Modern Languages Archives | Page 3 of 6 | Humanities News, Features, and Other Updates

Francophone Migration

Published October 4, 2019

Understanding how French-speaking people migrated throughout North America from the 1600s to 1940 means tracking them at work, school and home spatially and archivally.

Michigan Technological University is a partner in the $2.4 million “Trois siècles de migrations francophones en Amérique du Nord (1640-1940) (Three centuries of migrations by French-speakers to North America)” funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Sarah Scarlett, assistant professor of history, and Don Lafrenière, associate professor of geography, in the Social Sciences department, will use the Keweenaw Time Traveler and a combination of spatial and archival datasets to focus specifically on whether French-Canadians were socially mobile as they migrated from Canada to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula during the period of 1860 to 1940.

Read the full story on Unscripted.

Spring Celebration

Published April 25, 2019

By Heather Powers

Modern Languages

Modern Languages held their annual Spring Celebration on April 3rd. The French-Canadian group, Maple Sugar Folk, performed and helped teach songs in French, German and Spanish. There was also a guest performer, Sue Ellen Kingsley and Friends. Food and refreshments were served.

Growing Up In East Germany

Published April 25, 2019

By Heather Powers

Modern Languages

Dr. Thomas Werner, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, presented his story to about growing up in East Germany and living a political double life in a socialist country at an event hosted by Modern Languages on April 10th. Werner talked about what it was like for him to have a personal spy who tried to send his parents to prison, and how his home country dropped out of existence overnight.

After the Berlin wall fell, Thomas studied Biology in Jena, Germany, and then moved to Umeå, Sweden, where he did his PhD in cell and molecular biology. He moved to Madison, Wisconsin as a postdoctoral fellow studying the evolution and development of color patterns in fruit flies. Thomas is now a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Michigan Tech. He lives in Houghton with his wife Megan, daughter Natalia, and sons Oliver and Oscar

Modern Language Film Series

Published March 20, 2019

By Heather Powers

Modern Languages

The Modern Language Program at Michigan Tech has organized its annual film series with a selection of three foreign films.

This spring, the movies are in French, German and Spanish. Join us for what promises to be a stimulating event and make sure to keep an eye out for future dates.

If you have any questions about the Modern Language Film Series, email danyj@mtu.edu.

Modern Languages Spring Celebration

Published March 14, 2019

By Heather Powers

Modern Languages

The French-Canadian group, Maple Sugar Folk, will perform and help teach songs in French, German and Spanish on Wed, April 3rd. There will also be guest performers.

There may be some games played if time allows. Refreshments will be served.

View our event in the Michigan Tech events calendar for more details.

Growing Up In East Germany

Published March 14, 2019

By Heather Powers

Modern Languages

Dr. Thomas Werner, associate professor, biological sciences, will be presenting his story about growing up in East Germany and living a political double life in a socialist country. You will learn what it was like for him to have a personal spy who tried to send his parents to prison, and how his home country dropped out of existence overnight.

Modern Languages Holiday Celebration Date Announced

Published November 2, 2018

By Paige Short

Earth globes as Christmas ornaments Join Modern Languages faculty and students from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 28) in Walker 134 for a unique celebration of French, German and Spanish holiday traditions. Appearing live will be the French Canadian group, Maple Sugar Folk, as well as Sue Ellen Kingsley and Friends.

Learn holiday songs in each language for the sing-along and listen to traditional holiday music. Play Christmas Bingo and enjoy a variety of holiday treats from different cultures. No prior language experience required. Families are welcome.

For more information, contact Karin Schlenker.

Modern Languages Screening: “A Very Long Engagement”

Published October 16, 2018

By Paige Short

A Very Long Engagement movie poster The Modern Languages Program will host a screening of the 2004 Jean-Pierre Jeunet WWI film, “Un long dimanche de fiançailles” (“A Very Long Engagement”), at 7 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 18) in Walker 134. The screening is free and open to the public.

Film Synopsis: A young French woman, Mathilde (Audrey Tautou), is told that her fiancé (Gaspard Ulliel) has been killed in the trenches of the Somme during World War I. Refusing to believe this news, she begins trying to find out what actually happened on the battlefield that night, enlisting the help of a private investigator. During her search, she stumbles across evidence of the inhumane and morally bankrupt system used by the French to deal with deserters and hears from other men who were sentenced to extreme punishment.

The screening is part of World War I in the Copper Country, an extensive program of events and exhibits commemorating the centennial of the WWI Armistice.

Cumbria Faculty-Led Study Abroad Information Session

Published October 8, 2018

By Paige Short

Humanities professor Dana Van Kooy, along with Carl Blair (SS), and Libby Meyer (VPA) will host an information session for Cumbria 2019, a faculty-led study abroad program in northern England and southern Scotland: summer, Track B. The session will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 10) in Fisher 130.

We welcome students from across campus. This program offers students an opportunity for foreign travel and for fulfilling HASS (humanities, arts and social sciences) and other General Education requirements in the fields of history, literature, music and archaeology. This session will provide students with information about course offerings, field trips, the application process, costs and scholarships.

Perú Faculty-Led Study Abroad Information Session

Published October 4, 2018

By Paige Short

People standing in front of a large temple on a city street in Lima, Peru Carlos M. Amador will host an information session for the 2019 Lima, Perú Faculty-Led Study Abroad—Summer Track B. The session will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. today (Oct. 4) in the Walker Arts and Humanities HDMZ room 120A.

Students interested in study abroad, international minors and foreign travel are welcome to attend this meeting. Amador has led multiple study abroad trips in both Spanish and English. Information on scholarships, course offerings, pricing and international travel will be presented.

Light refreshments will be served. Forward any questions to Amador.

Category: Modern Languages