Congratulations to Anna and Evyn!

On August 11, 2018, Anna Sisombat, Language Testing Assessment Administrator, married Evyn Kyle Hubbard, Sports Coordinator for the City of Bloomington, at the PNA Hall in NE Minneapolis. Anna and Evyn met through mutual friends while attending Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota.

TandemPlus Assistant Position Open!

TandemPlus is seeking a student for the role of TandemPlus Assistant starting as early as August, 1, 2017. A strong candidate for the position is involved with and interested in the language learning process, has keen attention to detail, is self-motivated and comfortable with speaking publicly. Being registered for at least six credits Fall semester is required, and work study funding is preferred.

The primary role of the TandemPlus Face-to-Face (F2F) Assistant is to help facilitate the operation and development of the Face-to-Face portion of the TandemPlus language/culture exchange program (in-person and virtual exchanges) under the direction of the TandemPlus F2F Coordinator. The TandemPlus Assistant is asked to work a minimum of 10 hours per week.

To apply for this position, please visit the University Employment Center and search for Job # 318392. For more information email tandem@umn.edu.

Congratulations to Anna Sisombat!

Please help us congratulate Anna Sisombat for receiving the Academic All Star Award. Anna has worked at the Language Center for two years, and currently serves as the Classroom Support student team leader and the Testing Assistant. Anna will be recognized by the Multicultural Center for her Gold-status All Star on Thursday, September 22, 2016.

Anna is a double major in French and Art. She has shared her thoughts on this recognition:

I am truly honored to receive such recognition and achievement. My work ethic not only reflects the academic and employment aspects of my life, but also who I am and have become. The decision to continue my education at the U of M and accept a position at the Language Center has been the best decision I have made yet. Thank you all who have made such a positive impact on my life!

Congratulations, Anna!

CARLA Presentation: Interpersonal Speaking as a Pathway to Foreign Language Literacy Development

Wednesday, September 28, 2016
12:20-1:10 p.m.
University International Center 101

In recent years, the concept of literacy has emerged as a common goal for collegiate foreign language curricula. Whereas traditional definitions of literacy focus on students’ ability to read and write, modern definitions entail the ability to interpret and create meaning in a range of sociocultural contexts through interaction with authentic target language texts of various genres. This broader definition suggests that literacy development encompasses all language modalities—reading, writing, listening, viewing, and speaking—and that these modalities overlap as learners interact with literary-cultural content to communicate meaningfully. In this presentation, I expand this definition and use illustrative examples to help argue that interpersonal speaking is a viable pathway to foreign language literacy development and increased engagement with literary-cultural content at all levels of the undergraduate foreign language curriculum.

Presenter: Kate Paesani is the new Director of CARLA. Her research focused on literacy-based curriculum and instruction and foreign language teacher development. Before coming to CARLA she was an associate professor and director of basic French courses at Wayne State University.
Cosponsored by CARLA and the Second Language Education Program in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

New Administrative Specialist, Agnes Malika

Please welcome Agnes to the Language Center. This fall, she will work both in the Department of African American & African Studies and the Language Center. Agnes is an Administrative Specialist with extensive experience in curriculum, financial and human resources. She has worked at the University of Minnesota in different departments and various positions. She holds a Bachelor degree in International Relations and Master of Education in Human Resources Development, both from University of Minnesota. She studied Swahili, French and English during her Advance Secondary Education Diploma in Tanzania. She speaks fluent Swahili and some French.

Welcome Back to the Language Center!

Welcome new and returning instructors, students and staff. If you were not around this summer, here are a few things you may have missed at the Language Center:

• New iMac computers were installed in Jones 30 and 35! 
• A new bright LED projector was installed in Jones 35, projector lamps were replaced in the other 3 classrooms
• Three new HD video camcorders and two new lightweight tripods were added to the LC checkout pool
• The Language Center AV database migrated to Elevator: Read more
• Language courses received through Courseshare moved to the Language Center: Read more
• The PACE Project has been renewed for another year: Read more
• The new CARLA Director, Kate Paesani joined us in the fall with a split appointment between CARLA (75%) and the Language Center (25%): Read more

Congratulations Diane Rackowski!

This week, the University of Minnesota will honor Civil Service and Labor Represented employees from all campuses celebrating milestone work anniversaries, between 20 and 50 years. Honorees include Technical Coordinator, Diane Rackowski, who is celebrating 20+ years at the Language Center!

Much has changed since 1995, when Diane – who had already installed the department’s two Sony Language Labs and an extension to the intercom system while working for what was then known as University Media Resources - was hired as a Senior Electronics Technician. The Language Center was located in Folwell Hall, and the department’s technology consisted mostly of monitors and VCRs on carts, VHS camcorders and cassette tape recorders. Today, Diane is responsible for a wide range of technology at the Language Center, from computer classrooms, classroom video recording systems, digital audio recorders, and the Language Center website. One thing has not changed: Diane remains an excellent technology resource and the go-to person for instructors and staff looking to realize their innovative technology ideas.

Diane will be honored on Thursday, June 16, 2016  with a reception at Eastcliff. Please join the Language Center in congratulating Diane and thanking her for all she has accomplished on behalf of language instructors and students. 

CLA Outstanding Service Awards

Thursday, February 25, 2016
2:30-4:30 p.m. (Program begins at 3:00 p.m.)
Memorial Hall, McNamara Alumni Center
RSVP online

Congratulations to Catherine (Kate) Clements, CLA Language Center Language Exchange and Learning Spaces Specialist, who has been selected for a CLA Outstanding Service award for her work in 2014-2015.

Kate coordinates the vibrant TandemPlus program. She is responsible for all aspects of the program from recruiting internal participants and finding partners abroad, to counseling students about their individual partnerships, event planning, and collaborating with partnering schools. She also manages Jones 135, the walk-in multimedia lab that serves more than 3000 undergraduate language students who need access to language-learning technology.

In 2014-2015 Kate spearheaded the transformation of TandemPlus into a student group, which has given students more ownership in the program and provides leadership opportunities for the diverse student board. Through her efforts the program has grown to reach more than 1,000 students learning more than 20 languages per year. Under Kate’s leadership the number of international class-to-class telecollaborations grew to include partnerships with universities in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Venezuela and Mexico, and a telecollaboration with a university in Cuba is in the works for Fall 2016.

Please join in congratulating Kate and the other Outstanding Service Award recipients, which includes two representatives from German, Scandinavian & Dutch: Cathy Parlin and Virginia (Ginny) Steinhagen, as well as Anna Brailovski from Research and Graduate Programs. While Anna does not work with language programs directly, she is a valued partner for the Language Center and language departments engaging in research or developing grant proposals.

Getting to Know the Multimedia Lab and Development Studio Staff, Fall 2015

Who are the students working in the Multimedia Lab and the Development Studio this semester? Here are some short bios of new and returning staff!

 

Multimedia Lab

Bryce Heller

My name is Bryce, and I am from St. Louis Park Minnesota. I am a sophomore in Civil Engineering. This is my second semester working as a lab attendant. I enjoy working with computers, playing games, and programming.

Dathan Cook

Hello. My name is Dathan Cook. I'm from Eagan, Minnesota and currently commute from there everyday. I'm a junior in the process of changing my major from Computer Science to Ecology, Environment, and Behavior with two minors in both Environment Policy and Conservation Biology. I hope to become a field ecologist working primary with larger cats, but all animals are fascinating to me and getting the chance to work with them everyday is the ultimate goal. Aside from animals I'm also interested in a large variety of things ranging from MMA to HGTV—it's a guilty pleasure—and I've been more open to trying and experiencing new things. This will be my third year working as a lab attendant.

David Hagberg

I'm David Hagberg—you can call me either Dave or David. I'm a Sociology senior who is graduating this fall, unless I decide to take on another degree.  I started working for the lab during the summer term. I'm a massive soccer fan—so much so that I even went to live in Madrid for a semester under the guise of study abroad just to watch a lot of Real Madrid, my favorite team, games. (I know there are a few Barça fans around, but I think if even the Spanish national team can get along we should be able to as well.) I also really like cooking and watch food network in most of my free time. 

Hodan Jama

Hello, my name is Hodan Jama, and I am senior here at the U studying Nutrition. This is my second year in the Multimedia Lab as a lab attendant. I have lived in three different countries, and I currently reside in Burnsville, MN. I love watching true crime shows that usually come on Investigation Discovery. I have two brothers, and I plan to work as a Nutrition Consultant in the near future.

Ibsitue Kadir

Hey everyone! My name is Ibsitue Kadir, and I am working in both the main office as well as the lab a few days a week. I am currently a senior hoping to graduate this spring. I am studying family social science, and I hope to be an elementary school teacher. I was born in Las Vegas, but my family currently lives in Saint Paul. I love to volunteer, especially when it's with children. This is my first semester here in the Language Center.

Development Studio

Emma Hage
Hallå! My name is Emma, and I'm a sophomore studying linguistics. This is my second year working at the Language Center; I also work as a writing consultant in Nicholson and keep busy as an editor for the U of M's literary magazine, Ivory Tower. My perfect day involves a curling up with my four cats and a good piece of nonfiction. I also love learning languages and eating French toast.

Getting the Know the Classroom Support Staff, Fall 2015

Who are the students working in Classroom Support this fall? Here are some short bios of new and returning staff!


Alli Shaw
Hello! My name is Alli and this is my 4th year here at the Language Center. I am a senior majoring in Psychology and will go on to master in Occupational Therapy. I studied Spanish for several years and am currently in my final semester of learning American Sign Language. I was abroad in Argentina for a semester but I am excited to be back working CS. In my free time I enjoy playing soccer, piano, going camping, and anything that includes the outdoors!  

Anna Sisombat  
Sabaidee! My name is Anna, and I’m from Marshall, MN. This is my fourth year of college but second year here at the U and at the Language Center. I’m currently a French major, and I had the opportunity to travel to France for three and a half weeks with my previous college. I speak English, Laotian, and French. In my free time, I play video games, disc golf, eat delicious food, and take road trips to visit family members! À bientôt! 



Chris Michaels
Hello! My name is Chris Michaels, and I am from Monticello, MN. I’m a senior majoring in journalism, and I have been studying Japanese for about four years now.  Most of my free time is spent watching or playing sports and hanging out with friends.

  





Keerthana Shankar
Hello, there! My name is Keerthana Shankar and I am in my fifth year majoring in Asian Language and Literature with a focus in Korean. I was born in Saudi Arabia to two Indian parents, so I am technically still considered Indian. My native tongue is called Tamil, a South Indian language. In my free time, I am usually drawing or watching youtubers play video/PC games. I am on the board of the Minnesota International Student Association (MISA) and am really passionate about benefitting the international student population. I would love to see you at our events!

Lauren Otto

Hello! My name is Lauren, and I am a sophomore here at the U studying English and Journalism. This is my second year in Classroom Support at the Language Center. I am interested in travel writing, blogging, international news, and nonprofit work. I enjoy reading, writing, adventures, food, and being outside.

Maxine Kobinski

Hello! My name is Maxine and I am currently finishing out my last semester here at the university. I have worked in the Language Center in some way, shape, or form for about three years now. I am a German and Linguistics double major with a TESL minor, and I hope to go to grad school in the future to take courses in becoming a speech-language pathologist (AKA speech therapist). I like kayaking, reading, and going on travel adventures!

Mohamed Abulyusr
Hey, my name is Mohamed and I’m a junior studying Economics, Mathematics, and Business Management. I’m from Orange County, California. I speak Arabic fluently. I can also keep a decent conversation in both French and German. I do a lot of things in my free time such as: swimming, playing soccer, watching TV shows, video games, and going out with friends. I love working here, and I think that everybody is awesome!


Shoua Thao
Nyob zoo! Hi, my name is Shoua Thao and I am a senior this year at the University of Minnesota pursuing a Bachelors of Individualized Studies in Mass Communication, Political Science, and Design minor.  As you might have guessed, I am a native Hmong-speaker, and I learned two years of Korean during my first two years here at the UMN.  In my free time, I love to play flag football and volleyball and hang out with friends. 

 
  
Taylor Miller
안녕하세요! My name is Taylor and I’m a Minnesotan, born and raised. I’m a junior at the U majoring in Youth Studies with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). I’m hoping to teach in South Korea one day, and I’m learning Korean to prepare for that. I also know a little Spanish and went to Costa Rica with my high school class in 2011. In my free time I enjoy watching movies, drinking bubble tea, and playing board games.