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March 2, 2011

ULM foreign language clubs partner with local high school to "Discover Languages"

Over 60 French and Spanish students at West Monroe High School partnered with student organizations from the University of Louisiana at Monroe to celebrate Discover Languages Month on Feb. 17.

Professor and Dean Emeritus Dr. Carlos Fandal discussed the evolution of languages with the French Honor Society, and the French and Spanish clubs at West Monroe High School.

ULM students were also represented through Phi Tau Gamma, the Foreign Language Club; Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish Honor Society; and Pi Delta Phi, the French Honor Society.

The students met in the high school library for Fandal's presentation, which covered the changes that took place as Latin spread through Europe resulting in new languages like French and Portuguese.

The presentation was followed by a buffet of foods from several cultures and a language competition. Under the supervision of ULM students, West Monroe students used their background in French and Spanish to determine the meanings of Italian and Portuguese words that were unfamiliar to them. All the students who participated received prizes from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

"By understanding the similarities that exist among Romance languages, the students realized that it is very possible to master two or three languages in addition to English," said ULM Foreign Languages Department Head Ruth Smith.

Discover Languages^®, is the national campaign developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages to raise awareness about the cognitive, academic, social, cultural and economic benefits that language learning provides our nation's students.

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