Hands-on learning is at the core of all our majors.

In any major or minor in the languages and cultures department, you’ll have numerous opportunities to apply what you’re learning, conduct research, and gain experience. It’s all part of how we equip you with skills that transfer to any career.

And you’ll be able to get involved right away. Bethel’s size and vibrant community present opportunities for you to get involved from your first day on campus.

Study abroad

All students earning a B.A. in Spanish study outside the U.S., and you’ll have many other options for travel over a full semester, January session, spring break, and the summer. You’ll have the chance to study for a semester at Centro de Estudios Hispánicos in Segovia, Spain. Recent students have said this was their favorite part of studying Spanish at Bethel. You can also spend January overseas with a Bethel or third-party program.  

Internships

Apply what you learn through strong internships or by student teaching in bilingual and immersion schools or community programs with immigrants. 

Service learning

You’ll apply what you’ve learned through great service-learning opportunities offered through unique partnerships Bethel has with:  

• Urban Ventures
• One Reason Church/Dance Studio
• Open Door in Minneapolis 
• La Puerta Abierta Church
• Comunidades Latinas Unidos en Servicio (mentoring, pop-up food shelf, and other opportunities to serve in local Spanish-speaking communities)

On-campus work

You can work for the department as a teaching assistant (TA), where you’ll work closely with faculty in a valuable opportunity for mentorship, gaining experience in teaching, research, or administration. Students also commonly work as tutors.

Connect with the community

You’ll develop meaningful, lasting relationships with people from other cultures through experience in the local Latinx community.

Hands-on application 

Work on your language conversation skills and make friends through “Charlas y cenas”—monthly conversations and dinners with professors, native speakers, TAs, and upper-level Spanish students. 

One-on-one tutoring

Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) tutors are available to review assignments with you, clarify course concepts, and suggest effective study strategies. For more information, contact languages-cultures@bethel.edu.