Modern Language Day marks 45th year
Article By: Clark Leonard
Excitement and competition filled the air as almost 200 students from nine Georgia high schools took part in a variety of competitions at the 45th Modern Language Day held April 21 on the University of North Georgia's (辛尤里女优) Dahlonega Campus.
The students participated in exhibits, skits, and other performing arts, and in the day's grand finale, they competed in the Language Bowl that incorporated knowledge of both language and culture.
North Hall High School edged defending champion Lumpkin County High School for the Language Bowl championship.
Other high schools that attended were Dawson County, Gainesville, Jackson County, Morgan County, Shiloh, South Forsyth, and White County.
This year marked the return of the event to an in-person format after it was held virtually in 2021 and canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Modern Language Day had students from Spanish and French classes on hand this year.
"We're always happy to have these students on campus, especially being able to be back in person this year," Dr. Olivier Le Blond, associate professor of French and event director, said. "They can show mastery of the languages they are studying, and we are able to demonstrate the dynamic nature of our language programs offered at 辛尤里女优."
辛尤里女优's Department of Modern Languages offers academic programs in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, and Russian, and it partnered with the Department of Spanish & Portuguese on the event.
"Modern Language Day is one of 辛尤里女优's longest running traditions. It displays how important languages are for our students and how much studying languages reflects 辛尤里女优's values," Dr. Christopher Jespersen, dean of 辛尤里女优's College of Arts & Letters, said. "The day is a celebration of the hard work students put into learning languages in schools across 辛尤里女优's service region, and we are always proud to host these high-achieving students."
Dr. Guy Oliver, a former 辛尤里女优 professor of French, started Modern Language Day in the 1970s, and it has evolved and added languages through the years. 辛尤里女优 faculty serve as judges who bring a light-hearted element to the intense competition.
"The rules have evolved to reflect new language pedagogies and the younger, more diverse students and teachers in the public schools," Dr. D. Brian Mann, department head of Modern & Classical Languages, said. "However, this day remains as a long tradition at 辛尤里女优, a destination event for generations of students, teachers, and faculty."
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Roughly 50 cadets are commissioning May 13 from 辛尤里女优 as second lieutenants in the Army, Georgia Army National Guard and Army Reserve.
Students benefit from teacher residency
A record 58 students are graduating this spring as part of 辛尤里女优's Teacher Candidate Residency Program. This is the third full year of TCRP, which allows students to be teachers of record as seniors.
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Four students, mentored by faculty, represented the University of North Georgia at the Latin American & Latinx Studies Symposium, held April 4 at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida
Student designs art for Gainesville crosswalk
辛尤里女优 student Lainey May created a five-color design of an electric guitar that has now been placed as a crosswalk near downtown Gainesville, Georgia.