• Seton Hall University
• Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

About

Alpha Mu Gamma is the first and largest national collegiate foreign language honor society of the United States to recognize exceptional achievements in all foreign languages (including American Sign Language). The overarching purpose of Alpha Mu Gamma is:

1. To recognize achievement in foreign language study;
2. To nurture an interest in the study of foreign languages, literatures, and civilizations;
3. To stimulate a desire for linguistic attainment; and
4. To foster sympathetic understanding of other peoples through the medium of languages.

History

In 1929, Arthur B. Forster, Maria Goddard, Josephine L. Indovina, Meyer Krakowski and Lucile Lenoir of the Los Angeles City College’s Foreign Language Department desired to organize a new honor society to recognize achievement in any language and bring students of various languages together. An ad hoc committee was formed, and on September 29, 1930 they recommended the establishment of such an interlingual society and set about to selecting a name, writing a constitution, planning a ritual and designing a pin. On April 29, 1931, the Society was installed with eight students as charter members. The Society changed almost immediately into a national organization, and in 1932 and then 1934, the first two junior college affiliates (Phoenix College and Long Beach City College) were installed as Chapters. In 1934, San Diego State College became the first four-year college to become a Chapter and the Alpha Alumni Chapter was also installed. Today there are over 300 chapters in the US, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

National Foreign Language Week

Sister Eloise-Therese (National President and chair of the foreign language department at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles) inspired the Executive Council to officially celebrate the need and importance of foreign-language study by founding National Foreign Language Week. The week of February 17–23, 1957 was chosen for the inaugural event. On December 12, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a telegram endorsing the celebration, and every year since each succeeding President of the United Sates has endorsed it. Interest in National Foreign Language Week was recognized with resolutions from the Modern Language Association and American Association of Teachers of French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese at their national meetings in 1957, and with subsequent endorsement from PMLA, America, The Bulletin of the Institution of International Education and The Bulletin of the National Association of Foreign Students’ Advisors publications. These days, National Foreign Language Week hosts a themed contest for posters created by student members that are shared in institutions around the country. Entries are accepted until December 31 of every year.

Seton Hall University Omicron Zeta Chapter

Full Student Membership | Candidates for Full Student Membership shall have completed one of the alternative language requirements:

1. Two final course grades of “A” in two college level courses (each at least 3 semester units) of the same foreign language or American sign language (ASL).
2. A candidate who is a native of a non-English speaking country may offer two final course grades of “A” in college level English or English as a Second Language (ESL).

Candidates who satisfy the above shall also have attained a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of “B” in college level work.

Associate Membership | Associate Membership in a chapter may be granted to any student who has met part of the requirements for Full Membership and has expressed an interest in eventually becoming a Full Member. Upon the completion of all the requirements, such an Associate Member shall be eligible for Full Membership. 

For more information on the national organization, visit https://www.amgnational.org.