The French major provides students with a base of knowledge not only in languages, but, just as importantly, in cultural content so vital for understanding and navigating the world.
Expand Your Opportunities with Language Learning
Choose a Language and Explore a Culture
Languages Taught at OHIO
Speaking another language isn’t just a skill—it’s a key to new opportunities that expands your career options, deepens cultural understanding, and helps you connect with people around the world.
In today’s global job market, employers are looking for professionals who can communicate across cultures, think critically, and adapt to international environments.
Whether you’re planning a career in business, healthcare, education, technology, diplomacy, or the arts, language skills give you a competitive edge.
Offered by Modern Languages
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German
Students studying German often find employment in print or broadcast media, government, teaching, social services, or industry because they possess career-specific skills in addition to general knowledge and language proficiency.
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Italian
Studying the Italian language is an an introduction to the very rich and varied culture of Italy. A certificate in Italian studies is a complementary course of study for any undergraduate degree.
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Spanish
Spanish courses provide students with a base of knowledge not only in languages but also in cultural content so vital for understanding and navigating the world.
Offered by Linguistics
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Arabic
Arabic is the mother tongue of over 300 million people in Africa and Asia. And since the Qur'an, the holy book of Muslims, is written in Arabic, people in other Muslim countries have from basic to advanced knowledge of Arabic.
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Chinese
Chinese is spoken by more than 1 billion people. The Chinese economy is the fastest growing in the world, with Chinese political, social, and cultural influence is everywhere.
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Japanese
More than 130 million people around the world speak Japanese. Learning Japanese opens the door into this unique culture and society where old arts contribute to the creation of new technology and Western ideas harmoniously blend into Eastern thoughts.
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Swahili
Today, African languages like Swahili are more in demand than ever before as the world becomes more globalized. Knowledge of Swahili opens doors to many opportunities both locally and internationally.
Offered by International Studies
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Why Study Akan?
Over 40% of the Ghanaian population speak various dialects of Akan, a language featured in literature and often chosen by students interested in doing research in Ghana or applying for a Fulbright grant to do research in Ghana.
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Hindi
To understand a place as complicated as South Asia, one must understand its languages. Spoken today by well over a billion people, Hindi-Urdu has its roots in Sanskrit and Persian and is heard today around the globe as the language of Bollywood.
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Indonesian
Learning Indonesian will help you communicate not only with Indonesians but with ethnic Malays throughout Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, parts of the Philippines, southern Thailand, and Timor-Leste.
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Thai
Studying Thai can open doors to the NGOs, American businesses, and U.S. governmental agencies operating in Thailand. OHIO houses one of the largest U,S. collections of research materials on Southeast Asia.
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Wolof
Wolof dominates communication and business for African peoples of the West Atlantic. It's spoken in Senegal and Gambia, used in southern Mauritania, and expanding to Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali.
Meet the World Languages Coordinator: Pittaya Paladroi-Shane
Pittaya Paladroi-Shane is also a Thai Associate Lecturer and coordinates the center's African and Asian language programs.
Offered by Classics & Religious Studies
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Why Study Classical Greek?
While the ancient Greeks' bodies are dead, their voices are still very much alive and relevant — for those who long to hear them. Learn to read the very words of Homer, Plato, Thucydides, the New Testament.
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Why Study Latin?
Romance and the Renaissance still resonate today — and by studying Latin, you'll gain the basic toolkit for studying antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and Romance languages and literatures.
Languages at OHIO: A World of Opportunity
µÛÍõ»áËù is a leader in global language education, offering an array of languages spoken across the world, including some that are not available at any other university in µÛÍõ»áËù.
Our programs provide students with unique opportunities to develop language proficiency through immersive coursework, study abroad programs, and cultural engagement activities.
Many of these languages are critical for success in global professions, academic research, and international diplomacy, helping students prepare for careers in government, international business, education, humanitarian work, and beyond.
No matter your major, learning a language at µÛÍõ»áËù can set you apart. Our faculty are experts in their fields, and our language programs integrate cutting-edge pedagogy, real-world applications, and cultural immersion to ensure students gain practical skills for the global workforce.
Why Study a Language at OHIO?
- Boost Your Career – Employers value bilingual and multilingual candidates in nearly every field. Knowing another language can set you apart and open doors to international opportunities.
- Stand Out in the Job Market – Many industries require global communication skills, and language proficiency can give you an edge in business, law, journalism, international relations, and beyond.
- Enhance Your Study Abroad & Travel Experiences – Learning a language makes travel more meaningful, allowing you to connect with people and cultures in a deeper way.
- Develop Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills – Language learning strengthens your brain, improving memory, adaptability, and communication—skills that employers love.
- Make Global Connections – Whether networking, studying abroad, or engaging with international communities, language proficiency helps you build meaningful relationships worldwide.
Explore Our Language Programs
Undergraduate Programs
- French Minor
- French Major
- German Studies Certificate
- German Minor
- Italian Studies Certificate
- Linguistics Major
- Japanese Minor
- Spanish Major
- Spanish Minor
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Undergraduate Module): Five-course sequence for any OHIO student wishing to teach English as a foreign language.
- Technology Enhanced Language Teaching (Undergraduate Module): Four-course sequence on the use of technology applied to language learning and teaching for any OHIO student who intends to work as teachers, administrators, or developers.
Graduate Programs
- Spanish M.A.
- Technology Enhanced Language Teaching (TELT Graduate Certificate): Four-course sequence of coursework and practicum on the use of technology applied to language learning and teaching for anyone who intends to work as teachers, administrators, or developers.
µÛÍõ»áËù Program of Intensive English
µÛÍõ»áËù Program of Intensive English (OPIE) programs are designed for international students who need to improve their English skills before starting a degree program or just wish to improve their English proficiency.
OPIE is the oldest university English language program in µÛÍõ»áËù and one of the leading programs in the United States.
OPIE’s primary purpose is to help you learn English and prepare you to live and study in the USA. In OPIE you will gain confidence in using American English and have a deeper understanding of American culture.