Author: Cathy A Robison

The Department of Languages has established a fund to honor Leslie Williams, associate professor of Japanese, who passed away on July 10, 2014. The Dr. Leslie Williams Memorial Fund will be used for department events, especially Japanese cultural programs and Language and International Trade activities. The fund will be announced at the Language and International Trade Conference on March 9, 2016.

Williams joined the department in 1999. His academic research focused on Japanese pedagogy, Shintô rituals, pre-Meiji Japanese history, and Taoist cosmology and health maximization practices. He served as Director of the Language and International Trade (L&IT) Program from 2012 to 2014 and was the Assistant Chair of the Department of Languages from 2013 to 2014.

Williams had a passion for both teaching and his students. Twice he was named an Outstanding Clemson Professor by the university’s student government, and he also led a student trip to Kyoto, Japan, every other year for ten years.  Outside of class, Leslie played an active role in student life, leading the L&IT Society during the 2013-2014 academic year.

Donations to the fund may be made by check, payable to the Dr. Leslie Williams Memorial Fund, and mailed to Department of Languages, Clemson University, 717 Strode Tower, Clemson, SC 29634.

The Clemson Language Immersion Program celebrated its 20th year of offering students a blend of classroom instruction and cultural activities in the local community. This year’s Japanese program, conducted on campus from May 12 to June 14 under the direction of Toshiko Kishimoto, immersed students for seven hours a day in the target language. Each student took a pledge to use only Japanese for the entire five weeks.

Program activities included field trips, guest speakers, and special art lessons from a certified Japanese calligrapher. During a field trip to Atlanta the group visited the Japanese Governmental Offices, the Japanese division of KPMG (an international audit, tax and advisory firm) and the Atlanta Zoo where each student was paired with a native speaker. This year, the group was honored with an invitation to lunch at the Consul General’s official residence, where they enjoyed an authentic Japanese meal.

A favorite activity was Skype communication with Japanese college students in Japan several times each week. The highlight of the program was a home stay at local Japanese families’ homes. Each student was assigned to a Japanese expatriate’s home (all who work for Upstate South Carolina Japanese firms) where they spent one night and two days joining the families in their daily activities.  Student Dalton Randall found the home stay “one of the hardest yet most exciting things of the program.” He noted that “this social focus makes CLIP a very strong supplement to my traditional classes as it encourages thinking much faster and improvising rather than the planning and preparation one can do for classes.”

The students concluded the program with a party to celebrate their hard work and to say thank you to the Japanese community for its support.  Reflecting upon the five-week immersion program, William Edwards noted that it offered “invaluable experiences that brought the Japanese culture into our curriculum” in a way that allowed students to participate fully in another culture without traveling abroad.

Clemson’s unique Language and International Health major combines coursework in languages (with concentrations in Spanish and Chinese) and public health.  A highlight of the program for those concentrating in Spanish is the healthcare internship experience in Seville, Spain. Students have the opportunity to complete internships at both public and private hospitals and medical centers. The program also provides an overview of the health system in Spain, specifically in Andalusia, through visits to several local hospitals, a guided tour of the Andalusian School of Public Health in Granada, and the opportunity to interact and converse with local healthcare politicians from Dos Hermanas, a town near Seville.

During the semester-long program, organized through the Centro Internacional de Estudios Culturales (CINECU), students complete five courses for a total of 45 contact hours at Estudios Universitarios y Superiores de Andalucía (EUSA), a private school which has been affiliated with the University of Seville since 1996. Courses focus on improving Spanish linguistic competence and expanding cultural knowledge of Spain, including its medical structure and institutions. Students stay with families in Seville, thereby allowing them to experience the local culture firsthand.

Thanks to Clemson’s agreement with the CINECU, L&IH students studying in Seville can do their internships at the Victoria Eugenia Hospital, a private hospital which belongs to Spain’s Red Cross. It is a 140-hour program in which the students rotate among the different sections of the hospital observing admissions, emergency, intensive care, outpatient, rehabilitation, pharmacy, and surgery.

The internship in health administration allows students to learn about the organization of the healthcare system through direct observations and experiences in hospitals and clinics.  Using their observational and experiential data, as well as information from coursework, students produce a final report, which summarizes and analyzes the differences and/or similarities found between the health systems in the United States and in Spain.

Chardrevius (Dre) Martin, a senior Language and International Health-Spanish major, spent the spring semester of 2015 in Seville. He plans to pursue a degree in medicine and noted “the knowledge that I learned in these courses will give me a much better understanding of how all types of healthcare systems work.” Dre describes his internship, “I worked in the Department of Preventative Medicine at a hospital outside of the city. I was able to participate in [a] point prevalence study of hospital-associated infections called EPINE/EPPS. This study is done throughout Europe to determine what infections are most prominent and their risk factors. I learned a wealth of knowledge through this study and by following physicians around during consults with patients infected with various infectious diseases.”

Dre and other students who participate in the internship program not only gain practical experience in the healthcare field but also learn about another culture by living with families, taking courses and making new friends. Dre sums up his experience, “Studying abroad changed me in many ways, but the most important thing it gave me was respect for others and their lifestyles, which goes far beyond just tolerance for those things. If I had the chance, I would do it all over in a heartbeat because […] the wonderful people I met, food I [ate], [and] music I heard all worked together to make Sevilla a place I will always call home.”

Meg O’Sell, a spring graduate of the Language and International Health program, is our student spotlight in this new feature. Meg has studied and worked abroad in several Spanish-speaking countries, including Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Spain. At the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities spring awards ceremony, Meg received the Language and International Health Award of Excellence in Research, the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Award and the Blue Key Academic and Leadership Award. Let’s learn more about her.

Where are you from?
I was born in Davenport, Iowa, and grew up in both Davenport and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Just last year my family moved to Clemson.

Why did you select Clemson?
My oldest sister attended Clemson University, so I became familiar with Clemson when my family and I would help her during move-in and visit her for family weekends. I loved the campus, the size, the lake, and the South. I liked that Clemson is large enough so that if I wanted to change majors, it would likely have whatever I would be interested in. Location was also important to me. Even though Clemson was a long way from my parents in Pittsburgh, my mom’s side of the family is just a short drive away in Athens, Georgia. Also, I wanted to escape northern winters and dirty parking lot slush.

What three words describe you best?
Fun, adventurous, easygoing.

Why did you select your major, Language and International Health?
I actually began Clemson as a chemistry major before changing to Language and International Health (L&IH). I am interested in medicine and thought that chemistry would be a good route to medical school. The first semester of my freshman year I decided that because of my strong interest in other cultures, I wanted to find a major that better integrated that with science classes. Thanks to the friendly people in the Michelin Career Center at Clemson University, I found L&IH which is a perfect fit for me. L&IH combines my favorite subjects: Spanish and international health.

Where did you study abroad, and how has this experience shaped your life?
I spent a semester studying in San Jose, Costa Rica, and liked it so much that I extended my stay an extra month. I took health and Spanish classes while also interning at a local medical clinic. I learned a lot from the doctors and nurses at the clinic by observing during consultations, in the emergency room, and going on house calls. I am also grateful to have made some wonderful friends during my time there. I have always been interested in traveling, experiencing new cultures, and practicing my Spanish. Spending so much time with and observing the doctors helped me “confirm” what I plan to do for a living.

What has been your most memorable experience in your major?
My most memorable experience in my major was participating in Creative Inquiries led by Dr. Graciela Tissera. For one of these Creative Inquiries I analyzed a short story by Jorge Luis Borges and its filmic representation and presented my essay at an international Jorge Luis Borges conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Besides attending the conference and being able to hear others’ ideas about works of Borges, Dr. Tissera made sure I experienced the culture of Argentina while there. I explored the city, drank coffee at Café Tortoni, and went to the countryside.

How does knowing a foreign language benefit you?
I have been able to meet, talk with, and get to know so many interesting people because I am able to communicate in Spanish. I believe that knowing another language is so valuable. I value knowing Spanish because of the Spanish-speaking friends I have made. Not only are we able to help and learn from one another, but we also share little things like jokes and laughs.

What are your future plans?
I am currently applying to medical school for admission in fall 2016. This September I am moving to Spain for nine months to help teach English in two public elementary schools.

What interests/hobbies do you have outside of academic work?
I enjoy spending time on the lake, whether it is stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, or just floating. I also like visiting my family in Iowa and Athens and baking with my grandmas. Besides health and Spanish, for fun I like to read about handwriting analysis. I love to travel to see new areas and live like the locals live.

What would people be surprised to know about you?
I ride a motorcycle.

Hannah Mills (BA  2010)

The first time I ventured across the Atlantic was to study abroad in the coastal community of Alicante, Spain, during the spring semester of my sophomore year. As a Language and International Trade Spanish major, I wanted to be as immersed in the Spanish language and culture as possible. Fortunately, Clemson had a direct exchange program with La Universidad de Alicante, which allowed me to enroll in courses taught entirely in Spanish with native-speaking students.  I was even able to take French courses taught in Spanish to earn credit toward my French minor.

I received a grant to do an internship abroad through the Honors College; so I went to Paris the summer after my junior year to intern at the U.S. Embassy. I spoke in French full-time for three months and was tasked with photographing and archiving all of the antique furniture owned by the US government in Paris. I even had the chance to meet President Obama, while he was visiting the Embassy.

The exposure to Europe during my undergraduate studies inspired my choice to attend the Grenoble Graduate School of Business at their satellite London campus. Being the only American student in the International Business program gave me an academic experience I will never forget; it also piqued my interest in finance.

Following graduate school, I moved to New York City to pursue a career in the financial industry. I currently work in investor relations at a credit asset management firm, Golub Capital. The opportunities, encouragement, and support that I was given by the Language and International Trade program, and especially Professor Touya, put me on track to the career I have always wanted.

American Sign Language Club hosts Spring Seminar

The American Sign Language Club hosted its annual Spring Seminar in the Student Academic Success Center in April. This year’s seminar featured five interpreters of the Deaf (all from South Carolina) fielding questions from the audience regarding the interpreting profession, Deaf Culture, and personal experiences.  The interpreters included Glendia Boon of Columbia, Callie Marsh of Piedmont, Phoena Kelly of Columbia, Nancy Dunn of Greenville, and Susie Spainhour of Belton. According to the speakers, there is tremendous demand for interpreters, and opportunities are available once an individual is trained and certified.

Creative Inquiry students present research

Language and International Health majors Maggie Boyd, Lisa Dueñas, Rebecca McConnell and Meg O’Sell presented their research on “Health and Business Topics in Film” at the Southeast Coastal Conference on Languages and Literatures at Georgia Southern University, Savannah, Georgia, in March. The research was conducted in a Creative Inquiry class under the direction of Graciela Tissera. The following papers were presented: “Times of War and Alternate Existences in Pan’s Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro” (Maggie Boyd), “The Aura by Fabián Bielinsky: Perceptions of Death in an Elusive Reality” (Lisa Dueñas), “Europe under Fire: The Intricate Worlds of Survival” (Rebecca McConnell), and “Confronting Death, Duty, and Love in Felicitas by Maria Teresa Costantini” (Meg O’Sell). The presentations were made possible through competitive travel grants awarded by the Creative Inquiry Program.

Several students presented their Creative Inquiry research at the Focus on Creative Inquiry Poster Forum at Clemson University in April. Caleb Addis, Lisa Dueñas, Meg O’Sell, Danielle Stephens, José Hernández, Rebecca McConnell, Maggie Boyd, Taylor Rouse, Jennifer Bolta, and Courtney Sipes presented their research on “Health, Business, and Gender Topics in Film,” mentored by Graciela Tissera. Emily Blackshire, Jardin Dogan, Chelsea Frasier, Eandra Hall, Jada Jones, Nigel Jones, Thomas Offerle, Katelyn Ragland, Andrea Rojas, Elizabeth Villegas, Kendyl Williams, and Ainsley Wingard presented their research on “International Health and Hispanic Culture,” mentored by Dolores Martín and Graciela Tissera. Several of this latter group of students traveled to the Dominican Republic during Spring Break 2015 to participate in health-related service learning activities and to conduct research on topics such as domestic violence, postpartum depression, infant and maternal mortality, Kahler’s disease, sexual abuse and cardiovascular health. The research projects in the Dominican Republic were made possible through competitive travel grants awarded by the Creative Inquiry Program.

Language and International Health Program hosts symposiums

The Language and International Health Program organized its sixth and seventh symposiums at Clemson University in September/October 2014 and February 2015. The symposiums focused on international health programs with the following presentations: “Major Issues Affecting Foreign Language Healthcare Interpretation” by Daniel Holcombe, Arizona State University; “International Studies and Internships in Seville, Spain” by Carlos Valencia, Director of CINECU; and “Building Healthy Communities in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic” by Arelis Moore, Clemson University.

Students earn awards at spring ceremony

The following students received Department of Languages awards at the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities Awards Ceremony in April.

Sierra Axtell – Jordan A. Dean, Sr. Annual Award in French Studies
Brittany Bentz – John Bednar Award of Excellence in French and International Trade
Kristin Buhrow – Clemson Chinese Laoshi Award for Best Achievement
Turner Cotterman – Draexlmaier Language Award for Excellence in German
Nicole Cyr – Draexlmaier Language Award for Excellence in German
Courtney Dukes – Gallaudet/Clerc Award for Excellence in American Sign Language
Tory Garland – Clemson Chinese Laoshi Award for Best Beginner
Maria Hawkins – JAASC Award in Excellence in Japanese
Chris Henry – Clemson University German Club Award
Benjamin Leder – Language and International Trade Award for Excellence in Japanese
August McRaney Lehnert – Coccia Foundation Annual Award (Italian)
Meg O’Sell – Language and International Health Award of Excellence in Research, the American Association of Teachers of Spanish & Portuguese Award, and the Blue Key Academic and Leadership Award.
Olivia Meers – Language and International Health Award of Excellence
Lawrence Reed – William Stokoe Award (American Sign Language)
Anna Williams – Language and International Health Academic Honor Award
Aurelia Wurzel – American Association of Teachers of French Award

Stephen Fitzmaurice, assistant professor of American Sign Language, was awarded the National Association of the Deaf Golden Hands Award for his work with the South Carolina Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. The Golden Hand Award is bestowed by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and recognizes exemplary, volunteer contributions. It is awarded to an ally who has dedicated sustained major volunteer contributions to the Deaf Community.  Established in 1880, the NAD is one of America’s oldest non-profit organizations and serves as the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for Deaf individuals.  The NAD’s mission is to preserve, protect and promote the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States. This award was bestowed by an NAD Board member at the South Carolina Association of the Deaf biennial conference in early August. Fitzmaurice also provided a weeklong in-service training for practicing Educational Interpreters for the South Carolina Department of Education in July and discussed his research work at the Summer Interpreting and Translation Research Institute at Gallaudet University.

Graciela Tissera, associate professor of Spanish and director of the Language and International Health program, received the Frank A. Burtner Award for Excellence in Advising at the Clemson University Faculty Meeting in May, 2015. This award is presented to “the advisors of students or student organizations who excel in developing students in the areas of leadership, devotion to duty and service.” This award is funded in honor of Burtner who served Clemson University for many years as a professor and advisor to student organizations. One nominator noted that she “selflessly serves her students by providing opportunities for us to grow as leaders and by enhancing what we learn in class by facilitating out-of-class opportunities.” Tissera also presented two research papers on film and literature at national conferences: “We Greeks are the Chosen: The Golden Era of Courage and Glory in Alexander the Great by Robert Rossen” (Film & History Conference) and “Filmic Portrayals of the Subconscious Mind and the Game of Death” (Southeast Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures). She also chaired a session on film: “The Metaphor of Death in Film through Graphic Images and Surreal Transgressions.”

Raquel Anido, assistant professor of Spanish, received the John B. & Thelma A. Gentry Award for Teaching Excellence in the Humanities. This is Clemson’s highest honor for teaching in the humanities. Students and colleagues describe Anido as a passionate, energetic, enthusiastic and innovative teacher who pushes students to excel in a collaborative learning environment. One student noted that her “class feels like a conversation” where students learn from each other through engaging class discussion. Anido teaches courses in the literature, culture and cinema of Spain.

Other faculty news

Yanming An, professor of Chinese and Philosophy, published “Two Patterns of Cyclical View of History” in Philosophy Research, the top journal of philosophy in China, in August 2015.

Tiffany Creegan Miller, assistant professor of Spanish, received a grant from the Clemson University Humanities Advancement Board to research Kaqchikel Maya children’s songs and poetry in Guatemala in July 2015. This project is a continuation of fieldwork funded by the Tinker Foundation. Currently, she is collaborating with a Kaqchikel language instructor to produce educational recordings for her classes in Guatemala.

Salvador Oropesa, chair and profesor of Spanish, published “La épica de la derrota de la posguerra española en la novela catalana: Pa negre (2003) de Emili Teixidor y Les veus del Pamano (2004) de Jaume Cabré” in Transitions: Journal of Franco-Iberian Studies 10 (2015).

Melva Persico, lecturer of Spanish, published a book of poetry, Ink on Paper – Poems (Charleston: Melva Archer-Persico, 2014), and the article “Afro-Uruguayan Culture and Legitimation: Candombe and Poetry,” ed., Jerome C. Branche, Black Writing, Culture and the State in Latin America. (Nashville, Vanderbilt UP, 2015).

Johannes Schmidt, associate professor of German, published two articles in German on Johann Gottfried Herder; one explores Hölderlin’s reception of Herder, and the other investigates the rhetorical dimension of Herder’s religious writings. He is also co-editing a volume on “Herder and Religion” and presented a paper at last year’s meeting of the International Herder Society at Purdue University.  Schmidt will serve on the Fulbright West European Literature (Germanics [German Studies]) Discipline Peer Review Committee for 2015-2016.

Daniel J. Smith, associate professor of Spanish, presented his research on the difference between noun and verb phrases in Spanish-English bilingualism at the 6th Symposium on Bilingualism and Bilingual Education in Latin America in August 2015.  He is revising a book-length manuscript on Spanish-English bilingualism.

Eric Touya, associate professor of French, published two articles entitled “On Postcolonialism, Feminism, and History: Hélé Béji, Baudrillard, and the Arab Spring” in Dalhousie French Studies and “Claudel, l’Amérique, et la guerre 1914-1918” in Bulletin de la Société Paul Claudel. Paris: Classiques Garnier.