The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies has a unique place within the College of Arts and Science at the convergence of the pragmatic acquisition of language and communication skills through to the analysis of literature and other cultural manifestations. Within this inherently multicultural body of inquiry lie two objectives from which stem all others: the enhancement of communication skills in the languages which we teach and the widening of inter-cultural awareness leading to a world-minded perspective fundamental to responsible world citizens. At the practical level, students gain the necessary building blocks to develop and expand their oral and written comprehension and expression in French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and Arabic.

At the more advanced level, studies in literature, translation, cinema and culture allow students to develop critical thinking skills and perfect their oral fluency and written competence as they also learn the process through which meaning is arbitrarily and linguistically fabricated and can therefore be critically assessed and deconstructed or modified. Students also learn about the historical and contemporary world cultural realities most conducive to an understanding of the power structures which sustain divergent cultural practices as conveyed through language, literature and other cultural manifestations.

There are many potential careers for students of languages in a wide variety of fields such as:

• Education
• Translation & Interpretation
• Research
• Journalism, Communications & Public Relations
• Government & Politics
  • International Trade
  • Foreign Service
  • Immigration
• World Development
• Travel and Tourism
• Marketing & Advertising
• Law
• Speech Therapy and Pathology
• Commerce
• Publishing
• Cultural Studies

Check out the broad range of course and program offerings in our Department by clicking on the language(s) you are interested in.

The Department now offers students the possibility to complete Certificates in French, Spanish, and Japanese.

Access the Department's directory if you need to get in touch with one of our instructors.

Study abroad experiences are one of the most exciting, interesting and efficient ways to learn a language. Such experiences are often life changing for many individuals and their impact on many students’ lives can be considerable. Students frequently experience an exhilarating widening of their intellectual and social horizons through immersion in a new culture and their contact with the people who inhabit it and who have spoken the language since birth. It has been often said that people don’t really understand their own culture until they are fully immersed into a new one since it is at that time that one fully grasps the full extent of the arbitrary nature of one’s society’s collective customs, ways of thinking, cultural priorities and values. It is at such times that one becomes aware of the world’s cultural diversity and the full concrete impact of the word “culture” in one’s daily life.

It is not uncommon for students to opt for a language major after such an experience and many of our students have launched their professional careers and personal lives in cultural settings beyond the English world as a result of their language studies either here or abroad and the personal contacts with individuals from other cultures which their education experience has facilitated. Many of our former students now live and work in non-English speaking countries and environments such as France, Belgium, Quebec and South America. For many students, it is on the streets of these environments, where they interact with native speakers in their daily lives, that a language suddenly comes alive. Most students who return to continue their language programs after a study-abroad or immersion experience will find that their fluency and command of the language has greatly increased within a short period of time and will enjoy greater self-confidence in their language courses. Our department strongly encourages students to complement their language studies at the University of Saskatchewan with participation in a study abroad or immersion program. 

The University of Saskatchewan offers students many exchange opportunities worldwide. We recommend that you visit the "Exchange Opportunities" webpage to get a more accurate idea of all the options available to you. 

You can also contact directly the International Student and Study Abroad on campus to make an appointment and see which program is be best suited to your needs.

Feel free to ask your instructor about the study abroad possibilties in the language you chose to study.

The Department of Languages, Literatures, & Cultural Studies offers a number of awards, bursaries, prizes and scholarships in each of its languages. Some awards are based on selection and require no application, and others, such as bursaries, are open for application in the fall through the PAWS Scholarships and Bursaries channel. Book prizes are awarded to top students in certain classes or areas of study.

Each year, we celebrate our students’ success and outstanding achievements during the previous year of their studies at our annual Meet and Greet held in the fall of the academic year.

Information on all awards at the University available here. 

Students should feel free to approach any of their instructors and the Undergraduate Advisors of each language in the Department of Languages, Literatures, & Cultural Studies at any time throughout the year for information or advice regarding their program of studies.

Students can also contact our Office Coordinator Carla Schulz or the Department Head, Pr. Marie-Diane Clarke, to set up an appointment. 

There is a great deal of information on our courses and programs available on our website which should offer an answer to the most frequently asked questions by students. Students are invited to explore the various website pages for any information they are seeking. Please contact us for any information not available on our website or if you have any questions.

Academic Help for Students 

The University Library offers a range of learning and academic support to assist USask undergrad and graduate students. For information on specific services, please see the Learning page on the Library web site. 

• Remote learning support information 
• Class and study tips 
• Remote learning tutorial 
• Study skills materials for online learning 
• A guide on netiquette, principles to guide respectful online learning interactions 

Teaching, Learning and Student Experience

Teaching, Learning and Student Experience (TLSE) provides developmental and support services and programs to students and the university community. For more information, see the students’ web site.

Financial Support

Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing and believes this may affect their performance in the course is urged to contact Student Central. 

Aboriginal Students’ Centre

The Aboriginal Students’ Centre (ASC) is dedicated to supporting Aboriginal student academic and personal success. The centre offers personal, social, cultural and some academic supports to Métis, First Nations, and Inuit students. The centre is also dedicated to intercultural education, brining Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students together to learn from, with and about one another in a respectful, inclusive and safe environment. Students are encouraged to visit the ASC’s Facebook page to learn more.

International Student and Study Abroad Centre

The International Student and Study Abroad Centre (ISSAC) supports student success and facilitates international education experiences at USask and abroad.  ISSAC is here to assist all international undergraduate, graduate, exchange and English as a Second Language students in their transition to the University of Saskatchewan and to life in Canada.  ISSAC offers advising and support on matters that affect international students and their families and on matters related to studying abroad as University of Saskatchewan students.  Please visit students.usask.ca or updates.usask.ca for more information.