Events offers students cultural insight

The Department of Foreign Languages promoted its services and study abroad opportunities during Foreign Language Week, which took place on Florida A&M University’s campus March 23- 27.  

Yvonne McIntosh, the department chairperson, said, “The purpose of the week is to inform the campus that we are here, encourage the campus to take a foreign language, and to grant exposure to study abroad programs.”   

The department’s first event “Palabres/Palabras: French-Spanish Poetry Jam” occurred Wednesday, where students from the department recited poetry from French and Spanish poets.

Thursday the department hosted, “Student Education Abroad in the Dominican Republic,” where students and faculty shared their international experiences.

The department also hosted “Experiences in China,” where Evelyn Trujillo, associate professor of Spanish, and Frances Stallworth, associate professor of English, made PowerPoint presentations, and shared artifacts and pictures of their journeys in China.

Trujillo talked about her visit to The Great Wall and Pudong River.

“From the Pudong River you can see the skyline of the city,” Trujillo said.

Trujillo also talked about her visit to Shanghai University and she encountered how the professors of English were from Nigeria and Great Britain.

“They are desperately in need of American English teachers,” she said.

During Stallworth’s presentation she wore authentic, hand-made Chinese attire. She described her experience as one she will never forget.

“This event is a great opportunity to equate the students with the Chinese’s culture,” Stallworth said.  

On Friday the department hosted “Education Abroad Opportunities,” with Karen Mitchell, Coordinator of the Office of International and Development Education Abroad, and Frank Seideal, OID Research Abroad coordinator. McIntosh spoke about her teacher exchange program in France.

McIntosh said the efforts for the week are to promote the department’s bachelor and study abroad programs.

Anthony Murphy, a biochemistry and Spanish student, has taken advantage of study abroad opportunities that are offered through the Office of International Education and Development. Last summer, Murphy was accepted to the study abroad program in the Dominican Republic.

“I gained a global dimension and it increased my interpersonal skills,” Murphy said.
According to McIntosh, DFL is also committed to cultural diversity by its course offerings, special programs, and recruitment efforts.

“The structure of the programs place emphasis on competence and competitiveness so that graduates will be successful in graduate study, professional schools, and in the global economic marketplace,” McIntosh said.

“We challenge  students to develop standards for ethical engagement with the world of discourse, fostering knowledge about how all texts acquire meaning and power in changing historical contexts,” she added.