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Read what current students and recent alumni have to say about their participation in foreign language and literature courses and the department as a whole. |
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Deanna Marcoux
'98
"I am currently teaching Spanish at Silver Lake Regional Jr. High School
in Kingston, MA. This is my second year teaching; last year I taught
at Marston Mills Middle School on Cape Cod. I am having a wonderful
time. I am happy to say that I love my work. The Foreign Languages Department
at Clark University was instrumental in deepening my love for the Spanish
language and in teaching me how to read, write and speak in Spanish.
I am very grateful to everyone."
Jennifer Reinhardt '97
"The
opportunity to live and study in Trier was not only a great enhancement
to my German major and liberal arts education at Clark University, but
served as a rich life experience on which I will always look back with
pride. Living abroad allowed me not only to develop my German-speaking
skills, but also to put other areas of my education into context: in
contrast to how 'new' our country is, Trier (and Europe in general)
has a living and breathing culture and history which dates back to Roman
times.
My horizons have been irrevocably broadened and a precedent set for
my post-college life: I've been back to Europe twice since my return
from Trier and am more engaged and informed about European history and
current events. The friendships I forged during that year are strong
despite the distance that now separates us.
Though I remained an outsider in that I still held a US passport, during
my year (Aug 95-Aug 96) in Trier, I was able to experience Germany and
Europe by seeing things through 'their' eyes, as my new friends, acquaintances,
and professors welcomed me into their world." Jennifer_Reinhardt@providentcompanies.com
Juan Rojo '97
"I am currently a graduate student at Cornell University. I received
my M.A. from Emory University in Atlanta and now I am pursuing my Ph.D.
in Spanish. I don't think I would have ended up in this field if it
were not for my experience at Clark. Not only did I find my career there
with the help of the Spanish faculty, but that is also where I met my
wife."
Natalya Stolova '96
"I am currently a 4th-year graduate student in Romance Philology at
the University of Pennsylvania. This program's focus is the study of
the languages that descended from Latin and of their literary histories.
My studies as a Spanish major undergraduate at Clark helped to further
my interest in the Romance languages in general and Spanish in particular.
Both foreign language and literature classes were interesting and thought
provoking. I also really appreciated the personal attention that professors
gave to their students." nstolova@sas.upenn.edu
Zerxes Spencer '95
Zerxes earned his M.A. in International Relations from the University
of Chicago. He now works at the National Endowment for Democracy in
Washington, DC, as associate editor of its Journal of Democracy, an
international affairs quarterly that focuses on the theory of practice
of democracy around the world. "For four years Clark was home. And for
each of those years, Estabrook Hall was my home-within-that-home. My
French professors taught me a love for life and language that sustains
me to this day. I am honored to be a part of their family." Zerxes@NED.org
Ida Colon '89
"Upon graduating from Clark University, I attended law school and graduated
with a Juris Doctor in 1992. I have been practicing law in the financial
services industry since then. Today, I am Counsel for Aetna Financial
Services. My areas of practice include employee benefits plans, securities
law, state insurance law, etc. When I am not working, I enjoy traveling,
reading, horseback riding, off road cycling, inline skating and volunteering.
CU's Foreign Languages Department really helped me to learn a great
deal about Spanish literature and the art of active reading. With instruction
from the Spanish faculty I really learned to appreciate the beauty and
power of works written by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Juan Rulfo,
Gabriel García Márquez, Elena Poniatowska, Jorge Luis Borges, Mariano
Azuela, Federico García Lorca--and the list goes on...
I really am quite indebted to my Spanish adviser who pushed me (and
I do mean pushed) to study abroad at the Universidad de Sevilla in Spain.
The trip was a real turning point not only academically but also personally.
Thanks, professor, for pushing me in the right direction!" coloni@aetna.com
Sharon (Schatzberg) Hormby '76
"I arrived at Clark a psychology major (surprise!), with advanced standing
in French. I quickly realized there was more to language than conjugating
verbs. Two highlights from my Clark education are my Junior Year studies
in France and, in my Senior year, directing the play "The Visit," by
Durrenmatt in the original German as part of a foreign language theater
festival. After graduating, I spent a year in Belgium on a Fulbright
Fellowship improving my language competency and researching Belgian
literature and theater. Upon returning to the USA, I taught French at
the high school level, but needed more to keep me intellectually stimulated.
I found that there were similarities between human and computer languages,
and made the transition to a technical field. However, the critical
thinking skills I learned at Clark enabled me to move very quickly into
management positions.
After five years in the work force, I returned to school to earn an
MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, concentrating
in International Marketing. I spent ten years in high technology marketing
on an international scale, occasionally giving professional presentations
in French and frequently breaking the ice with a phrase or two in other
languages. I now work for a large multi-national corporation in a position
that bridges business and technology strategy, where my international
perspective is of great value. The lessons I learned as a Clark undergraduate
stand out as a powerful foundation: the ability to analyze concepts,
to formulate and articulate my own opinions, and the ability to structure
my thinking so that others can follow and support the strategies I develop.
The comfort I have in speaking, writing, persuading and organizing concepts
- so necessary in my professional career - was initially acquired in
Clark's courses such as theater arts, foreign literature and language."
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Academic Catalog & Requirements
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Additional Resources
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Omar Pom '99
"I will
always be tremendously grateful for the way my experience at Clark,
in general, and with the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department,
in particular, helped me to appreciate and form a solid base for growing
communications skills. In my current job in Communications, it is imperative
to 'put yourself in someone else's shoes.' Learning different languages
and ways of seeing the world is proving to be a great asset." opom@setarnet.aw
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