Anyone who is anxious to learn conversational foreign languages for that next exotic venture without worrying about grades can do so right here on campus.

Beginning Oct. 12, "Spanish for Fun" and "German for Fun" will be taught for beginners and intermediates. The class is open to the University of West Florida community. 

The classes do not count as college credit, said Phyllis Metcalf-Turner, professor and associate vice president of Diversity and International Education.

She said the classes are for people who are interested in learning a new language, traveling or who have a desire to better understand diverse cultures.

"This is our strategy for UWF and the international center to reach out to the community," Turner said.

The language classes were first taught at UWF last year, Turner said.  Sabine Mederly will be teaching German, and Cecilia Sansone will be teaching Spanish.

Christina Speier, office administrator for the International Educational Program, said the department would like to teach more languages, but the French and Latin teachers from last year moved. She said the department also would like to offer Chinese because of booming business in China. 

"The more people who are interested, the more we can continue (teaching) and become interested in other languages," Speier said.

Speier said the first class is free to all who attend.

Last year's enrollment for the classes was between 15 and 30 people.

"Last year, we had a good turnout, which is why they're teaching again," Turner said.  

Sophomore Christopher Shields, a history major, is one of the students at UWF who is interested in the courses.

"I'm very interested in learning languages," Shields said. "It's a good idea to learn new languages, and it could interest you in learning other new languages."

Some students may wonder why more languages are not taught at the university.

Charlie Schuler, chairman of the history, language, and philosophy departments at Pensacola Junior College, said it can be difficult for many colleges and universities to find people to teach the different languages.

"Universities and colleges have been struggling to find (foreign language teachers)," he said.

Schuler said that as of four years ago, in order for someone to teach a foreign language at the college or university level, he or she must either have a master's degree in the foreign language or have a master's degree in something else as well as 18 graduate credits in a language.

The "Spanish for Fun" course will begin Wednesday [Oct.12] and will continue weekly through Nov. 16 in Building 71, Room 130.  The beginner's course will be 6 to 7:30 p.m., and the intermediate course will be 7:30 to 9 p.m. 

The "German for Fun" course will start 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday [Oct. 11] and will continue weekly through Nov. 22 in Building 71, Room 139.  Each course will be $85.  The registration deadline for the two courses will be 4:30 p.m. Friday.  For more information, contact Phyllis Metcalf-Turner at 473-7448 or Christina Speier at 474-2920.

PJC also offers non-credit college courses in Russian, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Latin and Ancient Greek.

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