NeMLA’s 47th Convention is Thursday to Sunday in Hartford, CT

NeMLA’s 47th Convention is happening this Thursday through Sunday in Hartford, CT.

“The Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA) is a scholarly organization for professionals in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and other modern languages. With more than 2,000 members, NeMLA is the largest of the regional MLA affiliates. The annual convention affords NeMLA’s principal opportunity to carry on a tradition of lively research and pedagogical exchange in language and literature. The convention includes panels and seminars, roundtables and caucus meetings, workshops, literary readings, film screenings, and guest speakers. In addition, NeMLA supports its members through awards, fellowships, and opportunities for professional development.”

With Hartford a short drive away, the registration for “auditors” only $54, and some 389 events on the program, you’re likely to find plenty to interest you, even if you can only attend part of the convention. There are a number of presentations related to second language pedagogy, and quite a few by our Yale colleagues, including Marion Gehlker, Julia Titus, Karen von Kunes, Thomas Connolly, Janelle Gondar, Theresa Geller, Christine Muller, Bofang Li, Natalie Prizel, Maria Alexandra Catrickes, Anna Marra, Brandon Menke, Anna Shechtman, Paola Nastri, Giovanni Miglianti, Alexandra Pollak, Sarah Piazza, and Suzanne Young.

Check the registration page for more details. Meanwhile, here are some presentations relating to second language pedagogy and other topics:

Thur March 17th, 11:30-02:00
Workshop: Gaining Proficiency in the Foreign Language Classroom through Task-Based Activities
Led by Drs. Sarah Martin, Sherry Venere, Rebecca Jones-Kellogg, and John Pendergast (United States Military Academy-West Point).
This workshop will present an innovative approach to acquiring foreign language proficiency through task-based learning. Through demonstrating original task-based activities from Portuguese, Spanish, French, Russian and Persian curricula, presenters will show various applications of the “Proficiencies,” such as in the classroom, during short and long-term study abroad and community-based learning experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to view and interact during a demonstration of the “Proficiencies” and to discuss logistics, advantages and disadvantages of this form of task-based learning. Participants will also receive a set of materials to assist in their own adaptation of the “Proficiencies.” 

Fri March 18th, 08:30-09:45
Roundtable: Teaching the Humanities Abroad
Chair: Debra Bourdeau, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide

• “Teaching the Humanities in Japan in Times of Crisis for the Humanities and Social Sciences” Aya Matsushima, Kumamoto Gakuen University
• “Place-based Learning in Study Abroad” Suzanne Young, Yale University
• “Vampires, Castles, and Paranoia: Teaching the Gothic in Ireland” Julie Barst, Siena Heights University
• “Values and Ethics in Singapore” Debra Bourdeau, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide

Fri March 18th, 11:45-01:00
Innovative Approaches to Second Language Reading
Chair: Karin Maxey, Vassar College

• “The Effects of Textual Enhancement and Working Memory on the Learning of Spanish “ Alexandra Martin, Georgetown University
• “Extensive Reading and SLA: Empowering Intermediate and Advanced Learners of Norwegian” Anna Krulatz, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• “Developing L2 Literacy Using Concept-based Instruction and a Division-of-labor Pedagogy” Kimberly Buescher, Pennsylvania State University-University Park

Fri March 18th, 03:00-04:30
Digital Humanities in the Modern Language Curriculum: Beyond the Language vs. Content Divide
Chair: Roberto Rey Agudo, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• “New Approach in Teaching Language: Teaching a Medical Course in French” Marie-Dominique Boyce, Fairfield University
• “Integrating DH Skills, Methods, or Tools in the Language Curriculum?” Susanna Allés Torrent, Columbia University
• “‘Annotate the World’: Mobilizing Genius.com in the Upper-level Language Classroom” Tali Zechory, Harvard University
• “From Annotation to Essay: Developing Writing Proficiency Through Digital Annotation” Roberto Rey Agudo, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Moving Forward: New Perspectives on Italian Literature and Culture Courses
Chair: Teresa Lobalsamo, University of Toronto-Mississauga

• “Bridging the Gap Between Language and Culture Through the Performing Body” Anna Santucci, Brown University
• “Innovative Italian Courses, a tavola e sul palco” Teresa Lobalsamo, University of Toronto-Mississauga
• “Intercomprehension in Practice: Teaching Italian to Spanish Speakers” Tom Means, Borough of Manhattan Community College-CUNY
• “Teaching Italian for Journalism” Antonella Dell’Anna, Arizona State University

Fri March 18th, 04:45-06:15
Innovative Digital-humanities Approaches in Teaching Languages and Literatures
Chair: Alexander Pichugin, Rutgers University-New Brunswick

• “Current Events through Flipboard: Promoting a Critical Vision of the World” Elena Carrión Guerrero, Boston College
• “Digital Humanities and Ecocritical Approach in Teaching” Alexander Pichugin, Rutgers University-New Brunswick
• “Teaching Language Variation and Language Attitudes with YouTube Accent Tag Videos” Angus Grieve-Smith, St. John’s University

Issues in Literary Translation I
Chair: Julia Titus, Yale University

• “Dostoevsky as Translator of Eugenie Grandet” Julia Titus, Yale University
• “The Second Life of Italian Poetry: Recent Translations of Italian Poetry into English” Nicholas Benson, The Gunnery
• “Nancy Huston’s Self-translated Texts: Bilingual Limits and Transgressions” Genevieve Waite, The Graduate Center-CUNY

Sat March 19th, 08:30-10:00
Roundtable: Different Approaches to Assessment of L2 Blended Learning Courses
Chair: Daniela Bartalesi-Graf, Wellesley College

• “A Comparative Analysis of Learning Outcomes in Traditional vs. Hybrid Italian Courses” Louise Hipwell, Georgetown University & Donatella Melucci, Georgetown University
• “Beating the Odds: Teaching Italian Online in a Community College” Giulia Guarnieri, Bronx Community College-CUNY
• “A Pilot Assessment Project of a Blended Intensive Beginning Italian Course” Veronica Darer, Wellesley College
• “Design and interaction in Blended Language Courses” Fernando Rubio, University of Utah
• “A Pilot Assessment Project of a Blended Intensive Beginning Italian Course” Daniela Bartalesi-Graf, Wellesley College

Sat March 19th, 10:15-11:30
Flux migratoires en France et hors de France depuis les années 2000
Chair: Carine Mardorossian, SUNY University at Buffalo

• “Caught in the Whirl of Migration: Paris in Kundera’s Ignorance and von Kunes’s Among the Sinners” Karen von Kunes, Yale University
• “Trade Secrets: Gender and Consumerism in the New Black Paris” Dawn Fulton, Smith College
• “Visions cinématographiques de l’émigration juive française contemporaine vers Israël” Robert Watson, Stetson University

Sat March 19th, 11:45-01:15
Roundtable: Teaching Italian Language through Literature
Chair: Paola Quadrini, Nazareth College

• “Bisogna far capire agli studenti che hanno bisogno di letteratura” Paola Nastri, Yale University
• “Niccolò Ammaniti’s Io e te” Susan Amatangelo, College of the Holy Cross
• “Teaching Italian Culture through Literature: An Example From the Decameron” Paola Quadrini, Nazareth College
• “Italian From Each Story” Maria Frank, University of Hartford
• “Teaching Language through Poetry” Francesca Savoia, University of Pittsburgh
• “Teaching Language and Literature in the Intermediate Hybrid Courses” Antonella Dell’Anna, Arizona State University

Sat March 19th, 04:45-06:15
Beyond Döner: Teaching Multiculturalism in the Lower-division German Classroom Chair: Holly Brining, University of Minnesota-Duluth and Amanda Randall, St. Olaf College

• “Teaching Afro-German Identity Construction in an Intermediate Language-literature Classroom” Feisal Kirumira, Augustana Campus, University of Alberta
• “Turkish-Germans, Russian Jews, and Afro-Germans in a Second-year German Curriculum” Marion Gehlker, Yale University
• “Exploring Turkish-German Cultural and Linguistic Interactions in a ‘Miniseminar’ Format” Mary Allison, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• “Neben mir ist noch Platz: Grammar and Multiculturalism in Paul Maar’s Children’s Novel” Patrick Brugh, Loyola University-Maryland