Department of Foreign Languages, Spring 2009
Faculty News
From left to right: Dr. Craig Christy, Dr. Claudia Vance, Dr. Keith Lindley, Dr. Robert Adler, Mrs. Joy Kelly, and
Dr. Scott Infanger. Sort of pictured: Mr. Trent Kelly, future UNA foreign language major.
Dr. Robert Adler, Associate Professor of Spanish, brought his flamenco dance company, Corazón Flamenco, from Birmingham to UNA for a performance of the flamenco play, Blood Wedding (Bodas de Sangre) at the UNA Performance Center. In March, Dr. Adler, with Corazón Flamenco, performed in an Opera Birmingham and Alabama Symphony Orchestra production of the opera La Traviata. On April 21, Dr. Adler, as member of the Alabama Holocaust Commission, participated in the Holocaust Remembrance Day event at the Alabama Legislature in Montgomery at which Governor Bob Riley was the keynote speaker.
Dr. Keith Lindley, Assistant Professor, led a group of students and community members on an eleven-day tour of Paris in June. He taught one summer course and visited the National Library of Canada in Ottawa on an Arts and Sciences Research Grant in August. He served as coordinator of the Spanish-language Mass at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Dr. Lindley serves at UNA as Vice-chair of the Educational Advisory Committee and as Chairman of the Arts and Sciences Research and Development Committee. He is editor of GlobalTalk, the annual publication of the Department of Foreign Languages, and was recently elected to the Faculty Senate. In April, 2009, he brought the fifth annual French Film Festival to campus, supported by a grant from the Cultural Services of the French Embassy.
With support of the Department of Foreign Languages and the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Scott Infanger, Assistant Professor of Spanish, organized and held an ACTFL OPI Familiarization and Implications for Teaching Workshop on September 12-13. This was the second part of the Department's initiative to implement a proficiency-based language instruction program. It included the UNA foreign language faculty as well as teachers from middle schools and high schools across northern Alabama.
Dr. Craig Christy, Chair and Professor of German, Linguistics and International Studies, conducted archival research on the German ‘Neogrammarian’ linguist, Hermann Paul (1846-1921) in Freiburg, Germany (March 2009). This research seeks to relate Paul’s work to early formulations of what came to be known as grammaticalization theory. In April, he participated in a Fulbright Program Advisors’ Workshop at the Institute for International Education (New York, NY). As Chair of the International Programs and Organizations Committee, and as member of the Salary Study Subcommittee, he continues to contribute to the University’s shared governance system.
Dr. Claudia Polo Vance, Associate Professor of Spanish, presented a paper entitled, Changes in Attitudes: The Impact of Hispanic Immigration on Northwest Alabama in February at the 2009 National Conference of National Association of Hispanic and Latino Studies in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Vance works as a liaison with Lauderdale County Schools and Russellville City Schools, and has provided several UNA volunteers (Spanish majors and minors) for non-speakers of English. One student volunteer is working with the United States Department of State at the US Embassy in Surinam, South America. The National Weather Service in Huntsville has published Dr. Vance’s Spanish translation of the Alabama Severe Weather Awareness Week Booklet. The booklet, printed as a public service for the citizens of Alabama, is being disseminated throughout the State. Dr. Vance and Mrs. Anissa Graham, Instructor of English, visited Weeden Elementary in March to participate in Reading Awareness Week and to deliver ESL materials purchased with a National Literacy Grant awarded by the National Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Dr. Vance is Phi Kappa Phi President for the 2008-2009 academic year. Dr. Vance has also served as a translator of documents for the Child Development Center at Kilby School this semester.
