Spring 2026 Newsletter
This semester the Modern Languages and Literatures Department has organized many events. We had the annual events such as The Regina Ann Haig International Film Series, Italian Week, LLS Colloquium and Tea Time Talks. We hosted our annual Awards Ceremony and Induction Ceremonies. Our Arabic, French, Italian, Chinese, and Spanish clubs had many exciting events. You can also check out a re-cap video of all the wonderful events hosted by our department this year!
The Regina Ann Haig International Film Series
Ne Zha
Chinese Film
presented by Prof. Shiya Hsu
February 18th
Les Misérables
French Film
presented by Dr. André Colombat
March 18th
Die Welle
presented by Prof. Jennifer Holt
April 15th
Tea Time Talks
Stirring the Sauce: Connecting Translation and Witchcraft through Italian Folk Magic
presented by Dr. Emily Iekel
February 4th
Publishing and Literature of Protest in the Second French Empire
presented by Dr. Andrea Thomas
February 25
Voces de Maryland: Insights on Spanish Language Vitality from Surveys and Interviews
presented by Dr. Sara Castro Cantú
March 25
Italian Week
Zoom Lecture: “Fascinating Italian American Stereotypes”
presented by Dr. Alan Perry (Gettysburg College)
February 16
Film Screening: Golden Door (Nuovomondo)
February 17
Food Tasting
February 18
Panel Discussion with Dr. Alyssa Falcone and Dr. Paolo Frascà (U of Toronto)
February 19
Trivia Night
February 20
2026 Hanna Geldrich-Leffman Colloquium on Language, Literature, and Society
Literature and Authoritarianism
April 8th
Other-Archiving Authoritarianism: How Surviors of State Violence Place History at the Center of Citizenship by Dr. Brahim El Gaubli (Johns Hopkins University)
The Story of My Deportation: ICE and Cameroon's GSO or the Farcical Tragic Similitudes of Tyrannies by Dr. Patrice Nganang (Stony Brook University)
Modern Languagues Awards and Honor Society Induction Ceremonies
Every year we host a departmenal awards ceremony where we recognize students who have excelled in their core language courses, winners of the Poetry and Essay Contests, and give our MLL Award of Excellence. This year's Award of Excellence was given to Maria Fisk for her outstanding work in her CCLS major. Amazing work, Maria!
The department had 3 honor society induction ceremonies this year where they welcomed new memembers to the languges honor societies.
Here are some pictures from these lovely events!
Arabyola Club and Arabic Program Events
When the Lights Go Out (Short Film)
February 16
Annual-Bracelets-Making Workshop with Arabic Beads
March 27
Islamic Calligraphy Workshops
April 10 and 11
Taste-Testing Egyptian-Arabic Feteer Meshaltet
April 17
Chinese Club and Chinese Program Events
Learn Mahjong
February 16
Paper Folding
Feburary 29
Calligraphy Workshop
March 23
French Club and French Program Events
French Golden Globes: Learning about French Celebrities
February 2
French Pronunciation Workshop by Dr. Andrea Thomas
February 18
Heist Paint Night: Robbing the Louvre
February 20
Baking Madeleines: Cooking Class
March 24
Painting Portraits and Playing Pétanque
April 24
Italian Club Events
Jersey Shore Streaming Night
January 30
Make Your Own Conversation Heart
February 9
Italian Club End of Semester Celebration
April 20
Spanish Club Events
Valentines Day Craft Event and Party
February 13
Spanish Club Movie Night
April 10
Spanish Club End of Year Party and Bad Bunny Karaoke Night
April 27