gradual progression from basic grammar and conversation, to composition, to studies in literature and cultural history were a strong foundation upon which to build when I arrived in Bremen as a junior. My year in Bremen was the best of my life, and has been the catalyst for the career choices I’ve made since then. I returned to Germany after graduation, as a fellow of the Bundestag Internship Program in Berlin, and this experience led directly to a fellowship in German Studies at the University of Michigan, where I earned my M.A. in May of 2004. Dickinson’s language program, coupled with immersion abroad, really set in motion a learning process that continues to this day.” Patrick Myers ’01, German and history major, studied in Bremen, Germany, for one year. As an account executive at Quantum Communications, Patrick uses his language skills to connect with groups ranging from German political foundations based in Washington, D.C., to the central office of Swiss Television in Bern, Switzerland.

A track record of success

• Dickinson ranks in the top three among all undergraduate liberal-arts colleges in the number of foreign-language degrees awarded. We’re second in total foreign-language degrees granted at the 876 institutions offering bachelor’s degrees in foreign languages.
• More than 60 percent of Dickinson students study abroad at least once.
• More than one-third of the Dickinson students who study abroad do so for a full year, while 91 percent of Americans studying abroad do so for a semester or less.
• A 2004 Open Doors Report, published by the Institute of International Education, ranked Dickinson third in the nation among all colleges and universities for study abroad and second for sending students on long-term abroad experiences.
• As frequent recipients of Fulbright scholarships, Dickinson students use their foreign-language knowledge in research abroad after graduation.
• With its global focus, the college has brought to campus 26 students from 13 countries in the Middle East and North Africa through the Young Ambassadors program, enrolled 21 students from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh through the South Asian Student Leaders program and brought 18 leading economists from around the world to campus for the last two summers through the Fulbright scholars program.

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