Department of Languages

Department of Languages Fall 2024 Highlights

Posted on by semrrs

As we come to the end of another exciting semester, the Department of Languages is excited to share some of the highlights from the Department in Fall 2024.

Inaugural Semester of “Passport” Living and Learning Community

The new student Living and Learning Community (LLC), Passport, has completed the first semester of its inaugural year. Clemson’s Living and Learning Communities give students a way of navigating college life with a cohort of peers with shared interests and goals. An idea spearheaded by Faculty Sponsor and Principal Lecturer Ellory Schmucker (Languages), the Passport LLC brings together first-year students who share an interest in languages to live, learn, and grow together in a diverse, engaging residential community.

This semester, Passport, which is housed in Gressette residence hall, hosted 16 students from an array of diverse backgrounds and academic concentrations with the aim of creating a multilingual residential space for students to immerse themselves in languages and cultures from around the world. Their common interest in languages coupled with their diverse backgrounds and academic interests enable them to experience a supportive and active community eager to learn from and with one another.

Gressette, Cribb, and DesChamps residence halls. Passport LLC is housed in Gressette Hall. Photo Courtesy of Clemson University.

Department of Languages Hosts 51st Annual Poetry Declamation Contest

The Department of Languages hosted the 51st Annual Poetry Declamation Contest on October 27, 2024.

Begun in 1971, the annual Declamation Contest brings together high school students from schools across South Carolina and Georgia to compete in a poetry recitation in their languages of study. This year, contests were held in eight languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. Students of all levels may take part in the contest, ranging from absolute beginner to native speaker. This year, over 360 students and 26 schools participated in the event.

During the contest, students recited two poems from memory in the target language: a mandatory selection and their choice of a second selection. They were judged by a panel of judges comprised of Department of Languages faculty and guest judges from the community. After the contest, students, teachers, and parents attended an awards ceremony in Daniel Hall during which Dean Vazsonyi and the members of the Declamation committee presented contests winners with their respective medals.

The Declamation Contest is one of the Department of Languages’ longest standing and most exciting traditions. It continues to be a way to give high school language teachers and students a goal to work toward in their classes, as well as to give students a chance to visit and learn about Clemson University in person by taking a campus tour. The event is made possible by the contributions of current and former faculty, student volunteers, and community judges, as well as the hard work of the Declamation committee: Su-I Chen, Lee Ferrell, Stephanie Morris, Amy Sawyer, Julia Schmidt, and Melva Persico.

Students, parents, and teachers watch the awards ceremony in Daniel Hall after the Declamation Contest.

7th Annual Day of the Dead Celebration Held on Clemson Campus

The Department of Languages once more participated in the 7th Annual Day of the Dead celebration on November 1.

Typically observed on November 1 or 2, the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a celebration of life originating in Mexico and now celebrated throughout Latin America and the United States. It is a time for friends, family, and community to come together to celebrate and honor the lives and memories of departed loved ones.

Clemson’s Day of the Dead event aims to share the joyous Día de los Muertos traditions with the Clemson community and growing Latino communities throughout the upstate.

Day of the Dead celebrations typically include colorful symbols such as marigolds (cempasúchitles), skeletons (calacas), and altars (ofrendas) where family members can honor departed loved ones with photos and offerings of food and drink. Traditional foods include the bread of the dead (pan de muerto) and sugar skulls (calaveras de azúcar).

As in previous years, this year’s Day of the Dead event featured traditional food trucks, face painting, a mariachi band, an outdoor screening of the film “Coco,” and an elegant “Catrina”, a skeleton in traditional dress.

An ofrenda displaying mementos of loved ones and several traditional symbols of the Day of the Dead. Photo courtesy of Clemson University.

The Clemson Day of the Dead celebration is organized and sponsored by several departments, organizations, faculty, students, and individuals from across Clemson and the wider Clemson community. The Department of Languages thanks in particular Nora Logue, Arelis Moore, Rosa Pillcurima, Anne Salces y Nedeo, Debra Williamson (Languages) and Jessica Garcia (CAAH) for their invaluable contributions to the event’s organization and success since its inception in 2018.

Posted in Language department, UncategorizedTagged , ,

Language and International Health Society

Posted on by schen

March 3, 2024

The purposes of the Language and International Health Society shall include:

  • Helping students succeed in the L&IH major and prepare for their future through contact with guest speakers, L&IH graduates, study abroad advisors and other campus and community resources;
  • Serving as a forum where L&IH majors can meet and exchange information, ideas and concerns about internships, study abroad and other aspects related to the major;
  • Providing opportunities where students can network with other students and professionals, explore career paths, and broaden their knowledge of global health issues and their cultural and linguistic contexts;
  • Representing the L&IH major to Clemson University.

L&IH Society Officers (2024-2025)

A person in a blue dress Description automatically generated

President: Laura Gorissen

“Hey everyone! My name is Laura Gorissen, and I am super excited to be president of the LIH Society this year. I will be studying abroad in Seville, Spain next semester and cannot wait to travel to new places.”

A person standing on a sidewalk Description automatically generated

Vice President: Lydia Dorroh

Hi everyone! My name is Lydia Dorroh, and I am a junior Spanish and International Health major. I am so excited to study abroad in Seville, Spain in the spring and serve as your vice president this semester!

Social Media Coordinator: Miah Bernard

“Hi everyone! My name is Miah Bernard. I am a senior LIH major with a concentration in Spanish. I love traveling and spent my semester abroad in Ecuador. I am so excited for this year with LIH Society!”

Treasurer: Yahir Nunez

“Hello, my name is Yahir, and I am a senior Spanish and International Health major with a minor in Athletic Leadership. I am the treasure for the L&IH Society this school year. I love playing soccer, hanging out with friends, and spending time with my family. My future aspirations consist of becoming a physical therapist and I am currently in the process of applying to Physical Therapy school!”

A person in a red shirt Description automatically generated

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Arelis Moore, PhD.

“Hello! I’m Arelis Moore, an associate professor of community health in the Department of Languages. Since 2017, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the LIH Faculty Advisor. It’s truly an honor to work with such a dedicated group of Language and International Health Students. Their commitment to service and leadership inspires me, and I have no doubt they will make a positive impact in the world as they move forward in their careers.”

Posted in Clubs and Society, Language departmentTagged

Clemson Student Reflects on Clemson in London-Paris-Normandy Study Abroad

Posted on by semrrs

Clemson student Crayton Rhodes, class of 2025, recently shared his reflections on his recent study abroad experience through Clemson’s “Remembering D-Day: Clemson in London-Paris-Normandy” in Clemson World.

Led by Professor Eric Touya de Marenne and Col. (Ret.) Lance Young, Clemson Corps Life Emeritus, “Remembering D-Day: Clemson in London-Paris-Normandy” is a yearly study abroad course which allows students to fulfill a global challenges requirement by learning about the history, legacy, and importance of D-Day in a variety of historically significant locations throughout the United Kingdom and France.

Students revisit the experiences of American soldiers during World War II and reflect on the meaning of these experiences through visits to museums, battlefields, memorials, and cemeteries in France and the United Kingdom. A unique feature of the program is its face-to-face component, which allows students a personal experience with history through private guided tours and conversations with eyewitnesses to the events of D-Day.

As Rhodes reflects in his post, many students have the opportunity to connect intimately with their own family histories by reflecting on family members’ experiences against the real-life backdrop of these events.

To read Crayton Rhodes’s reflection and learn more about his Study Abroad experience, please visit Clemson World.

Posted in Language department, Study AbroadTagged

Film Screening “The Zone of Interest”

Posted on by schen

Join us for a screening of Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest on Wednesday, April 3rd, at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Auditorium of Watt Family Innovation Center. Panel discussion to follow.

The Zone of Interest focuses on the life of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig, who live with their family in a home in the “Zone of Interest” next to the concentration camp. The film won the Best International Film at the 96th Academy Awards and the Grand Prix at Cannes.

Official Trailer 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-vfg3KkV54 

Official Trailer 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFNtVaAuVYY 

Posted in Language department, UncategorizedTagged

Spring Highlights: German and Spanish Programs Host Conference for International Business in Mexico

Posted on by semrrs

On February 14, the Spanish and German programs hosted the Conference for German and Spanish in International Business and Engineering: Investment in Mexico.  Faculty members Daniel García, Magdalena Matúskova and Lee Ferrell collaborated together in organizing this event with publicity and social media coordinated by Anna Grace Araiza.  Events for the day were moderated and organized by student leaders Gwyneth Terry (LAIB Spanish), Derek Dias (Finance), Emiliano Sanchez (Finance) and Anna Schmidt (Management).

Hosted in collaboration with the Department of Management and the Consulate General of Mexico, the conference brought in numerous German companies from the upstate region to speak with our students about the work they do in both the US Southeast and in Mexico. This unique opportunity allowed students to learn about the presence of German businesses in Mexico and the unique benefits they have on the region.

After opening remarks by Dean Nicholas Vazsonyi and an address by the Deputy Consul General of Mexico, the conference showcased a keynote address by BMW representatives on the benefits of conducting business in Mexico. Also featured was a panel discussion with the North American heads of Röchling Automotive and Dräxlmaier Automotive Groups as well as the Mexican Ambassador to Germany about German business and investment in Mexico. Students and attendees were also afforded the chance to participate in roundtable discussions on German business and investment through a broader regional lens.

Attendees listen to a presentation during the Conference for German and Spanish in International Business and Engineering: Investment in Mexico.

The conference concluded with a mini job fair in which students and attendees could network with representatives from various German companies and learn about internship and introductory-level jobs in their companies.

Students speak with representatives from Röchling following the conference. The mini job fair was an opportunity for students to learn about internships and entry-level jobs in German companies throughout the Upstate region.

Posted in College of Architecture Arts and Humanities, Language department, UncategorizedTagged , , , ,

Two 2023 LIH Graduates Ready to Make their Mark in Public Healthcare

Posted on by semrrs

The Department of Languages is proud to acknowledge two LIH graduates, Madeleine Wolfe and Rund Adelnabi, both recently featured in Clemson News.

Both Madeleine and Rund will be receiving degrees in Language and International Health with a Spanish concentration. Their unique passions and talents have led them both in different and equally impressive directions.

Madeleine Wolfe, Language and International Health ’23
Image courtesy of Clemson University

Madeleine plans to focus her future efforts on combatting the health disparities that arise in rural communities. She has already had a positive and tangible impact on the local community. During her time at Clemson, she earned her EMS certification and has been working as an EMT with the Clemson University Fire Department. Her unique background in cybersecurity as related to healthcare systems combined with her research with Clemson Rural Health no doubt will allow Madeleine to continue making her mark as she heads off to medical school.

Rund Abdelnabi, Language and International Health ’23
Image courtesy of Clemson University

Rund’s approach is more language-driven. Fluent in three languages, Rund seeks to help Arabic and Spanish speakers access and navigate the complexities of the public healthcare system. Her firsthand experience working in a public health center in Argentina while completing her study abroad program gave her valuable experience in forging meaningful patient relationships, and her goal of becoming a physician’s assistant will allow her to integrate her talents, skills, and passion to make a difference in the experiences and lives of patients in the future.

The Department of Languages heartily congratulates these talented and impressive graduates as they take the next steps in their healthcare journey!

Posted in College of Architecture Arts and Humanities, Language departmentTagged , ,