Lingua Franca A Bi-Annual Newsletter Published by Foreign Languages at Salem State UNIVERSITY salemstate.edu/languages Volume 10 • Issue 1 • Fall 2012

Massachusetts Senator Elect Elizabeth Warren to Be Foreign Language Advocate in Washington INSIDE THIS ISSUE An interview with the Massachusetts senator elect by foreign language professor Nicole Sherf W arren to be an Advocate page 1 Nicole Sherf: Did you have the opportunity Faculty News page 2 to study a language in K-16? If so, what language and how was your language Department News page2 learning experience? Hope Award 2012 page 2

Elizabeth Warren: I studied French in MaFLA Conference page 3 eighth grade and Spanish in high school and Professor Minervini interview page 3 college. I wish I’d had more opportunities to be exposed to a foreign language and to Taking Risk page 4 understand why learning other languages Learning Vocabulary page 5 is so important. At that time, we didn’t fully Does Franco-America Exist? page 6 understand all of the economic and national security implications of studying a foreign Quebec Summer Program page 7 language. There’s no doubt in my mind that Cineglos page 8 every student should have that experience. Romney Wrong About Spain page 9 Nicole Sherf: Department of Defense Travel Study Seminar page 10 Secretary Leon Panetta constantly speaks of the national need for competency in Volunteer Experience page 10 multiple languages. Do you agree? Focus on Speaking page 11 Elizabeth Warren: I agree that the ability The Hispanic Vote page 11 to communicate in foreign languages is Reflection on MaFLA page 11 desirable personally and is becoming As Advocacy Coordinator of the increasingly necessary both for economic Poemas page 12 Massachusetts Foreign Language and national security reasons. American Association (MaFLA), I have served as Study Abroad page 12 businesses need more people who know the official delegate of Massachusetts to foreign languages in order to gain critical a conference that is held in Washington Editors: access to overseas markets, and our DC every May called the Joint National Jon Aske government needs more people who know Committee on Languages (JNCL) and Kenneth Reeds foreign languages in order to further our National Council on Languages and foreign policy agenda and protect our International Studies (NCLIS) Delegate’s Web Publication: national security. Assembly and Legislative Day. Through ssclinguafranca.wordpress.com this conference, I am updated on foreign Nicole Sherf: Many agree that proficiency language friendly legislation and initiatives in other languages is critical to our national and charged with seeking MA Senator security and global prosperity. Have you had JOIN SALEM STATE’S and Representative support for them. We an opportunity to use other languages in LANGUAGE CLUBS’ MAILING now have an important ally and strong dealing with these or other concerns? foreign language supporter in Senator Elect LISTS & FACEBOOK GROUPS Elizabeth Warren. Warren’s views on the Elizabeth Warren: As a teacher, I’ve had Visit This Page: importance of foreign languages as a core the opportunity to interact with students salemstate.edu/languages of a world class education are outlined in from many different linguistic and cultural and go to “Clubs & Groups” an interview that I conducted with her for backgrounds. I’ve seen the benefits of MaFLA, an excerpt of which can be found speaking multiple languages first-hand, here. For the full interview, please go to the and I’ve watched some of my bilingual and Foreign Languages National Advocacy page of the MaFLA at: multilingual students go on to make a real Tel: 978.542.6258 mafla.org/advocacy-2/national-news difference in the world. [email protected] continued on next page 1 Nicole Sherf: Many states have foreign ¿Qué pasa? Quoi de neuf? Novità? language graduation requirements or have established exit foreign language Department News Abounds proficiency levels for graduates.T hough Massachusetts is known nationally for Departmental News providing high quality education, we have It’s official!T he department will be changing its name to world languages and cultures not yet adopted this type of mandate. What beginning in September 2013! We will also launch our new BA in world languages and role do you feel foreign languages play in a cultures at the same time. Students can still concentrate in Spanish (Secondary Ed, world class education? Elementary Ed, Professional, or a new interdisciplinary Spanish track), but can also choose to concentrate in either French or Italian! We are already enrolling students in the new Elizabeth Warren: Learning a foreign major. See Elizabeth Blood ([email protected]) for more information. language is very important to a world-class Scholarships for Summer Study Abroad: The department is now offering four $250 education. I agree with the Department of scholarships for students participating in one of our department-sponsored study abroad Education’s position that foreign languages programs in Spain, Italy, or Quebec in Summer 2013. cannot be seen as just an “add-on” in either K-12 or higher education. Part of Eligibility: Undergraduate Salem State students who enroll in one of the summer study what we need is a shift toward a view that abroad programs listed above for Summer 2013. Students must have submitted their initial learning a foreign language is a core part study abroad application to the Center for International Education (8 Harrison Road, South of a well-rounded education. Knowing a Campus) by February 15, 2013. language benefits students in so many ways: it broadens their outlooks, sharpens Hoa w to pply: Submit a photocopy of your study abroad application and a personal their critical thinking and writing skills, statement reflecting on the following questions: What initially inspired me to learn this prepares them for serving the country, and language or to study abroad in this country? How does my study abroad program relate enables them to compete in an increasingly to my future professional, academic and personal goals? Your personal statement may be interconnected world. submitted in one of the following formats: (1) Essay: 500 words, (2) Video: 2:00 minutes, or (3) Photo Montage / Power Point: 20 slides Faculty News Elizabeth Blood, along with Elizabeth Submit your materials to: Prof. Elizabeth Blood, Chair, Foreign Languages, Sullivan Duclos-Orsello (IDS) and Susan Edwards Building 203A Scholarship application deadline: February 15, 2013 (Library), received a grant from the Mass New Course in French! The department will offer FRE 450 “French Experience” in Spring Humanities organization this semester to 2013. In this course, students will gain practical experience using French by completing a complete work on the Franco-American community service project, internship, or travel experience (students can choose their own Heritage Project in Salem. projects or participate in one of the projects arranged by the professor). Prerequisites will be Anna Rocca has been recently voted to waived for students who have earned at least a B in FRE 202 or have native speaker ability serve as Director of French & Francophone in French. See Elizabeth Blood for more information. Language and Literatures at Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA). Kristine Doll is on sabbatical this semester. She has travelled to Poland and HwOPE A ard 2012: Second Place Essay Spain and has presented her own poetry “You must be the change you want to see in the world” as well as her translations from Catalan to English at several poetry. The foreign languages department annually awards the HOPE Award to a student Fátima Serra presented a paper at who writes an essay responding to a quotation meant to explore the relationship the XLVII Congreso Internacional de la between community service, education, and leadership; particularly in the context Asociación Europea de Profesores de of how these can improve the world. The essay can be written in English or any of Español in Gijón, Spain, in July 2012. the seven languages that are taught by the department. The first prize is $150 and She also published a chapter in the essay publication of the winning essay in Lingua Franca. collection La incógnita desvelada. Ensayos The 2012 winner was Ashley Taylor who wrote in response to a quote by Mahatma sobre la obra de Rosa Montero. Ghandi about her desire to educate the world about autism. Her essay was published Amanda Minervini published an in the last edition of Lingua Franca (ssclinguafranca.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/hope- introductory article for Once Upon a Time, a award-2012/). The second place winner was Paris Beckett and runner up was Ryan book by radical German artist Hans Haacke. Viglione. Below you will find Ms. Beckett’s second place essay. Michele C. Dávila Gonçalves recently Hope is something that thousands of souls do not have. Every day a large number gave a workshop about our assessment of lives are lost. However, despite what many think, this is not because of hunger or activities at the NEEAN 8th Annual disease or even war. These lives are lost because there is no room for them; every year Academic Assessment Summer Institute. an estimated three to four million shelter cats and dogs are euthanized according to She has also given two guest presentations the Humane Society. That’s millions of lives wasted only because there is no room in at about Contemporary Puerto Rican Poetry shelters. If people were substituted for animals in this case it would be considered at Roanoke College and UMass Lowell. She genocide, but instead it is a reality, and every day thousands of these unfortunate was guest editor of a monograph with the souls are lost. title Puerto Rican Contemporary Literature There is a prejudice against these animals; that they are unhealthy, or not good 70s, 80s, & 90s, which can be read online. pets, or that there is something innately wrong with them. These are myths that Several members of the departmental people subscribe to willingly. The Humane Society does behavior tests on all of its faculty, graduate students, and animals, and these tests are also performed by smaller local shelters. Health-wise undergraduates participated in varying the “mutts” frequently come out on top because of genetic diversities that pure ways at this year’s Massachusetts Foreign breeds and animal breeders cannot achieve. Language Association conference. See To read the remainder of Ms. Beckett’s essay visit the online version at: article in this edition of Lingua Franca. ssclinguafranca.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/hope-award-2012-second-place-essay 2 Francamente: An Interview with Amanda Minervini By Kenneth Reeds, foreign languages

The latest addition to the foreign languages is visiting assistant professor Amanda Minervini. An Italian native and fluent speaker of German and English, Ms. Minervini has recently finished writing her PhD thesis at Brown University. During this academic year she has been teaching Italian language and culture classes to, what we hear, are great reviews. Lingua Franca recently sat down with her to ask a few questions.

What are your first impressions of teaching at Salem State University? I did my BA in a State University in Southern Italy, and at SSU I felt at home Dr. Kenneth Reeds, coordinator of the MAT-Spanish program, at the Salem since the first day. I remember walking in State MaFLA table my very first class, fifteen minutes before 8 Nicole Sherf with MA Teacher of the am, and being very surprised because most Year, Kathleen Turner, a French teacher of the students were already there, ready from Sharon, and MaFLA President Tiesa Graf, at the Advocacy Booth in and alert. The students here at SSU strike the Exhibit Hall me as dedicated, very hard-working and with an excellent sense of humor! I only wish they came more often to office hours.

What’s it like to study Italian in Professor Minervini’s class? SSU Foreign Language Department Participated I have asked my students this very Actively in the MaFLA Conference Again This Year! question! The replies were anonymous: “the atmosphere is relaxed, and given the By Nicole Sherf, foreign languages many occasions for group interactions, we The biggest state gathering of K-16 graduates Jessica Clifford (Spanish teacher make new friends. We also act, draw, listen foreign language teachers is held at the end at Saugus High School) and Christina Berry to music, and watch videos of crazy Italians of October every year in the western MA (Spanish teacher at Arlington High School). speaking at the natural speed, which is town of Sturbridge at the Host Hotel and They coordinated a variety of advocacy usually well above any conceivable speed Conference Center. The Foreign Language efforts including the taking of pictures of limit.” The students say that Italian grammar Department faculty routinely presents at attendees with 2013 Massachusetts Teacher is “difficile” at times, but in class we spend Annual Conference of the Massachusetts of the Year Kathleen Turner (French Teacher time domesticating it, and placing it in Foreign Language Association (MaFLA) at Sharon High School) to be published in context so that it is easier to remember. and this year was no exception. It is a district newspapers to highlight conference Placing grammar in context is also a good requirement that Dr. Nicole Sherf’s Methods attendance locally. They sought out co- occasion to learn about Italian culture. students attend at least part of the three- signatures of attendees for a letter written For instance, we learned how to describe day conference and they enjoy seeing by MaFLA Advocacy Chair Nicole Sherf and people starting from the traditional Italian the familiar names of their professors President Tiesa Graf to Commissioner of masks of the Carnival: since it was the week throughout the conference schedule! This Education Mitchell Chester and the Board of Halloween, we also compared the Italian year Drs. Aske, Blood, Rocca and Sherf of Education to seek to strengthen foreign Carnival and the American Halloween. presented sessions on a variety of topics. language programming in the state. 650 Needless to say it, there were treats, or Dr. Reeds held a booth to promote the signatures of foreign language teachers of “dolcetti.” Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish and other all languages and levels were attached to the In Italian Conversation we went to an language programming to attendees in the letter sent after the conference. The Interns exhibition about Venice at the Boston Exhibit Hall. distributed tools, resources and advocacy Museum of Fine Arts, read a graphic novel Also in the Exhibit Hall, manning the ideas at the booth and at an Advocacy and interviewed the author via Skype, and Advocacy Booth, were MaFLA Advocacy session. had a lunch and dinner together. During Interns and MAT in Spanish program continued on next page 3 the first week of December we will have a to study Spanish, French or Italian. impression with the US is a diffused “gnocchi lab” where we will learn how to Considering that you’ve dedicated a workaholism, an absurd health system, make potato gnocchi and then eat the fruit good part of your life to studying and a peculiar dating culture (in Italian of our efforts with two different sauces. language and culture, what would there is no proper word for “dating”). Mmhhh! We are all looking forward to it! you say to a student who might be However most Americans do not perceive interested in the new major? these things at all, and this is why I warmly You’ve learned several languages The new major in Italian is a terrific advise an immersion in other cultures. during your life; how do you think this opportunity for our students – and I can has changed you? proudly say that one of my students of What do we need to know about Italy Thank you for this great question. I ITL 101 was the first one to sign up! Being that most people seem to miss? am sure you agree with me that studying exposed to new cultures makes you think First of all: one would have to be crazy languages makes people more receptive about your own culture very differently to put all that garlic on a bruschetta [a to nuances and to completely new and more broadly. Italian culture is very word my students can pronounce to concepts, from both real life and literature important in the United States, not just perfection!] Second: there is no such thing (Jouissance! Schadenfreude...). I think that for heritage students, but for anyone as “Italian Dressing” in Italy. Third: Dante learning languages taught me not to rest who would like to work in the fields of and the Renaissance have left us incredible on habits but to think differently, including translation, food, tourism, fashion, and works of art, but Italy has been continuing different perspectives in my own thought- design. Italy has such a rich culture. Every to produce great minds and masterpieces process. Every new language has really day I meet people of various ages who have of which most people here know nothing. opened up a new world to me and I am still studied Italian and would like to improve it, Despite the current strangling economic eager to learn new ones. I also have learned and when they discover I am Italian, they ask crisis, there is a considerable artistic and to appreciate the child-like feeling of being me all sorts of questions about my country. philosophical ferment in Italy right now, at the beginner’s level, when you have to The enthusiasm for Italian culture will never but only very few books are translated struggle again to say simple things, but stop to astonish me. I think that besides all into English, and it is only very rarely that then comes the absolute pleasure of having the other benefits, our futureI talian majors a film, not to mention a theater piece, become able to do it. From my love for will be able to share this great feeling. makes it to the US. Italy is also a country learning languages, I got the idea to become traversed by inexplicable contradictions a language teacher, and am so grateful for At this stage you’ve lived in the US for and weakened by a low birth-rate and this strike of genius. Nine years, what are your impressions? a continuous drain of “minds.” In my There are noticeable differences between classes, I put every effort to open up The department is currently enrolling New England and California (where I also these lesser-known sides of Italy to my students in the new world languages lived), and I am still sorting them out. students. I consider it my mission. major which includes the option But if I had to generalize, my long-lasting

The Power of Taking a Risk and Leaving Your Comfort Zone By Evangelia Ventouris, Spanish major

worth experiencing. It will lead you to new beautiful people and even places. I can safely say that college has brought so many changes into my life that I can’t even begin to fathom. I lost so many friends and I gained even more. I majored in Spanish and learned more in two semesters than I had in four years of high school. The experience that changed my life the most was making the decision to study abroad in Costa Rica in the summer of 2012. The scenery was breathtaking, the people were warm hearted, the culture was not like any other, the food was mouth-watering, and the language was and still is beautiful. Little did I know, this decision to study abroad would change my life in such a way that I would never return to the United States as the same person. Attending school at the Universidad de Latina in Costa Rica I learned so much. The first week was a headache because there was just so much thinking involved since I wasn’t used to hearing the Spanish language all the time without any breaks. I believe I used the phrase “me duele la cabeza” [“my head hurts”] more than I imagined I would to the point when my host mother couldn’t help but laugh at me. It’s crazy to realize that when we speak English, Evelyn and Guille in Costa Rica we do it without even thinking. It’s natural and it flows. However, leaning another language is difficult because we literally start off like we are babies again; making sounds that later Throughout life, everything you thought form into words. Then we use words that eventually become sentences. Studying abroad only you knew was going to stay the same, made this process quicker for me, and I came back to Salem State University taking advanced may change. Decisions you thought you Spanish courses. were going to make end up not happening. Learning a new language and most importantly studying it abroad will open up so many Friends you thought would be there forever, doors in the world. Costa Rica opened my eyes to a new way of life. A life that is not as fast- end up fading through the cracks. You paced as it is in Massachusetts. The people of Costa Rica, better known as “Ticos”, live every knowing yourself may change to you losing day with smiles, laughter, and no rush. I began to realize how fast I picked up this way of life, yourself. Losing yourself will lead to tears how much I began to smile setting aside the migraines I had from learning the language. I and struggle, but just know that it’s okay to began to experience and feel the Costa Rican famous saying “Pura Vida” which translates to feel that way. It’s okay to change your mind, “pure life”. to meet new people, to lose others, and to In the process of all of this, I met two beautiful people that changed my life. Their names lose yourself. This is all a part of life that is were Guillermo and Rosaly. I made the closest friendship with them when I was there and I continued on next page 4 am so grateful for everything they taught Learning Vocabulary Incidentally and Deliberately me. Guillermo taught me always to be happy, and have faith in people. We spoke (with the Help of e-Flashcards) Spanish to one another, and I remember the By Jon Aske, foreign languages smile he had on his face every time he saw me. He has such a pure soul, filled with so Any language student will tell you that learning words (vocabulary) is a very important part much love to offer the world. Before I knew of learning a language. Sure, you have to learn the grammar too, and the pronunciation, and it, Guille’s smile began to reflect off of me. I so on, but without knowing words, you cannot make sense of what you hear or read. Some began to open up my heart and take in the researchers have even argued that knowing vocabulary is more important than knowing true beauty of Costa Rica. I found a part of structural intricacies to make sense of a text. myself there, with him. Rosaly also taught But language instructors typically put little emphasis on the teaching or learning of me to be happy but at the same time to vocabulary. Vocabulary has been typically “undervalued” and “neglected” in the field of accept myself for who I am. She accepted second language acquisition. Instructors seem to figure that their time is best spent teaching me for who I was, and did not treat me like the grammar and pronunciation and other things, and that the vocabulary is something that a foreigner. They both had patience with me, students can learn on their own, by memorizing lists of words and through actual reading and with my Spanish. They corrected me when I listening, the way native speakers do. The trend in second language acquisition (L2) studies was wrong, but most importantly gave me has been lately to assume that learning of vocabulary will take place, as if through osmosis, reassurance that I was learning when I was from context, by encountering the word through reading and listening to “comprehensible frustrated the most. input.” This kind of incidental word learning is known as “contextualized vocabulary learning”. It wasn’t until my last day in Costa One thing that is often left out is that each word will have to be repeatedly encountered, for learners must encounter or be exposed to a new word ten to twelve times on average through reading before they actually learn the word well enough. What exactly is meant by comprehensible input? What makes a text comprehensible? Basically it means that a learner can make sense of the text—he or she knows most of the words and can comprehend the grammar, i.e. the way the words are put together. It means that the text is comprehensible to a very large extent but with enough new stuff in it to be a source of learning. This is what Stephen Krashen, one of the most influential recent scholars of language acquisition, has argued for a long time. The idea is that if we are to acquire a language as adults, we should mimic the way a child does it (and not treat it as an intellectual enterprise, the way we learn—as opposed to acquire—other skills). Although all this sounds very good in theory, it still leaves one wondering how students Evelyn and Rosaly in Costa Rica are supposed to reach the level at which they can comprehend most inputs or texts, with all the vocabulary that that entails. Remember it takes a child years of 24/7 exposure to reach that Rica that I realized how much these two level or learning in his or her own language. beautiful people had changed me. They In the area of vocabulary we may wonder how many words should a student know to be opened my eyes to a new world and a new able to understand most realistic—or non-simplified—texts. Actually, it turns out that we are me. They showed me that I was stronger not talking about all that many words. It is also more or less the amount of words with which than I thought I was. It truly takes a lot of children start school in their native languages. courage to leave your comfort zone and Researchers have determined that for the purpose of reading for meaning, to receive the study abroad. I will never forget everything minimum score in comprehension tests one has to understand 95% of the words in the text they did for me. How welcoming and or 19 in 20. For the purpose of reading for pleasure, on the other hand, in order to really get loving they were. The fun times we had most of what one reads, one must know about 98%, or 49 in 50, of the words in the text. going out and laughing the night away. This results in what researcher James Coady has called a paradoxical situation for Hugging one another every five minutes for beginners, for [h]ow can they learn enough words to learn vocabulary through extensive no reason at all. We enjoyed one another reading when they do not know enough words to read well?” and experienced happiness together. We When we say that you must know 98% of the words in a text to read for pleasure, this may lived “pura vida” together and we were seem like a lot of words. But in actuality they are not so many, since some words are quite sharing a part of our lives with one another. frequent and many others are quite infrequent. In between all the frustration, migraines, A fairly large dictionary of the English language contains something like 54,000 word complaining and tears I met two of the most families. However, a child beginning school knows just around 4,000-5,000 word families and beautiful people that showed me how to a college graduate knows at most 20,000 word families. Furthermore, it has been determined open my heart to the world. They will forever that the number a language learner needs to read comfortably for pleasure, understanding have a part of my heart. texts quite well, is 1/10 of the total, or about 5,000 word families, which is approximately the Studying abroad is a very scary thing, number of word families that a native speaker knows when he or she starts school. but it’s one of the best decisions I have We should clarify what it is meant by a word family. In other words, we must talk about made in my college career. It allows you to what counts as a “word”. A word family consists of a base word (e.g. friend) and all inflected appreciate the people and things you have forms (e.g. friends) and derived forms made from affixes (e.g. friendship, friendly), as long as in your life and it allows for you to expand their meanings are predictable. So friend, friends, friendly, and friendship are all four word your knowledge in ways that I can’t even forms which form part of the friend word family. For English there are on average 1.6 word begin to explain. forms in each word family. When I left Costa Rica, I left a part of my Researchers have found that learners of English as L2, knowing 3,000 word families—or heart there as well, a part that is waiting about 5,000 word forms—is enough to understand 95% of most texts, which is enough for for me to return and continue my life there. pretty good comprehension, or reading for meaning. This will “allow reasonably successful Like Gandhi once said, “Our fingerprints guessing of the meaning of the unknown words.” don’t fade from the lives that we touch”. For reading for pleasure, and thus pretty much for full understanding, all you need to know This decision forever changed me. I am so is 5,000 word families, or about 8,000 word forms . That’s only about 1/7 of all the words in thankful for it all and I just can’t wait to do Webster’s Third New International Dictionary. Similar proportions apply to Spanish and other it again! languages. continued on next page 5 The idea here is simple: some words— words are indeed remembered when • it is efficient in terms of return for time high frequency words—are more frequent studied in a decontextualized way. and effort, much more so than incidental than others and we should concentrate Although learning a word’s use in learning, especially during the first on learning the most frequent words first. context is important, one can argue that few years of study, until the student The most frequent 2,000 words will give learning the underlying concept out of has acquired enough words to use the you about 85% coverage of written English context is a good way to start knowing a language like a native speaker and even more for easier texts and for word, although no doubt the learner can • it allows learners to consciously focus on spoken English. That means that 1 in 10 subsequently acquire the word’s nuances an aspect of word knowledge that is not words will be unknown, which will hamper from context. Furthermore, one can easily gained from context or dictionary comprehension quite a bit. Knowing 5,000 argue that when one studies a word out of use, and words is closest to the desirable ideal for context, there is no reason why one cannot • it allows learners to control the repetition reading for pleasure since it gives you about learn at the same time some contextual and processing of the vocabulary to make 98% coverage, that is, 1 in 20 words will be aspects of the word, such as grammatical learning secure (remember one needs to unknown. information, collocations, constraints on encounter a new word at least 10 times Some researchers and teachers of use, and sample sentences. before it is securely learned) languages nowadays think that whereas With deliberate word study of the most I would like to propose the reintroduction the least frequent words can be learned commonly occurring words, the learner and expansion of the use of one slowly through reading, in context, the same can concentrate in learning high-frequency traditional study aid for vocabulary in way most adult people learn words in their words which will give him or her the ability foreign languages, namely the flash card. native language, it is important to make it to comprehend most naturally occurring Flashcards can help a student remember a point to deliberately teach and learn the language inputs and this will result in more and retain vocabulary (but also other facts 3,000-5,000 word families that will provide access to contextualized input, which will about language, as we shall see). I will the tools for reading and listening (and result in further acquisition. argue, like others have done before, that thus the tools to have meaningful input), Again, nobody is denying the value of flashcards should have an important place to get the student up to speed and able to indirect, incidental learning of vocabulary in language learning. We will also see comprehend most inputs. This should be from context through listening and reading advances in flashcard technology which done by any means necessary, using any of natural language. However that kind make this tool much more powerful than its learner’s trick available, not just by reading of learning comes easiest after a certain original counterpart. Also, we will see that it and listening to contextualized input, as the level of acquisition and it is perhaps best is important for one to be trained in how to experts might have it (one cannot read well, for the purpose of increasing or deepening use this powerful tool and students should after all, until one knows these words). In the knowledge of words already known. not be left to their own devices when it other words, there is room for the language As Paul Nation has argued, the direct comes to learning vocabulary. learner to engage in deliberate and, if and purposeful learning of vocabulary To continue reading this article, go to the necessary, decontextualized word study. with minimal or no context results in the online version at ssclinguafranca.wordpress. Contrary to what has been argued by following desirable outcomes: com/2012/11/30/learning-vocabulary- contextual acquisition only proponents, incidentally-and-deliberately

Does Franco-America Exist? By Elizabeth Blood, foreign languages

For many in the United States, the term the largest ethnic groups in New England, or perhaps it is because Franco-Americans, “Franco-American” recalls memories of a yet the epithet “Franco-American” never though in close proximity to the Canadian canned spaghetti product consumed during acquired wide recognition as an American homeland they loved, came from a region childhood, a product that has no connection identity in mainstream U.S. culture, even of Canada where they suffered over to the Franco-American community of though other contemporary immigrant a century of cultural and linguistic the Northeast. The Franco-American communities like Italian-Americans or Irish- discrimination and economic ethnic group, one of the largest and least Americans became popular in media, film marginalization. Many theories have been well-known in the U.S., is comprised of and literature. There is no Franco-American proposed to explain this phenomenon, and descendants of French-speaking immigrants equivalent of The Godfather or Jersey Shore. although mainstream America may have from Canada, most from the province The local bars are not flooded with revelers never had a clear understanding of Franco- of Quebec, who fled economic hardship drinking blue beer on St.-Jean-Baptiste American identity in the past, scholars and and cultural discrimination during what day, like they are with green beer drinkers historians agree that Franco-Americans in Quebecers call le Grand exode (the Great on Saint Patrick’s Day. Sure, some people New England have maintained a strong Exodus). Between 1840 and 1930, nearly a know Jack Kerouac, a Franco-American sense of their own identity and this identity million French-speakers migrated across the writer from Lowell, or have heard of Robert is currently experiencing a quiet renaissance northeastern border of the United States Goulet, but few identify these figures with a in New England. into New England. Families settled near coherent ethnic identity. Franco-Americans have a rich literary mills and factories in neighborhoods called The reasons for the relative invisibility tradition and continue to produce literary Petits Canadas (Little Canadas) in cities like of Franco-Americans are complex and and cultural texts today. Authors like Salem, Lowell, Worcester, and Fall River in hotly debated by historians and literary Normand Beaupré (nrbeaupre.com) and Massachusetts, Woonsocket in Rhode Island, scholars in the field. Perhaps it is due to the Rhea Côté-Robbins (fawi.net) have made a Lewiston and Biddeford in Maine, and unique experience of Franco-Americans great impact on Franco-American literature Manchester in New Hampshire. By the mid who are twice removed from the European in the 21st century. Many organizations with 20th century, Franco-Americans were one of country of origin expressed in their name, online forums now exist to connect Franco-

6 Americans with each other and with SSU’s Québec Summer Program those interested in this community. By Cristina Urquhart, French student The Franco-American Connection (francoamericanconnection.com) is The five week study abroad trip to Quebec sponsored by Salem State is something which a hub for current literary and cultural people should take advantage of. Students attend the oldest university in Canada, Université production by Franco-Americans. Côté- Laval, located in Quebec City. While at Laval, they are enrolled in three classes entirely in Robbins’ Franco-American Women’s French. This forces them to completely devote themselves to learning French. Institute (fawi.net) offers an e-zine and At Université Laval students live in the residence halls on campus. Living in the halls promotes writing by Franco-American provides a chance to get acquainted with one another. Living with other students also allows women. In addition, many educational for people to converse frequently in French with both classmates and locals. institutions and cultural centers in The University is located in the new part of Quebec City; just down the street from the states like Maine and New Hampshire school are a series of large mall complexes, a grocery store and restaurants. However, it is are collaborating to organize cultural only a short bus ride from Old Quebec where there are many historic places to visit. festivals and programs to promote the Students are placed in different classes based on their knowledge of French. There are French language and Franco-American levels for beginners as well as more advanced French speakers. Along with taking three identity. The Maine French Heritage classes per day, the program requires that students take two workshops each week. The Language Program (uma.maine.edu/ first workshop is a mandatory conversation workshop which meets once a week. Students mfhlp), for example, offers French converse with one another in French and are corrected by Quebecois Université Laval language classes to school children with students. The second workshop is the choice of art, dancing, music, film or board games. a curriculum rooted in Franco-American These workshops differ for varying interests. culture. Aside from the classes and workshops, Laval sponsors many excursions each day. So, does Franco-America exist? The Students are offered to go to places such as Cabin au Sucre, where they can see how maple answer is “oui!” and Franco-Americans syrup is made and have a meal of all maple products. Other excursions include water parks, are reviving and redefining Franco- hikes, restaurants at discounted prices, and whale watching. The last week of the program American identity in the 21st century. a boat cruise is held for the students. The cruise offers dinner, dancing and a chance to be Who knows, one day you might even together a last time before leaving the university. find yourself drinking a blue beer and Studying at Laval for the summer provides the opportunity to complete some or all of singing “Gens du pays” on a late the required language credits, as well as learn the culture of Quebec. The culture of Quebec June evening? differs greatly from the Anglophone areas of Canada, which are the places most Americans are familiar with. Studying abroad for the summer is a fun way to pick up a second language and experience a different culture.

7 Cineglos By Kenneth Reeds, foreign languages

It is said and written so often that it is certainly a cliché, but it is indeed true that the internet has changed our world. That understood, it also needs to be admitted that a great number of the webpages that exist are entertainment at best, if not a complete waste of time. With this in mind, it is nice to share a project developed by Bridget Franco, Sheila Coursey, and Kelsey Smith, faculty and students at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Called “Cineglos” (college.holycross. edu/projects/cineglos), it will be of interest to anyone who enjoys cinema; particularly those interested in Latin American and Spanish film. As its name implies, it is a glossary of cinema terminology. However, instead of a simple discipline-specific dictionary, the developers have taken advantage of technology to include easy-to- play examples of whatever term you have searched for. For example, if you go to the term “pantalla partida” (split screen) you will find a written definition on one side of the screen and, on the other, excerpts from two films that illustrate what a split screen looks like. Created with a Spanish-speaking audience in mind, it is easy to imagine this webpage being useful for language teachers and students. Perhaps the best part of all is the potential to expose us to numerous films we have not seen and may never have heard of. It is wonderful to see the internet being put to such a good use.

Poemas en español –Poetry by Spanish Students The following two poems were written by students in Professor Serra’s Spanish 402

Mi Dulce y Amarga Canción Poema I por Jeleiny García Rijo por Brian Kibler

Amor, Dolor, Angustia y Pena, Recuerdo el sabor de tu piel, Con el amor que ha muerto Desgaste, Victoria, Lujuria y pasión, Tus besos en mi cuello, Y tu cuerpo que me falta Egoísmo, Delirio, Tú, Yo. Tus dedos en mi alma. Amarte y perderte sí, Y nunca tenerte. ¿Donde está la vida? ¡Cómo dueles cada día! El primer adiós. Mi mal necesario, mi dulce veneno, mi eterno amor secreto El segundo adiós. Me siento como los pelos Por lo que sufro, por lo que rio, lo que me asusta y por quien espero El tercero. Sin ti. de la nariz Mi complemento y mi yugo, Mi orgullo detrás del murmullo Arrancado. Entre tus brazos Pues, no tendría un amor Pecado sin perdón que sólo crece con esta tentación Y los versos que pido; diferente. Un trago amargo al corazón, el milagro a mi pasión Entre un corazón inconstante El lado oscuro que ilumina mi piel Y un cíclico dañino; De tu alma seré tu fe y de tu cuerpo seré tu piel Entre la alegría que me causas Entrégame tu amor, calma con tus caricias mis deseos, mi Y la distancia que me atormenta. futuro prohibido Mi pecado ha sido amarte, llenar el vacío entre el sentimiento No eres mío, lo sé. y la razón Pero, aún así, Mi corazón duerme contigo, mis ganas te las has bebido Soy tuyo. y lo único que pido es que seas sólo, insaciable, inevitablemente mio.

8 Romney Was Wrong about Spain! By Fátima Serra, foreign languages

Spain, well-known as the land of fiesta and siesta, started to get the world’s attention at the beginning of the 21st century. Spaniards’ capacity to enjoy themselves seemed to be matched by great economic success, as the following 2008 figures suggest:

S pain: Some Economic and Socioeconomic Realities (May 2008) Global Ranking & Description Top 10 Eighth-largest economy in nominal terms and seventh in purchasing power parity terms (ahead of Canada) Top 10 Seventh-largest recipient of foreign direct investment Top 5 Fourth-longest life expectancy at birth along with Australia, France and Sweden Top 5 second largest tourist destination in terms of visitors and receipts Top 5 third largest producer of cars in Europe after Germany and France Top 5 world’s largest international manager of infrastructure Top 5 Fourth in development of renewable energy Top 5 Biggest producer and exporter of olive oil Top 5 Biggest producer and exporter of sparkling wine (cava)

(Source: IMF, Economist Intelligence Unit, UN Human Development Report 2007/2008, World Investment Report 2008 (UNCTAD), ANFAC and World Tourism Organisation.)

However, four years later, in 2012, Spain is dealing with an economic crisis, record unemployment, protests over austerity measures and forced home evictions. What happened? During the first presidential debate Governor Romney gave his answer to America and the world: “we don’t want to go down the path of Spain a country spending 42% of their total economy on government.” In other words, according to the former Republican presidential candidate, Spaniards ate far too many tapas on the government’s account and now the whole country is gone to the dogs. However, Spain’s government spending is lower than most European nations—Germany and Scandinavian countries level of spending is higher and have healthier economic prospects (Huffingtonpost.com 10/7/2012).T aking into account that salaries in Spain are much lower than in most European countries, the Spanish government Spanish protest. The group FLO 6x8 and passers-by collected less in taxes and Spaniards enjoyed fewer benefits than their disrupt bank activity to the rhythm of Rumba Rave neighbors. If it was not Spaniards savoir vivre and the government’s unruly spending, then what caused the dire economic situation, the 25% unemployment rate, and Well, today there is no more belt tragic evictions? to be tightened. Whole families are A new law in 1998 was responsible for allowing construction in much of Spain’s rural returning to their parents’ homes, land, areas that were formerly classified as for agriculture only.T his caused the beginning because grandpa is the only one of a construction boom never seen before. In 2005, Spain built more homes than France, earning an income, a pension. Con el amor que ha muerto Germany and Italy together. The construction boom created employment and demand for new Young educated adults are leaving Y tu cuerpo que me falta construction, which caused an increase in prices. Spanish salaries still were not that high, the country and others are opting Amarte y perderte sí, but the prospect of abundant employment and easy credit made people embark in home for suicide before facing an eviction Y nunca tenerte. purchasing they could not afford. While in Germany the limit of a mortgage was 60%, in Spain notice (El País 11/9). Considering all it was possible to find 80% or even 100%. Prices were astronomical compared with Spanish of this, it should not be surprising Me siento como los pelos salaries and the banks lent money to people who could not afford to borrow it. that the ‘occupy’ movement de la nariz When the 2008 financial crisis in the US spread to the rest of the world, banks stopped started in Spain with the name Los Arrancado. lending, people got scared, and stopped purchasing consumer goods. The result was a indignados “the outraged ones”. Pues, no tendría un amor contraction of the economy. Today there is enough housing stock to last for the next 15 years. Works cited diferente. This means that construction, which until now had been the main motor of the Spanish Image and Reality: Contemporary economy, will not be running for a long time. Spain by William Chislett 11/5/2008 Private sector debt, by individuals and by the banks, is what caused the bubble to burst, Real Instituto Elcano not government debt. In other words, this was not caused by extensive spending by an huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/07/ overprotective government of pampered, lazy Spaniards. It was the banks irresponsible mitt-romney-spain_n_1946468.html lending that caused the crisis. The same wealthy people reluctant to extend benefits to By Bradley Kappler10/07/12 struggling families are the ones who gave low salaries while making fortunes in real estate. politica.elpais.com/ They are the ones who granted unstable mortgages and paid low taxes. They are the ones politica/2012/11/09/ who evict people from their houses, but still demand the mortgage payment for life (in Spain actualidad/1352452631_706772.html: after losing your home you still owe the mortgage). They are the ones who beg to bail out the Javier Rivas 9 NOV 2012 banks and ask everybody else to tighten the belt. They are the 1%.

9 TRAVEL S UDY SEMINAR, SPAIN, JULY 2013.

Join Salem State’s foreign languages department for a 12 day trip to Spain, July 7-18, 2013, with Professor Fátima Serra.

The trip package includes roundtrip airfare, 10 nights’ accommodations, breakfast daily, private air-conditioned motor coach, English speaking bus-driver, and entrance fees to visited sites.

You can receive credit for one of the following courses: • SPN710 Seminar on the Cultures of Spain, or • SPN415 Spanish Civilization and Culture, or • SPN203 The Spanish-Speaking World I (by permission of coordinator) You may alternatively earn Professional Development Points. When: July 1-18, 2013: • Classes at Salem State University: July 1-July 3 • Travel Days: July 7-18, 2013 Where: We will visit the cities of Málaga, Granada, Sevilla, Córdoba, Madrid, and Gijón. This study/travel seminar provides students My Volunteer Experience in Guatemala with a unique opportunity to experience Chris Logan, Spanish student Spain from South to North. We will visit the most remarkable sites of Islamic Spain in Sevilla, Granada, and Malaga. We will In 2006 and again in 2011 I volunteered a Due to my general lack of Spanish explore the Museums at Madrid’s Avenue week at a time to the program Safe Passage- speaking ability (I am currently enrolled of Art. On our way north we will admire Camino Seguro in Guatemala. I went both in Spanish 101), I was primarily able the ingenuity of Roman architecture, will times with my grandmother, who is is to contribute to the youngest children. rest at Castillo de la Mota and reach the involved in a Rotary club. While looking This consisted mostly of playing games, green lands of Celtic Spain and its natural for an international project to participate helping with basic work, distributing meals beaches. We will also have time to enjoy in, they came across this program, which at lunch and snack times, and aiding the Spain’s wonderful food and friendliness of they really liked. Safe Passage offers aid to teachers with classroom preparations and its people. children and their parents who live near the cleaning. The experience was tremendously Guatemala City dump. All the children in the rewarding. On my second trip, another For more information go to salemstate.edu/ program have parents who make a living volunteer pointed to a child she said was academics/schools/24721.php scavenging for recyclables in the dump having difficulty adjusting to the program to sell, as well as for whatever supplies and making friends. She asked if I would or necessities they can find.T he motto spend time with him and try to make him of Safe Passage is “combating poverty comfortable, so I kept him company and through education;” they help the children tried getting him involved with the other of these families receive an education by children. By the end of the week he was offering aid for school uniforms and books participating in the classroom and had and by providing mandatory after school made a friend. I never thought I could make programs (Guatemala only offers half day such a difference, even for just one child, schooling) that make available tutoring in only a week. My volunteer work was eye and extracurricular activities. Through opening, to both the extreme poverty in education, they hope to equip the children much of the world and what little effort it of the program with the skills to find a takes to make a substantial difference. career, to escape the overwhelming poverty Find out more about Safe Passage that surrounds them. Last year, they were and about how you too can contribute ecstatic to announce their first two students at safepassage.org. to move on to college.

10 Increased The Hispanic Vote Reflection on Departmental Focus By Kenneth Reeds, foreign languages MaFLA 2012 on Student Speaking In the wake of the 2010 national By Vilma Bibeau, graduate student in the Performance census, the press (and Lingua Franca ) MAT-Spanish program By Nicole Sherf, foreign languages focused for some time on the country’s growing Hispanic population. This count Graduate student Vilma Bibeau recently attended the Massachusetts In the spring 2012 issue of Lingua Franca, demonstrated that the number of Hispanics Foreign Language Association’s annual we announced that the foreign languages had grown to reach 16% of our total conference in Sturbridge, MA. Writing department had been recognized with population and, perhaps more importantly, from the point of view of a professional accreditation from the National Council for they accounted for half of the country’s educator and graduate student, the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) population growth. This last statistic points following is her reflection on the through the American Council on the to the fact that every year the Hispanic experience. Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). population grows at a faster rate than any other. Building upon these statistics, Despite having attended several the Pew Research Center projects that, if Massachusetts’s Foreign Language current trends continue, by 2050 Hispanics Association conferences (MaFLA), will be 29% of our population. I find it each and every year to be a Analysis of voting from the recent new experience. Yearly, the MaFLA presidential election indicates that conference offers different activities, Hispanics are not just a growing portion of which are presented in unique ways the country, but that they are also working by academic representatives from secondary schools and universities Although this specific accreditation is to make sure their political voice is heard. throughout the state of Massachusetts for the departmental teacher preparation The Washington Post provides us with and beyond. I like to attend the programs, it would be fair to say that some raw data: conference because it exposes me to the resulting positive effects and focus National exit polls showed that 10 new and/or revisited topics, concepts, on high standards have been felt in all percent of the electorate was Hispanic, and material. The conference, in its the departmental programming from the compared with 9 percent in 2008 and isolated setting that is only dedicated language sequence courses, to the minors 8 percent in 2004. Those numbers take to the teaching of foreign language, to the other concentrations of the Bachelor on more significance when combined also provides me with the opportunity of Arts in Spanish. This is because one of with results: Across the nation, 71 to share ideas, discuss thoughts, the accreditation mandates is that foreign percent of Latinos voted for Obama, and collaboratively explore teaching language teacher candidates acquire a compared with 27 percent who chose methods and material with colleagues specific level of proficiency as one of Mitt Romney. and friends, many of whom I would My Volunteer Experience in Guatemala the required pieces of evidence. This Despite the large majority that voted for otherwise not have the opportunity to Chris Logan, Spanish student requirement has led to a faculty discussion Obama, it would be a mistake to believe meet with. about what the various levels of speaking that this voting block is a homogeneous This year I was able to attend two performance represent as outlined in the voice. Indeed there were as many reasons of the conference’s three days and nationally accepted standard called the to vote for Obama as there were people observed a presentation for each section ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. who made up that 71%. That understood, on Friday and Saturday. The daily The full- and part-time faculty of the the fact that such a large majority went in schedule is broken down into sections, department have held various retreats to one direction suggests that some issues which offers several presentations in discuss how work together to increase must have been capable of uniting the each in both specific target languages student speaking performance over time disparate group that we too often reduce and in the common language of English in our various programs with a focus on to simply ‘Hispanic’. Immigration seems where non language specific teaching in-class activities and assessments as well to have been the most important of those concepts are covered. With these as programmatic and advising strategies. bonding issues. While the president’s sections two or three hosts usually The discussion has resulted in interesting record was widely considered less-than- dedicate one hour and fifteen minutes to cooperation and collaboration, and stellar (he even went on Univision Spanish- each presentation. ultimately, higher speaking performance language television to apologize for not This year I found the topics to be in our program completers. An interesting pushing harder on reform ), his challenger very interesting and relevant to both positive benefit of the focus on speaking was perceived even more negatively my graduate studies and the languages performance is that students are (perhaps because he embraced the idea that I teach. In totality I attended participating in more service learning and of “self deportation” in regard to Arizona’s eight presentations, two of which study abroad experiences. Our departmental controversial –and often called racially were dedicated to Spanish, two were experience with this accreditation process biased- immigration law ). dedicated to Italian, one was dedicated has been a positive one in spite of the In the coming months both political to French, and three were relevant to occasional tedium of the report and the parties and the press will make a lot about teaching technology. Although I enjoyed documentation of evidence. And you, our these numbers. One thing, however, is all of them, I found that three really students, are the beneficiaries of stronger abundantly clear and needs no further captivated me and sparked my interest. overall programming. In fact, we have analysis to see: the Hispanic population is To read the rest of Ms. Bibeau’s recently discovered that SSU is the only increasingly an important part of the United article, see the online version university in Massachusetts and only one of States and it is here to stay. With this in at ssclinguafranca.wordpress. seven in New England to have earned the mind, the question quickly becomes: why com/2012/11/30/reflection-on- prestigious NCATE accreditation through haven’t you enrolled in Spanish classes for mafla-2012. ACTFL for the Spanish licensure programs! next semester?

11 Above: Salem State students in the Spanish immersion program in Heredia, Costa Rica, July 2012, while on a hike to Poas Volcano

Study panish Abroad is affordable due to our relationship with Assistants in Spain. The Ministry of By Fátima Serra, foreign languages the University of Oviedo. Students can also Education of Spain will provide over 1,000 apply their financial aid to the program. grants for American students to be English This past summer foreign languages, If a month-long experience is too short Teaching Assistants in Spanish schools. in partnership with Sol Education Abroad, for you, the Universidad de Oviedo also It does not cost any money and you get enjoyed four weeks of Spanish Immersion has a very affordable semester program. a monthly stipend, sufficient to live on. in Heredia, Costa Rica. Students earned Students may take up to five course of Applications for the 2013-2014 academic six credits at the Universidad Latina, Spanish language and culture at three year will open in early December 2012. participated in cultural activities and different levels and/or some business or You don’t need to be a Spanish Major travelled across the country. Cooking English courses. to apply for one of these assistantships. Lessons, toucan rescue parks, volcanoes For more information on both programs Four Salem State students have already and city tours were part of the experience. follow this link: salemstate.edu/academics/ participated in the program. Currently, Check out some of the pictures. schools/7257.php Valerie Del Villar is enjoying her experience This coming July we will be going back And if you are ready to graduate and working abroad. to Oviedo, in the north of Spain, for our are interested in both living abroad while For more information: educacion. summer Spanish program. All students, building your CV with valuable experience, gob.es/eeuu/convocatorias-programas/ regardless of their major or minor can we recommend the Cultural Ambassadors: convocatorias-eeuu/auxiliares- earn 6 credits of languages. The program North American Language and Culture conversacion-eeuu.html

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