World Languages & Cultures

A new study from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) shows high and ever increasing demand by U.S. employers for employees with foreign language skills.

* 90 %  rely on foreign language speakers in their business

* 56 %  project their needs will increase over the next 5 years

* 34 %  say their needs are not currently being met

* 25 %  say they have lost business due to lack of employees with               foreign language skills

Click here for ACTFL press release with links to executive summary and full report.

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages is currently seeking essays for the Dieter P. Lotze Memorial Essay Competition. A prize will be awarded to the most accomplished paper submitted as a result of a double major Senior Project in the natural sciences and a foreign language, or other written work that explores the communication between disciplines. The paper must explore some aspect(s) of the relationship between the study of the natural sciences and that of other languages and cultures.  

The Dieter P. Lotze Memorial Essay Competition Fund was established by the late Barbara Lotze, Professor Emerita of Physics, in remembrance of her late husband, Dieter P. Lotze. Professor of Modern Languages Dieter Lotze taught German language and literature at Allegheny for more than 26 years. This prize is intended to recognize not only his achievements as teacher and scholar, but also his collaboration with Barbara Lotze in an attempt to enhance communication between their different academic disciplines.

Please submit your essay to Professor Barbara Riess, Chair of the Modern and Classical Languages Department, briess@allegheny.edu, by Friday, April 12, 2019.

The 2019 International Film Festival, sponsored by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, concludes this evening with “The Insult” from Lebanon.

The show begins at 7:00 pm at the Movies at Meadville, 11155 Highline Drive, Meadville PA 16335.

All films are free and open to the public, and free round-trip shuttles for the Allegheny community depart from Brooks Walk at N. Main St. at 6:00 and 6:35.

January 30

The Insult

(Lebanon, 2017)

Ziad Doueiri

R – 113 mins.

When Palestinian Muslim foreman Yasser installs a new drainpipe on Lebanese Christian Tony’s balcony without his permission, Tony’s dislike of Palestinians triggers what appears to be a minor disagreement. But insults are hurled, and the situation soon escalates out of control. What begins with a petty argument leads to a highly publicized trial that captivates a nation, and also gives a range of people an opportunity to settle old scores. Doueiri masterfully takes this private clash of wills as a starting point to explore historic rifts amongst Lebanese communities, and the aftermath of the civil war. Intelligently using humor and pathos, The Insult is ultimately a plea for empathy, forgiveness and peace.  –IMDB

Like the premature report of Samuel Clemens’s death, the end of the 2019 International Film Festival tonight (Wednesday, Feb. 27) has been greatly exaggerated.

Due to the weather-related campus closing on Jan. 31, the first movie in the series, “The Insult” from Lebanon, was canceled.  However, thanks to the good folks at The Movies at Meadville, we have been able to re-book the movie for a special extended festival week next Wednesday, March 6th!

As always, it all happens at 7:00 pm at the Movies at Meadville, 11155 Highline Drive, Meadville PA 16335, and free round-trip shuttles will be provided for the Allegheny community, departing N. Main St. at Brooks Walk at 6:00 and 6:35.

Mark your calendar for FILM FEST BONUS WEEK on March 6th —  see you there!

The 2019 International Film Festival, sponsored by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, continues tonight with “A Fantastic Woman” from Chile.

The show begins at 7:00 pm at the Movies at Meadville, 11155 Highline Drive, Meadville PA 16335.

All films are free and open to the public, and free round-trip shuttles for the Allegheny community depart from Brooks Walk at N. Main St. at 6:00 and 6:35.

FEBRUARY 27

A Fantastic Woman

(Chile, 2017)

Sebastián Lelio

R – 104 mins.

Somewhere in Santiago at a dimly-lit nightclub, Orlando, the kindly and well-off owner of a textile company, locks eyes with Marina, a hopeful singer and the roughly half-his-age love of his life. But, unfortunately, after Marina’s birthday celebration and a night of passion, Orlando falls gravely ill–and by the following morning–he dies in hospital. In the wake of her companion’s untimely death, Marina will soon realize that, from now on, everything is brought into question: her involvement in Orlando’s death, their unconventional relationship; and above all, her right to mourn her beloved deceased. In the end, what was Marina’s crime; a deed so hideous that would rob a fantastic woman of her respect, her dignity, and ultimately, her identity? – Nick Riganas, IMDB

The 2019 International Film Festival, sponsored by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, continues this evening with “Transit” from Germany.

The show begins at 7:00 pm at the Movies at Meadville, 11155 Highline Drive, Meadville PA 16335.

All films are free and open to the public, and free round-trip shuttles for the Allegheny community depart from Brooks Walk at N. Main St. at 6:00 and 6:35.

FEBRUARY 20

Transit

(Germany, 2018)

Christian Petzold

NR – 101 mins.

When a man flees France after the Nazi invasion, he assumes the identity of a dead author whose papers he possesses. Stuck in Marseilles, he meets a young woman desperate to find her missing husband – the very man he’s impersonating.  –IMDB

The 2019 International Film Festival, sponsored by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, continues this evening with “BPM” from France.

The show begins at 7:00 pm at the Movies at Meadville, 11155 Highline Drive, Meadville PA 16335.

All films are free and open to the public, and free round-trip shuttles for the Allegheny community depart from Brooks Walk at N. Main St. at 6:00 and 6:35.

FEBRUARY 13

BPM

(France, 2017)

Robin Campillo

NR – 143 mins.

In the early 1990s, with AIDS having already claimed countless lives for nearly ten years, Act up-Paris activists multiply actions to fight general indifference. Nathan, a newcomer to the group, has his world shaken up by Sean, a radical militant, who throws his last bits of strength into the struggle. –IMDB

The 2019 International Film Festival, sponsored by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, continues this evening with “The Island” from China.

The show begins at 7:00 pm at the Movies at Meadville, 11155 Highline Drive, Meadville PA 16335.

All films are free and open to the public, and free round-trip shuttles for the Allegheny community depart from Brooks Walk at N. Main St. at 6:00 and 6:35.

The Island

(China, 2018)

Huang Bo

NR – 134 mins.

In this offbeat dramedy from Huang Bo, news of a meteorite bound to strike the earth doesn’t have much effect on Ma Jin’s everyday life; he still gets up and goes to a job where he spends his time daydreaming of a romance with his colleague Shanshan, and of winning the lottery. But when this cataclysmic event occurs during a team-building trip, he finds himself shipwrecked on an island with an odd group of coworkers… and the winning lottery ticket in his pocket.  -Well Go USA Entertainment

The 2019 International Film Festival, sponsored by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, kicks off this evening with “The Insult” from Lebanon.

The show begins at 7:00 pm at the Movies at Meadville, 11155 Highline Drive, Meadville PA 16335.

All films are free and open to the public, and free round-trip shuttles for the Allegheny community depart from Brooks Walk at N. Main St. at 6:00 and 6:35.

January 30

The Insult

(Lebanon, 2017)

Ziad Doueiri

R – 113 mins.

When Palestinian Muslim foreman Yasser installs a new drainpipe on Lebanese Christian Tony’s balcony without his permission, Tony’s dislike of Palestinians triggers what appears to be a minor disagreement. But insults are hurled, and the situation soon escalates out of control. What begins with a petty argument leads to a highly publicized trial that captivates a nation, and also gives a range of people an opportunity to settle old scores. Doueiri masterfully takes this private clash of wills as a starting point to explore historic rifts amongst Lebanese communities, and the aftermath of the civil war. Intelligently using humor and pathos, The Insult is ultimately a plea for empathy, forgiveness and peace.  –IMDB