ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of World Languages and Literatures (WLL) was formed in January 2020 through the collaboration of two groups of multilingual and multicultural scholars. Our department believes in the transformative power of adopting a pluralistic lens through which to view the world, and we are dedicated to sharing and cultivating such awareness and understanding among young minds in today’s globalized society. Featuring a close-knit team of colleagues engaged in innovative research and teaching across cultures, WLL promotes a dynamic approach to language and literary study that reflects and supports our diverse society. We offer Major, Minor, and Honours program in World Literatures, as well as a Minor in Italian and Certificates in Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish.

As the only undergraduate department of its kind in British Columbia, WLL offers student-focused programs designed to equip students with the tools necessary to navigate the global literary landscape and their own position within it. These tools include critical thinking and writing, self-reflexivity, linguistic training, practical research skills, and an awareness of the central role of translation in all human interaction, whether literary or otherwise. WLL is committed to fostering a practical and creative learning environment and actively centers linguistic and cultural diversity in its scholarship, teaching, and service.