News and Events

Lunar Legacy: A Post-Mid-Autumn Celebration

More than 60 Chinese language students, faculty, and staff attended the Chinese Culture Day celebrating the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as the Moon Festival) at LLRC on Oct. 24, 2024. The event was sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, the Language Learning Resource Center, and the Chinese Program.Eight students gave presentations on various aspects of Chinese culture, such as Chinese holidays (e.g., the Moon Festival), wedding customs, Chinese inventions (e.g., gunpowder), Chinese vs. Western pirates and the ships they used, traditional and modern architecture (e.g., Taipei 101), and the Chinese zodiac. All participants also sampled delicious traditional Chinese cuisine, mooncakes, and a wide assortment of Chinese snacks. For more information on Loyola's Chinese Language and Literature Program, please contact Hong Chen, director of the Chinese minor, at hchen4@luc.edu.

DonQuixote

Don Quixote's Orchestral performance at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra A group of students from Dr. Buitrón Vera's class, Don Quijote in Visual Culture, attends the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's enchanting Don Quixote show.

Simon Francois

"On November 8, the Department of Modern Languages will host French author Simon François for a conversation and book signing. François has a background in music (rock, blues, rap), and he has been working in the film industry as editor and director. The novel he will be discussing, La Proie et la meute, his second book, is a thriller set in the heart of France, where the extreme right is on the rise. François will be in dialogue with Dr. Mary Angelo and with the audience. The event will be held at 4PM, in Palm Court (Mundelein), in French and English. and it is made possible by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures and the Alliance française de Chicago."

Wars of Resistance

Join us for WARS OF RESISTANCE: Testimonies and Memories Then and Now A Symposium Organized by the Modern Languages and Literatures Department at Loyola University Chicago Date: November 6, 2024 Time: 4:30-7:30 pm Location: Loyola University Chicago, Crown Auditorium Program 4:30 - 5:30 pm Presentations 5:30 - 6:00 pm Roundtable Discussion 6:00 - 6:30 pm Public Discussion 6:30 - 7:30 pm Reception Confirmed Speakers: • Susana Cavallo (Modern Languages and Literatures, Loyola University, Chicago) • Giuliano De Felice (Archeology, Università di Bari) • Hille Haker (Theology, Loyola University, Chicago) • Cristina Lombardi-Diop (Modern Languages and Literatures, Loyola University, Chicago) • Cranston Ramirez-Knight (History, Loyola University, Chicago) • Marek Suszko (History, Loyola University, Chicago) Sponsored by: • The Modern Languages and Literatures Department • The Institute for Racial Justice • The Center for Research on International Affairs (CRIA) • The History Department

MusicBox

The night before their first "contrôle" (test), a dozen of students from French 101 and 104 went to the Music Box to see “La double vie de Veronique” (“The Double Life of Veronique”), directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski. They were accompanied by their instructor, Anne-Sophie Rouveloux, who organized the outing. The French-Polish movie was a mesmerizing experience, followed by an interview with Greg Gonzalez, the lead singer of the band Cigarettes After Sex.

Arabic, Artistry, and Bridges of Belonging in Oman

Please join the Arabic program in appreciating Giulianna’s blog, “Arabic, Artistry, and Bridges of Belonging in Oman” as she reflects upon the profound central value of art in Arabic culture(s) to foster a sense of belonging to homelands, preserve narratives across generations, and to celebrate the often-neglected collective memories of the past. Giulianna Larson majors in Multimedia Journalism with minors in Arabic Language and Culture, Spanish Language, and Political Science. She is an advocate for young refugees and immigrants through her work at FORA- Foraging Opportunities for Refugees in America and a vocal supporter of the Arabic minor at Loyola. We are proud of her efforts to bring authentic voices to the fore.

From Arab and Muslim Merchants to Christian Missionaries: Intertwined Narratives Shaping Southeast Asian Identities

Welcome back to a new semester at Loyola and new intriguing blogs from our diverse Arabic learners. We start with a special edition from our dearest alumnus Andrew Milewski: A Jesuit preparing for future ordination as a Catholic priest and teacher at Saint Joe’s Prep in Philadelphia, a graduate student of Arabic at Loyola for 2 years, and a zealous activist in supporting intercultural, multilingual, and multifaith values for authentic global citizenry. Andrew deeply reflects on the historical, religious, and linguistic solidarity of Arabic to the core values of southeast Asian identities with a focus on Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia . It goes beyond words to underscore the precious gems shared by Andrew at such turbulent local and global times and the need for languages and cultures to foster a dignified human life.

Intertwined Arabic Traces within Ethiopian Languages & Orthodoxy

Please join me in reading our LAST Arabic minor blog for this academic semester with an inspiring voice from Ethiopia. Please support our dearest Hana, a freshman with a double major in Political Science and Global Studies and double minor in Arabic Language & Culture and Law & Politics. With Orthodox Easter on the corner, Hana leaves us with a deep legacy of the linguistic, cultural, and religious intertextual and intersectional tracks of Arabic and Islam on the Ethiopian languages, traditions, and Orthodoxy. In sharing her voice, Hana reminds us of the power of representations and framing of narratives to transform confined discourses of The Other and transcend to a humanitarian dignified paradigm.

Arabic from Rome to Seville with Wandering Winta!

Please join me in stepping into a multilingual, multicultural, multireligious, and transdisciplinary historical era in Al-Andalus. Please follow our dearest Winta, a Loyola senior majoring in Global Studies with an Anthropology and Arabic Language and Culture minors, as she recounts some memorable moments from her studies at Rome and her wandering to Seville. Winta leaves us with fabulous images of Arabic and Islamic heritage in Southern Spain while emphasizing the pivotal role of learning languages as a means to enhance critical awareness, empathy, and global understanding.

Foreign Language Graphic Novel Contest Winners Announced!

The Language Learning Resource Center hosted a celebration on Wednesday, April 3, for the winners of the graphic novel contest. Six students submitted a comic in a foreign language with original artwork centered on the prompt "How I met my best friend." The winning comic books were written in several languages such as French, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese. Winners were awarded various prizes, including a Stanley Tumbler, a Nike backpack, and more. The celebration included the distribution of prizes, brief introductions, and a pizza party.

Chinese Language and Culture Presentations 2024

On March 19, 2024, about 50 students, faculty, and staff attended the Chinese language and culture presentations at the Language Learning Resource Center (LLRC). Eleven students gave captivating presentations, some entirely in Chinese and some mostly in English about various aspects of Chinese culture, ranging from the Moon Festival to Confucianism, to Chinese architecture, to a comparison of Chinese and American marriage customs, to Chinese cuisine in America, and more. All the participants also sampled delicious Chinese cuisine and snacks. The event was organized and sponsored by LLRC and the Chinese language and culture minor program.

ARABIC الخَطّ العَرَبيّ CALLIGRAPHY

With gratitude to funding, organization, and support from the manager of the Language Resource Center, Paulina Dzieza, the Arabic minor has sponsored an interactive workshop on the transcendental art of Arabic Calligraphy. The workshop on Wednesday February 14, 2024, brought a diverse set of students from the Campus including learners of Arabic language and literature. The spectrum of knowledge and acquaintance of Arabic handwriting system and artistic applications of calligraphy has been eye-opening and entertaining. The calligraphist, ustaadh Majid, and our Loyola students attempted to practice the skill, patience, meditative aspects, mathematical calculations, and the beauty of Arabic handwriting.

Arabic and the Philippines: A Labyrinth of Bonding Possibilities

Please take a few moments to browse through our recent blog by Isabella Steele, a sophomore majoring in Global Studies and Political Science with a minor in Arabic Language & Culture at Loyola. Attempting to uncover more connections to her Filipino identity, Isabella questions the limited controversial educational opportunities, within the USA, in addressing authoritative intersection of languages, cultures and power, especially in her homeland. Her blog, Arabic and the Philippines: A Labyrinth of Bonding Possibilities, highlights the value of critical literacy skills in underpinning cultural and linguistic representations of peoples and nations and allowing new narratives and voices to emerge!

A Cradle of Life in Egypt: Arabic, Coptic Orthodox, and Family Bonds!

As we get ready for the end of the semester and holiday season, please join me in appreciating the unique voice of our dear Arabic minor student, Mareez, who is pursuing a Computer Science major with a minor in Arabic Language and Culture. In her informative and heart-felt entry (A Cradle of Life in Egypt: Arabic, Coptic Orthodox, and Family Bonds!), Mareez underscores the sociocultural, spiritual, and intellectual interdisciplinary connections of Arabic language in navigating her identity as a Coptic Orthodox Egyptian. Her deep love and authentic conscious connection to her family, in the USA, and in Egypt is delightful to read about!

Chinese Mid-autumn Festival

On September 28, students taking Chinese language classes at Loyola gathered at the Language Learning Resource Center (LLRC) to celebrate the Chinese Mid-autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival. Six students gave presentations on Chinese culture, and the topics included modern Chinese fashion trends, the Moon Festival, tea culture, gift giving practices in China, Chinese traditions, and modeling in China. In addition to learning about Chinese culture, the students, faculty, and staff sampled delicious Chinese cuisine and deserts, including the famous mooncakes. The event was sponsored by LLRC and the Chinese Language and Culture Minor program.

Arabic Language & Diaspora: The land, the Sea, and the People of Palestine!

Please take a few moments to read our recent blog by Jannah Abu-Khalil, our enthusiastic Arabic student, a senior double majoring in Political Science as well as Criminology and Criminal Justice. She passionately reflects on her recent visit to the cities of Yaffa and Jenin in Palestine, archiving touching snapshots and hopeful spirits. She also addresses the role of language, Arabic in here, in authentic and holistic connections and in fostering global consciousness. We appreciate Jannah’s courage to share her story to highlight the dire necessity for languages and cultures in nurturing a sense of belonging, especially to those in diaspora. Much gratitude to MLL and CAS for all kind support of our Arabic minor!

Bilingual poetry reading by Alejandro Duque Amusco and Susana Cavallo from Dreams on Fire. Sueño en el fuego. English translations by Susan Kimmelman.

Susan Kimmelman was a Chicago dancer, writer, activist and candidate for the MA in Spanish at Loyola University Chicago from 1999 to 2001. Her masters thesis was to be a translation of the poetry of the Spanish writer, Alejandro Duque Amusco. Unfortunately, Kimmelman died in 2001 before seeing her translations in print. In 2021, with the consent of her family and the enthusiastic support of the poet, Susana Cavallo decided to edit Kimmelman’s work, with the hopes of an eventual publication—Kimmelman’s fervent dream. Duque Amusco and Cavallo will be performing a bilingual reading of those incandescent translations, now present in the bilingual collection: Dreams on Fire. Sueño en el fuego (Chicago: Cloud Hands Press, 2022).

Learning Arabic @ Loyola: A Non-Arab’s Journey for Spiritual Growth

Please join me in a beautiful reading of our first blog for the Arabic minor (ARLC) by our recent graduate from Loyola’s College of Arts and Sciences, Nasar Qureshi. He has double-majored in Cognitive-Behavioral Neuroscience and Biology, while minoring in Islamic World Studies (IWS) and in Arabic Language & Culture Minor (ARLC). In his blog, Learning Arabic @ Loyola: A Non-Arab’s Journey for Spiritual Growth, Nasar walks us through his whole-hearted journey to learn Arabic as a channel to better understand his spiritual connections to the Creator and Creation. Nasar emotionally and intellectually provides little glimpses of this learning expedition: with dedication, perseverance, adoration, and humility. His transformation into a more enlightened learner is graceful. We are indebted to Nasar’s voice and memories of Arabic @ Loyola.

Study Abroad

Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain!

The Office for International Programs and the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures will be hosting an information session on Thursday, November 16 from 5:00-6:00 PM.

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April 5

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February 15

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November 1

Film Screening

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September 28

Film Screening