Western Illinois University: Macomb Campus

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Welcome to Dr. Edmund Asare, Instructor of French
Dr. Asare joins the department after completing his doctoral dissertation at Kent State University.

Spanish goes ONLINE at Western

  From Fall Semester 2010, students can study Elementary Spanish 1 (SPAN 121 Section I61)   online

                                                      Congratulations to Dr. Weijia Li, Assistant Professor of German,

                                                                                on the publication of his first book! 

                                        Congratulation to Dr. Guada Cabedo-Timmon, Associate Professor of Spanish,
                                                                 on being awarded a URC Grant in collaboration with
                                                          Dr. Gloria Delany-Barmann and Dr. Carla Paciotto (Education)!

                                                                   LATEST NEWS and MISSION STATEMENT/WELCOME
                                                             (Click here to go directly to Mission Statement/Welcome)

The Chinese Table A bi-weekly informal meeting for students of Chinese to learn more about Chinese language and culture. Enquiries from Wenhong Teel, wz100@wiu.edu
The French Conversation Group - Meets every Thursday evening at 7.30pm in the Prairie Lounge, University Union, beginning September 23. Enquiries from Jackson Courter, JD-Courter@wiu.edu
The German Coffee and Conversation Hour - Kaffeestunde is held every Wednesday in Morgan Hall 309A from 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm. Enquiries from Dr. Weijia Li, 309-298-1496, W-Li2@wiu.edu
The Japanese Movie Night - The Demon an 11-episode drama series, every Thursday in Morgan Hall 330 from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Enquiries from Wenhong Teel, 309-298-1558, wz100@wiu.edu
The Spanish Club meets every other Wednesday in Morgan Hall 330 from 5pm to 6pm. Enquiries from Dr. Marisol Garrido, 309-298-1074, M-Garrido@wiu.edu
Spanish Tertulias (Spanish conversations) are held every Monday, from 4:00pm to 5:00pm at Casa Latina, located at the New WIU Multicultural Center. Tertulias are moderated by Native Hispanic Faculty members from the department, and are co-sponsored by the FLL Spanish Club and Casa Latina. Tertulias are totally free, and open to any WIU student, faculty, staff, and members of the Macomb community, who wish to practice their Spanish language skills, no matter what level they are at. Enquiries from Dr. Guada Cabedo-Timmons, 309-298-1615, GM-Cabedo@wiu.edu             

Student News and Accomplishments  French students   have initiated a "French Table" or conversation hour. See above for details.

  Faculty News and Accomplishments

 

Dr. Guada Cabedo-Timmons , Associate Professor of Spanish, has  has been awarded a URC Grant in collaboration with Dr. Gloria Delany-Barmann and Dr. Carla Paciotto (Education)! Their study will focus on Heritage Speakers of Spanish and how to assist them. Congratulations on this wonderful project!

Dr. Weijia Li , Assistant Professor of German has just published his first book: China und China-Erfahrung in Leben und Werk von Anna Seghers, Peter Lang, Oxford, Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, etc., German Life and Civilization Series, vol. 53, 2010, XVI, 253.  Warmest Congratulations on a great achievement!

Dr. Guada Cabedo-Timmons , Associate Professor of Spanish, has  received an Award for "Dedication and Service to the International Friendship Club of Western Illinois University". She received a plaque and a certificate at the Casa Latino Recognition Banquet. Congratulations Guada!

                                           

MISSION STATEMENT AND WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR

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We are glad that you have chosen to visit our department and hope that you enjoy your time with us.

This department plays a pivotal role in Western Illinois University's thrust to diversify and internationalize its various constituencies. The globalized world in which we live is becoming increasingly interconnected at every conceivable level and, in particular, at the cultural level. This interconnectedness places upon each and every one of us a critical and urgent responsibility to understand ourselves and others in relation to one another, both as individuals and as groups. Such understandings are critical to civilized human existence as relationships between people complexify at an exponential rate, thus placing unprecedented stresses on the fabric of society. In this context, the ability to assess, understand and adapt to new, unpredicted and unpredictable situations in a positive and constructive manner, through ethical action which respects and values difference and human rights, is fundamental.

The department contributes to this critically important mission, which transcends national boundaries, through programs related to the cultures and languages of five selected major groups: the speakers of Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. In seeking to accomplish this mission, connections with other social and linguistic groups are necessarily established and welcomed as, over time, the department seeks to broaden its areas of specialization.

This department, a living example of diversity and internationalization (its members literally come from the four corners of the world and speak more than a dozen languages between them), serves through its teaching, research and community programs, which are all strongly linked to one another. Our teaching is based on modern pedagogic approaches, is strengthened through our published and unpublished research efforts and is responsive to community needs. Above all, each of our courses is designed to equip students with practical culture and practical language skills through the development of the intellectual and personal capacities necessary to comprehend thoughts and situations and to communicate and interact effectively with speakers of the language groups that we focus on.

In this website you will find all kinds of information about the department: information about courses, its generous advanced placement policy (saving you both time and money), its scholarships and prizes, facilities, resources, clubs, faculty/staff profiles, research and other departmental achievements and contact information.

Please feel free to explore all parts of the site. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me or any member of the Department either directly or through the departmental office. This site is an ongoing project and will be changed and improved over time. Let us know of any suggestions that you may have to make it better.

Dr. Russ Morgan,
Interim Chair of Department