Honorable Mention

By Kelsey Cole
Courier Staff

Monmouth College recently celebrated the 2005 Year of Foreign Languages and invited Joan Phillips, former president of the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Weber State University, to come and speak at a convocation held last week.

An organizational event, it was decided by ACTFL to make 2005 the year of Foreign Language; MC decided to make it their year as well.

Dr. Rajkumar Ambrose, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, said, “By doing this [celebrating foreign languages], it tells the world that Monmouth College takes foreign language seriously.”

He further added, “We chose Phillips as our speaker because she is a very experienced teacher of France and has been connected with ACTFL for a long time.”

Phillips’ convocation discussed the fantasies and realities of learning a foreign language and she had good ideas on how to teach students to pick up a second language and how it will motivate them to learn more.

Phillips also talked about they myths associated with language study, as well as the unseen benefits that multilingualism offers to members of today’s global society.

Ambrose said, “Language is a hallmark of other cultures. To expose our students to other cultures and languages is a good idea.”

Other speakers during the college’s year-long celebration have included Marjorie Agosin, Max Morel and  Rosanna Warren.

Monmouth is noted for its strong curriculum in the ancient languages and has been active in working to alleviate a nationwide shortage of Latin teachers.

Ambrose stated, “I would like to support foreign language because I believe students need more exposure to other languages because they can learn more about other cultures.”

In addition, MC was the first private college in the United States to proclaim 2005 as the Year of Languages.