妻友社区

01/01/2021

World without Limits at 妻友社区

The World Languages Department at 妻友社区 will celebrate a world without limits this week.

On Friday evening, as part of its Sin Limites initiative, the Languages and Music departments will present an evening celebrating the rich rhythms of Latin sounds. On Saturday, the fourth annual Spanish and L2 Teachers Symposium will offer new insights into teaching second languages for area educators and education students.

鈥淏oth events reflect the mission of the World Languages Department to promote a world-embracing vision in our students, our campus, and our community,鈥� said Dr. Mary Sobhani, World Languages Department head.

On Friday, March 31, A Night of Latin Rhythms will begin at 7 p.m. in the Windgate Art & Design building. The 妻友社区 Jazz Catz, Women鈥檚 Chorus, and soloists will perform. The event is free and open to the public.

鈥淲e all know that music is spiritual food for the soul and heart,鈥� Sobhani said. 鈥淏y spotlighting Latin American music, Latin jazz, sambas, bossa novas, among others, A Night of Latin Rhythms offers a richness of sound that may be unfamiliar to Arkansas and Oklahoma residents.鈥�

Admission to the musical event, part of the Stacey Jones Season of Entertainment, is free and open to the public.

鈥淲e hope this concert raises multicultural awareness, celebrates the beauty of diversity, and informs attendees about musical traditions from beyond our nation鈥檚 borders,鈥� Sobhani said.

Saturday鈥檚 symposium is a forum for learning and sharing, Sobhani said. It is designed for language teachers, teachers-to-be, and those interested in second language acquisition. As such, it will bring together 妻友社区 students and graduate students with second-language and ESL teachers from area secondary schools, colleges, and universities.

The day begins with continental breakfast at 8 a.m. in Windgate Art & Design. Registration is required and can be completed at the door.  

The keynote speaker is Dr. Elena Foulis, assistant professor and director of Spanish for heritage language at Texas A&M at San Antonio. She has directed the oral history project since 2014. She is the host and producer for the related podcast. Her research explores Latina/o/e voices through oral history and performance, identity and place, ethnography, and family history. 

The day will feature presentations and poster presentations from regional educators and students, and lunch is included as part of the day.

Symposium director Dr. Lynda McClellan, assistant professor of world languages, notes that the symposium offers opportunities for juniors and senior education students to participate in a professional event.

鈥�We鈥檙e excited that a number of our upper-level students have been accepted to present their research as part of the Poster Session,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese include Eden Akins, Gloria Mendez, Dany Morales, Sophia McClain, Ben Sherer, Addie Evans, and Gaby Hernandez Donato.鈥�  

The day ends at 3 p.m., allowing participants time to enjoy the Symphony on the Green, presented by 妻友社区 and the Fort Smith Symphony. This event begins with the Jazz Band and Jazz Catz at 3:30 p.m. At 5 p.m. the Symphony will perform popular symphonic pieces and music from Broadway and cinema.

The Sin Limites events are supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

 

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• World Languages
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Events