World Languages & Cultures

When students choose majors like chemistry, computer science or music, their path to a related profession can be fairly straightforward.

But what about students who study the language arts?

We sat down with five seniors who soon will graduate with majors or minors from the Modern and Classical Languages Department. The students are:

Emma Brooker Major: Communication arts Minors: Spanish and mathematics	Melinda Buker Major: Spanish Minor: Women’s, gender and sexuality studies
Kalyssa King Majors: Spanish and international studies	Maura Matvey Majors: Psychology and Spanish
Jenna Sandala Major: Biochemistry Minor: French

Here’s what they had to say about how their language arts education changed their outlooks and helped to shape their futures.

How has studying a foreign language benefited you?
Jenna: Taking a language broadens your perspectives. When you take a language at Allegheny, you also learn a lot about cultures. It’s really something you don’t get to do in other classes.

Kalyssa: When you’re studying a language, it’s so much about developing you as a person. You also really get to see a much deeper side to your professors because of the way the classroom setting is. You get to hear a lot more about their experiences.

In addition, due to smaller class sizes, you get a sense of comradery among each other because you’re all learning together, and you get to know everyone on a deeper level.

Maura: In addition to studying Spanish, I also took classes in Arabic here. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my entire life. It’s so different; it has opened my eyes so much. And I’ve learned so much about a different part of the world just through the language. I feel like I’ve become a better person through the studying of Arabic.

Describe any study abroad experiences you have had.
Kalyssa: In fall 2013, I studied in Argentina. I feel there’s so much value in a person’s native language; it’s such a huge part of their identity and their perspective. Learning the language from native speakers was crucial to me. It gives you so much insight into their culture and history and everything that surrounds that. I couldn’t imagine not studying Spanish and international studies. After that experience, I knew I loved the culture that I had learned about associated with Latin America.

Melinda: I studied in Spain in fall 2013. I enjoyed coming back and talking to Kalyssa about her experience because we were in different countries. Now, because of the accent I picked up from being in Spain, people will say to me, “Did you study abroad?”

How has your major or minor in language arts helped you on your career path?
Maura: The fact that I have a second major in Spanish is opening up a lot of job opportunities for me, such as working in research labs that deal with languages.

Melinda: After graduation, I will be doing Teach for America, where I’ll be teaching Spanish in North Carolina. Since Spanish is my major, I’m so glad to have work in that field. Majoring in Spanish was great in marketing myself to get a job. For me, learning another language also strengthened my English skills. It helped me to develop parallels between the structures in the languages. It definitely helped me with my grammar, too.

Emma: In the past, I have worked summer camps for the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania. I’m hoping to gain full-time employment there after I graduate. Knowing Spanish has been helpful because some of the children speak two languages.

The five seniors agree that studying a foreign language at Allegheny changed their lives for the better. To learn more about the Modern and Classical Languages Department, visit https://sites.allegheny.edu/modlang/.

Photo, left to right: Seniors Jenna Sandala, Kalyssa King, Melinda Buker, Maura Matvey and Emma Brooker.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Cubanabooks has published a translation by Associate Professor of Modern and Classical Languages Barbara Riess of an anthology of María Elena Llana’s short stories, Domicilio Habanero, or An Address in Havana. A bilingual collection, An Address in Havana highlights Llana’s most critically successful stories, a mixture of fantasy and dark humor. Llana’s short stories contain a rich and entertaining representation of a particular social class in Cuba during the last 40 years: the bourgeoisie who struggled to maintain their social status and participated only by default in the construction of the new socialist society. Portraits of family and twisted gender roles appear throughout the stories, within a mysterious domestic sphere that is unmistakably set in Havana.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Cubanabooks has published a translation by Associate Professor of Modern and Classical Languages Barbara Riess of an anthology of María Elena Llana’s short stories, Domicilio Habanero, or An Address in Havana. A bilingual collection, An Address in Havana highlights Llana’s most critically successful stories, a mixture of fantasy and dark humor. Llana’s short stories contain a rich and entertaining representation of a particular social class in Cuba during the last 40 years: the bourgeoisie who struggled to maintain their social status and participated only by default in the construction of the new socialist society. Portraits of family and twisted gender roles appear throughout the stories, within a mysterious domestic sphere that is unmistakably set in Havana.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

This summer, Bryn Philibert ’16 participated in an international internship in London at Right To Play, a global organization that uses the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity. The experience provided Bryn with a deeper understanding of nonprofit organizations and work done throughout the world.

“Working with Right To Play was the perfect introduction to the field of development,” says Bryn, who is pursuing an international studies major (with a Latin American focus) and minors in Spanish and women’s, gender and sexuality studies. “I learned a lot about charities and how they market themselves, particularly with fundraising events. The experience has opened my eyes to so much more about the field I want to go into.”

Read more about Bryn’s Right To Play internship and her study abroad experience in Ecuador:

How did you learn about Right To Play?
I learned about Right To Play through the application that was available on Allegheny’s website. As I was on the soccer team at the time, I also found out from my coach.

Why did you decide to pursue this opportunity? Is this something you’ve always wanted to do, or something you learned about while a student at Allegheny?
I looked into the opportunity more and realized that it was the perfect combination of all my interests. For me, sports have always been an important part of my life, and I’ve seen firsthand the power that sport can have to change lives. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be the person I am today were it not for years of soccer. Important lessons such as confidence, teamwork and perseverance are all integrated into healthy activity.

I’ve always wanted to work for an NGO (non-governmental organization), and working with Right To Play was the perfect introduction to the field of development. From my time at Allegheny, I’ve learned that there are often many different avenues into any given career. My international studies major is interdisciplinary, and therefore I’m accustomed to taking classes in many different academic topics and being challenged with new subjects. Allegheny’s moto of “unusual combinations” is very applicable to the work that Right To Play does with sport and development, and I’m very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with them.

What did you do while you were in London?
In the intimate office of 12 people at Right To Play, I spent a lot of time doing research about the programs and other development organizations. I learned a lot about charities and how they market themselves, particularly with fundraising events. Some of the highlights for me included writing an action plan for the sponsorship partnership with Chelsea Football Club, attending a meeting at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea’s Stadium) and working on and attending the launch of the Women’s Network with Billie Jean King.

I also spent a lot of time exploring London and all that its cultural diversity has to offer. One of the most amazing parts of my summer was that, although I was all the way over in London by myself, there was a sense of Allegheny community. I had the opportunity to meet and get to know a few alumni who live and work in London, and hearing their stories and learning about their careers and their time at Allegheny was comforting, especially since I was alone in a foreign country.

How did the internship benefit you? What did you learn?
I learned so much this summer. It’s almost hard to believe that it really happened, but I feel like I really got a feel for how NGOs work behind the scenes. When we study development work and when we turn on the news, we see the programmatic sides of NGOs, in foreign countries giving aid to those in need. While this is ultimately the part of NGOs I want to work closely with in the future, I gained an appreciation for the importance of fundraising and marketing.

I also saw how closely the two are connected, and my experiences have already opened my eyes to so much more about the field I want to go into. Living alone in Europe, commuting on the tube, navigating a city and so much more were nerve-wracking and brand new for me, but I have now learned that I can be successful in challenging situations, and that I should go for opportunities that I don’t think I’ll ever get.

What are you doing now?
This semester I am studying abroad in Ecuador, which is a program that not many students do. I decided to come to Ecuador because I am very interested in international development. In my mind, development is not something you can only learn in the classroom, which is why the program I’m doing, which also has an internship component, is perfect. I can build on all that I have learned in the classroom and combine development work in the field with what I saw last summer in London. I didn’t want a traditional study abroad at a large university. I am glad that I found an opportunity that combines language, culture and hands-on experience in international development.

What are you doing there?
Over the next four months, I will be studying and working. For the first part, we have classes in Quito. I am with a group of students mostly from Minnesota, and together we are taking classes in development, Spanish and Ecuadorian culture/history. I am also focusing on social services, which is the “track” for my development class and the area in which my internship will be in April.

How did you learn about this experience?
This experience is one of the options available for students looking to study abroad in Latin America. I looked through all the options and decided that this program fit well with my future goals and interest in development.

How long will you be there?
I will be in Ecuador until May 10. I’m in Quito until April, and then I will have an internship in a rural community somewhere.

What do you hope to get out of this experience?
I am very quickly learning that Ecuador is an amazing country. Although it is small, it has some of the greatest biodiversity, cultural diversity and geographic diversity in the world. I hope that when I return, I will have a better understanding of different cultures, development work and also a greater ability to reflect on our own culture.

What do you hope to do after graduation?
After I graduate, I am thinking that I would like to do the Peace Corps. I am very interested in international development, and I feel like that would be a good way to see the world and get some experience before getting a master’s in something related. Eventually I would like to work for an NGO like Right To Play in developing programs and working with local communities and governments.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Associate Professor of French Laura Reeck presented an invited paper on Franco-Algerian filmmaker Rachid Djaidani at a one-day conference on December 11 at the University of Bologna.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Almost anyone can make a meal out of what they dig out of their fridge and pantry, but not everyone has Madison Monahan’s flair for making it look scrumptious.

Maddie, a senior at Allegheny College, is pursuing a degree in Global Health Studies with a minor in French.  She spends much of her free time in the kitchen, pursuing her passion for cooking and then sharing photos of her creations online through her Instagram account. Here you’ll find dozens of Maddie’s home-cooked meals from Spaghetti Squash Boats to Spinach and Feta Chicken Roll-Ups.

Her family, particularly her father, inspired her interest in all things culinary, Maddie says.

She started helping her father around the kitchen around the age of 6. “I always wanted to help my dad and he would say, ‘You can help by watching,’ and I would get really mad because I wanted to get involved in the cooking. But in the end it is the watching that helped me the most.”

Cooking will always be a “cool hobby” but probably nothing more, Maddie says. “I love what cooking does to me. It really relieves my stress,” she says. “I don’t really have serious intentions with it in the future, but I love having cooking be part of my life, even if it’s just a hobby.”

It is this relaxing influence that helps Maddie balance her studies and her cooking. “You know how people decide to take study breaks and go drink coffee or something? I’m like that, but I just go cook lunch,” she says.

While Maddie has been cooking for years, she did not start using social media to showcase her talents until her sophomore year. “I figured that if I started posting these photos, I would inspire other people to start cooking,” she says.

She also tries to incorporate her cooking into her academics. (The Pittsburgh native is also president of the Advocating Global Health & Development Club and a student first-aid provider/ athletic trainer.)

“I just try to find other ways to incorporate it in my life, like for school projects. We did a recipe book for refugees in one of my classes last year.” Maddie says, “We took all the ingredients that you can find in other countries but that cannot be found here and I found a way to locate some substitutions for them. So that’s my way of incorporating the expression of cooking in my life.”

During the past summer, she stayed in Meadville and enjoyed going to the Second Saturday events organized by the Market House. “I love produce stands, and farmers’ markets are some of my favorite things. I love supporting local businesses and seeing what they have to offer. I also love seeing what the community does with the produce,” she says.

She also bought seeds from the Carrden — the Carr Hall hands-on learning and teaching garden for the Allegheny campus and community — and planted her own garden which allowed her to have fresh produce regularly.

It all makes for a recipe for fun and frugality, Maddie says. “I think it would be nice for people on campus to have a club that would reach out to them and show them that you can cook on a nice tight budget. It’s not as hard as people think it is!”

– Nahla Bendefaa

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Rhodes Scholar Finalist Talks about Scholarship Journey and Life at Allegheny

To be named a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship – the fully funded award that gives students an opportunity to study at the University of Oxford in England – a person must exhibit extraordinary qualities that make him or her stand out in a crowd.

Although Allegheny senior Jacqueline Coplen wasn’t ultimately selected for the scholarship, you can see why she made the final cut.

Coplen, a political science and Spanish double major from Carlisle, Pa., answered a few questions about how she got to the final stage of the Rhodes process. As Allegheny President James H. Mullen, Jr. states, “In our Bicentennial year, Jacqui has brought great distinction to Allegheny. We are all tremendously proud of her.”

When did you decide you wanted to apply for a Rhodes Scholarship?
I didn’t know about the scholarship until I began my college career, and I really only started thinking about it seriously six months ago. During Gator Day, I attended a presentation about national fellowships with Professor Patrick Jackson, national fellowships adviser and visiting assistant professor of history and religious studies. The Rhodes Scholarship really appealed to me. It seemed like a perfect fit.

What did you do to apply for the scholarship, and how did you prepare for the interview?
I’ve applied to internships before, but this was a completely different ballgame! Professor Jackson was incredibly helpful. First, I spent a lot of time reflecting in order to write my personal statement. I also needed to submit five to eight letters of recommendation. I asked 10 professors if they would write a letter for me because I kind of figured at least two would decline. But they all said yes!

The biggest outpouring of support was after I was told I’d have a Rhodes interview. President Mullen opened up his house for us to have a mock reception to help me prepare. A lot of faculty and staff members very graciously volunteered to be a part of this.

When did you find out that you were selected as a finalist?
I found out through an email! I was talking to my roommate and scrolling through emails, and a few emails down it said, “Invitation to Rhodes interview.” I thought, “This can’t be right.” Then I read the first paragraph, which said they wanted to invite me to interview. I had to read it at least three times. It didn’t seem like reality at first.

How did you feel when you learned you had been selected as a finalist?
I’ve been able to do a lot of cool and important things in my life, but this was definitely the biggest stage that I’ve been on thus far. It’s definitely an incredible honor. Everyone who submitted an application has some or many qualities that are absolutely outstanding. To be considered a part of this group is an incredible honor.

Outside of your academics, tell me about the other activities in which you are involved.
I am a cadet in the Army ROTC program at Edinboro University, in affiliation with Allegheny. This requires me to travel from Meadville to Edinboro daily (sometimes twice a day) to do physical training and military science classes and leadership labs. I get up at 5 a.m., leave at 5:15, and get there around 5:45. I’m usually back by around 8 a.m. I’m in the car a lot!

Until this year, I was the only cadet and the only female from Allegheny. I’ve now recruited two freshmen to the program.

Why did you decide to join the Army ROTC program?
I come from a military background. Both of my parents graduated from West Point. It’s really difficult to describe what it’s like growing up as an Army “brat.” One of the things I point to growing up as the daughter of two Army officers is an emphasis on the value of human life, both in an aspect of an absence of violence and hatred-type discourse, and in a positive manner as in an appreciation for art and culture. My parents have always shown us how to respectfully dissent and how to be respectful of others.

Coming out of high school, I knew I wanted to do something public-service related, but I wasn’t sure if going to the military academy was something I wanted to do. There’s something about going to a civilian college that offers a different experience. You meet many different types of people.

I am passionate about making a difference by being an officer in the military and being in a leadership position where I can make a difference and impact the way things work. I someday want to become a judge advocate general officer (an Army lawyer).

What other activities keep you busy?
I’m a fellow and research assistant for the Center for Political Participation. I’m also a member of the Allegheny Equestrian Team, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority (Mu Chapter), and the Phi Sigma Iota and Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Societies.

Why the Equestrian Team?
I’ve been riding forever. I often joke that I’ve been riding before I was born because my mother rode while pregnant with me. I got involved with the equestrian team because I wanted to do something different. It’s something I get to do for myself. I love the comradery and being a part of a team.

How do you balance it all?
I’m not going to say it’s easy. A lot of it is mind over matter. When someone entering college asks for my advice, I tell them to have their long view in mind. And if you don’t know what that is, just keep your options open. Don’t be short-sighted. Having my long view in mind is comforting to me. Moreover, it gives me something to focus on and grounds me.

When I came in as a freshman, I wanted to get involved in so many things. It’s easy to say yes to everything, but I’ve learned how to say no.

The third thing is being realistic and being able to prioritize. That is a skill that my military experience has helped me to cultivate.

And then of course I have a really nice set of friends and family who love me, and faculty who are supportive of me. That’s the most important. Without that, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Why did you choose Allegheny?
Face-to-face interaction and word of mouth are very powerful. I found out about Allegheny from a friend’s father who is on the Allegheny College Board of Trustees. When I came here for a tour, the campus really spoke to me. I felt really comfortable here. I liked what I read about the Political Science Department, the study abroad opportunities, and so much more.

After my first month, I knew I was going to stay. I built relationships, not just with other classmates, but with my professors. I’ve always had a good relationship with them. They push me, but they’re also very human. I’m academically challenged and fulfilled here. I wouldn’t be the person I am if I had gone to a larger school. This is what a small liberal arts education provides.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Associate Professor of Spanish Barbara Riess co-organized an international conference in Havana, Cuba on November 10-15 celebrating the bicentennial of Cuban/Spanish writer Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, author of what’s become known as the Cuban Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Riess organized the event with her colleague Zaida Capote at the Cuban Institute of Literature and Linguistics and served as the liaison to foster unprecedented transnational collaboration between the institute and the Asociación Internacional de Cultura y Literatura Femenina Hispanica, a U.S.-based professional organization for the study of women’s cultural production in Spain and Latin America. Her presentation paper, “Es mucho hombre esa mujer’: género y cuerpo en la prosa cubana femenina de los ’60 y ’70” [She’s Quite a Man, that Lady: Gender and Body in Cuban Women’s Prose from the Sixties and Seventies], is under review for publication.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Associate Professor of Spanish Wilfredo Hernández presented “La política de la música en La clase, de José Antonio Varela” in the conference The Aesthetics of Politics and the Politics of Aesthetics in Contemporary Venezuela held at the University of Cambridge on September 19-20. His personal essay on being a Venezuelan immigrant in the United States, “21 años después / 21 Years Later,” was included in the bilingual anthology Déjame que te cuente, edited by Ana María González for Chiringa Press in Seguin, Texas.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Associate Professor of French Laura Reeck contributed an essay, “Autofictional Testimony: Writing in Place of the Father in Zahia Rahmani’s Moze,” to the edited volume A Practical Guide to French Harki Literature. Reeck also contributed a translation of excerpts from Moze as well as an interview with Franco-Algerian author and filmmaker Mehdi Charef.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research