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World languages & literatures
Communicate ideas effectively across different cultures. Master an additional language to enhance your study, travel, and work opportunities immeasurably. In an era of global industry and communication, individuals who can demonstrate fluency and understanding in other languages and cultures are increasingly valuable.
Gain the tools necessary to negotiate the global literary landscape and develop skills in writing and communication, information management, problem solving and critical thinking, and more.
About world languages & literatures
World languages and literatures offers crucial insight into living and growing in an increasingly complex world. Globalization is a key relevant topic today: explore the ever-increasing diversity in Canada. By exploring literary texts from a variety of cultures, students learn to place themselves contextually in a constantly changing world and learn from a perspective of relativity. World literature students "engage the world."
The Department of World Languages and Literature offers major, minor, honours, joint, and co-op programs. Explore program offerings to find out what's right for you.
Career pathways
The world literature curriculum teaches you to write creatively and expressively, to read and think critically, and to communicate ideas effectively across different cultures.
While some graduates work directly in literature and language, for instance by teaching elementary or high school or entering the publishing field, career possibilities are diverse.
The content specific to world literature courses is especially relevant to careers in international agencies and organizations, broadcasting, the arts, public relations, as well as diplomacy, teaching, journalism, and library and information services.
Learn more
Learn languages at SFU! Arabic, Chinese, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Punjabi, and Spanish. Courses available for everyone, from native speakers to absolute beginners!
Professor Ortabasi describing WL 201, a World Literature course in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at SFU.