Vol. 19, No. 34

June 21, 2000

Foreign language chairs to convene at UD for seminar

The University has been selected by the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages (ADFL) of the Modern Language Association to host its Summer Seminar East for administrators of foreign language departments from June 29 to July 2. This is a major event for professionals in the field, according to Richard Zipser, foreign languages and literatures, who is helping to organize the seminar. Approximately 65 administrators and foreign language chairpersons from colleges and universities will be coming to the UD campus for the seminar, The ADFL East and West seminars, which have been held since 1971, are designed for new and experienced department chairpersons. The seminars provide an opportunity for administrators to hear speakers, attend workshops, discuss issues and concerns that are common to them, including departmental management and policy, curriculum and teaching, faculty development and student enrollments, Zipser said. Program topics this year include "Languages and Research: Frontiers of the Future"; "New Looks for Language Departments—New Challenges for Chairs"; "Teaching Tomorrow’s Children"; "Spreading the Wealth: The Dynamics of Spanish and Other Languages"; and "Written and Visual Texts: Materials for Teaching Language and Culture." Maxine Colm, vice president for administration, will address the group about legal issues; and Roberta Golinkoff, H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Educational Studies, will speak on her research with infants and speech. "A Visit to the Foreign Language Media Center" will feature Jorge Cubillos and Thomas McCone, both foreign languages and literatures, who will discuss UD’s foreign languages and technology programs. Theodore Braun, Joan Brown, Mary Donaldson Evans, Bonnie Robb, all foreign languages and literatures, and William Frawley, linguistics, will preside at plenary sessions during the seminar. The program also includes a preseminar workshop for new chairpersons and a postseminar session on "Language Departments as a Microcosm of Cross-Cultural Difference." Participants will be housed in the Hotel du Pont, where the welcoming dinner will be held. On the second day the seminar sessions will be held in Arsht Hall and the third day will be in Gore Hall. President David P. Roselle will hold a reception for the administrators, and the seminar will conclude with dinner in the Blue and Gold Club. Participants also will visit regional museums and places of interest.