Programs Offered
Certificates Offered
Other Languages Offered
Academic BrochureThe Modern Languages Department takes pride in the success of its graduates, many of whom have gone on with rewarding careers in banking and finance, healthcare, the translation and interpretation industries, non-profit organizations, and bilingual education.
Judith Santos
Year of graduation: 2020
Major: Spanish Translation and Interpretion
Update: Judith completed her B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature at Hunter College in 2022. She is working on an M.A. in Interpreting and Translating at NYU while working at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office as a Translator. Prior experience includes working as a Translator and Interpreter at the Bronx County District Attorney Office.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-santos-19803526/
Ruth Lahoz Ogando
Year of graduation: 2020
Major: Spanish
Update: At BMCC, I received the 2020 Pullés Award for highest grade point average in Modern Languages and continued on to now pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish at Lehman College. I hope to connect with others, motivate them, and inspire them through the study of literature.
Hermann Holonou
Year of graduation: 2020
Major: French
Update:After participating in the Paris/CUNY Exchange Program at the Sorbonne Nouvelle while he was at BMCC, Hermann is now pursuing a B.A. in French at Queens College. Through Queens’s National Student Exchange (NSE) program, he is currently completing his credits at the Université de Québec in Montréal. Recently he was invited to share his experience at the NSE student conference “The week of United States of America at UQAM.” Hermann plans to become a professor of French at the university level in the future.
Yngrid Lizardo Frias
Year of graduation: 2020
Major: French
Update: At BMCC, I gained enough confidence to pursue my dream of becoming trilingual in Spanish, English, and French. I completed the Study Abroad program in Paris in 2018 and the Middlebury Summer Immersion Program in French in 2019. Shortly after graduation in May 2020, I was hired at an international bank with close ties to the French-speaking world.
2024 Update: Yngrid completed her B.A. in French Language and Literature at Hunter College and is a Senior Operations Associate at Interaudi Bank.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yngridlizardofrias/
Mario Altamirano
Year of graduation: 2020
Major: Criminal Justice, took Chinese classes
Update: I am a Public Service Scholar at Hunter College, interning remotely with the Urban Justice Center’s Safety Net Project, helping NYC minority communities receive safe and affordable housing and other benefits. The Modern Language Department introduced me to the Chinese Flagship Linkage Program, allowing me to continue studying Chinese while pursuing a career as a social justice advocate. I now have advanced fluency in Mandarin, and I am ready to conduct research or be an intern in Mainland China or Taiwan.
2024 Update: Mario completed his B.A. in Political Science and Chinese Language and Literature at Hunter College and continued his study of Chinese Language and Literature in China at Fo Guang University and National Yang Ming University.He is currently pursuing an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) at Azusa Pacific University while working as an English Teaching Assistant in the Fulbright Program in Tawain.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario99/
Paraskevi Gkana-Alberico
Year of graduation: 2019
Major: Italian
Update: In 2021, I completed my B.A. in Italian Language and Civilization at Hunter College, and in 2024 I finished my M.A. in Italian Literature, also at Hunter College. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Comparative Literature with a Specialization in Italian at the CUNY Graduate Center. BMCC truly helped me start my college journey and I am grateful for the two years I spent there.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paraskevi-gkana-alberico-01b017256/
Kelly Otterness
Year of graduation: 2019
Major: English, took French classes
Update: Studying French at BMCC renewed my love of the language and gave me the courage to continue my language studies at Smith College. Learning French has expanded what I thought was possible and capable of – I went from rarely leaving my neighborhood in the Lower East Side to feeling prepared to cross the Pacific (I just recently moved to Hawaii.)
2024 Update: Kelly moved to Michigan to intern at the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. She combines her skills in French, journalism and environmental issues to creates engaging content for social media, produce vibrant websites, edit web copy and translate from French to English.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyotterness/
Ana Varon
Year of graduation: 2019
Major: French
Update: After graduating with the highest honors (GPA 4.0), Ana transferred to the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, where she earned a B.S. in Nursing in December 2020. She now works as a nurse at Houston Methodist Hospital’s advanced heart failure unit. She writes: “although we do not get many French speakers down here, I have been privileged to be able to use my French to help communicate with a few patients and provide care. Houston has a small Haitian population and I’m excited to be able to provide care in the language they prefer.”
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-lucia-varon-ocampo-61340b201/
Anthony Cortéz
Year of graduation: 2018
Major: Spanish
Update: Spanish at BMCC led me to opportunities such as studying abroad in Spain and making many wonderful connections, providing me with support not readily accessible at other institutions. My associate degree prepared me to tackle further literature, linguistics, and culture courses while pursuing bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpretation at Hunter College as well as becoming a translation intern at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies.
2024 Update: Anthony completed his B.A. and interned as a translator at the Teatro SEA (Society of the Educational Arts) as well as at New Settlement. He is currently teaching English as a Second Language at Orange Public Schools in New Jersey.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antcortezvera/
Adela Kovarova
Year of graduation: 2017
Major: Italian
Update: I earned a B.A. in Cultural and Linguistic Mediation with a Minor in tourism, at Università LUMSA and am currently working on an M.A. in Classical Archaeology at Sapienza Università di Roma. I work as a Center Coordinator for CITIES (Research Center) at New York University Abu Dhabi, and, with my husband, have the role of Faculty Fellow in Residence at NYUAD. I also teach Italian to international students. Being a Modern Languages major at BMCC enabled me to move ahead with my career, enriching both my personal and professional life.
2024 Update: Adela completed her M.A. in Classical Archeology as well as a Masters in Education at the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, where she is now pursuing an EdD degree.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adela-kovarova-00330193/
Chloé Parker
Year of graduation: 2017
Major: French
Update: After graduating from BMCC, Chloe transferred to Hunter College, where she completed a double major in French Literature and Childhood Education and received three job offers as a bilingual K-12 educator, including the position of Second Grade French Dual Language classroom teacher at the Clinton Hill School /PS 20, which she accepted in June 2021. Her first year at Clinton High has been both challenging and rewarding. “I have been surrounded by love all day long, and I see the growth and achievement of every student,” she reports. She was also rated an “effective first-year teacher,” an accomplishment she plans to continue to expand as she will work on her 30-plus differential credits this year. She hopes to start her own French Afterschool Program.
2024 Update: Chloe earned her M.A. in Bilingual/Bicultural Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Sol Salazar
Year of graduation: 2016
Major: Bilingual Education: Spanish-English
Update: Through experiences such as the Acentos Latinos Club and magazine, Study Abroad in Spain, and the Hispanic Heritage Month events. I was able to grow academically as well as connect with people who today are friends or mentors. Today, I have completed my B.A. in Language Translation and Interpretation with a minor in Theatre at Hunter College.
2024 Update: Sol has completed an M.A., in Language Translation and Interpretation at Hunter College and interned as Translator and Editor at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies as well as at the Department of Global Communications (Spanish News) at the United Nations. She is currently working at the United Nations in Data Management Support.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solsalazarr/
Eva Di Palma
Year of graduation 2007
Major: Liberal Arts, took classes in Italian
Update: I completed a B.A. in Italian language and Civilization, with a minor in Spanish, at Hunter College. When I entered the Modern Languages Department at BMCC, I was unsure of how to make my dream to become a language teacher come true. The Modern Language professors, who are native speakers, guided and advised me. Now I teach Italian and Spanish at a public high school in Norwalk, CT.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-di-palma-6479b61a/
Pamela Arteaga Mata
Major: (took Italian classes in 2006)
Update: I earned a B.A. in Comparative Literature and Society, with a focus on Linguistics, from Columbia University and then a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. After years of being a performing artist, BMCC gave me the opportunity to return to the classroom. Knowledge of foreign languages opened the doors I needed to eventually graduate from Columbia University with honors, attend law school, and obtain employment, first at a multinational professional services firm and now at an international law firm.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelaarteagamata/
