Languages

Many Languages, Many Options

At Pitt, many languages are taught through dedicated departments—Classics (Ancient Greek, Latin, Sanskrit), East Asian Languages and Literatures, French and Italian Languages and Literatures, German, Hispanic Languages and Literatures, Jewish Studies (Hebrew), and Slavic Languages and Literatures.

Others, such as Arabic, Farsi, and Swahili, are offered through the Less-Commonly-Taught Languages Center, part of Pitt's Department of Linguistics.

Many departments offer intensive language courses during the summer. If you're looking for a summer language-learning experience that's both intensive and immersive, consider enrolling in the East Asian Languages and Literatures Interships or the Slavic, East European, and Near Eastern Summer Language Institute.

Pitt students can craft competitive résumés for the global marketplace by learning languages while studying abroad and by earning an International Studies Certificate.

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A World of Languages

From American Sign Language to Yoruba, Pitt offers instruction in the following languages:

 
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Why Learn Another Language?

Practically speaking, learning another language in our age of global interdependence opens doors for many jobs and careers unavailable to monolingual people.

Cognitively, research shows that studying another language benefits abstract and creative thinking, and it can enhance knowledge of English structure and vocabulary. Foreign language learners demonstrate better listening skills and sharper memories than their monolingual peers.

Personally, mastering another language is immensely satisfying. Learning the language(s) of your ancestors, for example, creates a living bridge to your heritage.

Globally, learning another language provides deep insights into other cultures. It encourages understanding and open-mindedness. And, obviously, it makes travelling abroad much easier—you don't need interpreters, and you can grasp idioms and expressions that might not make sense when translated literally into English.

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