The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures is committed to rigor and standards, alongside originality of thought, creativity, and training in the skills needed for graduates in the various opportunities they might seek out after Kenyon. To this end, we have designed a Capstone Experience for our Majors that will both take stock of what students have accomplished through the trajectory of their coursework in relation to our Department and provide them with a resource for showcasing their knowledge, talents, and ownership of the learning process.
With an emphasis on critical thinking and personal investment, students will carry out an extended analytical and/or creative project anchored in reflection and thoroughly researched and cited with secondary sources. This two-semester project, partly compiled using a web-based portfolio, will be composed of:
Irrespective of Major Track (I, II, III), students typically undertake this project in the target language of the primary language of study, though in some cases (and in consultation with the First Reader), writing in English may also an option. The in-depth, structured nature of the MLL Capstone thus serves as a culmination of coursework and, when possible, the study abroad experience.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the MLL Capstone Experience is the close collaboration between MLL Majors and the MLL faculty who oversee their projects as First- and Second-Readers. Within the first weeks of the fall semester of senior year, MLL Majors will be paired with these faculty readers based on the nature of their proposed projects, prior coursework, and other factors, such as study abroad and advising. Whenever possible, MLL Majors will thus be matched with MLL faculty who are knowledgeable about the chosen topic, and while First Readers act as the primary resource for feedback and guidance at this stage, the Second Reader can also help with improving drafts, finding sources, and related questions. Additionally, in cases of possible Distinction, the Second Reader will take part in the Oral Exchange in the spring.
These MLL faculty members, serving as First and Second Readers, will act as guides rather than gatekeepers, given that their role is to facilitate success through the expertise they can offer, as opposed to simply enforcing deadlines. In this way, the MLL Capstone facilitates a meaningful opportunity to engage with faculty mentors, who offer the MLL Majors with whom they work the freedom to explore interests, to revisit past projects, and to find purpose and promise in the MLL degree beyond Kenyon. Regular feedback will come, primarily, from the First Reader on each component of the project, normally within two weeks (maximum) from submission.
The specified dates for the submission and/or completion of the various components of the Capstone Experience map a timeline intended to ensure steady, incremental progress toward the end goal. Any deadline extensions (as in the case of double majors, for example) will need formal approval from the Senior Liaison (normally, with support from the First Reader), and the MLL Chair will be kept apprised of extensions and/or late submissions (and the reasons). If it becomes apparent that satisfactory progress is not being made toward a successful outcome by means of the multi-stage process in place, the MLL Major, the MLL Senior Liaison, and the First Reader and Second Readers will be notified by the MLL Chair, who will also copy the Dean of Academic Advising and Registrar to let them know that graduation could be at risk if the Capstone is deemed not passing. It is the responsibility of the First Reader to inform the MLL Senior Liaison and the MLL Chair of any such cases as soon as problems arise.
Finally, the MLL Senior Liaison is a further resource for MLL Majors. This faculty member explains the process, answers questions, assists with the scheduling of proficiency exams, and helps track completion. The MLL Senior Liaison also coordinates with the MLL Administrative Assistant to share information and updates (especially, about deadlines), while also working between the First Reader and the MLL Chair to ensure that all MLL Majors feel sufficiently well supported to achieve their goals.
Additionally, in the fall semester of the senior year students will take a proficiency exam (normally, the STAMP) in their primary (and secondary, if applicable) languages of study, with the expectation that scores, in most languages, typically range on a 0-9 point scale from intermediate-high (6) to advanced-high (9) on each of the four modalities (reading, writing, speaking, listening). The MLL recommended benchmarks are language-specific, which means students are encouraged to discuss their target scores with their MLL faculty adviser(s) in the language(s) of study prior to the exam, and after taking the exam, students and MLL faculty advisers will meet again to review and interpret these scores.
Occasionally, students may be asked or may themselves request to retake the proficiency exam(s) (typically, the STAMP) in the spring in order to improve their scores, with permission granted at the discretion of the faculty from the language discipline and, when necessary, in consultation with the MLL Chair and MLL Senior Liaison. The ultimate purpose of the proficiency exam(s) component of the MLL Capstone relates to measuring, concretely, the outcome of language study in the Department, and the results are often useful to students after Kenyon as documentation of language ability for employers and graduate programs.
Together, the written project, the oral exchange, and the proficiency exam(s) are intended to ensure accountability when it comes to determining how far students have progressed in their studies of both language and engagement with cultural production in its many forms while working in MLL. These are primary aims of MLL coursework, and as consequence, all MLL Majors are also strongly encouraged to study abroad on an off-campus study (OCS) program for one or two semesters during the junior year. In fact, for some languages, the successful completion of one or more MLL Major Tracks may require study abroad, and students should consult with MLL faculty or the MLL Chair early on in their studies to learn more about MLL preferred programs for OCS and requirements in the various languages we teach in the Department.
In light of the opportunities MLL Majors might wish to pursue after Kenyon, they must organize and present their Capstone work using a digital portfolio model. Through the use of a web-based portfolio page during the senior year, MLL Majors will 1) submit various components of past coursework and the above written project, clearly linked, and 2) outline the courses they have taken (including while abroad, if applicable), along with a two-page reflection on the coherence of the plan of study.
Moreover, students may wish to complement the above (required) components of the MLL Portfolio with other uploaded pieces of supplemental writing, video, or photography. These might tie to previous courses or experiences while abroad, but the idea is to create a presentation platform that can become a resource for the student following graduation. Therefore, at a minimum, students might also elect to include things like a CV (with support from the Career Development Office) and information about the results of their proficiency (STAMP) exams, especially given how useful such points of reference can be for MLL faculty mentors who might be asked later to write recommendations. Beyond this, students might wish to include personal or course projects of digital storytelling, blogs, or visual art images, for example.
The MLL Capstone Experience evaluates, prepares, and showcases the work of MLL Majors. Its composition is twofold. There are assessment elements (the written project and the proficiency exam), and those that are more presentational and reflective (the portfolio and plan of study). In this way, we hope to make clear what MLL values. We promote solid outcome standards and the importance of the process.