WKU Modern Languages
When it comes to world language study, WKU students have many choices! Majors and minors are offered
06/11/2023
06/11/2023
UChicago psychologist shares his No.1 brain hack for critical thinking and memory skills: Think in a foreign language
UChicago psychologist shares his No.1 brain hack for critical thinking and memory skills: Think in a foreign language Speaking a second language can make you more rational, improve your decision-making skills and boost your memory, says the University of Chicago's David Gallo.
06/11/2023
‘I couldn’t believe the data’: how thinking in a foreign language improves decision-making.
How thinking in a foreign language improves decision-making Research shows people who speak another language are more utilitarian and flexible, less risk-averse and egotistical, and better able to cope with traumatic memories
05/09/2023
25/01/2023
WKU Chinese Flagship and String Academy Perform at Half-Time Members of the WKU Chinese Flagship Program and the WKU String Academy perform traditional Chinese music and dances in celebration of the Lunar New Year in E.A. Di**le Arena on Saturday, Jan. 21.
18/09/2022
Email Dr. Poole ([email protected]) for registration instructions. Via Zoom.
18/09/2022
Congratulations to KACLT Chinese Teacher of the Year - KePeng! We'll be celebrating herand our other TOY finalists at our Awards luncheon Saturday September 24th. Register at kwla.org/2022conference/
08/09/2022
Get involved!
08/09/2022
31/08/2022
Please join us!
25/08/2022
Modern Languages students relaxing with some pizza and pop! WKU Potter College of Arts & Letters
24/08/2022
19/08/2022
Come join us!
19/08/2022
Modern Languages faculty are excited for another great year of helping students gain the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the 21st century.
19/08/2022
Future Hilltoppers enjoying Mammoth Cave with Fulbright teachers from Taiwan and Egypt.
19/08/2022
Just enjoying a Taiwanese breakfast with our Fulbright teachers from Taiwan and Egypt!
10/08/2022
The Departments of English and Modern Languages are seeking an office coordinator. Click on the link to learn more:
Western Kentucky University Job Posting: Office Coordinator, English & Modern Languages Western Kentucky University Job Posting: Office Coordinator, English & Modern Languages
25/05/2022
Thank you, Grace Meiser, Noah Lyles, Emily Finchem, Langley Williams, Zihuan Sanderson, and Kohen Chang, for establishing WKU's first-ever Asian American Student Association (AASA)!
Asian American Student Associations exist on college campuses across the United States, and in the fall of 2021, Noah Lyles and a group of his close friends started the student organization at Western Kentucky University.
Click the link below for the full story!
https://www.wku.edu/modernlanguages/news/index.php?view=article&articleid=10577
25/05/2022
Congratulations to Miriam Dawson and Autumn Eichhorn, two students in the Chinese Flagship Program at WKU!
These two students have been awarded $25,000 David L. Boren Scholarships to fund intensive language study in the United States and abroad during the 2022-2023 academic year. Heather Keen has been named an alternate in the competition. (Pictured left: recipient Autumn Eichhorn, right: alternate Heather Keen)
Click the link to read the full story!
https://www.wku.edu/modernlanguages/news/index.php?view=article&articleid=10576
23/05/2022
The WKU Department of Modern Languages recognized outstanding papers from the following students for 2022: Emily Arnold, Lauren Varner, Carli Street, Ashley Austin, Cassandra Davies, Abigail Yarborough, Gwendolyn Lamb, and Miriam Dawson. Congratulations to these students for their excellent work! Click the link for the full story!
https://www.wku.edu/modernlanguages/bestopapersfmodernlanguages.php
18/05/2022
Congratulations to Noelle Fleek, Ira Meadows, Morgan Todd, & Vivian Zheng for earning the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad in the March 2022 application cycle! They were among 20 WKU students to earn the scholarship!
Noelle Fleek of Florence is a music and Spanish double-major with a concentration in teacher education. She earned the scholarship to study in Spain in Summer 2022 and hopes to pursue a career as a high school Spanish teacher.
Ira Meadows of Glasgow is the daughter of Connie Jessup and Richard Meadows. An international business and international affairs major with a minor in Chinese, she is pursuing a career in international trade law. She earned the scholarship and an additional Critical Need Language Award to study in Taiwan in Academic Year 2022-2023.
Morgan Todd of Russellville is the daughter of Forrest and Angela Todd. After using the scholarship and an additional Critical Need Language Award to study Arabic in Jordan in Fall 2022, she will graduate with degrees in psychology and Arabic with a minor in criminology. She will pursue a career in federal service.
Vivian Zheng of Albany is the daughter of Wen Juan Chen. Having completed coursework for her majors in Asian religions and cultures, international business, and Chinese, she will use the scholarship and additional Critical Need Language Award to complete her Chinese Flagship Program Capstone Year in Taiwan in Academic Year 2022-2023.
https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=article&articleid=10549
20 WKU Students Earn Gilman Scholarship for Study Abroad 20 WKU students earned the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad in the March 2022 application cycle, more than any other Kentucky institution. This reflects a 80% selection rate for WKU applicants who worked with the Office of Sch
Congratulations to the winners of our Chinese Study Abroad Scholarships. We are so proud of their hard work and accomplishments thus far, and we are excited for the opportunity to help fund their study abroad programs. We know they will learn and grow so much from these experiences, and we are excited to learn about their experiences when they return to campus. This year our Chinese Study Abroad Scholarships totaled to $5,000.
Congratulations to the following winners:
Vivian Zheng
Nina Ni
Allison Francis
Courtney Couture
Quinn Campbell
Caroline Hart
Carolyn Brueggemann
Maria Julian
Noah Lyles
Grace Meiser
28/04/2022
WKU Spanish Club, Modern Languages, ISEC, HOLAS, & Mahurin Honors College Co-Sponsor Carnaval!
On Monday, April 25, the WKU Spanish Club had a weekly meeting, but it was quite different from their previous weekly events. This event was a carnival-style activity, with music, food, and opportunities for the Department of Modern Languages and WKU Spanish Club students to connect. The event was open to all students, and many students from different specializations in the Potter College of Arts and Letters. The event was co-sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages, the Intercultural Student Engagement Center, the Hilltopper Organization of Latin American Students, the Mahurin Honors College, and WKU Spanish Club.
Que Pasa Tacos provided tacos and churros for the event, and students could try Hispanic candies and other delicacies, as well. There were also activities at the Carnaval which focused on various aspects of Latin American culture. Students were able to make maracas, participate in a bag race, play a ring toss, and socialize with their friends outside—all while encompassing the social life of the Latin American culture.
One goal of the WKU Spanish club is to provide linguistic and cultural learning for all students who may not have access to a Spanish course this semester or for those students who want to supplement their classroom learning with something extra. The other goal is to provide the opportunity to connect with students who have a similar interest in the Spanish-speaking world and build lifelong friendships. The Carnaval event provided students the opportunity to achieve both goals.
22/04/2022
"VAMPY is the most accepting place on earth" Ask us about VAMPY Arabic class scholarship, the deadline is approaching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kle3fj7pBF4
VAMPY is... The best way to understand the VAMPY experience is to hear about it from the campers as they explain what VAMPY means to them. To find out how you can be par...
21/04/2022
Students in Dr. Inmaculada Pertusa’s SPAN 471 are learning the ins and outs of advanced Spanish composition by publishing the second issue of "Del Plato a la Boca."
"Del Plato a la "Boca" is a magazine which focuses on gastronomical culture at the university, in Kentucky, and in the Spanish-speaking world. The front cover of the new issue reads: “Una revista por estudiantes, para estudiantes de WKU” (“A magazine by students, for students of WKU”) and focuses on many themes, including three keys for a special dinner, the lack of restaurant options at WKU, and local restaurant treasures in Bowling Green.
Click the link below to view the most recent "Del Plato a la Boca"!
https://issuu.com/inmap/docs/del_plato_boca_v1n2_2022
Del plato a la boca Segundo número de la revista Del plato a la boca, creada por los estudiantes de filología hispánica del curso de SPAN 471 Composición avanzada de la Universidad de Western Kentucky, sobre la cultura gastronómica dentro y fuera de Bowling Green, KY.
19/04/2022
Do you know a rising 7th-10th grader (10th graders going into 11th are also eligible) who has an interest in Middle Eastern culture or the Arabic language? WKU Modern Languages's Lhousseine Guerwane and Cody Smith will be teaching a class at VAMPY on Arabic, which provides an opportunity for students to learn the elementary level of the language and engage in cultural excursions for three weeks at WKU in Bowling Green. No prior experience in Arabic or modern foreign languages is required.
Students studying Arabic at the Center for Gifted Studies's VAMPY are eligible to receive substantial scholarships for tuition, room & board, etc. from the Qatar Foundation International (QFI). Scholarships may include up to $2,000 of the total cost or the total amount for students expressing financial need. More information about registration and eligibility is here: https://www.wku.edu/gifted/vampy/courses.php.
18/04/2022
On Thursday, April 14, WKU Modern Languages hosted a session with three native Spanish speakers—Florence Laramore, Annette Garcia, and Franklin Serrano—on why heritage speakers and Spanish majors should consider becoming Spanish educators at the K-12 level. Thanks to our speakers and for all who attended! Click the link to read the story!
https://www.wku.edu/modernlanguages/news/index.php?view=article&articleid=10463
15/04/2022
On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, students gathered from WKU Spanish and other programs to host an exhibition of Afrolatino culture. The program included poetry recitation, dance, art, cultural presentations, and a culinary display. Modern Languages students Shirma Bott and Sara Blanco, under the direction of Professor Yertty VanderMolen (Spanish) organized the event.
Click the link below to read more!
https://www.wku.edu/modernlanguages/news/index.php?view=article&articleid=10455
13/04/2022
Happening tomorrow!
Email Dr. Poole for registration instructions ([email protected])
13/04/2022
Zoe Ward, a WKU senior from Frankfort, Ky., was recently awarded acceptance into the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. The JET program is a competitive employment opportunity that allows young professionals to work as Assistant Language Teachers in schools throughout Japan. It is a highly competitive program that selects only the best candidates to represent America in this position.
Zoe will graduate in May with a B.A. in both Spanish and Biology. Way to go, Zoe!
https://www.wku.edu/modernlanguages/news/index.php?view=article&articleid=10449
08/04/2022
On Monday, April 4, Morgan Giles visited Western Kentucky University to speak current Modern Languages Hilltoppers about translation and second language learning. In her talk, she explained that translation is truly an art: rather than a word-for-word translation, it is truly a form of expressing the authors’ ideas. Click the link to read the story!
https://www.wku.edu/modernlanguages/news/index.php?view=article&articleid=10441
Modern Languages Alumna Morgan Giles Gives Presentation on Literary Translation & Language Learning On Monday, April 4, WKU Modern Languages Alumna Morgan Giles came to Western Kentucky University to speak current Modern Languages Hilltoppers about translation and second language learning. In her talk, she explained that translation is truly an art: rat
08/04/2022
06/04/2022
https://www.wku.edu/modernlanguages/news/index.php?view=article&articleid=10433
Last Thursday, three Modern Languages alumni of the Spanish program wrote about paths to success using acquired language skills. Check out the article above!
WKU Modern Languages Hosts Panel: Paths to Success Using Your Spanish On Thursday, March 31, 2022, the WKU Spanish program organized an event on the power of Spanish after graduation and how it relates to students’ professional future and goals. During the meeting, Dr. Melissa Stewart directed the alumni panel, sparking
05/04/2022
https://www.wku.edu/modernlanguages/news/index.php?view=article&articleid=10427
One of our students studying Russian in the Gatton Academy, Hayden Flickinger, was named a Russian Scholar Laureate by the American Council of Teachers of Russian.
Gatton Academy student named ACTR Russian Scholar Laureate Gatton Academy Student Recognized As 2021 ACTR Russian Scholar Laureate The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science student Hayden Flickinger (’22, Marshall County HS) was recently recognized as a 2021 American Council of Teachers of Russian (ACTR)
05/04/2022
We would like to invite you all to the "Celebrando La Afrolatinidad" event next Wednesday in Gary Ransdell Hall. This will be a great cultural experience and opportunity to learn more about the Afrolatino community.
04/04/2022
04/04/2022
Email Dr. Poole for registration instructions ([email protected]).
03/04/2022
Kentucky native Morgan Giles will discuss learning Japanese and literary translation. In 2020, Giles was awarded the National Book Award for Translated Literature.