Students in SPAN 3040 present their research. (Photo courtesy of Graciela Tissera.)
Students Chandler Bailey, Caroline Barton, Caroline Cash, Taeylor Dickenson, Emily Grant, Ally Graulich, Blakely Holcombe, Steve Kurtz, Maeve Marsh, Clare McKeon, Nick Meyer, John Murdy, Abby Noga, Hayley Perryman, Lauren Stabler, and J. Sky Williams presented their research on Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba in their SPAN 3040 class (Introduction to Hispanic Literary Forms) offered by Dr. Graciela Tissera. The research focused on the dramatic characters, themes, and symbols. The House of Bernarda Alba was García Lorca’s last play, completed before his death in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. García Lorca described the play in its subtitle as a drama about women in the villages of Spain. The play centers on the events of a house in Andalusia during a period of mourning, in which Bernarda Alba wields total control over her five daughters. Students explored the tragic atmosphere of the play and the women’s psyche, proposing innovative ideas on the impact of authoritarianism, beauty, and the fight for freedom.
L&IH-Spanish students at the hospital in Seville. (Photo courtesy of Europa Press.)
Language and International Health-Spanish majors Paris Arrington, Sydney Hamby, Anna Longaker, and Adrina Patterson are taking classes and completing their L&IH internships in Seville, Spain. Students had the opportunity to visit the Hospital Universitario de Valme to learn more about the healthcare system in Spain. They met with Rafael Aznar (Director, Center for Diagnostic Imaging), Javier Román (Manager, Clinical Care), and Fausto Rubio (Manager, Radiology) to discuss health services, new programs, and emerging technologies.
Keynote speaker Hector Ibarra. (Photo courtesy of Clemson University.)
The German and Spanish Professional Societies and the Department of Languages held the second annual International Forum for German and Spanish in the Professions on September 27, 2017. This event, the seventh to focus on German investment in our region, was held in the Hendrix Student Center. In attendance were students from Clemson University and the University of South Carolina-Upstate.
Students at the forum. (Photo courtesy of Clemson University.)
The theme of this year’s conference was “German Companies in the Americas Hiring and Maintaining a Qualified Workforce: Old and New Challenges.” Speakers discussed cultural and legal issues faced by companies that seek to operate both in the States and in Latin America. The keynote address, “Challenges of Establishing Businesses North and South of the Border,” was given by Mr. Hector Ibarra, Associated Professional with Parker Poe Attorneys and Counsellors at Law in Charlotte, NC.
In addition, thirteen companies hosted roundtable discussions with attending students to address questions about their companies as well as preparing for the job market.
Elizabeth visiting the Royal Palace of Madrid, the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family. (Photo courtesy of Graciela Tissera.)
Hi! My name is Elizabeth Simpson, and I am a senior Health Science major with a minor in Spanish. I’ll be graduating in May, and will hopefully be going to graduate school to become an Occupational Therapist. In Spring of 2017, I studied abroad in the Faculty Directed Program to Seville, Spain.
As a Health Science major, I was able to complete courses that counted directly towards my requirements for graduation, such as a course in Hospital Administration and a course in Global Health Services Management. I was also able to complete my Spanish minor, and also take courses that I would not typically have access to here at Clemson, such as a class about Spain’s role in the European Union. Another plus about this program is that I got to live with a Spanish family that was carefully chosen as part of this program. My host family was amazing, and it was great to be able to be a part of a family. My host mom, Menchu, cooked all of our meals and did our laundry. Menchu was also able to answer any questions we had about Seville, or Spain in general. The best part is that all of this was included in the cost of the program that I paid to Clemson!
Elizabeth and classmates with one of their professors, Dr. Fernando Díaz Buiza. (Photo courtesy of Graciela Tissera.)
However, my favorite part of my study abroad experience overall was that I had so many opportunities to travel! Through the program, we took trips to places such as Madrid, Córdoba, Cáceres, and Mérida. One of the professor’s from the program led these trips, and gave us insights and information that we wouldn’t have learned in any other typical tour of these places. We also had excursions to places in Seville, like the Cathedral and the Royal Palace, where again, we learned more from our professor than we could have from a regular tour. Apart from the school trips, I was also able to travel with friends from my program to many different cities in Europe, including Lisbon, Portugal, Edinburgh, Scotland, and Chefchaouen, Morocco.
Elizabeth and classmates in Cáceres, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Photo courtesy of Graciela Tissera.)
Though I traveled as often as possible, I always loved returning back to Seville, because it was my favorite city that I visited my whole time abroad. During the spring semester, we had two weeks off from school because of events going on in the city. The first week was for Semana Santa (Holy Week), and it was such an incredible experience. During Semana Santa, there are multiple processions each day leading up to Easter. These processions were incredible to watch. The other break followed two weeks later, and that was for the Seville Fair, which was again an incredible experience. My apartment was right next to the fair grounds, so I was able to go and enjoy the fair almost every day. Everyone dresses up, and many women wear flamenco-style dresses.
I am so happy that I chose this program to study abroad. I was given so many unique opportunities, such as class work that counted towards my major and minor, living with a host family, and also traveling with my program. I was also able to immerse myself in the culture of Seville by attending celebrations for Semana Santa and the Seville Fair, going to watch Flamenco shows, and even participating in a Flamenco dance class. Though certain aspects of studying abroad are difficult, I believe that this program was best because first of all, the directors are always available to help in any way, and second, because it is through Clemson. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions! My email is efsimps@g.clemson.edu.
Clemson students Catie Silva, Sarah Burton, Kylie Cash, Marina Velo, Fatema Bhagat pose with Seville resident director Carlos Valencia. (Photo courtesy of Graciela Tissera.)
Dr. Carlos Valencia, Resident Director of the Clemson in Seville Program, talked about the program highlights during his presentation on September 19 and at the Study Abroad Fair on September 20, 2017. Dr. Carlos Valencia received his doctorate in 19th-century Spanish literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before teaching at Wake Forest University and the University of Richmond. Among Carlos’s professional interests are the application of new technology to Spanish language instruction and the incorporation of volunteer work into curriculua as a sociolinguistic and cultural learning tool.
Sean Cosh at the Study Abroad Fair. (Photo courtesy of Graciela Tissera.)
The following students also participated to share their experiences in the Seville Program, Spring 2017: Carine Brown (L&IH), Fatema Bhagat (L&IH), Sarah Burton (L&IT), Kylie Cash (L&IT), Sean Cosh (Minor in Spanish), Kate Czerkawski (L&IH), Catie Silva (L&IH), Marina Velo (L&IH), and Melissa Williams (L&IH). The students talked about classes, trips, business and health internships, group projects, and how the professors abroad helped them to reach their goals in education. The International Spanish Program and Internships in Seville, Spain is a unique program designed for students in Modern Languages-Spanish, Language and International Health, Language and International Trade, and a minor in Spanish. Those who wish to embark on this journey are rewarded with the chance of a lifetime to explore Spanish culture and to experience working in a number of different business and healthcare environments. For more information, please contact Dr. Graciela Tissera, Program Director (gtisser@clemson.edu).
Melissa Williams, Kate Czerkawski and Carine Brown at the Study Abroad Fair. (Photo courtesy of Graciela Tissera.)
Johannes Schmidt, associate professor of German, visited the OTH Regensburg, a new partner university in Bavaria, Germany, in June 2017. The week was filled with meeting faculty, administrators, and students at the OTH as well as seeing the sights of the medieval historic center of the city. In Regensburg he saw three Clemson students, the first group to study at Regensburg. The week also included a visit to Infineon, a large semiconductor company where Clemson Computer Science student Dani Durham interned for a semester. Jennifer Rogers (Language and International Trade, German) spent the summer semester at Regensburg and will return in the fall to begin an internship with Mercedes Benz. Andrea Wiggins (Modern Languages, German) will stay in Regensburg for another semester.
Clemson student Dani Durham at Infineon. Photo courtesy of OTH Regensburg.
While in Regensburg, “Herr” Schmidt not only promoted Clemson as a study abroad destination for Regensburg students but also gave two guest lectures. “German Economy and Culture in the USA” was presented in German and discussed the historical influence of German culture and Germany’s business presence in the US today, as exemplified by businesses in Upstate South Carolina. Two major German companies with ties to Clemson University were used as case studies. The lecture/workshop “Holocaust Education in the US” — delivered in English — informed attendees what kind of information and how material related to the Shoah is presented in US middle and high schools as well as colleges and universities. The participants also researched and discussed the strong engagement of institutions and museums (like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.) regarding the topic.
The current partnership agreement is to be extended to a full study abroad and faculty exchange program. After his visit, Schmidt said, “The OTH was extremely welcoming and made my visit enjoyable and very informative. I now feel even better sending our students to Regensburg.”
According to a recent media release, Clemson University selected eight students for the 2017 National Scholars Program, the university’s most selective academic merit program.
The eight are an extraordinarily gifted group. Beyond the remarkable academic records they present — an average SAT of more than 1530 and high school class rank in the top 1 percent — these Scholars are a diverse and talented group of researchers, musicians, athletes and community servants.
Two of the incoming National Scholars plan to pursue degrees in the Department of Languages:
Breauna Franklin, South Fayette Township High School, McDonald, Pennsylvania Franklin has been an active member of her varsity swim team and has served as captain for the past two years. She is also involved in Teen Institute, a mentoring program aiming to facilitate healthy discourse with middle school students. The past few summers, she has interned for the Opportunity Education Foundation creating an app to be distributed in pilot schools around the globe as well as the HerLead Conference. She has participated in a study-abroad program in Chile and the Frank Bolden Urban Journalism Workshop, a journalism course that has enabled her to publish articles on a variety of issues in the Pittsburgh area. Franklin is the daughter of Tammy and Norman Franklin and is planning to study Language and International Health with a concentration in Spanish.
Jacob Sargent, South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, Hartsville Sargent served as Student Council president during his senior year at the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics. He was the recipient of the Gold Award on the National German Exam and studied German language in Kulmbach, Germany, between his sophomore and junior years. He researched computer science for six weeks in Kaiserslautern, Germany, at the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering. Additionally, he played varsity soccer as a goalkeeper and defender throughout high school. Sargent is the son of Thomas Sargent and Heather Sargent and plans to pursue a Language and International Trade major with a German concentration, along with a minor in another foreign language.
From left to right, Megan Courage, Colin Jones, Robert Campos, Hannah Gilliam, Michelle Fuentes, Rachel Rogers, and Danielle Haight with their poster at the forum. Photo courtesy of Gabriela Tissera.
On April 5, students in the Department of Languages presented a project at Clemson’s annual Focus on Creative Inquiry Poster Forum. Robert Campos, Megan Courage, Elouise Cram, Michelle Fuentes, Hannah Gilliam, Danielle Haight, Colin Jones, Rebecca McConnell, and Rachel Rogers presented their research on The Fantastic in Hispanic Film. The project, mentored by Dr. Graciela Tissera, focused on the genre of science fiction and fantasy through films by world-renowned Hispanic film directors.
Rebecca McConnell and Elouise Cram with their poster at the forum. Photo courtesy of Graciela Tissera.
The analysis explored uncanny and marvelous elements related to parallel worlds, urban legends, the Lazarus syndrome, extrasensory perception, and dissociative identity, among other topics, as well as cinematic conventions and themes in fantastic films. With historical, cultural, political, and scientific contexts, the project analyzed supernatural phenomena as presented in films to determine the line between reality and unreality and the gateways between alternate worlds in order to forge an understanding of the unknown.
The International Festival is an annual event that symbolizes Clemson’s commitment to celebrating identities and cultures from around the world. The festival features ethnic-based foods, local craft and non-profit vendors, and entertainment and activities for all ages. The festival is hosted by the Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Center.
Coloring activities for children at the French Club booth. Photo courtesy of Michelle Koval.A game of pin the flag on the Eiffel Tower at the French Club booth. Photo courtesy of Michelle Koval.
This year’s festival was held April 9 at Bowman Field. Several student-run language clubs had booths with activities and food. The Spanish Club sold nachos and T-shirts, while the French Club had coloring sheets for children and a game of pin the flag on the Eiffel Tower. The Japanese Cultural Association offered traditional Japanese food at their booth. Festival attendees also learned more about the Department of Languages‘s activities for students throughout the semester.
The Spanish Club booth. Photo courtesy of Mirelly Buitrago.The Japanese Cultural Association booth. Photo courtesy of Jae Takeuchi.
The following Department of Languages students were honored at the 2016-2017 College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities (CAAH) Honors and Awards Ceremony on April 7 in the Brooks Center Theatre. Congratulations!
Linda Wilson – Gallaudet/Clerc Award for Excellence in American Sign Language
The award is given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding expressive and receptive skills in American Sign Language, understanding and appreciation of deaf culture, and has promoted the awareness of American Sign Language both on and off campus.
Award winner Hilda Chan (center) with CAAH Dean Richard Goodstein (left) and Chair of the Department of Languages Salvador Oropesa (right). Photo courtesy of Clemson University.
CHINESE
David Kwietniewski (beginner) & Hilda Chan (achievement) – Clemson Chinese Laoshi Awards
Two students from the Chinese language program receive prizes in the amounts of $100 (Best Beginner in Chinese Language Study) and $200 (Best Achievement in the Chinese Program).
Olivia Haddad & Donald McKinnon Reece – Pacific Gateway Award for Excellence in Chinese
The Pacific Gateway Capital LLC contributes an annual award of merit with a cash prize to a junior or senior for outstanding achievement in the study of the Chinese language.
FRENCH
Joseph Willis – American Association of Teachers French Award
The French faculty of the Department of Languages annually awards a medal from the American Association of the Teachers of French and a certificate of merit in recognition of outstanding achievement in the study of French language and literature.
Award winner Joseph Willis (center) with CAAH Dean Richard Goodstein (left) and Chair of the Department of Languages Salvador Oropesa (right). Photo courtesy of Clemson University.
Danielle Ayer – Jordan Dean Award in French
This award is given to a student in French studies for outstanding academic achievement.
GERMAN
Melissa Manning – Clemson University German Club Award
The German Club presents a certificate to recognize outstanding contributions to the extra-curricular cultural programs in German at Clemson.
Sarah Waldvogel – Draexlmaier Language Award
Funded by DAA Draexlmaier Automotive of America (Duncan, SC), this cash award recognizes a multi-faceted student who has attained exceptional language proficiency in German.
ITALIAN
Sarah Marshall – Coccia Foundation Annual Award
The Italian faculty annually presents this cash award to an Italian major in recognition of outstanding achievement in the study of Italian language and literature.
SPANISH
Nicholas M. West – American Association of Teachers Spanish & Portuguese Award
The Spanish faculty presents a medal from the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and a certificate to recognize outstanding achievement in the study of Spanish language and literature.
Award winner Michelle Fuentes (center) with CAAH Dean Richard Goodstein (left) and Chair of the Department of Languages Salvador Oropesa (right). Photo courtesy of Clemson University.
LANGUAGE AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
Rebecca Lynn McConnell – Language and International Health Academic Honor Award
The Language and International Health Society gives this award to a Language and International Health major who demonstrates ability to perform, achieve, and excel in scholastic activities.
Emily W. Blackshire – Language and International Health Award of Excellence
The award is given to a senior Language and International Health major for outstanding academic achievements, professional conduct, and unconditional service to multicultural communities.
Elouise Giroux Cram & Michelle Fuentes – Language and International Health Award of Excellence in Research
The award is given to a Language and International Health major for outstanding academic research on international health topics.
LANGUAGE AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Caroline Rubino – The John Bednar Award of Excellence in French and International Trade
The Language and International Trade – French faculty annually awards a Language and International Trade – French student in recognition of outstanding achievement in the study of French and international trade.
Caroline Winbleton – Dr. Wannamaker Languages & International Trade Annual Award of Excellence
The purpose of the fund is to honor an outstanding senior majoring in Language and International Trade who has the highest overall GPA. In case of a tie, the selection is based on meritorious service to the department.
