Value-added language

Dylan Stare was walking through Smith Hall with his roommate on the way to class freshman year when something got his attention, a flyer about the German for Engineering certificate program offered by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

"I thought it was interesting. I didn't know UD had a German program," said Stare, a junior honors chemical engineering major with minors in pure chemistry and mathematics.

German for Engineering, or Germaneering as it is affectionately called, is one of a handful of interdisciplinary programs at UD that combine applied language learning with academic areas across the University, providing a more robust educational experience, developing knowledgeable world citizens and giving UD students an edge in the job market.

Studying a second language helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, but there is also an economic benefit. "We know that students who speak a second language earn as much as 20% more a year. They have more job opportunities, they get promoted faster, they get to work abroad," explained Chad Gasta, chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

The programs, which currently include the minor in Italian studies and fashion culture, the minor in Spanish for economics and finance, and the minor in Spanish for health care, along with the German for Engineering certificate, reflect the intrinsic value of knowing a second language as well as a change in how languages are taught.

Language by choice

German wasn't an option at Stare's high school, and he didn't have a great experience with his required language courses, but the German for Engineering program looked different.

"As an engineering major, I didn't have to take a language, but I found the prospect of choosing a language to learn interesting," he said.

He added that having courses structured for engineering students and scheduled to work with their classes has been key.

"Without this program I wouldn't have taken a foreign language because I logistically couldn't fit it in my schedule."

Alum John Salsisni-Tobias had a similar experience when he discovered the Spanish for healthcare minor.

After taking Spanish from elementary through high school, he was burned out and had no interest in continuing; however, when he learned about the minors offered at UD, he realized he could take his language studies in a different direction.

"Once I had the choice to continue and select classes that were more toward my interest, that really reignited my passion for Spanish and made me want to continue to learn," Salsisni-Tobias said.