Lingua Franca

¿Qué pasa? Quoi de neuf? Novità? Department News Abounds (9.2)

Departmental News

After ten years working as the Departmental Secretary, Roberta (“Robbie”) Dexter is moving on.  Robbie has been an essential part to our program and was often the first face new students encountered.  While sad to lose her, we are happy that she will be taking a position with the Computer Sciences Department starting next year.  Good luck, Robbie, and thank you for always being there for us!

Starting with the Fall 2012 semester the department will be offering a total of seven languages in the day school.  Students will be able to improve their skills or start a new language by studying Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Arabic, Latin, and German.

Italian Club at Pompeii Exhibit, Museum of Science, Boston, February 11, 2012

We are happy to announce that our petition to change the department’s name to “World Languages and Cultures” has been approved by the Curriculum Committee and is now waiting final approval by the university’s administration.

The foreign languages honor society, Phi Sigma Iota, had its new member injunction ceremony on April 11. You can view some of the pictures taken at the here: http://bit.ly/K38s60

The French, Italian, and Spanish clubs had a successful year. In particular we are very proud of the revival of the Spanish club by dedicated new blood. Learn more about the foreign language clubs through their mailing lists and Facebook pages: http://bit.ly/HBqhy.

This summer there are Salem State students travelling all over the world.  These include the large number who are about to set off on trips organized directly by the department to Costa Rica, Canada (Quebec), Italy (Florence), and Spain (Oviedo).  If you take any good pictures, don’t forget to save a couple for next year’s International Photo Contest.

Campus News

During March break, Professor Li Li of the History Department and Provost Kristin Esterberg traveled to Beijing to present the campus proposal for a Confucius Institute to Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters.  The President of Changshu Institute of Technology (CIT), our partner on this proposal, was also present, along with a delegation including their vice president and the director of their international office.  The next steps, pending Hanban approval of the proposal, includes a site visit and recommendation from the Chinese Consulate in New York.  A delegation from CIT is returning to Salem this April to visit the campus.