The Department of Modern Languages is committed to preparing all University of Akron students to succeed in the global economy and to become productive and engaged global citizens. Our students achieve linguistic competencies and multicultural literacies, develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills and connect with diverse local, national, and international communities.
Our enthusiastic and passionate faculty, staff and students look forward to helping you explore our world!
Nursing/Spanish major Ariana Williamson has won the Muriel L. Walker Nursing Scholarship from Cleveland Clinic Akron General and the Akron Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association. Ariana has completed the Certificate of Advanced Spanish for the Health Professions and participated in the DISSTA Study Spanish Abroad program in 2019.
Congratulations, Ariana, on begin the first recipient of this award! Enhorabuena!
Read more about it here: https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2020/09/10/cleveland-clinic-akron-general-names-first-winner-of-muriel-l-walker-nursing-scholarship/
Imagine how delighted, and grateful, the staff of the Akron Children’s Hospital Emergency Room was late one Thursday afternoon last spring when the gift of five huge pizzas, and beverages, was delivered from Upper Crust in Highland Square?
The surprise was from our own Dr. Parizad Dejbord-Sawan, an associate professor who teaches Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages.
“It gives the pizza place some extra business and is a thank you to these health care professionals on the frontline to acknowledge the difficult work they are doing,” says Dejbord-Sawan. “Sort of a win-win.”
She’s one of several individuals who are part of a Facebook group initiative to send meals to area health professionals. The initiative is led by Heather Pollock, a visiting assistant professor of instruction in our Department of Anthropology and Classical Studies. Dr. Kathryn Feltey, an associate professor in our Department of Sociology, is also a member.
Dejbord-Sawan has a special connection to the medical professionals working at Akron Children’s Hospital.
Since the fall of 2015, she has been teaching the 9-credit, three-semester Certificate of Beginning Medical Spanish program on-site at Children’s. Medical personnel from Summa Health System and private practices have joined in classes as well.
“I developed the certificate for local medical professionals and supporting medical staff with no prior knowledge of the Spanish language or appropriate cultural training, who need to interact daily with Hispanic patients of limited English proficiency,” explains Dejbord-Sawan. In addition to teaching the classes, she recruits the students and facilitates their applications to admission as non-degree seekers at UA.
“It has been very rewarding as current medical professionals and alumni regularly share stories about how it has changed their practice and has allowed them to establish quality relationships with their Hispanic patients,” adds Dejbord-Sawan, who says that by the end of this year’s cycle, 55 will have graduated from the program.
With the current coronavirus pandemic, Akron Children’s Hospital has had to cancel all of its on-site education classes, but Dejbord-Sawan and her students are undaunted.
“I am working with them to figure out how they can share technology so all can attend live, virtual classes,” says Dejbord-Sawan. “We are changing our meeting time so that it is later in the evening and they can get home in time to connect.”
Congratulations to Dr. Maria Alejandra Zanetta on her latest success in the art world! She currently has a piece (see below) on display as part of the Short North One World Mural Series in Columbus. Full details about the series and other piece can be found at https://shortnorth.org/oneworld/
Here We Are
Alejandra Zanetta – @alezanetta
Brandt-Roberts Galleries – @brgalleries
Installed at 642 N. High St.
Argentinian artist Zanetta’s piece alludes to the generational rift that she feels exists today. “While we, the ‘adults,’ the ‘parents,’ think we are always right, that we made the right choices, in reality we are leaving the new generation a complicated world, a world which is threatened by multiple challenges that we did not properly address: climate change, social inequality, and mass migration.” The figure holding his head in his hands alludes to the mythological figure Atlas, who has the weight of the world on his shoulders. The title Here We Are alludes both to the dire situation in which we find ourselves and to the will of this new generation to “contradict” their parents and to take stock of the situation.
Maria Alejandra Zanetta is an artist and professor living in Akron, OH. Alejandra teaches Hispanic literature, language and culture studies courses at the University of Akron. As an artist, her printmaking and collage work reflect her interest in experimenting with texture and color. Zanetta is also a part of the museum’s Akron Art Library program with her work Vino. Hear Zanetta discuss her love of The Artist and His Wife, using mark-making for texture and movement, and her sweet obsession: chocolate.
Instagram: @maria_alejandra_zanetta_art
Brandt Roberts Gallery, Columbus, OH: http://brandtrobertsgalleries.com
Harris Stanton Gallery, Cleveland, OH: https://www.harrisstantongallery.com
One World Mural Series in Short North: https://shortnorth.org/oneworld/
Akron Art Library: https://www.akronlibrary.org/locations/main-library/culture-av-division/akron-art-library/maria-alejandra-zanetta-vino
Congratulations to Dr. Maria A Zanetta for having her work selected for AGC's, a Cleveland based Graphic design company, 2019 52 Weeks-52 Works desk calendar! The selected works will be exhibited in the Fawick Art gallery of Baldwin Wallace University. The exhibition runs from November 9th to November 30th and the opening reception is Friday November 1st from 5 to 8 p.m.
Call 330-972-6552 for an Appointment
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Gavin DeMali Beginning I and II, Intermediate I and II |
Tuesday: 3-6 Wednesday: 10-11, 2-5 Thursday: 10-11, 3-6 Friday: 10-11 |
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Yousef Saleh Beginning I and II |
Wednesday: 2-5:45 |
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T’Amor Bowman Beginning I and II, Intermediate I and II |
Wednesday: 3-5 Friday: 10-1 |
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Leah Choban Beginning II, Intermediate I and II |
Wednesday: 4-6 Friday: 10-1
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Claire Steiner Beginning I and II, Intermediate I and II |
Tuesday: 10-1, 4:15-6 Wednesday: 12-6 Thursday: 10-1,4:15-6 |
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Dominick Polochak Beginning I and II |
Thursday: 12-3 |
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Gregory Holmes Beginning I and II, Intermediate I and II |
Tuesday: 1-2, 5-6 Wednesday: 10-12, 4-6 Thursday: 1-2, 5-6 |
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Cameron Knaus Beginning I and II, Intermediate I and II |
Tuesday: 10-1 Thursday: 10-1 Friday: 10-1 |
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Natalie MacKay Beginning I and II, Intermediate I and II |
Wednesday: 2-6 Friday: 10-12
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Lauren Palky Beginning I, Intermediate II |
Tuesday: 12-6 Thursday: 12-6
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Vyshnavi Ramini Beginning II, Intermediate I and II |
Tuesday: 2:30-6 Thursday: 2:30-6 Friday: 11:30-1 |
