Department of Modern Languages

Department of Modern Languages
April 2016
College of Humanities and Fine Arts
From the Chair’s Desk
Inside this issue:
From the Chair’s Desk
1
New Faculty & Faculty News
2
Happy Retirement!
4
Congratulations!
5
MLA 400 Senior Capstone
6
Meet our Student Workers
8
Study Abroad
10
Work Abroad
14
MSU Language Showcase
15
Teachers’ Workshop
16
Alumni
17
“The Department of Modern Languages is in the process of renewal. In the fall, Dr. Fusae Ekida, Assistant Professor for Japanese
joined us. She received her Ph.D.
from the University of Washington
in Seattle and taught for a few
years at the University of Evansville. The colleagues who began
teaching with us in the previous
year have settled in and are bringing in new vibrant energy with
their ideas, skills in technology,
and creative teaching. In Spanish,
they are Tanya Romero-Gonzalez,
who just published an article,
Elena Picech-Reisinger, who
taught with KIIS in Cuba for study
abroad last summer, and Martin
Kane, co-director of the MSU
Language Showcase. Roxane
Riegler teaching both German and
French presented her research at
the GSA conference in Washington, D.C. last fall. This year, we
are looking for a new colleague in
Spanish, as Dr. Bodevin is retiring.
He has kept strong connections,
especially with former MSU students who have now become
teachers in the region. Dr. Bodevin
has taught Spanish at MSU since
1999 and we will miss him. We
are proud that Valerie Hendley,
director of the ‘Fun with Languages’
project that provides after school
language clubs throughout the region (funded by a grant from the
MSU Outreach office) won the Amici Linguarum Award last fall at the
KWLA conference in Louisville.
News just came in that Bryant Powell, majoring in French and graduating this May, was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to teach at a College in Belgium for a full year. This
gives evidence of the quality of the
language programs and the students
at MSU.
Our language sections had exciting
moments such as Kayla Johnson
winning the Grand Prize at the Japanese speech contest (a round trip
ticket to Japan), a colorful Chinese
New Year festival, an evening of
French chansons and theatre, and an
excursion to a special Viennese art
exhibit at the Frist Museum in Nashville. We are ready for spring and
are already looking towards the Cinco de Mayo fiesta at the end of the
semester. Good luck everybody, and
have a wonderful rest of the school
year.” Reika Ebert
Page 2
Department of Modern Languages
New Faculty
Fusae Ekida
Fusae Ekida is originally from Yamaguchi, Japan. With a
M.A. in Foreign Language Education at the Ohio State
University, she had taught Japanese language at various
universities in three different countries, Japan, the United
Kingdom and the United States. She earned a M.A. and a
Ph.D. in Japanese Literature at the University of Washington. She was a Japanese program coordinator at the University of Evansville before she joined Murray State University. She has a wide range of research interests from historical linguistics to Japanese classical literature. Currently she
is working on her research on waka poetry contests in medieval Japan.
She grew up in a tiny mountainous village which is closed
by mountains, quite conservative and traditional. She left
the village when she was 15 years old in order to commute
to a high school in Iwakuni city. She says her hometown
“will soon return to the nature as young people left the village. It is a sad reality of Japan but it is in a way that nature
is reclaiming her territory.” Although her students worry
about how she adjusts to a tiny town like Murray, her home
community is, actually, far smaller than Murray. After living in a busy city like Evansville, she is enjoying the quietness and tranquility which Murray offers. She loves spending the afternoon reading books on her patio.
Fusae Ekida
Joshua Easterling
“I studied at the University of Maryland
and Ohio State University, pursuing my
interest in Medieval Studies. Activities
not directly related to work that I enjoy
are listening to classical music--Sergei
Rachmaninoff is the master of all things
beautiful!--, spending lots of time with
friends, and going for extremely long
walks. If any of these activities can be
combined with coffee, all the better!”
Joshua Easterling
Page 3
Department of Modern Languages
Faculty News
Jie Wu
“The 2014-2015 academic year was full of pleasant memories. I began to propose an
interdisciplinary Chinese Studies Minor in October of 2014, and the new Minor was
approved in April of 2015. I expect that the Minor will attract more students in the
region to come to study at Murray State University, and that it will prepare students
who are interested in China for further studies or professions in China-related fields.
It was also my first time to be the faculty advisor of ICALA (International Cultures
and Languages Association) last year. Thanks to the hard work of student officers
and volunteers, and to the support of faculty of the Modern Languages Department,
ICALA successfully masterminded the traditional fundraiser at MSU Homecoming
last October, and hosted a number of cultural events such as Japanese origami night,
the Chinese New Year celebration (with Winslow Dining Services), and Cinco de
Mayo. These events promoted cultural diversity and world language education, and
enhanced communication and interaction between faculty and students.
At the end of the Spring 2015 semester, I was elected to be a member of the Academic Council, representing the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.
Lastly, my scholarly article on China’s historical and cultural south came out as a
chapter in the book Southern Identity and Southern Estrangement in Medieval Chinese Poetry (Hong Kong University Press, 2015).
This semester I hope to finish a paper on a Chinese woman court poet, who lived at
the turn of the 8th century, at the beginning of the golden age of Chinese poetry, and
her poems. Her tomb was discovered in China two years ago, and the funeral epitaph
in the tomb provides additional details to her life and time. My leisure-time project
is to finish Yūkio Mishima’s Kinkakuji (The Temple of the Golden Pavilion) in the
original Japanese language by the end of the fall semester.”
Jie Wu
Take Part: CHFA Fall 2015 Showcase
Tanya Romero-González was among the seven presenters who were
selected for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts 2015-2016 Showcase. Her presentation, entitled “Visual Metaphors: Engage your Students, Foster Creativity and Develop Critical Thinking”, focused on creative ways of incorporating images into teaching materials: “The current
overuse of the word ‘literally’ is changing the meaning of a term that
most speakers, especially our students, use when they actually mean
‘figuratively.’ In an attempt to exploit this tendency, I aim to shift my
students’ thinking from literal to metaphorical by including what I call
‘visual metaphors’—unexpected, surreal, or even shocking images— in
my class materials. While most of us use ‘visual aids’ in our teaching, I
want to demonstrate how we can turn images into teaching and learning
tools that go beyond the traditional supportive role to which they are
usually relegated. The goal is to make these images an integral part of the
tasks I create in order to engage my students, encourage their participation, foster creativity, reflect on their thinking and further develop their
analytical skills. Regardless of what level or area you teach, you can
easily incorporate these visual metaphors as a starting point or as the core
of discussions in your classes.”
Tanya Romero-González
Page 4
Department of Modern Languages
Faculty News: Happy Retirement
Thank you Dr. Bodevin!
After many years of devoted service to the Department of Modern Languages at Murray State University and inspiring several generations of
students, Dr. León Bodevin is retiring. Thank you Dr. Bodevin for everything you have done to help students find and follow their passion
studying Spanish and the culture of Spanish-speaking countries.
“Dr. Bodevin is a big reason why I am a Spanish Teaching major. He is
my academic advisor, professor, and friend. My goal, as a future educator, is to teach and to inspire my students in the way he inspired all of
us. Congratulations on your retirement, Dr. Bodevin.” Alex Richards
“¡Hola Dr. Bodevin! I must say that you have been one of the best advisors I could have asked for. Thank you so much for all of your support
and best wishes for the future!” Brandon Jones
“Dr. Bodevin, I'm very fortunate to have had you as a professor and as
my advisor. Thank you so much for all you do. You are an amazing
person!” Evelin Salgado
“Estimado Doctor León Bodevin, es un enorme placer poder escribirle
estas humildes palabras. Quisiera agradecerle por todo lo que usted ha
hecho por mí, por sus consejos, anécdotas, enseñanzas, y por todas sus
atenciones. Usted fue la gran inspiración para que yo me decidiera a
estudiar más a fondo el español como especialización. ¡Le deseo mucho
más que lo mejor en su futuro! Que Dios lo bendiga en donde quiera
que se encuentre. Saludos, ¡que esté bien!” Edgar Oronia
León Bodevin skillfully manning the grill
Thank you Ms. Burgess!
Ms. Burgess has been part of the Department of Modern Languages family for
several years. She has also been a Spanish Teacher at Murray High School for
over 40 years. She has positively impacted countless lives in the Murray and
MSU community. Her work has been recognized with outstanding and welldeserved teaching awards. In 2014 she was inducted into the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame.
“Dear Ms. Burgess, I only had one semester with you in Spanish, Spanish 102,
but I learned more in that class about Spanish than in any other course. You
made it fun and easy for us. You are one special teacher! Thank you for everything you have done for me and Happy Retirement. Hasta luego.” Sean Seavers
“Witty, unpredictable and intensely smart, Debbie Burgess taught Spanish as
if there were nothing else she would rather be doing. She drew me into her
world and made me see “foreign language” as a new way to tell jokes, share
secrets and understand each other.” Sarah Cunningham
Ms. Debbie Burgess
Page 5
Department of Modern Languages
Congratulations!
Eighth Annual Tennessee Area Japanese Speech Contest Winners
Ever since the Tennessee Area Japanese Speech Contest was established in 2008, Murray State University has been
the only participating university from Kentucky. This year, MSU competed against 38 students from eight other
Tennessee-based universities, including Vanderbilt University, UT Knoxville, and others. MSU has been a strong
contender in the Japanese Consulate-sponsored event, winning prizes every year, and winning the grand prize last
year and this year as well. The grand prize winner for 2015 is Kayla Johnson, a junior majoring in Japanese and
French from Erlanger, KY. She received a round-trip ticket to Japan and $500. Two other students won prizes. All
four participating students practiced intensively during the month leading up to the event with Ms. Yoko
Hatakeyama, Senior Lecturer of Japanese. Winners: Level 3 Grand Prize –Kayla Johnson, Level 2 First Place Jessica Alford, Third Place - Sunny Kwan.
Photo provided by the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville.
From left to right:
Sunny Kwan, Jessica Alford, Yoko Hatakeyama, Michael Dixon, Kayla Johnson and Marie Seaman.
Page 6
Department of Modern Languages
MLA 400: SENIOR CAPSTONE COURSE
MLA 400 is the capstone course for students majoring in foreign languages. Not only do students complete a senior resaerch paper, they get prepared for life after graduation. They learn how to write a successful cover letter and resume for different jobs they are pursuing. Also, professors from the department volunteer to play
the role of potential employer with whom students practice their interviewing skills during a mock interview.
Students spend time searching different job-market websites and share them with the class. During the research
paper writing process, students share their work with the class who then provide feedback through a peer review
or workshop collaborative. Each student receives positive feedback as well as constructive criticism on their
proposal, outline, abstract, and three drafts of a research paper. Students perform mock presentations before
Scholars Week in the Spring or International Week in the fall. These Colloquiums are open to the public and are
attended by faculty from the Department of Modern Languages and other departments, the general student body,
and family and friends. Featured in this article are three of ten students that completed MLA 400 in the fall of
2015.
Sarah Allen is originally from Fortuna, California. She is a Japanese major with a minor in English
MLA 400 Colloquium. Back row from left to right: Samuel Tindall, Jaime Staengel, Sarah Allen, Sarah Wade, Austin
Smock, Heinz Fuchs Zachary Orr. Front row: Alex Richards, Eugenia Luna, Evelin Salgado-Bustamante and Dr. Garrett.
Creative Writing. Her senior thesis focuses on how the music genre Visual Kei can be a vital asset to Japanese soft power COOL JAPAN movement and says she received important feedback concerning her topic
from both her classmates and Dr. Garrett. She is currently applying to the JET program, a program for
teaching English in Japan. She recounts, “I was surprised. From other upperclassmen, I was given the impression that the class was kind of minimalistic in its helpfulness, but everyone was great about offering
feedback, suggestions, and constructive criticism. Peer review can definitely help improve your work significantly, and is often quite underrated. Particularly, there was a lot of help in generating ideas or arguments for
the beginnings of our thesis work, as well as lots of good feedback for resumes and mock interviews. You
walk in wondering what in the world you’re going to do with your life, and you get through the class and
start to feel as if you’re not alone, and that you can do it.”
Austin Smock, originally from the Bowling Green area, is an honors student with a double major in
German and Telecommunication Systems Management. “After graduation, I will be moving to Nashville to
begin working at CAT Financial, while continuing to work in various positions within the eSports industry.
The class served as an excellent culmination of my studies and allowed me to relate my majors to one another. I am thankful for having studied a language, as without it, I would not have discovered my love of
Department of Modern Languages
Page 7
MLA 400: SENIOR CAPSTONE COURSE
studying abroad, which I got to experience 5 times over the course of my collegiate life.”
Jaime Staengel is from St. Louis, MO . She has a double major in German and Economics, and a
minor in Mathematics. After graduation, she plans to work for an international company either in the U.S. or
Germany. After a few years in the working world she plans to go to grad school. She says, “The peer review
process of this course has been one of the most beneficial parts. As we are preparing for our Senior Colloquium presentations, the ability to receive direct, constructive feedback has helped shape my presentation so
that it is ready for a panel of faculty members to evaluate it. The mock interviews and resume writing have
also ensured me that I am prepared to enter the workforce, either here or in Germany. The research paper writing process allowed me to choose a topic related to my other major, Economics, that I was truly passionate
about and then to apply my German language skills when writing and researching it. I had a great advisor/student relationship, and received weekly feedback when we met to discuss the progress of my paper.”
“It was a delight working with this class in particular because it is such a smart, interesting, and hardworking group of students. Teaching the MLA 400 class is a privilege and I greatly appreciate the opportunity
to work with students in the final stages of their careers at MSU. It is an important time in their lives as they
transition into life after college. It is a real pleasure to get to know each and every one of them, to work together, care about one another, and to support each other in a positive classroom environment.” Dr. Garrett.
Oktober FesT
Dr. Roxane Rieler, Dr. Windield Rose, and
Dr. Reika Ebert in true German Fashion
Tent City
Department of Modern Languages professors and students grilling bratwurst at their
annual fundraiser.
Department of Modern Languages
Page 8
MEET OUR STUDENT WORKERS
Jamie Staengel
Major: German/Economics
Minor: Mathematics
“I like getting to interact with professors of other languages and learn different
phrases in other languages outside of the one I’m studying. The diverse atmosphere in the department is something I love every day I come in! I am learning
some new office skills while working here, as well as how much planning goes
into teacher evaluations and the upcoming semester’s courses. This job is useful because it lets me become better at German when I have to help grade some
beginning-level classes. By seeing mistakes on work from these courses, I’ve
been able to better spot mistakes in my own writing in German. My favorite
memory from working in the department has been getting to design posters for
different department events because it lets me be creative.”
Charles Graves
Major: Mathematics/Accounting
Minor: Spanish
“One of my favorite things about working here is the positive attitude of the
office – even on rough days everyone works to find the ‘silver lining.’ I also
enjoy working here because I am able to practice my language skills and continually receive constructive criticism from the professors. I have learned more
about the languages I speak, and also about some which I do not speak. I have
seen proof here that the work ethic and sense of responsibility that my parents
worked so hard to instill in me at a young age is, in fact, useful in areas beyond
academics. This job has prepared me to respond to a variety of needs and problems in a prompt, calm, and efficient manner. It is also useful because it gives
me the opportunity to use my non-English languages outside of the classroom.
I enjoy Dr. Ebert’s questions about the English language. They are amusing to
me because they are often about elements of the language that I, as a native
speaker, have not considered in many years.”
Kayla Johnson
Major: Japanese
Minor: Music (Classical Guitar)
“I really love the multicultural atmosphere and getting to work with other
students and teachers who are also passionate about languages. And, of
course, the friendly people! I learned how to work a copy machine that
doesn’t want to work! Getting to use the language that I am studying and
getting to help one’s professors at the same time is a great opportunity for
personal and professional growth. Some of my favorite memories are of getting to listen to the conversations in different languages.”
Page 9
Robert Cruz Tirado
Major: Spanish/Teaching Certification
“I enjoy meeting new students. Being an aid for the teachers is very rewarding. I also
enjoy being able to interact with my peers and the professors, I learn a lot on a daily
basis. I learn how to communicate with people I don’t know and how to be respectful to everyone. I also learned what it means to keep things organized. I work on my
communication skills on a daily basis. I am more responsible now, and I have learned
to deal with people’s problems and questions in a professional manner. My first day
was my favorite day. Even though it was confusing, that was the day I realized how
lucky I am to have this job.”
Emmanuel Obetan Toure
Major: Human Development and Leadership
Minor: Non-Profit Leadership
“What I like about working in the Modern Languages Department is my exposure
to different languages and cultures. I also like to work in an office in which most
workers are women. It’s new for me as where I am from women are still misrepresented in the workplace.
I have learned many things working here. I have had the opportunity to learn other
languages just by being exposed to a multi-lingual environment. It builds up my
intellectual literacy as well as my diversity consciousness. Moreover, I have
learned administrative and also managerial tasks. This job is useful to me because
it helps me develop skills I will need in my non-profit career. There are many
events and non-profit activities organized by my department, so I learn a lot by organizing and participating in them. Besides, I make contacts and build connections
that could help me in my non-profit career. My favorite memory, or let’s say one of
them, is when I met Mrs. Hendley and Rod to go on behalf of the department to the
Calloway County High School in order to share my culture with a French class, It
was a great experience that gave me some project ideas and I was proud to be featured in the Ledger & Times newspaper after that.”
Jennifer Winn
Major: German
Minor: French
“I like the friendly people and atmosphere. Everyone seems very nice and accepting.
I have learned how to follow instructions, work with others, and how to help fellow
students. This job is very useful. I get to practice my language skills and occasionally pick up a phrase or two from students and professors of other languages. Days
when I’m in a bad mood, I cheer up when I get to work.”
Department of Modern Languages
Page 10
Department of Modern Languages
Study Abroad
KIIS Cuba Summer Program
“A few decades ago, Cabrera Infante said: ‘Ahí
está la isla, todavía surgiendo entre el océano y
el golfo: ahí está’. Cuba is still emerging as it
has not yet fulfilled its postcolonial destiny. Due
to internal and external factors, the ideal of the
Revolution fell short of its possibilities. My visit
to Cuba confirmed that Cuba is neither the desperate land that is portrayed by some in the United States, nor the just society envisioned during
the early days of the Revolution.
Nevertheless, today, in the midst of economic
hardships, Cuba’s cultural life continue to thrive;
in the labs, Cuban scientists make important findings and contributions to the medical field;
health and education are not seen as privileges
but rights of every inhabitant. And while
everyday-life goes on, Cubans, in Cuba, await
with hope for improved relations with their giant
neighbor. Proud of their Cuban way of life, they
expect to work with the United States as partners, not as dependents.”
Elena Picech-Reisinger
SEKISUI SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDY
ABROAD IN JAPAN
In Spring of 2012, Yoko Hatakeyama, Senior Lecturer of Japanese, worked with Tina Bernot, Director of
Development of the College of Humanities and Fine
Arts, and established “the Sekisui Scholarship for
Study Abroad in Japan.” The scholarship is funded by
the Sekisui Chemicals, the Japanese company located
in Calvert City, KY. Every year $5000 is donated for
the scholarship for MSU KIIS Japan Program students. Since the summer of 2012 nineteen students,
including this year’s three students, have received the
scholarship money and have studied in Japan on the
KIIS program.
Yoko Hatakeyama
Amazing architecture, Habana has been declared “Patrimonio Cultural
de la Humanidad” by UNESCO.
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Department of Modern Languages
Study Abroad
“This trip was incredibly inspiring to me. From
the moment we landed in Beijing, we were introduced to many of China's cultural and historical
features as well as China's amazing foods. In Beijing we were shown the Forbidden City, a spectacular palace that is filled with history. We then
took a sleeper train to Xi'an, the ancient capital of
China, where we came face to face with the terra
cotta warriors, the underground army of the First
Emperor of China (3rd century B.C.). We were
able to bike all nine miles on the Xi'an city wall.
Via a bullet train, we moved our party to Luoyang, another ancient capital of China, where we
visited the Shaolin Temple to meet monks and
some of the students learning the arts of Kung Fu.
Heading back to Beijing our group hiked part of
the Great Wall. During the trip I was able to use
Chinese to haggle for better prices with street
vendors and chat with people we encountered on
the street and on the train. While we were all able to bring
back gifts, I believe what we all treasured most was the
experience and ability to gain a better understanding of
China. It was an amazing learning experience for me.”
Dollie Jo Alexander
“I participated in the KIIS
Spain I program in the
summer of 2015. This
experience definitely
brought me out of my
shell and gave me a better
understanding of the language. Being a Spanish
education major, I have
always been very gifted
with the language and
was always eager to practice it and apply it in my
everyday life. This program did just that by placing me in the beautiful
city of Segovia where I
had several awesome interactions with native Spanish speakers. In addition, I toured
the Alcázar, a 15th century Spanish castle, a Roman Aqueduct, a gothic cathedral, and several other Spanish cities that
have been standing since the 16th and 17th centuries. I also
got the chance to go to Barcelona and tour the Sagrada Familia, Parque Güell and many other historical sites. Overall, this
was an amazing experience and I can't wait to go back one day
and revisit Spain.” Brandon Jones
Some members of the Discover China group were with a group of
school boys who were practicing tai chi at the Temple of Heaven in
Beijing.
“Studying abroad in Valencia (Spain) for a semester was one of the best decisions I have ever
made. It opened my eyes to understand that
world is vastly greater than most people realize.
There is an infinite amount of information to be
learned by experiencing countless other cultures. Not only did I acquire information about
inhabitants half-way across the world, I also
discovered who I truly was. You never really
understand who you are or what you're capable
of until you are taken out of your comfort zone
and placed in a beautiful, unfamiliar country. I
wouldn't be the person I have become without
my study abroad experience. It's truly a marvelous opportunity that I encourage everyone to
take advantage of. From my five month program I gained and grew immensely. I gained
wisdom, courage and integrity. Most of all, I
gained compassion. There is, what seems to be,
an infinite variety of cultures in the world, and I
was lucky enough to experience several different ones outside of my own. To me that is priceless.” Britney Boston
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Department of Modern Languages
Study Abroad
“This past summer I studied abroad in Granada
Spain. I went through CEA, a provider that
partners with Murray State. While I was there I
attended the University of Granada and studied
Spanish with students from all over the world.
My experience was different than many other
study abroad programs because I went to Spain
alone and I didn’t know anyone until I arrived
at school. This sounded really scary, but it was
the most amazing experience. I met so many
other Europeans and Americans too. I went to
class Monday through Friday and on the weekends I did a lot of traveling. I traveled to Cordoba and Seville with other students in the
CEA program. I also traveled to Madrid with a
friend from class. He had friends who lived in
Madrid so I was able to tour Madrid with locals. I enjoyed that experience because I had
already seen many cathedrals and museums,
and as beautiful as they all are, sometimes it is
fun to see the city from the perspective of a
local. On a three day weekend I traveled to
Portugal with a program called We Love
Spain. In Granada I lived with a host family.
Both the husband and wife were born and rai“Studying abroad in Tenri, Nara, Japan has helped
me understand that even though I’ve dedicated
years to understanding the Japanese language, I
still have a very long journey ahead of me on the
road to language proficiency. I am forced to always
use Japanese, both inside and outside of the classroom in Tenri. I find myself unconsciously learning new vocabulary, grammar and new aspects of
the Japanese culture every day. When not studying,
I find myself taking advantage of Japan’s excellent
train system to see new cities and towns with new
friends I’ve made here. To my surprise, I’ve
learned so much about not only Japan, through my
Japanese friends, but other countries such as
France and Russia, through the other international
students. Studying abroad has changed me. I constantly find myself open to new ideas and activities. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.”
Alexander Scott
sed in Granada which was another unique experience because
the accent in Granada is very different from cities in northern
Spain. My host family had previously hosted many students
over the years, so they had lots of experience as well. I was
able to practice a lot of Spanish with my host mom; she spoke
very clear and tried her best to help me understand everything.
I couldn’t have asked for a better family to spend those 5
weeks with. I am very grateful for all of the memories and
friendships I made. I would highly recommend to anyone
studying a language or not to travel abroad. There is absolutely
no better way to learn the language and the culture than submerging yourself in it. My time in Spain was an unforgettable
experience.” Whitney Carver
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Department of Modern Languages
Study Abroad
“Traveling to and staying in Spain, without the company of my
family, was probably one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life so far. There were certainly times when I
contemplated not going, simply out of a fear of the unknown.
But I’m so glad I listened to my professors and decided to take
this leap. It’s not as though I’ve never been out of the country
before, but as I mentioned, it’s usually been on tourist trips
with my family for a week, at most. But this time, I was on my
own. In Madrid. For a month. That’s where my program coordinator, staff, and faculty at La Universidad de Antonio Nebrija helped soften the shock of the transition. They were so incredibly helpful and available whenever we had questions.
They set up some amazing excursions, including one to El Senado, the Spanish Senate. This is a picture of part of their library. The display case housed a copy of the first Spanish
Constitution, the first grammar book written for a Romance
language (by the namesake of our university, Antonio Nebrija,
no less), and a first edition of Dante’s Inferno. We visited dozens of museums, including El Reina Sofia, El Prado, and El
Museo Arqueológico Nacional. I was even able to see the original “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso. It was enormous! I took
two classes while I was in Spain and I have to say, both of my
professors were phenomenal. They never spoke English and
yet, I feel like I understood almost everything and I felt very
comfortable in those classes. They were genuinely concerned
about how well each of us did in their class, despite only being
there for 30 days. The city certainly welcomed me with open
arms and un abrazo. I will never forget my experiences in Madrid and I hope to continue traveling and discovering the cultures that make up the world we live in today. I strongly encourage you to study abroad. It doesn’t have to be that far away; it
doesn’t even have to be across an ocean. Just explore what’s
outside of your bubble and see all of the amazing things that
this world has to offer.” Marliese Belt
“This summer I studied abroad in Segovia, Spain, for the month
of July. I can’t begin to explain the many coffee shops and people that flood my memory daily from my month in Spain. While
I was in Spain I took two intensive Spanish courses, I spent most
of my days studying for a couple of hours in my favorite coffee
shop in town. On the weekends I was able to travel and I am so
grateful for those experiences, I was able to learn how to travel
and get around cities I have never been to before. I was able to
spend time in Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga and my favorite, Paris!
Not only did my classes teach me immensely, but my travel experiences and time living with my host mom have grown me into who I
am today.” Chantry Carroll
The library at the Spanish Senate
Chantry and Segovia’s Aqueduct from the
Roman Era, a Unesco World Heritage Site
Page 14
Department of Modern Languages
Work Abroad
“Konnichiwa! My name is Ashley Sheikh and I started at MSU in the fall of 2002,
studied abroad as an exchange student at Tenri University, Japan for two years in
2005-2007, and graduated from MSU in the fall of 2009. After graduating, I
joined a one-year internship program in Japan at a company called Akebono Brake, located in a remote, small town called "Hanyu" which made Murray seem like
a metropolis by comparison. To be honest, the internship itself was pretty grueling
and living in Hanyu was extremely lonely - in fact, this was one of the hardest,
darkest years of my entire life. But thanks to this internship I became a far more
disciplined person overall and gained invaluable experience working in a completely Japanese language-only work-environment. After completing my internship
in 2010, I joined the healthcare division of a bilingual corporate recruiting firm in
Tokyo called ‘en world’, moving up from the sleepy village of Hanyu to the most
happening neighborhood in the bustling heart of the metropolis of Tokyo!
At en world, everyday I meet with foreign healthcare clients and bilingual Japanese and foreign candidates,
handling tough negotiations with the clients and helping candidates with finding the right company that fits
them best. Within just a few years of joining my company, I was able to pay off all of my massive student
loans and credit card debt accrued through 7 years of college. Everyday I help people find a new job or change their job, thus improving their lives and careers, which is immensely satisfying for me as a person. I make
way more money in Japan than I could have ever made in the USA, and without a doubt it's because I'm fluent
in Japanese. This is thanks to the great education and study abroad opportunities I received from Murray State
University and from Yoko Hatakeyama-sensei. To MSU students: I hope that you can use your language
fluency in your career to gain great success in the business world, as well!” Ashley Sheikh
“Immediately after graduating from MSU in May 2015, I departed from the United States to begin my dream of teaching. The
first place I spent much of my time was in Tepic, Nayarit Mexico, a small city that situates itself along the Pacific Ocean. In
Tepic I wanted to explore the parks, museums, centro
(downtown area), economic life etc. The whole setting was completely different from what I was used to. I discovered that this
city and Mexico are more interdependent than my native country, people are more likely to persuade in public, government has
much control of its country, economic lags to that of ours among
other differences. All of this new information surprised me! After Tepic, I found myself in the border state of Nayarit, Jalisco.
Here I was exploring the city of Puerto Vallarta, known for its
erotic and magnificent sites. While I stayed here, I also decided
that this was the place to begin my dream. I did not stagger in
soliciting for work. I took advantage of this announcement that
Puerto Vallarta offers “Mano a Mano” that includes current jobs
available, among many other necessities available at your leisure. It was in Puerto Vallarta where I had two interviews for a
Spanish teacher position and was then offered both positions as a
full- time educator. My dream begun, everything I had worked
so hard on while being an undergraduate student finally was
about to shed happiness on me!” Josh Chambers
Page 15
Department of Modern Languages
2015 MSU Language Showcase
Murray State University hosts Language Showcase - 295 regional students attended
For over 30 years, Murray State University has hosted the MSU Language Showcase, a community outreach effort to
expand cultural awareness, presented by the Department of Modern Languages. This event provides a phenomenal
opportunity for regional high school students to practice and present their language skills in a fun, but competitive
manner. In addition, the Showcase is a fundraiser for Alpha Mu Gamma, MSU’s foreign language honor society.
Each year, students are given the opportunity to participate in numerous events and performances that demonstrate
their linguistic abilities. In addition to culture tables, students can compete in performances that include drama, chorus, dance, and recitation of literary passages. There are also projects such as models, art, costumes, and videos. Upper-level language students and faculty from Murray State serve as the expert panel of judges for these performances
and projects.
The 2015 MSU Language Showcase on March 12, 2015 boasted 295 students attending, more than double the previous two years, according to the director of the event, Ms. Cindy Barnett. With 116 entries and 236 participating students, it’s no wonder that this year’s event is breaking records. 10 modern language teachers from 7 schools in western Kentucky and Tennessee were present at this year’s showcase. Marliese Belt
2016 MSU Language
Showcase
“The 2016 Murray State University Language
Showcase was another rousing success, with an
increase in attendance from the previous year’s
edition (despite Murray High’s basketball success
precluding numerous students from participation).
In total, 318 students made their way to the MSU
campus on the morning of Thursday, March 16 ,
2016 to take part in the numerous linguistic festivities on offer. 285 of these students were actively
competing in group and/or individual projects and
performances, with the remaining 33 students observing their peers as they made their presentations
and interacted with the judges. Once again, two
dozen elementary school students from the Calloway County Elementary School System joined the
celebration, watching intently as the 3 floor of the
Curris Center buzzed with activity. In total, 14
teachers brought students from 7 different schools
from throughout the region. Also, 2016 marked
the first time that a Varsity category was added to
the competition. This year’s Showcase came to a
close with an awards ceremony in which Varsity
champions were presented with commemorative
medals and trophies in the Curris Center Theater.”
Martin Kane
th
Two participants at the 2015 MSU Language Showcase
rd
Group of participants at the 2016 MSU Language Showcase
Page 16
Department of Modern Languages
2015 Teachers’ Workshop
Fast and Curious: 5-minute Demos for the Foreign Language Classroom
“I especially liked the portion for sharing ideas
for teaching that could be immediately useful in
our teaching. It is always wonderful to walk
away with something you can incorporate into
your lessons the next day. I look forward to the
next one.” Natascha Parrish
“On October 22nd, 2015 we held our annual
Teachers’ Workshop. The workshop was organized to provide opportunities for teachers in the
area to come together and to further develop
their pedagogical skills by exchanging ideas and
presenting resources available for foreign language teachers. We had a successful workshop
with 31 people attending, including 16 teachers
from schools in the area. The theme of the 2015
Teachers’ Workshop was ‘Fast and Curious: 5minute Demos for the Foreign Language Classroom.’ While we included a wide array of activities and resources, we have placed special emphasis on technology in the classroom with the
aim of including innovative resources for
teachers. We look forward to seeing you at our
next workshop!” Tanya Romero-González
Topics and Presenters for the 2015 Teachers’ Workshop
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2016 MSU Language Showcase. Cindy Barnett and Martin Kane, MSU
Fun with Languages. Valerie Hendley and Thérèse Saint Paul, Fun with Languages and MSU.
Synchronous Collaboration in the Classroom with Google Docs. Tanya Romero-González, MSU.
Euronly paying me? But, what's my grade? How to incorporate a currency based grading system into
the world language classroom. Sarah Loveless, Calloway County High School.
Quick and Easy Vocabulary Games (great for extra time!) Lauren Hines, Murray High School.
Screencasts for assessment, instructional videos and more! Martin Kane and Tanya Romero-González,
MSU.
Tell them what to do! A quick review of the imperative. Roxane Riegler, MSU.
30-second animated videos with GoAnimate. Yoko Hatakeyama and Tanya Romero-González, MSU.
Creating a Classroom Website for Student Use! Lauren Hines, Murray High School.
Kahoot: Testing/Review as a Game. Martin Kane, MSU.
Page 17
Department of Modern Languages
Alumni
“When I changed my major
from Psychology to Spanish, I
was not sure what was in store
for me. From the beginning, I
was encouraged to study abroad.
This idea had never crossed my
mind before, and I am so thankful that I had to opportunity to
travel in college. During the
summer of 2013, I went to Costa
Rica for a month. While there, I
got to experience so many different things while learning about
myself and others at the same
time. We had two homestay visits, where we got to stay with a
local family and be completely
immersed in the language and
culture. I still speak with my
host families and I will cherish
the memories I have made in
Costa Rica for the rest of my
life. I will start my new career as
an office assistant/manager at
Keller Williams Realty next
week and even though it is not
directly in the field of Spanish, I
am content knowing that I will
definitely have the opportunity
to use Spanish in the real estate
field.” Heather Rey
Heather (2nd from the right) with some friends in Costa Rica
Alex Mclaughlin studied Chinese and French
at the Department of Modern Languages during his time at Murray State University. His
experience with foreign languages has been an
asset for him in the profesional world: “I majored in Journalism and now work a job in Florida with a marketing focus. My studies with the
Modern Languages Department at Murray State has made my job so much easier. I have to
communicate with people who speak many
different languages.”
Alex Mclaughlin
Page 18
Department of Modern Languages
The Department of Modern Languages Newsletter
Editors: Dr. Mica Garrett, Dr. Tanya Romero-Gonzalez and Ms.
Stephanie Peck
For all inquiries or contributions to the next issue contact :
Dr. Mica Garrett [email protected]
Dr. Tanya Romero-Gonzalez [email protected]