West Point Department of English and World Languages

***Update from France***

This past week the French section's last set of cadets who are studying abroad arrived in Guer, France. They will spend the semester studying at the French Military Academy, Saint-Cyr.

The cadets quickly began their cultural immersion experience where they have already learned so much about the history and traditions of French cadets who attend Saint-Cyr. As seen in the photos, the cadets had the opportunity to visit the French Officer Museum and see other important pieces of history throughout the campus.

They are pictured in the French Officer Museum as a West Point cohort, and with their international colleagues who are also spending time at Saint-Cyr this semester. You can also see the cadets with a tank and a plane on the Saint-Cyr campus.

During their time in France, they will improve their language skills, explore the country, and grow and strengthen bonds with international military personnel.

Where can your language take you? 🇫🇷🇺🇸

***Update from France***

Bienvenue à Lyon!
Two weeks ago, cadets Adrian Bird and Francis Turoski began their Study Abroad adventures in Lyon, France. Studying with the Université Catholique de Lyon (UCLY), the cadets immediately and enthusiastically embraced their immersive language experience, communicating with their host families, attending classes, attending student social activities with other international students, and chatting with locals about the best places to see, and where to eat in the area.

This past week, cadets Bird and Turoski were able to visit La Maison des Canuts, (The Silk Workers' Center) a museum dedicated to the rich history of the silk industry in Lyon. They also dined at a Bouchon, or a traditional restaurant in Lyon, known for their hearty, homemade regional dishes, such as Cervelle de Canut (a kind of cheese, similar to cottage cheese) and Saucisson Chaud (a dish of sausage over potatoes). They were even able to meet the chef!

This semester, Adrian and Francis will also have the opportunity to study with other international students, and train with the French military, creating and strengthening bonds across the globe.

Where can your language take you? 🇫🇷🇺🇸

Earlier today, led by Dr. Sherry Maggin, (Associate Professor, and the Spanish Program Director) the DEWL Spanish team kicked off the first games and conversation hour of the fall semester in the presence of very enthusiastic Spanish learners. Our games and conversation hours are a way for cadets to continue to improve their target language while engaging with other Spanish learners and other professors/instructors. ¡Buen trabajo estimados estudiantes!

***Update from Chile***

Our cadets studying abroad in Chile met MG Philip J. Ryan (USMA class of 1992), ARSOUTH, on Wednesday, September 4th at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago. After shaking MG Ryan’s hand, the cadets had a brief conversation about branching and the great opportunity they have in Chile to learn about U.S. international relationships and about other cultures.

Where can your language take you? 🇺🇸🇨🇱

Army West Point juniors (cows), Cadets Alana Amaya, Max Guillot, James Conway, Justin Torres, and William Campbell had the honor to meet the Princess of Spain, Leonor de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Ortiz.

What are your plans for the next academic year, Class of 2027? This could be you next academic year!

Where can your language take you?

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Yesterday, the 14th of September, 2024, on a beautiful West Point, NY evening, the Department of English and World Languages celebrated its annual Lobsterfest among family, friends and former department faculty.

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Never forget.

Happy Independence Day, Brazil! (the 7th of September)

On September 5th, eight semester exchange students from Brazil and four USMA Cadets, accompanied by the Brazilian Exchange Officer, LTC Falcão, and MAJ Choate of the Portuguese Section, participated in the 202nd anniversary of Brazilian independence.

The Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce hosted the celebration in partnership with the Consulate General of Brazil in New York City. During the event, Cadets engaged with senior leaders in the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, the Consul General of Brazil in New York, the Brazilian military, and Brazil’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. It was an excellent opportunity to learn from key leaders, practice Portuguese, and celebrate independence!

On September 7th, our cadets on semester abroad in Brazil also participated in Independence Day festivities, including the parade in Rio de Janeiro!
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No other captions needed.

Stud

Recently, four cadets from the French section of DEWL arrived in Lille, France to begin their semester abroad at the Université Catholique de Lille (Catholic University of Lille). This past week they registered for classes, had a tour of the campus, and began their studies. The cadets are pictured outside the main building at the university.

Also highlighted, cadet Matthew Clifford '26, is the inaugural Allin Scholar. The Allin Scholarship, donated by the Allin family, allows a cadet to study abroad for an entire semester, an invaluable, unforgettable experience and gift, allowing them to learn both inside and outside the classroom. The Allin family established this endowment in memory of BG George Allin, USMA 1904, COL George Allin, Jr., USMA 1942, and COL George Allin III, USMA 1970; all leaving distinguished legacies to the Army and the Academy. Selected for his stellar performance as a cadet at West Point, Matthew is excited to spend the semester abroad and to learn and experience as much as possible.

So far, the cadets have been able to explore the city of Lille, visiting the Parc de la Citadelle, the Citadel of Lille, and have plans to continue to get to know their home city for the semester.

Where can your language take you? 🇺🇸🇫🇷

🌍 Cadets in Yerevan Expanding Cultural Horizons!

Our cadets studying Persian in Armenia have had a packed start to their Fall semester abroad! From meeting their host families and exploring Yerevan to tasting local sweets 🍬 and visiting cultural landmarks, it's been an incredible journey of discovery.

This weekend, the cadets' host families welcomed guests, creating a vibrant gathering where 6 world languages were spoken. 🌎 These types of experiences not only deepen language skills but also build cross-cultural competence—a key attribute of future leaders. Through immersion in diverse cultures, our cadets are strengthening their adaptability, empathy, and global perspective, preparing them to lead with wisdom and understanding in a complex, interconnected world. 🌐

***Semester abroad en España***

Less than two weeks into their semester abroad experience in Spain, USMA cows (juniors), CDT Alana Amaya, CDT Max Guillot, CDT James Conway, CDT William Campbell, and CDT Justin Torres Fonseca are embracing the camaraderie of their Spanish counterparts while conducting basic military training. In the classroom settings and in the field environment, our cadets’ character and leadership skills will grow this semester through their relationships with allies, which will provide them with increased knowledge of Spanish language and culture.

Below are some pictures of our cadets’ departure from USMA and their first few weeks in Spain. Stay tuned for updates as their semester in Zaragoza, Spain unfolds. 🇺🇸🇪🇸

***For the Class of 2028, it’s time to pick their world language!***

Last night, on beautiful evening, our department head, COL John Baskerville, kicked off our department language selection brief which is one of the most important decisions our USMA cadets make while at West Point. Our faculty went to work by telling the class of 2028 why learning a world language is so important in the career of a U.S. Army officer.

Class of 2028… “No calling is too great” learn a world language and have fun doing so.

What’s one of the things you can do while studying abroad?

Well, if you still have the skills acquired from grade school, you could compete well (in the case of CDT Gracie Mauer) and even win the whole tennis tournament (in the case of CDT Avaneesh Benki). Pictured here are USMA juniors (cows) from the Class of 2026, CDTs Owens, Danes, Kaye, Mauer and Benki, celebrating their respective victories on the court at the Escuela Militar in Santiago, Chile.

Way to compete and make USMA proud cadets! 🇺🇸🇨🇱

Pictured here are our cadets studying abroad in Chile this semester, CDT Henry Kaye, CDT Nolan Owens, CDT Gracie Mauer, CDT Avaneesh Benki, and CDT Adam Danes, with our own Chair of the Joint Chief of Staff, GEN Charles Q. Brown Jr. and the SOUTHCOM commander, GEN Laura J. Richardson.

Way to represent, cadets! ¡Enhorabuena! 🇺🇸🇨🇱

***Update from Brazil!***

🌍 Land Navigation in Brazil: A Unique Opportunity for CDT Brendan Straw (Company F2) who conducted land nav (orientação) at the Brazilian Military Academy (AMAN) last week!
CDT Straw is gaining invaluable experience through exercises like this one at AMAN. Here's why this is a game-changer:

Diverse Terrain Mastery: Brazil's diverse landscapes challenge cadets to adapt their skills, making them more versatile leaders.
Cultural Exchange: Training alongside Brazilian cadets fosters strong international bonds and a deeper understanding of the importance of interoperability.
Leadership Development: Overcoming obstacles in an unfamiliar setting builds resilience, critical thinking, and confidence.
The world is the classroom, and SAP in Brazil offers a unique chapter in the journey to becoming a leader of character!

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***Update from Brazil!***

SAP is underway in Brazil! Week one featured a myriad of different events. At the Brazilian Military Academy (AMAN), CDT Straw had the opportunity to observe AMAN’s annual Sabre (Espadim) Ceremony, during which the first-year cadets receive their sabers (replicas of the one used by Duque de Caxias, the patrono (godfather) of the army), and at the Brazilian Military’s Engineering Institute (IME), CDT Deyoe competed in a chess tournament, and CDTs Chitty, Cobos, and Napole played soccer with their new friends from IME! More to come from Brazil, as their immersion has just begun.
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What did DEWL Faculty do over the summer months?

MAJ Nathan Barnes (Senior Instructor of English) conducted an AIAD course about Literature and Leadership in the Viking Age in Iceland with a small group of cadets. As they traced the paths of the Vikings, they visited Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik, walked along the Continental Divide, saw Gulfoss Falls, and even witnessed wild seals along the Icelandic shoreline.

Fantastic work, MAJ Barnes! 🇮🇸 🇺🇸

What did DEWL Faculty do over the summer months?

MAJ Casey Smith took a group of lucky cadets on an AIAD to Peru. They climbed up to Machu Picchu, saw the sunset at Puca Pucara, visited the Peruvian Military Academy and its commanding generals, and had the opportunity to engage with international leaders on the USS George Washington, including Lieutenant General Sean C. Bernabe, the Commanding General of the III Armored Corps at Fort Cavazos, Texas (and a West Point grad!) and General David Ojeda Parra, the Chief of the Joint Command of the Peruvian Armed Forces, as it made a stop in Peru.

MAJ Smith did a great job facilitating linguistic, cultural, and professional experiential opportunities for our cadets. ¡Maravilloso! 🇵🇪🇺🇸

What did DEWL Faculty do over the summer months?

Dr. Elizabeth Robinson (Assistant Professor of French) is in her Graduations Era. Not only did she graduate from the University of Maryland with her doctorate degree in May, but she also then went on to participate in and graduate from CivMX at West Point! Dr. Robinson says that she wanted to do CivMX “to have a better idea and understanding of what our colleagues and cadets experience in the Army. I wanted to be a more effective teacher for them and felt that the best way to do so would be to put myself in their shoes.”

She also participated in CivMX in honor of her late father, who served in the Army around 1960. Dr. Robinson summarizes her CivMX experience as fostering her with “a sense of pride, but also of the trinity that we espouse: duty, honor, country.” She was even presented with a coin from the Simon Center for her outstanding role as a Platoon Leader during this integrative experience.

Très bien, Dr. Robinson!

What did DEWL Faculty do over the summer months?

For many English faculty members, this summer was one for the books (literally)! On campus, MAJ Renee Farrar dedicated herself to the classroom over the summer, expertly teaching Macbeth in EN102 STAP. Abroad, MAJ Will McGehee took cadets to Prague, Czech Republic, for the Speculative Fiction, Nations, and War AIAD, where one of the highlights was visiting Wenceslas Square.

Also in Europe, MAJ Will McCarthy conducted a British Literature, Cultural Heritage and Preservation AIAD in the United Kingdom, where cadets visited the castle of Conisbourgh (featured prominently in the novel Ivanhoe) and the Major Oak of Sherwood Forest. These faculty demonstrate their firm commitment to developing leaders of character both in and outside of the classroom all year long. Bravo!

***Update from Brazil***

Congratulations to Cadets Cobos (E2), Chitty (C2), Deyoe (C2), Napole (E2), and Straw (F2), who affirmed while on semester abroad this week in Brazil! We look forward to following your journeys in Brazil, seeing you at West Point again next year, and serving with you in our United States Army. Parabéns (congratulations), Cadetes!
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What did DEWL Faculty do over the summer months?

MAJ Antonio Mendoza (Instructor of Spanish) describes his summer as “one to remember” where he was able to take his former students on an AIAD to Spain. They traveled to Madrid’s Plaza Mayor, La Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell in Barcelona, and the historical Spanish crossroads city of Zaragoza. He says, “it was amazing to see the students we teach a foreign language and how they become masters of that language on an international, regional journey like the one we completed. It is amazing to see the future leaders of the U.S. Army acquire social, cultural, and language competence.”

¡Muy buen trabajo, MAJ Mendoza! 🇪🇸🇺🇸

Cadets on AIAD Portugal took a break from Portuguese classes this week and visited the Portuguese Military Academy to learn about the country's history and culture.

They left the academy with a new-found understanding of Portugal during the Age of Exploration, the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and present-day Europe.

With the language proficiency, cross-cultural competency, and overall international experience garnered from this immersion opportunity, these cadets have taken a step in the right direction for careers of service to the United States abroad.
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***Meanwhile in France***

Here are the highlights of the most recent visits of our cadets in 🇫🇷.

Gendarmes Final Day 1: Outside of the Gendarmes’ (police) language school where les gendarmes learn English. Cadets spoke (in French) about the differences between French and American cultures.

Gendarmes Restaurant: Cadets shared a meal with the Gendarmes in Rochefort on their final night before the police went on leave. This picture is a group photo of cadets and policemen.

La Rochelle: A selfie of the three cadets on Saturday in La Rochelle during a day trip. They took a Ferris wheel ride to get a better view of the city from above.

Mess Hall: Cadets eating dinner with other stagiaries (trainees) on their final night before leaving for their respective countries.

Got plans for next summer? Learn a foreign language, travel abroad and 🇫🇷🇺🇸

***Update from Spain***

Over the weekend, our cadets visited the Spanish Military Academy (La Academia General Militar) in Zaragoza where they received a complete tour of the institution. Our cadets were able to see the quarters and classrooms where Spanish cadets live and go to class. They were also given a historical tour including a visit to the Academy Museum where they learned more detailed historical facts of Spain and its Army’s Military Academy.

Scroll down and see the highlights of our cadets’ visit. What are your plans for next summer?

You wonder where can your language take you? In the case of these cadets, to Spain to polish their language skills and historical knowledge and to cultivate international relationships to 🇪🇸🇺🇸

***Update from Spain***

Earlier this week as part of their summer language and culture immersion trip, our cadets in Zaragoza, Spain visited Spain’s 11th Cavalry Regiment “Regimiento de Caballeria 11.” The visit was a unique and significant event for our cadets. They had the opportunity to learn about the readiness mission and structure of the regiment, not just through lectures, but by interacting with their own systems and equipment. The operational training and maintenance required to maintain such readiness were also demonstrated, making this visit a crucial part of their summer language and culture trip.

In addition to this, they delved into the historical implications of the unit, a source of great pride for the regiment Soldiers. The unit, one of the oldest and most prestigious in Spanish military history, was brought to life by the detailed explanation of their local regimental historian, who granted the cadets exclusive access to relics and artifacts. The regiment commander highlighted how these emblems and ideas promote duty and selfless service, boost unit cohesion, and provide a high unit morale tempo. The RACA commander also talked to our cadets in several dimensions: leadership, managerial, and commitment to service in a constrained environment. Please scroll down and let the pictures below tell you more about this outstanding visit.

Any questions about what studying a foreign language can do for you? Do you have plans for next summer? 🇪🇸🇺🇸

***Where can your language take you still the question?***

Pictured here are CDT George Alejandro (Co. C2), CDT Ronald Arrick (Co. E3), CDT Jake Beckman (Co. F4), CDT Andrew Bagan (Co. F4), CDT Daniel Izquierdo (Co. B3), CDT Sam Kreitzman (Co. I2), CDT Maria Morell (Co. A3) and CDT Slade Streeter (Co. G2) our first group of cadets enroute to their Semester Abroad location in 2024.

At the Academy we have our own ways to recognized talented cadets. In the case of our talented freshmen, we know them by the title “super plebes.” Our instructors, our professors and department civilian staff are not the exception.

Sending cadets abroad is a team sport that could not be possible without the hard work and dedication of these professionals.

The Department of Foreign Languages would like to send a shout out to “super SAP coordinator” and Spanish instructor, MAJ Antonio Mendoza (pictured here with the cadets) and the DFL front office staff for their arduous work and dedication day in and day out to make SAP possible for our cadets.

Stay tuned for pictures accompanied by captions as our cadets make us proud during their semester abroad experience this spring semester in their quest to