News & Announcements

The University of Utah’s College of Humanities has joined the Qatar Debate Center’s Arabic debate program to promote the culture of debate, open dialogue and enhance the Arabic language in the U.S. The U – in partnership with the Middle East Center and the John R. Park Debate Society – was one of the first U.S. universities to join the program.

Last week our two faculty members based at the Utah Asia Campus in South Korea came to visit the WLC department office in Salt Lake City! Maria Teresa García teaches Spanish and Eunkyung Park teaches Korean at the UAC. It was wonderful to meet together in person and discuss exciting ongoing collaboration to help students further their language study.

Tanya Flores has been named a 2022-23 Presidential Leadership Fellow. The program’s goal is to foster talented, emerging leaders with administrative potential. With the support of The Mellon Foundation, the university was able to expand the program in 2019, with an emphasis on providing training in higher education leadership to rising academic leaders from the fields of arts and humanities.

WLC Faculty Anne Lair, L2Trec Director Fernando Rubio, and Chair Christopher Lewis met with French Ambassador Philippe Etienne. They, with State Superintendent of Education Syd Dickson discussed French immersion in Utah public schools.

There have always been Jewish communities in Africa and since the advent of the internet, more groups have become more widely known. These deeply rooted Jewish communities partake in religious practices which were previously outlawed by European colonizers (such as male circumcision, Saturday Sabbath, menstrual seclusion, etc.), as well as customs such as animal sacrifice, which are no longer practiced in Rabbinic Judaism. Many members of these groups have thought themselves to be descendants from the Lost Tribes – the Ten Tribes of Israel which were supposedly exiled from Israel in 722 BCE. European colonizers and missionaries believed such groups to be part of these tribes because, according to the Old Testament in the Bible, only Jews performed these practices.

Starting this fall semester, Modern Greek will once again be taught at the University of Utah. One of the beginner Modern Greek classes will be taught by Pagona Tsoutsounis. Tsoutsounis has been teaching adult Greek classes at the Greek Orthodox church for several years and is excited to start teaching students at the U.

“Dozens of French teachers leave each year for this American state to take part in its ambitious policy of bilingual classes.”

Zuri Vasquez Bedolla is this year's winner of the ISA Global Opportunity Scholarship, which she will use to study abroad at Universidad Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid this fall. Zuri is a double major in Spanish and Business Administration with a minor in Entrepreneurship. Congratulations, Zuri!

As one of the largest language departments in the country, the Department of World Languages & Cultures at the University of Utah offers 21 languages, eight majors and 12 minors. Now, after a groundbreaking restructuring and expansion of their Comparative Literary & Cultural Studies degree, the department will introduce seven new options to better meet the needs and interests of more students in Fall 2022.

There’s a street in downtown Salt Lake City serving as an urban archive with generations of stories written in brick and concrete. Near the Salt Palace Convention Center and the Vivint Arena, it stretches from Second to Third West on 100 South, bookended by the Japanese Church of Christ and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple—the remnants of a once-thriving Japantown chronicling the Japanese American community’s 100+-year fight to save the celebrated space and preserve their history.

Yunwen Su has received the Business Language Research and Teaching Award from the Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). She was recognized for her research with Yingling Bao from Indiana University for their research on “Gift Giving Interactions and the Chinese Concept of Politeness.”

"One of the main reasons I love studying foreign languages is that it allows you to see the world through different lenses. It has given me the ability to understand different cultures in a more nuanced way and help bridge cultural gaps when interacting with foreigners. In my experience I have found that speaking to someone in their native language creates a safe and comfortable environment where meaningful relationships can bloom. Learning languages has inspired me to pursue a career in international affairs to help build peaceful and constructive relationships between the US and other countries."

Katharina Gerstenberger, a professor of German in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, has been selected as the 2022 Distinguished Scholar in the Humanities. Dr. Gerstenberger served as Chair of World Languages and Cultures from 2012 to 2018 and was also interim director of the Environmental Humanities Graduate Program from 2020 to 2021. She has authored numerous books and articles on topics of 20th and 21st German literary culture, and she currently serves as editor of German Studies Review.

The Department of World Languages and Cultures is delighted that Connor Brown, a German major (class of ’22), is the recipient of a Fulbright Award! Connor was also recognized by the German faculty as the 2022 Outstanding Senior in German.

Ashton Lazarus has received a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Award for his project “Sensation and Renunciation in The Tale of Genji,” which focuses on the tension between the allure of sensory experience and Buddhist distrust of the senses.

Anne Lair, whose presentation at the Utah Foreign Language Association’s conference a few weeks ago was selected as “Best of Utah.” She will represent both UFLA and the state at the Southwest Conference on Language Teaching (SWCOLT) later this month.

The delegation was advised by. Shereen Salah, and the team included Hussein Saade (Fulbright Scholar), Brecken Carmen, Brandt Munk, Owen Benson, Diyan Durovic, Russel Jabber, and Claire Inouye.

Students in the Department of World Languages & Cultures recently partnered with Great Basin National Park to translate brochures and signage into different languages. This work was piloted by park guides alongside WLC academic advisors in an effort to make the park more accessible and to create meaningful, language-oriented service opportunities for students.

The Modern Language Association of America today announced it is awarding its thirty-sixth Kenneth W. Mildenberger Prize to Daria Mizza, assistant professor of educational studies at the American University in Cairo and head of language instructional technology at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and Fernando Rubio, professor of Spanish linguistics at the University of Utah, for their book Creating Effective Blended Language Learning Courses: A Research-Based Guide from Planning to Evaluation.

The College of Humanities has recognized Margaret Wan for significant scholarly accomplishments as a senior faculty member. She is a Professor of Chinese Literature and Cultural History, the author of several books and articles, and an editor for CHINOPERL.

Congratulations to Jackie Sheean, who has just been awarded one of the College of Humanities NEH Incentive Fellowships to work on her book project next year.

On Wednesday, July 28th, Consul-General Midori Takeuchi presented Dr. Shoji Azuma, Professor of Linguistics at Utah University with the Consul-General's Award in commendation for his contributions toward mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill between Japan and the U.S.

Congratulations to French Assistant Professor Vanessa Brutsche, who just won this year's Malcolm Bowie prize for the most outstanding article published by an early career researcher in French Studies. She received this prestigious award from the International Society for French Studies for her article, “Duras’s Aurélia Steiner and the Ethics of Cinematic Form,” which appeared in French Studies 74.3 (July 2020).

Each year, the Career & Professional Development Center receives nominations for individuals who have made a substantial impact on students' career development at the University of Utah - we are excited to recognize your incredible work! Congratulations, Natalya! We are so honored to have you in our department.

Juan Carlos teaches in the Spanish Bridge program, and Spanish courses for WLC. We are honored to count him among our outstanding language teachers.

Professor Talía Dajes article “Crímenes íntimos: incesto y violencia política en el cine peruano contemporáneo" (published in A Contracorriente, 2020) received the Best Essay Award from the Latin American Studies Association's (LASA) Film Studies Section.

Dr. Anne Lair received the Dorothy S. Ludwig Excellence in Teaching Award – Post-Secondary from the American Association of Teachers of French. She is the French Bridge Curriculum Director and French Coordinator for the State of Utah.

Lucy Arredondo, a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the French MA program is the recipient of a FUTURE IMMERSION TEACHER (FIT) FELLOWSHIP. She will receive a $10,000 scholarship to pursue a graduate degree and certification programs to prepare for a roles as a French immersion teacher. This is the second time a MA student in French has received a FIT grant.

Tanya Flores created a Parent Resource Handbook for Spanish speaking families of hard-of-hearing children.

The Department of World Languages & Cultures sent four advanced Arabic students to participate in the Arabic Debate Championship in Qatar.

Join the Russian program for an end-of-semester party featuring Russian music, food, poems, and more!

Christopher T. Lewis, assistant professor of Portuguese & Brazilian Studies in the Department of World Languages & Cultures, has been awarded the University of Utah’s Early Career Teaching Award, which recognizes significant contributions to teaching at the university through new and innovative teaching methods.

Keri Gonzalez, Spanish PhD candidate, will defend her dissertation March 1. Her defense is open to the public.

Join us February 14 from 2:00-3:15pm in SFEBB 5130. Snacks provided. Join us again on February 15 at 7:30pm in Kingsbury Hall.

Join the Russian section for a winter-themed movie on Thursday, 1/17!

The Associate Professor of Spanish published an article last month titled, "Empathy, Catharsis, and Altruism in Cervantes’s Los tratos de Argel, Read as a Redemptorist Play."

Partake in our Diwali festivities on Tuesday, 11/13!

Prof. Alejandro Quin discusses One Hundred Years of Solitude at Books & Bridges, Thursday 11/8

The Department of World Languages & Cultures invites you to two readings by Theodora Bauer.

Come to a screening of Egyptian movie, Nasser 56!

Join us for a viewing of moody vampire saga НОЧНОЙ ДОЗОР (NIGHT WATCH) on October 30th!

Deberniere Torrey, Assistant Professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, explores early Korean Catholic texts as indicators of identity, cultural hybridity, and epistemic shift in Korea prior to its opening to the modern world.

The Career and Professional Development Center began recognizing faculty member who contribute to students’ career development and exploration throughout the year.

This co-edited volume explores the complex interactions between culture and politics in post-independence Paraguay, situating Paraguayan cultural, intellectual, and political history within the broader field of Latin American Studies.

Christopher T. Lewis, Assistant Professor of Portuguese & Brazilian Studies in the Department of World Languages & Cultures, is the winner of the 2018 Ramona W. Cannon Award for Teaching Excellence in the Humanities.

Students in a new course, “Coming to America,” taught by a German and a Spanish professor are learning about immigration. The course combines this timely topic with cutting-edge research in the digital humanities in a hands-on way.

On Friday February 2, 2018, Jane Hacking was presented with the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and European Languages (AATSEEL) 2017 Outstanding Contribution to the Profession award.

Please join us on March 1 - 2, 2018. Our keynote speaker will be Professor Todd Reeser from the University of Pitts on "Universalizing Identity: Transgender Subjects in Visual Media and Literature."

Deberniere Torrey explores early Korean Catholic texts as indicators of identity, cultural hybridity, and epistemic shift in Korea prior to its opening to the modern world.

A lecture and workshop with Professor Diana Taylor

Isabel Dulfano, Associate Professor in World Languages & Cultures, will be honored as one of seven 2017 Beacons of Excellence at the University of Utah.

Nathan P. Devir has just published New Children of Israel: Emerging Jewish Communities in an Era of Globalization (Salt Lake City: The University of Utah Press, 2017).

M – Eine stadt sucht einen mörder (M - A City Looks for a Murderer)

Karin Baumgartner has won the Nelson Brooks Award conferred by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) in honor of her expertise in German language and culture pedagogy.

Molly Barnewitz’s MA thesis has been nominated to represent the University of Utah in the Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS)/ProQuest Distinguished Thesis Non-STEM competition.

Thursday September 7th, 11:45am - 1:45pm in LNCO 2110.

Elena García-Martín, associate professor in the department of World Languages & Cultures, has published Rural Revisions of Golden Age Drama with Bucknell University Press.

Jerry Root, Associate Professor of French and Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies in the Department of World Languages & Cultures, has published The Theophilus Legend in Medieval Text and Image with Boydell & Brewer.

Each year, the department of World Languages & Cultures supports a number of faculty-led Learning Abroad programs to a number of different countries.

Anne Lair Honored by Republic of France’s Ministry of National Education for Work in French Language and Culture Teaching

Continuing Education’s Go Learn Program allows participants to explore the world with hand-selected U of U faculty who are experts at bringing local and international destinations to life.

Deberniere Torrey, Assistant Professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, has received a Korean Studies Grant from the Academy of Korean Studies in South Korea.

Alison Shimko, Spanish B.A., May 2017, received a highly competitive Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Nathan P. Devir recently published an article in the Journal of the Middle East and Africa, the flagship publication of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa.

An event series with Peruvian Filmmaker Sofía Velázquez

Essential Hindi Grammar is a comprehensive grammar of Modern Standard Hindi.

Karin Baumgartner was nominated by her student, JC Chun, to be honored at the Sigma Chi Professor Appreciation night on March 8, 2017.

A lecture by Michael Thomas Taylor, Reed College.

Tanya Flores, Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics, has announced her recent publication that will have free online access for about 50 days.

The Faculty & Department of World Languages and Cultures, supported by the Dean of the College of Humanities, present the 1st event of the series: "Shock - Culture - Shock"

Whether you are a freshman or a graduation senior, join us to meet some of our World Languages alumni in a fun and social setting.

Speaker: Dr. Ivonne del Valle (University of California-Berkeley)

From Salt Lake City to Camerino, Italy, to help the victims of a devastating earthquake.

Prof. Christopher T. Lewis explains how the newest book in a mystery series set in Utah inhabits very recent events in Mormon culture.

Nathan P. Devir recently published two separate essays in edited volumes dedicated to the subject of neo-Jewish movements in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nathan Devir, an assistant professor in the department of World Languages & Cultures, was awarded a grant from the University of Utah’s Funding Incentive Seed Grant Program

Chantal received the award for Secondary Education from the Utah Foreign Languages Association (UFLA).

The talk interrogates Marx's notion of commodity fetishism from the vantage point of new materialisms.

This year, community leaders representing important local organizations that promote human rights and support refugees and migrants will participate in a panel on "Local Perspectives on the Global Refugee Challenge".

Karin Baumgartner, Associate Professor of German in the Department of World Languages & Cultures, has won this year’s FL-A-CH award

A warm welcome to Talía Dajes, our new professor in Spanish

CNN recently posted an article revealing that learning a second language may increase your success in your career, love life, and contribute to a having more healthy brain.

Christopher T. Lewis, Assistant Professor of Portuguese & Brazilian Studies in the Department of World Languages & Cultures, was featured Friday on “Top of Mind” with Julie Rose on BYU Radio

Congratulations to both Laurel Myler and Colby J. Townsend

33 scholars from 11 countries will speak at the three-day conference on topics as diverse as Lesbian Romance, TV’s The Bachelor, Nora Roberts, Steampunk Romance, Cinderella, and Sheikh Romance.

The Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP) has recognized Christopher Lewis with its Junior Faculty Teaching Award.

Congratulations to Hillary Hermansen, a student of Portuguese and English here at the U, for being selected as the 2016 Outstanding Undergraduate Student Researcher for the College of Humanities!

CLCS graduate student Sheena Mugavin has been selected for a UTA to work on first-year Arabic pedagogy. Click the link for more details on her project.

Read about Kya Palomaki, a recent student of German in our department.

Professors Karin Baumgartner and Gema Guevara have won a grant from the University Teaching Committee with a project in the area of digital humanities.

Professor Jerry Root has been selected as an Honors/Humanities Professor for the 2016-17 academic year.

The Salt Lake Tribune discusses Mormon mystery novels

Wall Street Journal reports that foreign languages and literature majors earn the most of all humanities majors!

Jason Chen, a Spanish Major, has won a Fulbright Award.

Prof. Rubio has been elected to the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Board of Directors representing Higher Education.

Prof. Christine Jones was selected as Honors/Humanities Professor for 2015/16. She will teach two courses for the Honors College, one on "Fairy Tales," one on "Chocolate."

Prof. Wu's translation of Dylan Thomas' poetry is the featured article in “South China Morning Post” in Hong Kong.

Our Classics Honor Society was featured in the Ute Weather forecast this morning. And we have great weather for the marathon reading today!

The Department of Languages and Literature is pleased to welcome Tanya Flores, Brandon Peterson, and Abdulaziz (Aziz) Alzoubi.

Norris is among the approximately 550 U.S. undergraduate and graduate students selected for the U.S. Department of State's CLS Program in 2014

Prof. Lewis has been interviewed by BYU Radio's The Morning Show talking about Brazil and the World Cup.

Classics Professor Margaret Toscano judges Latin competition that brings the Utah, BYU, and USU rivalry to new heights.

Prof. Wu has been interviewed by the BBC about his translation of Dylan Thomas' poetry into Chinese.

Christine Jones is the winner of the 2014 Ramona W. Cannon Award for Teaching Excellence in the Humanities!

Read the spotlight featured in the Language Educator on Anne Lair and Fernando Rubio.

Hinckley Institute Forum: "Cultures in Contact" taught by Lily Alavi http://kuer.org/post/hinckley-forum-cultures-contact

French Professor Christine Jones is a winner of this year's University Distinguished Teaching Award.

Lily Alavi has received an award from the Salt Lake County Aging Services "In Appreciation of the Collaborative Partnership with Salt Lake County Aging Services, Senior Companions & Foster Grandparents Programs."

Nominate Your Favorite Professor for a Teaching Award.

French Professor Anne Lair wins The Utah Foreign Language Association's Teacher of the Year Award for the university level.

The journal Unterrichtspraxis presented Professor Baumgarter the award for her essay "'Ich kam unter die Schweizer.' Teaching Switzerland as a Multi-Ethnic Society."

The grant from the Institute for International Education (IIE) will fund a new Language Training Center for the Utah Cryptologic Team.

Shoji Azuma, professor of Japanese, has won the Hakuho Foundation's Japanese Language Research Fellowship.

Every year, the ASUU honors outstanding professors who have made a difference in students' lives.

Read the full article from The Daily Utah Chronicle here.

We are proud to announce that Professor Eric Laursen (Russian) has been selected as the University of Utah's first Honors/Humanities Professor.

The University of Utah has established a Second Language Teaching and Research Center (L2TReC) in the College of Humanities under the joint direction of Professors Jane Hacking and Fernando Rubio.