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PSMLA and Kutztown University's Department of Modern Language Studies Immersion Day
On April 30, 2011 more than 40 language educators including KU students participated in a very successful day of cultural and pedagogical sessions that focused on the rich, diverse community that surrounds Kutztown. The weather was superb as we trekked to the PA German Cultural Heritage Center on the edge of campus and ate a PA Dutch meal with award winning whoopie pies in the old one room school house. We were also honored to have Josee Vachon sing for us in French and Spanish during lunch and we could all tour the grounds and the farmhouse before our afternoon sessions began.
The following people from our "community" came to talk to us in L2:
Spanish:
High School teacher and KU alum, Williams Montepeque: Guatemalan culture in the Spanish classroom.
Dr. Herman Sagastume, director of MAMA (Mujeres Amigas Miles Apart) Project, Pennsburg, PA: Service learning and community service in Honduras.
Latin Flair: A dance group from Reading, PA: Demonstrations and Salsa and merengue lessons
French:
KU Geography faculty member Mathias Le Bosse gave an interactive lesson that included geography of the Francophone World;
French teacher from Council Rock School District Elisabeth Kohl: provided us with a variety of interactive authentic cultural activities for the French classroom.
KU volunteer and member of the community: Josee Vachon - Music in the French classroom.
German:
Sibel Sayili-Hurley (Ursinus College) "German-Turk-German: Navigating Transnational Identity".
Margarete Lamb-Faffelberger (Lafayette College) "Living and Teaching Austrian Culture".
Paul Peuckert (Moravaian Archives, Bethlehem) "The Lost Art of German Script".
The evaluations were extremely positive and many requested that this become an annual event. For me, the highlight of the day was when three of my methods students approached me and told me what a wonderful experience they had had, and they thanked us for the student scholarships made available by the student government of the university which helped make this event more affordable for them.
The event resulted in at least 25 new members and has increased awareness of PSMLA and teaching world languages in Berks and surrounding counties.
