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December update from World Languages & Cultures @ ISU
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December Update

 

A Note from the Chair.

 

"As global cultural literacy becomes increasingly more important, programs like those offered by WLC can vastly improve students’ understanding of world affairs, while also helping them acquire greater self-confidence and a willingness to work abroad later." Read Dr. Chad Gasta's observations about WLC's study-abroad collaborations with countries across the globe.

WLC in Numbers.


Did you know that, since the year 2000, 652 students have graduated from WLC with a First or Second Degree in a world language? Since 2007, WLC faculty have published 17 books, textbooks, and edited volumes; wrote 34 books chapters and 72 peer-reviewed journal articles; and delivered 260 conference papers. Take a look at some other numbers that illustrate WLC's accomplishments over the past few years. 

2013 ASL Immersion Weekend

 
During the last weekend of October 2013, Dr. Jonathan Webb and the ISU American Sign Language (ASL) Club hosted an ASL Immersion Weekend. Read more about the “visually loud” game of Mafia, a workshop on Deaf Grassroots Theater, the writing of Handshape Poetry, and other activities during the weekend. Watch the video featuring one of the weekend's workshop on storytelling.
 

Celebrating Ten Years of Study Abroad in Cáceres, Spain.

 
January 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of WLC's semester study abroad program in Cáceres, Spain. Read more about the commemorations of the program's tenth anniversary and the University of Extremadura administrators' visit  to Ames. 

Q&A with Dr. Kevin Amidon.


Get to know more about one of our faculty members, Dr. Kevin Amidon, Associate Professor of German Studies and Affiliate Faculty of Women's and Gender Studies. Read more about his research, teaching, and international experiences. 

Alumni Stories.


Watch a video interview with Emily Fifield, WLC Spanish alumna, who is putting her Spanish skills into action with the business she started working with the Ñaña knitting collective in Peru.

Stories From Study Abroad: "The Archaeology of Greece."


In summer 2013, David Parkinson - one of the recipients of the Marcus Aurelius Scholarship - participated in the Classical Studies Program's excavation field school, "Archaeology of Greece." Read about David's work with the Azoria Project team, recovering evidence of an Archaic Greek City destroyed by fire in the fifth century BCE.
 

Stories From Study Abroad: Summer in Valencia, Spain.


Ben Folkmann spent 6 weeks in the summer of 2013 studying in Valencia, Spain as part of the ISU on the Mediterranean study-abroad program. Read more as Ben shares some memories from his trip.

Global Quiz.

  • What is the 3rd largest motion picture industry in the world after India (first) and Hollywood (second)? 
  • Find out the answer (and see more questions compiled by our World Film Studies facutly).

WLC World Scholars.


Each academic year WLC recognizes the work of its outstanding majors and minors through departmental awards and financial scholarships. Read about one of our 2013 scholarship winners, Neil Gerstein (Global Resource Systems major and WLC student of Chinese), who was awarded the competitive Louise Semmons Scholarship. 

Language in the News:


'Zen Yang, Dude:' Why MBA's need to Be Bilingual.

  • Bloomberg Businessweek reports the growing importance of language study for today's business students.
  • Another article from Bloomberg Businessweek argues that "fluency in at least one other major language is essential for the next generation of corporate leaders."
 

It Takes More than a Major.

  • Take a look at the results of a survey of employer priorities conducted on behalf of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. 43% of employers said that universities  should place more emphasis on "proficiency in a language other than English."

Are you an alum of our Department?


Do you have any stories about world languages and cultures in your own life and / or career that you would like to share with our readers? Please send us your stories and we would be happy to include them in future issues of the WLC newsletter. Contact us or write directly to the Newsletter editor Dr. Olga Mesropova.

Consider becoming a WLC fellow and patron!

 
If you wish to support student scholarships, study abroad programs and curriculum development, research activities, or many of the other expanding educational opportunities in WLC, please consider making a gift to the Department of World Languages and Cultures or including us in your estate plans. Either contact the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Development Office at 515-294-3607 or Eric Bentzinger - ericb@iastate.edu - or go here for more information: www.foundation.iastate.edu/LAS
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