Winter 2014
A Publication of the Modern Language Studies Department at Kutztown University
LANGUAGE LINKS
BSEd German and Spanish Students
Attend PSMLA Conference
Seventeen students participated in a panel
discussion in State College in October.
Pictured are (bottom row from left): Tricia
Johnson, Courtney Hillock, Leslie
Estrada, Natalie McSwain, Leola Shearer,
Athena Heck, Lindsay Lockwood, Erie
Galvin, Dr. Nancy Zimmerman, Catherine
Espinal.
The Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association (PSMLA) is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to the teaching and learning of
languages and cultures from kindergarten through university levels.
The mission of the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association is to
enhance foreign language education throughout the state
by promoting the study of foreign languages,
by providing educators opportunities for professional growth and
networking,
by recognizing excellence in the field, and
by collaborating with local, state and national organizations.
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(top row from left): Matthew Bello,
Matthew Kuna, Jacki Barnes, Greg
Haney, Brea Murray, Kelly Esslinger,
Raquel Luis Maya, Rachel Chambers.
(above, left to right): Dr. Karen Rauch, Associate
Professor of Spanish, Alyssa Esemplare, BA
Spanish, Kristi Gage-Linderman, PHR (Gage
Personnel Employment)
What Can I Do With a Degree in a Language?
On November 6th, 2014, modern language
students had the opportunity to learn about the
benefits and marketability of language study from
KU alumni Kristi Gage-Linderman, PHR – Gage
Personnel Employment and Diana Naescher – Air
Products and Chemicals, Inc., at an event cosponsored by the Career Development Center and
Modern Language Studies.
Both professionals encouraged students to
set themselves apart from their peers by studying
languages and seeking out opportunities to interact
with diverse communities through internships and
study abroad.
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Ms. Naescher commented that “the quality
you need nowadays is a language … other skills can
be trained on the job,” and Ms. Gage-Linderman
remarked that learning a second language “shows
that you’re an achiever.” After an interactive
question and answer session, students had the
opportunity to enjoy an informal lunch with the
presenters and further discuss their career-related
questions.
Several students expressed appreciation that
they are now able to answer the question, “What can
I do with a degree in a second language?”
Shannon
McCarthy, BA
German
Communication
and Culture, and
Dr. Kutch
presented in
October at
Easton Area
High School’s
German Club
Meeting.
Shannon and Dr.
Kutch shared
information with
the 45 students
in attendance
about the
German
program at
Kutztown, and
also led a
classroom
activity that
students might
experience at
KU.
KU German High School Outreach
KU German faculty Dr. Lynn M. Kutch
and Dr. Greg Hanson have begun a new
outreach initiative that involves the local high
schools. “Because we draw so many of our
majors and minors from strong programs right
here in the Lehigh Valley and Reading areas,
we thought it would be particularly effective
not only to visit those schools, but to take
along graduates of those high schools who
have committed to studying German at KU,”
Kutch said.
In addition to visiting high schools, Kutch
and Hanson have also mobilized around 30
current KU students to deliver information
packets to their former high schools and
speak with students over the winter break.
Post-Graduation: Still using
German!
The above title was the subject line of an email that Drs. Kutch and Hanson
recently received from Kutztown graduate Natalie Yuengel (BA Communication
Studies, Public Relations minor, 2014). Natalie was hired as a Communications
Specialist at Styron in King of Prussia.
Natalie wrote: “Although [Styron’s] corporate office is here in Pennsylvania,
the majority of our employees are based in Germany. With my German language
background, I’ve had the opportunity to translate documents, communicate with
co-workers in their native German via telephone or email, and engage with our
German customers over social media. Since many people have the mindset that
they’ll never use German after college, I just wanted to share my experience and
hopefully motivate more students to continue studying languages. You never know
when it will be a big factor in helping you land your dream job!”
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The packets include a letter listing program
highlights, a Hildesheim poster, a Hildesheim
brochure, an Austria summer program
brochure and the department newsletter, along
with contact information for setting up
classroom and campus visits.
“You never know when
[learning a language] will
be a big factor in helping
you land your dream
job.”
Natalie Yuengel
(right): Dr.
Carolina
Moctezuma,
Assistant
Professor of
Spanish,
poses with J.
Vanessa
Cortés,
recipient of
the Cultural
Ambassador
Award.
Modern Language Studies: Grad Awards
On December 2, 2014, the Modern Language Studies department honored
its outstanding graduating seniors.
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KU Spanish Students Host Lehigh Valley Academy
Charter School
A showing of the PBS documentary entitled The New Latinos was hosted at KU by the Organization for
Latino Awareness (OLA), Sigma Delta Pi National Hispanic Honor Society (SDP), the Department of Modern
Language Studies and the Rohrbach Library. Close to 20 high school students from the Lehigh Valley
Academy Charter School attended the screening of the documentary, which encouraged the high school and
KU students to engage in a conversation about the historical struggles of Latino Americans.
Accompanied by their Spanish teachers, the students enjoyed a film that chronicled the rich stories and
experiences of Latinos who have helped shape North America for many years. Many students in the
predominantly Latino group personally identified with Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans featured in
the documentary, as they talked about the construction of their new American identities.
After a film discussion facilitated at the Rohrbach Library, the students had the opportunity to speak with
Irma Aguirre, Assistant Director of Admissions, and then were given a student-led tour of KU which ended in
the MLS Language Resource Center in DF 109, where they enjoyed pizza and more discussion with KU
Spanish majors and minors. Before leaving to go back to their school, one of the Lehigh Valley students
remarked simply, “I’m coming to KU!”, and his classmates cheered in agreement.
images: pbs.org
MODERN LANGUAGE STUDIES DEPARTMENT AT KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Christine Coleman Núñez, Department Chair (nunez@kutztown.edu)
Ms. Merlene Oswald, Department Secretary (moswald@kutztown.edu)
LANGUAGE LINKS EDITORIAL BOARD WINTER 2014
Dr. Lynn M. Kutch, Editor-in-Chief, Layout Design
Dr. Greg Hanson, Editorial Board
Dr. Karen Rauch, Editorial Board
Read archived editions of Language Links at
http://www.kutztown.edu/academics/
liberal_arts/language/newsletters.shtml