Foreign Languages Faculty and Program
Debbie Van Prooyen (1988)
Department Chair
B.A. French
B.A. Secondary Education
M.A. from Concordia University
Trinity Christian College
View Faculty Profile
Ann Raley (1979)
Hope College
B.A. German
Ohio State University
M.A. German Literature
Concordia University
M.A. Curriculum and Instruction
Jennifer Burkholder (2010)
B.A. Spanish
Mt. Union College, Ohio
Erin Lanenga (2010)
B.A. Music EducationMinor in Spanish
Calvin College
M.A. Music Education
Northern Illinois University
Foreign Language Program
We are called as Christians to transform the world so that it might reflect Christ’s coming Kingdom. We believe the study of foreign language advances and deepens the student’s preparation for living, working, and effecting positive change in an increasingly global, shrinking world where communication skills are extremely important.
At the core of our modern foreign language we promote Christian community by teaching communication skills in the target language so that students can discourse with people of other cultures. We seek to expose our students to cultures, ideas, and language structure often quite different from their own. These differences become evident in the essays, stories, and books we translate.
Through foreign language study, we lead students to respect and value the uniqueness of others and to respond in faith to our Creator, who redeemed us through His Son, and who has taught us to love one another as He loved us.
In addition, we also work at understanding our own language as we notice its God-ordained structure. We encourage Christian service in countries in which we can also use our foreign language. We believe foreign language study enriches our lives.