EAST LANSING, Mich. — High school students interested in exploring such diverse topics as Russian language, modern Middle Eastern dance, basic Kiswahili, the Peace Corps, the Nigerian film industry and French slang can take part in the third annual World Languages Day on Saturday, April 21, at Michigan State University.
More than 600 students, teachers and parents from roughly 50 Michigan high schools will participate in the event beginning at 8:30 a.m. at The Eli Broad College of Business. The event celebrates the benefits of learning foreign languages and culture and highlights the opportunities available for language study at MSU.
Students can attend presentations of their choice from more than 70 sessions taught by MSU faculty and guest speakers. The sessions are designed to explore language and culture in different and entertaining ways.
“World Languages Day is a great event because it exposes students to languages and cultures that are not usually part of a high school curriculum,” said Joy Campbell, chairperson of the World Languages Day committee and executive associate director of the Center for Language Education and Research.
“For example, a student might have a session on Spanish slang or French music, but then go to a 50-minute crash course in Swahili or Korean. It gives participants a glimpse of a much larger world – one that we make available through MSU's language courses and study abroad programs."
Some of this year’s offerings include: “Walk Like an Egyptian: Modern Middle Eastern Dance”; “Southern Germany: Explore the Wonderful World of Bavaria!”; “Language from The Lion King: Basic Kiswahili”; “Pasadas y Pasadas! Flamenco Dance Basics”; “Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan: Neighbors Across the Caspian Sea”; “Learn How to Talk to a Billion People: An Introduction to Mandarin Chinese”; “Bangla: The Sixth Most Spoken Language in the World”; and “What’s It Really Like in the Peace Corps?”
Parents will tour the campus and learn about admissions, financial aid, student life, language education and international study. They also can observe student sessions. Teachers will attend sessions on how to incorporate languages and cultures into their classrooms, share lesson ideas and tour MSU’s language teaching facilities.
An event schedule with session descriptions and a list of sponsors are available online at www.clear.msu.edu/wld. Sessions will take place at The Eli Broad College of Business Complex, the Eppley Center and McDonel Hall. Lunch for the participants will be served at Shaw and Holmes halls.
###