Lingua Franca A Bi-Annual Newsletter Published by The Foreign Languages DEPARTMENT at Salem State University salemstate.edu/languages Volume 8 • Issue 1 • Fall 2010
Chinese courses and events at SSU INSIDE THIS ISSUE Starting in Fall 2010, foreign States. Proficiency in Chinese will be languages is offering courses in a great advantage in the job market Chinese language and culture that were and for career advancement due to the Department News page 2 approved last year by the University. growing global importance of Chinese Currently Chinese 101 is being offered products and services. Many students Faculty News page 2 in Fall 2010 and the continuation to this and professionals around the world are Photo Contest page 2 course, Chinese 102, will be offered in studying Chinese, which also means Spring 2011. Intermediate courses were learning about Chinese culture and Student News page 3 also approved and we hope that this world view. Learning the language is an is just the beginning of a successful essential tool in preparing oneself for Puerto Rican Americans page 4 program about one of the major careers in political science, international Dining Out page 5 world languages. affairs, international business, Chinese courses are being taught economy, business, international law Alumni News page 6 by Professor Jie Li, a native of Jilin and others. province in north-east Calligraphy event at Salem State Lateral Thinking page 7 China. Before coming to University the U.S. in 1995, Ms. Li Communications Majors page 8 On Monday, November 15, 2010, taught at Guang Zhou expert calligraphist Jiang Tian Yuan University, a school The Ride of Your Life page 9 performed a demonstration of the art that trains secondary of Chinese calligraphy. Mr. Jiang was Study Abroad page 10 school teachers. In accompanied and assisted by Professor addition to teaching Greek Influence page 11 Jie Li and her Chinese 101 class. The Chinese at Salem State, she currently event took place in the Commons also teaches Chinese at Quincy College Dining Hall, lower level, North Campus. and is a court interpreter for the state Editors: Mr. Jiang Tian Yuan was born in of Massachusetts. Ms. Li has been 1938 in Canton, China. As a native of Dr. Jon Aske teaching Chinese and ESL for the last Taishan City, he loves the art of Chinese 20 years. Dr. Kenneth Reeds calligraphy and paintings. He was Why Study Chinese? quite fortunate to receive the guidance China has one of the oldest and Web Publication: of famous painting artist Professor Li richest cultures in the world. Mandarin Xiong Chai, and calligrapher Huang ssclinguafranca.wordpress.com Chinese is the language with the greatest number of native speakers continued on next page in the world. In the People’s Republic JOIN SSC’S LANGUAGE of China alone Mandarin Chinese is CLUBS’ MAILING LISTS & the mother tongue of over 873 million FACEBOOK GROUPS people, and approximately another 400 million people speak Chinese outside Visit This Page: of China. Chinese is also one of the http://tr.im/languageclubs six official languages of the United Nations. China is the world’s most rapidly Foreign Languages developing country and the second Tel: 978.542.6258 largest economy of the world, which [email protected] means it will play a major role in world affairs in the future. It is also one of the largest trading partners of the United 1 News Zi Hao. Mr. Jiang Departmental News workshops available through the Aula has been in the Our Chinese language program is off Cervantes and their online services. field of painting and to a great start this year! Our professor, Foreign languages and the CIE calligraphy for over Jie Li, has coordinated several events hosted a presentation by Francisco 30 years. He holds on campus which were well-attended. García Díez, education advisor of membership to the Look for Intermediate Mandarin the Spanish Embassy. Mr. García Canton Contemporary Chinese in the Fall 2011 schedule! Díez guided students through the Painting and See the leading article in this issue of application process to become cultural Calligraphy Society Lingua Franca. Ambassadors in Spain for one year, and the Canton The Arabic program keeps growing, an opportunity that is paid for by the Fragrant Snow with two new post-intermediate Spanish Ministry of Education. Painting and courses: ARA 301 and ARA 302, which Foreign languages has strengthened Calligraphy Society. will also make it easier for students to its relationships with local institutions He is an Honorable minor in Arabic. A second instructor including the Clarke Elementary Advisor to the Canton of Arabic has joined the faculty: Dr. School in Swampscott where four Yuet Hoi Poets Joseph Hitti. Dr. Hitti is a native of SSU students are participating in Society. In 1992, he Lebanon and he will be joining Dr. the Spanish Enrichment Program by immigrated to Boston, Dr. Mohamed Abdelfattah as Arabic teaching Spanish to k-4 students. Real- Massachusetts. He instructor in the department. See the world opportunities are also being is an advisor to the interview with Dr. Hitti in this issue of expanded through the expansion of Boston Chinese Lingua Franca. our Community Placement Program Painting Academy and Prof. Blood will be on sabbatical which has added several new a member of the New in Spring 2011. Questions for the affiliations including: Salem High England Arts Society chairperson should be directed School, the Saltonstall School, and the and China Calligraphy to Acting Chair, Dr. Fátima Serra. Massachusetts Probate Court. Society. Questions about French should be The International Languages Fair, During his directed to Dr. Anna Rocca, who will held by the International Student workshop- serve as interim coordinator of the Association and foreign languages in presentation, Mr. Jiang Tian wrote French language programs. November, was a great success. The ISA numerous signs for the audience and Foreign languages hosted a and French Club are planning a similar members of foreign languages. Among presentation by Mario Ruiz Lejido, special event in spring to celebrate them is the sign at the right, which representative from the Instituto “La semaine de la Francophonie” hangs in the department’s chairperson’s Cervantes in Boston. Mr. Lejido gave combining native French speakers from office and which reads “Good teachers undergraduate and graduate students Africa and Haiti along with students educate students to become highly valuable information on cultural events of French at Salem State! Look for qualified professionals. and language teaching resources and announcements in March.
Faculty News This semester has been a busy one International Photo Contest 2010 for foreign language’s faculty. For the Thank you to all who participated They make great presents for the first time in 10 years, the American in the sixth edition of International holidays. The cost per calendar is Council on Teaching Foreign Languages Photo Contest by foreign languages. $10. Proceeds will support student (ACTFL) brought its annual conference to Boston. Taking advantage of this 47 photos were officially entered scholarships. proximity, professors Anna Rocca, in the contest this year by people To view all of this year’s entries and Elizabeth Blood, Michele Dávila, associated with Salem State the winners, go to this page: Nicole Sherf, and Kenneth Reeds University. 12 pictures were selected Entries for the 2010 contest, presented on a variety of subjects: to appear in the 2010-2011 calendar. winners: “Les Francophones d’ici: Franco- If you would like to order a copy lrc.salemstate.edu/pictures/ipc2010 Americans in Massachusetts” (Dr. (or more) of the paper calendar, International Photo Contest Blood with Dr. Carole Salmon from call 978.542.6258 or email Web Page: Umass-Lowell); “Enseñando literatura [email protected]. lrc.salemstate.edu/ipc puertorriqueña desde ‘Arroz con leche’ a ‘Encancaranublado’” (Dr. Dávila); In addition to the 2010-2011 academic There you can also view the “Advocating for an Elementary Foreign calendar, this year we will also be previous years’ entries and Language Program in Your District” (Dr. making a second batch of calendars download free screensavers. for 2010 with the same photographs.
2 Sherf); and “How to Read and Approach Cultural Differences and Stereotypes” (Drs. Rocca and Reeds). The 2011 North East Modern Language Association (NEMLA) conference will be held in New Jersey where Dr. Rocca will chair a panel titled “Exploration of Senses in Contemporary Francophone Women’s Autobiography” and a paper on the author Nina Bouraoui entitled: “Senses, Sensibility, and Sensuality: the World of Nina Bouraoui.” Dr. Rocca will also soon chair a panel at the Conseil International d’Etudes Francophones Caption: Michael and Rebecca Martiniello with MAT-Spanish coordinator, Dr. Kristine Doll. Rebecca is (CIEF) conference in Aix-en-Provence, one of our MAT in Spanish students recognized for her high GPA France. Continuing with experiences outside of the Massachusetts area, Student News Benjamin Gerson various members of the department On November 10, the university Mary Giordano participated in events: Dr. Dávila honored graduate students who had Katherine Hanchett published the article “‘Elemental achieved a GPA of 3.85 or higher. The Rebecca Hoffman mi querido Watson’: variaciones event was held in Veteran’s Hall at the Stacey Hopkins y transgresiones de la novela Ellison Campus Center. Please join us in Katie Lyons detectivesca en el Caribe hispano” recognizing the academic excellence of Laura Nichols which she had originally presented in the following MAT in Spanish students: Kathryn Schulte Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August 2010; Dr. Reeds presented “El civilizado sobre el bárbaro: el empleo de William Henry Hudson en la obra de Jorge Luis Borges” at the Coloquio Literario Where in the World Do They Speak... Arabic? de la Feria Internacional del Libro de In Lebanon! Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico; and An interview with Dr. Joseph Hitti, adjunct professor, foreign languages Dr. Serra presented “Instrucciones By Dr. Michele C. Dávila para salvar el mundo de Rosa Montero y Elena Poniatowska” at the Cuarto Dr. Joseph merchant travelers who developed the Congreso Internacional Escritura, Hitti, a native phonetic alphabet that we today use Individuo y Sociedad en España, las of Lebanon, in the western world. The country’s Américas y Puerto Rico, Universidad has joined geography is essentially a huge de Puerto Rico-Arecibo (see her article Dr. Mohamed mountain range that rises very steeply about meeting the author later in this Abdelfattah, from the Mediterranean, all of it in issue of Lingua Franca). as an Arabic a surface area just under the size of Other publications of note were Dr. instructor in our Connecticut. Because of its location and Dávila’s “Lo que nos hace humanos: department, as our geography, Lebanon has seen many deconstruyendo El pintor de batallas Dr. Joseph Hitti offerings have also invaders come and go – Babylonians de Arturo Pérez-Reverte” in Hipertexto; increased this year, with the addition of and Persians, Greeks and Romans, Dr. Doll’s translation and interview of post-intermediate courses. Dr. Hitti is Arab Muslim conquerors and European August Bover “Long Distance Call” in currently teaching ARA 101, and he will Christian Crusaders, and ultimately the The Seventh Quarry Poetry Magazine be teaching ARA 102 in spring 2011. Ottoman Turks which ruled the country in the United Kingdom; Drs. Doll and Dr. Dávila: Where are you from through the end of World War I. After Sherf published “A View from Higher originally and what can you tell us a brief French mandate between the Ed” in the Massachusetts Foreign about your country? two world wars of the 20th century, Language Association (MaFLA) Dr. Hitti: I am originally from Lebanon emerged as an independent Newsletter where Dr. Sherf also Lebanon, a tiny country in the country in 1943. served as Guest Editor for a special Eastern Mediterranean located at the This history contributed to the assessment-focused issue in intersection of Asia, Africa and Europe. evolution of a country that one might Winter 2010. Historically, Lebanon is the ancestral call the ancient world’s melting pot, homeland of the Phoenicians, the which unfortunately failed to really ancient biblical people of sailors and melt, thus leaving an assortment
continued on next page 3 An interview with Dr. Joseph Hitti contiued of small religious communities, all residues of past invaders and/or minorities fleeing the dominant vast Sunni Muslim surroundings, to constitute the social and political structure of the country. For example, you probably heard that the Iraq War of the past 7 years has forced the displacement of Iraqi Christians, many of whom have settled in Lebanon because of a sizable and still powerful Christian Lebanese community. This background might explain why the country has been in constant turmoil. In recent decades, Lebanon has declined due to a war that began in the late 1960s and that has yet to come to an end, mostly caused by the insoluble Israeli-Palestinian conflict next door. This recent history has sent a new wave of emigrant Lebanese to every continent of the globe, including here in the United States, where they have Are Puerto Ricans Americans? settled like their forerunner emigrants By Dr. Michele C. Dávila from 19th century and early 20th century Lebanon. I am one of those I can answer face I of course said yes, thank you (this recent emigrants. this question happened before 9/11). And I know this Dr. Dávila: What differences have you apparently very is not an isolated case. Like this man, noticed between life in Lebanon and life simply: yes and most Americans do not know that I am in the US? no. Sounds an American citizen by the laws of his Dr. Hitti: Well, an answer to this complicated? own country, and I was born in New question requires volumes, but suffice It is. Since the York City. it to say that because of their diversity Jones Act of The political status of Puerto Rico is and exposure to various cultures 1917, United a big issue among Puerto Ricans, and back home, the Lebanese generally States law nobody else seems to worry as much assimilate well in the American dictates that as we do about it. Puerto Rico is too far experience and readily integrate, Michele C. Dávila all Puerto away, they speak Spanish and they are particularly since they share a very Ricans born on the island are American poor, is the consensus in this country. strong entrepreneurial mindset with citizens. But after ninety three years, Meanwhile, in Latin America, Puerto their American hosts here. Also, their many people in the United States still Rico is perceived ambiguously. They numbers, compared to other immigrant don’t know this historical fact: that all think they speak a strange language groups, like say, the Irish or the Puerto Ricans born in Puerto Rico are as that mixes Spanish with English, have a Chinese, are very small, which does American (U.S. citizens) as they are. Let lot of money, and are too Americanized. not lend itself to the creation of ethnic me tell you a story. I lived in Colorado Ironically, on the island of Puerto Rico enclaves, which tend to slow down the for five years while I was doing Puerto Ricans believe that Puerto process of integration. Hence, you find my doctorate studies. One day in a Ricans who were born or grew up on many famous Americans with mixed cafeteria an older couple heard me and the mainland (the States) are too far backgrounds – Former Senator George my husband speaking as we usually away, poor, speak a strange language Mitchell of Maine, for example, is of do; I was speaking in Spanish, and he mixing Spanish with English, and are Irish (father) and Lebanese (mother) was speaking in Portuguese. She asked too Americanized. backgrounds, and he is now President us where we were from. I answered The truth, as in most cases, is Obama’s special envoy on Middle East we were from Puerto Rico and Brazil, somewhere in the middle. Puerto peace, where I truly hope his Lebanese respectively, and without batting an eye Ricans on the island have a background will help him succeed there the man stated very proudly how glad distinctive Hispanic culture; their in bringing about peace between the he was that his country gave us asylum “Americanization” seems to be very parties. and that he hoped we were very happy similar to the cultural Americanization in the United States. With a smile on my that exists globally. There are rich continued on page 12 continued on page 12 4 Dining out with Rosa Montero, Spain’s favorite writer and chronicler By Dr. Fátima Serra Puerto Rico, and opposing political views She is also for his wife’s death. On the other hand, was in charge of very generous, she attended the talks Daniel, the doctor, is frustrated with his taxiing around about her work, including mine, and life by the end of the novel because he Spain’s well- she still had the time to praise them, has not been able to establish strong known author add her own perspective, and buy a relationships with women and others in Rosa Montero round of coffee for everybody. the margins of society. during a recent I was totally blown away, not only by It seems quite clear: to save the Congreso de the dining experience with my favorite world and to save ourselves we all Literatura de writer and journalist, but also by the must be inclusive of “the other” España y las message she transmits in person and whoever he or she may be, particularly Fátima Serra Américas, (18- in her books. In her recent titles, her men. According to Rosa Montero, the Dr. Fátima Serra 20 Nov. 2010) at heroes are sensitive, compassionate heroes of the 21st century will not kill her institution in Arecibo. Needless to men. The rescuers of princesses are dragons, rescue princesses, and save say, I felt honored when she requested strong men, but their strength comes the world if they do not include others my help in accompanying her and the from their endurance and empathy in in their quest, especially women. In author for dinner at a local restaurant. the face of adversity. She states it very order to obtain love, success, and a I was thrilled and at the same time clearly in her last novel, Instrucciones better world they have to walk hand intimidated: what can I discuss with a para salvar el mundo (2008) where in hand with minorities, third-world world-famous novelist and journalist we meet Daniel, a doctor with a countries, homosexuals, politicians who has interviewed the main players comfortable life who follows the social from the opposite side and, above in world politics and has received rules of the status quo of the powerful, all, women. Who couldn’t agree with numerous prizes such as Spain’s who is contrasted with Matías, an that? So men of the earth, take note Journalism Prize and the Spring Novel ordinary taxi-driver, who is mourning of Rosa Montero’s suggestion, have Prize among others? Sooner or later we the recent loss of his wife. Matías has a good read, grab the action-packed would be scrambling for things to say, had a rough life, but he manages to be Instrucciones para salvar el mundo, I thought. happy because of his compassionate and you will ensure that your lady However, soon after the first and solidary nature towards anything will not choose a different castle to introductions, it was as if I had reunited from pets to prostitutes, and even the live in and your reign in peace will with an old friend. Perhaps it was doctor whom he thinks is responsible thus be assured. Puerto Rico’s warm weather or Rosa Montero’s savoir faire or the bottle of Albariño that was the catalyst for the night. The evening was a continuous stream of animated exchanges. I knew Rosa Montero was a great writer, but now I know she is an even greater person. When discussing world politics and conflict resolution I expressed my frustration about the patience of the present US administration towards the other side of the aisle. Considering how the right was and is unapologetic about their view points and how uncompromising they have been historically, I have been disappointed at the—apparently pointless—efforts of the government to include opposite views. Well, Rosa Montero, in spite of all the bad things she has endured in her personal life and all the horrors she has seen in the world as a journalist (her own life companion passed away a year ago after a painful battle with cancer), she still believes that to be at peace with yourself we must establish a consensus with the negatives in life such as death 5 Where are they now? Our first round of inquiries about economy. However, graduated, I started looking for different our graduates’ lives after Salem State a few months later job opportunities and I worked for a in the previous issue of Lingua Franca and while taking few different health clubs in the area was very well received, so we asked the University of teaching mostly classes and doing again for updates in the Spanish alumni Massachusetts some personal training. I now work as mailing list and eight more graduates Medical School a Group Fitness Director at Healthworks wrote this time to tell us about their Medical Interpreter Chestnut Hill and Brookline. I still lives. We will let them speak in their Training program practice my Spanish with members own words. Let me just say that we I landed a position and co-workers as well as I try to read at Salem State are proud of them and at North Shore Medical Center as a books and watch Spanish movies. I one their accomplishments. Spanish Medical Interpreter. This was day hope to be able to use Spanish a great and challenging position but more in my professional life. not the right fit for me. So once again I Meg Barber found myself job searching. Thanks to Wow, the last five Catherine (Gallivan) Frost a wonderful friend who I met during years really flew I graduated with my 4 years at Salem State and had the by! It is now that I a BA in Spanish in honor of graduating with, I now have a can really tell that 2002 and an MAT in position in the Lynn School Department. my education is Spanish in 2008. I’m I have stayed on as a per diem something priceless. still living in Beverly interpreter at the hospital, but now Thanks to my and teaching in work full time for the Special Education Spanish education Hamilton Wenham Department as the Spanish Interpreter/ I was able to get into a bilingual at the middle school. Translator. I have to say I love my job. serial coordinator position at EBSCO I adore teaching at There is not one day that I do not learn Publishing in Ipswich. I was responsible the middle school something new, either in English or for calling, coordinating with Latin level because we are responsible for Spanish. I am still a Justice of the Peace American publishers and making sure not just our content, but also with and often officiate weddings for the the publications arrived to EBSCO for personal, social and educational Hispanic speaking community, and of databases used in libraries for research. objectives. One of my greatest course I am also a full time mom! Life I was quickly promoted after eight passions since I began teaching has is good. short months to a Corporate Manager been learning about students with for EBSCO Publishing and now I am disabilities. I was truly inspired not selling the databases to fortune 1000 Kathryn Cortave (Stallard) only by the wonderful foreign language corporations in Canada. This July will After graduating faculty at SSC/SSU, but by the be my third year at EBSCO. The territory from Salem State in education faculty as well. I have been that I have is very diverse and I am 2009, I got married given the opportunity to participate in a really considering coming back to SSU to my sweetheart of certification program within our district. for my Masters in Business and Minor four years, and had I’m almost done with the requirements in French. Being tri-lingual would be an a baby girl named for a professional teaching license excellent advantage for me since I have Eva Mariana. Since in Moderate Special Needs. Maybe Montreal in my territory. I am becoming then I have been a when my two boys are older, I’ll be more exposed to the French language stay-at-home mom, brave enough to start a new course of and can actually understand it. The best but I’m actively study? Speaking of my boys, and on part is that EBSCO will cover 75% of looking for a full time position in which a personal note now, my children are all costs if I come back to school. Even I can use my language skills. Let me six and two now. They are beginning to in Canada I have been able to use my know if you know of any available talk to each other and I enjoy watching Spanish to obtain profitable accounts positions! their “twinese,” which I really see as an for my company. Someday I would like acute attention to nonverbal cues, not to work in the Latin American market necessarily a language. It’s wonderful Liza Elmstrom for EBSCO. to see the differences between them- Since I graduated their gender, their development, and in 2009 with a their personalities. I also survived my Ana M. Chadbourne double major in first season as a “soccer mom” and I had been working full time as a fitness/wellness I’ve been trying to volunteer at my clerk and Spanish Interpreter at City and Spanish, Madeleine’s school when I can. I now Hall in Lynn, while pursuing my degree I have had an drive a 7-passanger SUV full of organic at Salem State in the evening. Just interesting journey snacks, red-dye free juice boxes and as I graduated this past May, I was let in my professional mini soccer balls I can’t say it’s all go from that position because of the life. Right after I that bad! 6 Aniluz Jiménez-Rodríguez Salvador.” Since my undergraduate Kathleen Whelton Since soon after experience at Salem, I have employed After I graduated my graduation in my Spanish skills in academic in 2008 I went to 2006 I have worked research and in teaching. I have Chile as a volunteer as an Employment also employed my Spanish skills in English teacher. It Coordinator in establishing rewarding relationships was an incredible and Salem, which is a with Spanish-speaking people both incredibly challenging case management in the United States and in Latin experience, but I position. I utilize American countries through which I got to practice my my Spanish skills to have traveled. I am indebted to all of Spanish and travel around South communicate with clients and interpret my professors at Salem, particularly America! When I got back I went back to for them. I enjoy the flexibility of the job Avi Chomsky, Rod Kessler, Jon Aske, graduate school for my Master of Public and I constantly use Spanish because Kristine Doll, Ana Echevarría-Morales, Health. I will finish in May and can’t I have many non-English-speaking Fátima Serra, and Nicole Sherf. These wait! I have a fellowship working for clients. professors inspired me to learn more the Massachusetts Department of Public In 2007 I married a Nicaraguan with than just Spanish. They pushed me Health in substance abuse prevention, limited English and he’s actually helped to acquire critical thinking skills, to which is really interesting, and nothing me improve my Spanish speaking skills. recognize my place in the world, and I ever thought I would be doing! This year we had a son and I’m still to seize opportunities that continue to Speaking Spanish is a huge help so we adjusting to motherhood. I am going enrich my life. can target more of our work to Spanish- to Nicaragua this month to see what it speaking populations. is like and God willing maybe I will move there. I would love to go back to school and now that my life has more direction, I may very well just do that. Of course, now that I am a mother, my life and my priorities have shifted its focus somewhat, at least for the time being. Like I said, I am currently using my Spanish and I achieved my goal of learning to read, write, and communicate in the language with my education at Salem State, as well as the help of my husband. Therefore I am living life until I know for sure what my next steps are.
Corey Waters I live in Philadelphia, PA. What to do with a Philips screw and My current activities a flat-head driver? include animal rights (lateral thinking and language learning) activism and school. By Dr. Kenneth Reeds I am a PhD student with the intention of fixing a loose of Sociology at Projects often handle only to discover that the driver’s Temple University, require creative flat head did not match a Philips screw? specializing in solutions. This is frustrating and more so when gender, theories of identity, and Unpredictable your box does not contain a tool with animal studies. In May, I earned obstacles need the required shape. Computers have a master of arts (MA) degree in circumventing difficulty with this type of problem. Latin American Studies at Tulane and a lack of Program machines to do certain tasks University. My MA thesis, based on obvious answers and they are effective as long as funded research in El Salvador, was can create the new variables are not introduced. If, entitled “A More Resistant Margin: seemingly Kenneth Reeds however, a device confronts a problem Gender and Development in Rural El insurmountable. that goes outside its programming, Have you every grabbed a screwdriver
continued on next page 7 What to do with a Philips screw and a flat-head driver? contiued such as a Philips screw and a flat-head bending into innovative shapes and appreciate other cultures tool, it will have difficulty and might finding new homes all over the world. It is not necessary to look long even fail altogether. This is where This stressful reinvention serves as at the five items on this list to see creative thinking is needed and despite evidence of the need for lateral thinking the importance given to language the leaps and bounds of technology’s as those with broader skill sets are acquisition and the cultural context advances, the human brain remains the proving more successful; many working within which such learning takes best tool to come up with something in jobs they never prepared for nor place. An adaptable person is one like using a coin or maybe a butter knife thought they would have. who can communicate with others. to turn a Philips screw when there is no So, the enigma today’s student must This means far more than words driver in sight. confront is what skills they should and grammar as it also entails a In 1967 an author named Edward de acquire to deal with a world that sensibility to cultural difference. The Bono used the term “lateral thinking” changes and creates new challenges fact of the matter is that the jobs to refer to the mind’s creation of at an ever-increasing pace. Perhaps a today’s students will work might imaginative solutions for stubborn good place to search for solutions is not exist yet. It is likely that they problems. Any newspaper can provide the annual gathering of the ultra rich in will change careers and geographic a long list of problems, the challenge Davos, Switzerland. BBC reporter Tim regions multiple times. Learning for today’s student is to generate the Weber visited this place where today’s how to communicate with the answers. Despite expensive educations millionaires and billionaires meet to greatest number of people possible, and years of experience, economists discuss what is needed to be successful in multiple languages, and within with established reputations failed to in the future. He reported in his article diverse cultural contexts augments foresee today’s woes and everybody “Jobs for the Children of Globlisation” one’s chances of success. In other has gotten a lesson about the degree to that “the same set of skills was words, language learning is a path to which unpredictability can disrupt even mentioned again and again” (Weber). lateral thinking the best laid plans. Lateral thinking According to Weber, the successful and a great way to avoid becoming is needed and it is unsurprising to workers of the future will: an obsolete driver faced with a see human adaptability exercised • have language skills modern screw. as trained businesspeople find • be good communicators Work Cited themselves teaching in a classroom and • know how to negotiate Weber, Tim. “Jobs for the Children of Globalisation.” 29 experienced salespeople are suddenly • have people skills January 2008. BBC News. 5 November 2010 doing anything but selling. Indeed, • be able to understand and mismatched screws and drivers are
Communications Majors and Foreign Language Study By Diana Sadek, communications major and French minor
right after graduating. It gives them people in the same field, but in different the priority for being hired since they countries, which adds a lot to his or her have the ability to communicate with work experience. people from different backgrounds. According to Andrew Leckey, from Being bilingual or trilingual is what businessjournalism.com: “In today’s opens new career opportunities for coverage, fluency in languages graduates, especially those majoring other than English and confidence in in communications who opt for the reporting with a variety of mediums journalism concentration. makes a journalism graduate attractive Bilingual and trilingual students to global business journalism majoring in communications stand organizations, expanding their reach In today’s media-driven world, it is out in a world of opportunities and country by country.” extremely important to raise awareness are golden when it comes to finding Although study of a foreign language of the advantages of learning foreign a career, particularly in international is not required for communications languages during college years. First- business affairs or working for students at SSU, Assistant Professor year students should start to consider newspapers. Bilingual graduates Peggy Dillon of communications taking more foreign language classes have wider career opportunities in believes that knowing another language through their educational years at different fields but mostly in journalism. besides English is of great benefit to college, because being bilingual and Being a bilingual graduate will raise students. “In this era of global media, speaking more than one language will the students’ self-esteem when it’s always good for students to be able increase their opportunities in life and communicating with people from to communicate in a language other open up more options for their career different backgrounds and give them than their own,” Dillon said. the ability to create relationships with 8 The Ride of Your Life By Sam Cepican, communications major and Spanish minor
When asking an individual to recall their experiences studying abroad, the one word that seems to echo the loudest is “change.” Not change in the sense that you’ve lost touch with who you were before, but rather all that you were has been enhanced with new experiences and cultural knowledge. You feel privileged, and almost as though you’ve been invited to a secret society; connecting instantly with the other people within it, whether Aside from the term “bilingual” that excitement propels you to a level strangers or friends. You find yourself shooting a resume to the top of a stack, of understanding both internally and starting every sentence with an what better way to communicate, than of your individual universe. Some days anecdote “When I was in....” Sometimes to open myself to a giant demographic you excel, other days you drown amidst you think to stop yourself at the risk market in the United States? the lack of normalcy. Either way you of coming off sounding arrogant, yet When I arrived in Buenos Aires in walk away changed for the better. You can’t because the ride was too exciting January, I knew my skills in Spanish learn new things about yourself, about to contain your emotion. That’s what were severely lacking. This meant a culture you may have stereotyped study abroad is: a crazy roller coaster. that I could say many things I should previously and about new friends that You look at it from the line, seeing all never say in public as well as some shared the experience with you. the twists, turns, and dips; you wonder basic phrases. Luckily, I was living in a The best part: no two people’s time if the process and the waiting is worth household where not everyone spoke abroad is ever the same. So pack your the brief period of fun. It is. “When I my language. Martin’s sisters spoke bags and hang on tight for the ride of was in…” Buenos Aires, Argentina, the English well, his father spoke Spanglish your life. experience only lasted six months, but well, and his mom had about the same it is something I will carry with level as I did with my Spanish (minus me forever. the profanity). The lack of lingual Prior to studying abroad, I had the accommodation immediately put my On the Day of the Dead, 11/1 opportunity to travel as a performer brain into survival mode; latching on to Spanish language instructor with the Disney on Ice production of every word I heard. High School Musical: The Ice Tour. While Ernesto Oregel sent us the By the end of each day I felt my experiences in other cultures were following exhausted, but accomplished; whether fun and enlightening, I was never able it was because I remembered how to fully submerge myself or to feel off to say my bus fare to the driver or Abrazo esquelético balance because of cultural differences. because I was slowly learning how Spending only one or two weeks in to navigate and thrive in a culture so Antes de ver bailar mis pobres huesos each country, you often play the part of different than my own. This sense of esta fiesta de Halloween en casa, tourist despite your efforts to break out pride for the smallest achievements quiero enviarte estos cuantos of that mold. Upon returning to Salem combined with responsibility and esqueletos State University to finish my degree self-sufficiency to not only boost bailarines de toda nuestra raza. in public relations, I saw study abroad my confidence, but also gave me as a chance to fulfill all I had missed great perspective whenever I faced Qué colores tan vivos. Qué miradas. in traveling while growing as a person challenges at home. All I have to do is Qué pasitos, qué poses, qué sonrisas. and a professional. remember the time I got lost because De sus muecas se escuchan las My choice of country was not the D-line subway was undergoing palabras, haphazard and something at which my repairs or when I gave a 10-minute que se oyen como ruido de canicas. mom still rolls her eyes. My boyfriend presentation in Spanish without notes. of two years, Martin, is someone who All of these things seemed miniscule at Sin leer nada vi sus descarnadas just happens to be from the small city the time. However, in retrospect, I see y lúcidas aristas con esmero, of Carapachay located outside of the how they contributed to the person I motivándome a risa y carcajadas Capital Federal, Buenos Aires. am today. a encarnarles el alma con mi verso. Regardless of his nationality, I feel A great advantage to studying abroad that learning another language, Spanish is it doesn’t feel like the standard [email protected] in particular, has greatly increased definition of studying. Each day my value as a communications major. lrc.salemstate.edu/oregel presents itself as a new adventure, and 9 Opportunities for study abroad in Spain!!! Hispanic Heritage course in Oviedo, Spain July 2011
If you already speak Spanish, mostly at home, and you have not read or written in your mother tongue for a long time, this is the course for you. Fill in the gaps in your grammar with other heritage speakers from the US in Spain. You will receive 3 credits of grammar and 3 credits of literature.
Spanish Language Program in Oviedo, Spain July 2011
We are going to Oviedo again this summer. There are still spaces to earn 6 credits and spend the month of July having fun in Spain. Sam Cepican
Semester program in Oviedo, Spain
Five of our Spanish majors have spent a whole semester in Oviedo during 2010: Kevin O’Conell, Alyssa Barras, Foteini Ventouris, Kelly Lynch and Daniel Godden. You can spend a whole semester in Spain at almost the same price as your semester at Salem State, improve your Spanish, make international friends and earn 15 credits.
For information about these three Oviedo programs above, contact Dr. Serra: [email protected]
North American language and Culture Assistants in Spain
Experience Spain while sharing your language and culture.
Would you like to spend a school year in Spain improving your Spanish and collaborating with foreign language teachers in their classrooms?
If you are a senior, a recent graduate, or a graduate student, there are over 1,000 vacancies awaiting you in many Spanish cities and small towns. Apply today!
For more information, visit: mec. es/sgci/usa/en/programs/us_ assistants/default.shtml
10 Greek Influence language of culture in Western Europe with a , Balamand University (Greek Orthodox), READ THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW WITH DR. HITTI IN THE (U.S. citizens) but who culturally are and others. ONLINE VERSION OF LINGUA FRANCA. In it Dr. Hitti talks Hispanic, namely Puerto Rican. about when he came to the United States and why, how he Because of this system, all schools became a teacher, and the languages that he speaks at home. teach a fully bilingual curriculum from Quick link: http://wp.me/ppu4V-gP Greek Influence on the English and Spanish Alphabets for concepts for which the Romans (something which was happening to contiued had no words, or if they had them they French, Spanish and other European reason, by the way, that the Christian didn’t sound to them as sophisticated languages at around the same time), Bible, the New Testament, was written as the Greek versions. they went to the main model of a in Greek, for that was the language that The Roman World in 66BC in pink, developed written language of the almost anybody who wrote in that part with additional conquests in the eastern time in Western Europe, the language of the world in those days—a minority Mediterranean by 55BC in blue, and that all writing was still being done of the population to be sure—wrote in. additional conquests in Gaul (modern in there, namely Latin (despite the Greek language and culture had day France) by 44BC in yellow fact that the Roman empire had fallen great prestige and the Romans greatly Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons and half a millennium earlier). And, like admired them and did not attempt Jutes) invade the part of Britain which the Romans had done with Greek, the to replace them where they reigned, would eventually become England English imported a great many words namely in the eastern Mediterranean, Fast forward a thousand plus years, from Latin to enrich the incipient written what is now Greece, Turkey, Egypt, to the recently formed kingdom of language. And along with those words and much of the Middle East, as well England, created by immigrant bands came many that had originally been as southern Italy. Thus Latin did not of Saxons, Angles, Jutes and other Greek words. Hence the combination, on the other took from Latin were words that Latin hand, can represent three different had borrowed from Ancient Greek, for sounds: the one in cloth (the IPA the Romans greatly admired Greek ffigure 1 English letters and letter symbol for this sound is [Ө]), the one combinations of Greek origin or influence culture and the Greek language, which in clothes (yes, it’s different, and the they allowed to remain the lingua IPA symbol for this sound is [ð]), and franca of the eastern Mediterranean occasionally the one in Thomas, which after they conquered it almost 2,000 is identical to the sound of the letter (as well Latin. Latin, as you may know, was the as most words 11 An interview with Dr. Joseph Hitti Are Puerto Ricans Americans? contiued continued Dr. Dávila: What did you study in Kindergarten through the “Terminale” and poor, just like everywhere else, school and how many languages do (one year more than the US school have their own dialect as is the case you speak? system). So, for example, as I went in each Spanish-speaking country, Dr. Hitti: The educational system through the school system in Lebanon, with probably no more English in Lebanon is one of the best that I I studied all subject matters in both expressions than in any other. Puerto know of. A variety of state and private Arabic and French, generally split Rican – Americans share similarities institutions have long flourished, again as follows: Arabic literature, Arabic but also differences with their island representing the cultural and religious language, Middle East history and counterparts, mainly in terms of diversity of the Lebanese people. Local geography, Arab philosophy, Civics language; but in terms of identification Muslim and Christian religious orders and Government, Social Studies and love with Hispanic culture, they are have their school systems, the State etc... all in Arabic. In parallel, French still firm and strong. has its network of schools, and foreign literature, French language, Western The reality is that Puerto Ricans on countries have their own schools. You and World history and geography, the island, although they are American can attend a Maqassed (Sunni Muslim) French and Western philosophy, are citizens, don’t get to vote for the school, a French secular (Ecole Laïque all taught in French. Mathematics and president of the United States and have française), a French Jesuit institution sciences are the only subjects that local elections for their own congress (Catholic), a Lebanese state school, are strictly taught in the non-Arabic and follow their own constitution; a British High School (Protestant), language, i.e. French or English. Finally, they use the US dollar as currency an Ecole Italienne (Catholic) or an by sixth grade, students learn their but don’t have the right to establish American International School third language, which in my case was economic trade agreements with any (Protestant secular). This goes too for English. Basically, an education that other country; they learn English since university level education, where the produces virtually trilingual people with kindergarten but speak Spanish in State’s Lebanese University System a very solid general education. I went to every other class at school, as well as competes with a plethora of foreign a French Jesuit school through middle everywhere else; they have their own universities like American University school (French), transferred to a private judicial system but can appeal to the of Beirut, Arab University, French Ecole Lebanese secular school (French) Federal court; and, finally, they can des Lettres, French Jesuit Saint Joseph for my high school, then went on to display their own flag in the Olympics, University, as well as a more recent American University of Beirut (AUB) to although they are not a sovereign crop of English language Lebanese study biology (English). So, I was fully nation. private universities like Notre-Dame trilingual by the time I arrived to the US So, in sum, in Puerto Rico, there University (Maronite Catholic), for my graduate work. are people that are legally Americans , and become the language of the Eastern Germanic peoples, which were closely