The book was selected by the publisher to be showcased at the 2013 ACFAS congress, one of the largest congresses in the Social Sciences and the Humanities in the French-speaking world.

In the book, Prof. Córdoba uses the study of peripheral cultures as a privileged observatory to examine the sociological relations that configure a corpus of literary works between Quebec and Spain (with a focus on Catalonia). In addition to this specific case study, Prof. Córdoba’s book sheds light on the different phases of cultural exchanges in general: from the initiation and selection of cultural products, to their international circulation, reception, and re-branding so they fit the logic of the receiving cultures where they are reinserted. It further examines the decisive but non-deterministic role of public institutions in forming translation flows, as well as the part other key international stakeholders (publishers, critics, translators, scouts, etc.) play in facilitating, and sometimes hindering, the international circulation of ideas. Beyond its theoretical interest, the book offers a definite applied dimension, as it critically examines specific public diplomacy policies (particularly the use of translation as a tool for national image-projection abroad), and evaluates their implementation and results.

When:

Where: CF 434

TESOL and TFL students from professor Peter Shaw’s Curriculum Design course invite you to view the innovative syllabi, unit designs, lesson plans and materials produced this semester.

Engage with projects based in a variety of Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, EFL and ESL contexts and populations.

Besides helping with the KEU project, Bates is currently working for Indiana University as a consultant. She is helping develop and pilot courses for a Master’s of Education in TESOL. While she says she is really enjoying the work and having fun, she also likes that the work stretches her. Bates has had the chance to work with many different classes, including Curriculum Design, Assessment, Second Language Acquisition, Educational Research, and Adult Learning.  Much of her work for these classes has been heavily influenced by the work of the late MIIS TESOL/TFL Professor Leo van Lier.

In her experiences in Afghanistan, Bates has made many intersting observations about the Afghan system of higher education. Although it is very poor, there is a sort of built-in program of professional development: Professors are expected to write an academic paper (or book) every three years. Bates is trying to leverage this professional development program to help the Afghan students and professors get a good handle on research so that they will have at least some of the necessary skills to pursue education and learning throughout their lives. In their Education Research class, she is trying not just to teach about research methods, but to also model them for the students and Afghan instructors.

What are some words about nature in Spanish? Portuguese? Chinese? Korean? Japanese? German? French?

A few “bef”ore pictures. This fence is just begging for some more artwork. So excited for this Friday…come help paint!

The group visited government offices, businesses, and universities, as well as meeting with a group of Taiwanese veterans. They were also able to meet up with MIIS alumni at a dinner in Taipei.

The trip (which was conducted entirely in Mandarin Chinese) was a productive and informative experience for all involved.

The group at the Mandarin State Council, Taipei

MIIS Alumni Dinner, Taipei

At Pecatron Design Studio, Shanghai

Want to make the transition to a planet-base diet that is better for you, your family, the animals, and the environment, but not sure how to start? Then join Professor Scorse and other MIIS students on April 16th at 4PM for a tour of Whole Foods where a range of veggie samples will await you. There will also be a store tour and plenty of time for Q&A. To begin the move to a healthier diet please email Professor Scorse at profscorse@gmail.com and sign up for this event! Thanks!

Beginning with the Spring 2013 issue published in March, Professor Minhua Liu started her tenure as the new Co-Editor of Interpreting, the field’s premier academic journal. Interpreting was established in 1996, and for the past eight years was edited by Dr. Franz Pöchhacker and Dr. Miriam Shlesinger, who passed away in 2012. Dr. Liu comes to the journal with eight years of experience as a member of the advisory board, and as a former contributor to the journal. Dr. Liu brings to Interpreting her research expertise in working memory and testing, as well as her experience working in Asia and the U.S. as a conference interpreter and as a teacher and director at Taiwan’s first T & I graduate institute.  For more information about Interpreting, click on any of the Interpreting hyperlinks or contact Professor Liu at mliu@miis.edu.

MIIS Professor Michel Gueldry  and  Alliance Française President Madame de Sibert greeted the candidates.  Three judges: Professors Edgard Coly and  John Hedgcock and Toni O’Meara (former DLI professor and published poet) read the original poems and heard the recitations. Trophies were awarded for first, second and third prizes, as well as many honorable mention certificates. The candidates ranged from young teenagers to mature college students; they all displayed much enthusiasm in their high quality presentations and interpretations. The enthusiastic applause they received from the audience emphasized the success of the event.

MIIS Translation and Localization Professor Max Troyer also helped with the event by designing and printing the programs, as well as all the beautiful certificates that the candidates received. A few MIIS students helped the candidates throughout the course of the event as well: Leslie Hayner was a most gracious hostess, Francesca Isaia helped tabulate the judging of the original poems, and Gael Tovivo made sure each candidate was comfortable on the stage.

Guest Lecture

Prof. Alaa Eligibali from the University of Maryland will speak        Thursday, April 4th, from 2:15pm to 1:15pm in McGowan 100.

A little more than two years ago, parts of the Arab world experienced what later came to be known as the Arab Spring. Initial world and domestic consensus of hope and optimism are turning into ambivalence and even skepticism. As chaos claims the day, many wonder if that spring has turned into a true Arab spring of sand storms and poor visibility.  Was the imagery drawn for the Arab revolutions indeed prophetic?

Come support the second-years, and get a look at their hard work in action!

Description:

Opportunity to spend 11 months as Academic Advisors with the Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETA). You will work with Taiwanese Local English Teachers (LETs) on orientations, workshops, reports, teaching observations and consultations.  Possibility to participate in the The Foundation for Scholarly Exchange (FSE) Research Group on “The Impact of International Exchange and Language Learning.”  You must have had 2 years of teaching experience and your Master’s degree by the time you start the assignment.  Duration of grant is normally 11 months starting August 1, 2013.  Renewal might be considered.

Benefits:

2 awards – monthly stipend of NT$60000-NT$80000
(Commensurate with the educational degree and qualifications of the grantee)

Direct flight, round-trip economy-class air ticket

Travel reimbursement for the transportation costs incurred in traveling between location

Hotel accommodation reimbursement up to NT$2000 per night due to business travel between location.

Application Procedure:

Submit the following required documents to Zocalo through our On Campus Recruiting (OCR) Fulbright Foundation of Scholarly Exchange by March 17, 2013, midnight

-  A statement of purpose in English for teacher training & research

-  English CV (with your cell phone number or easy-to-be contacted number) and email address.

Only the finalists or top candidates for this position will be required to provide the following:

• Academic transcripts and degree certification (if you are in your final semester you can have a letter submitted by Edy Rhodes, your Academic Advisor that you are in good academic standing and anticipate graduating successfully in May 2013.  You will then need to supply a letter from Records once your grades are submitted and processed in June 2013).

• Copy of R.O.C. ID card or the copy of passport of other English speaking countries
  
  Selection Procedure

1.  In late March, A Selection Committee reviews application documents.

2.  Some candidates will have Skype interviews.

3. Candidates will then normally be notified by April 1.

MIIS Contact Edy Rhodes

ETA Taiwan Contact person:

Ms. Kelly Chang

Website: http://www.fulbright.org.tw

The Foundation for Scholarly Exchange

2F, 45 Yanping South Road

Taipei 10043, Taiwan

Team Leaders will cultivate a variety of professional skills while gaining real world experience. The ideal candidate has a passion for international development, strong leadership skills, and a willingness to facilitate and manage a variety of program elements, including communication and outreach, program development, fundraising, updating and developing website content and social media sites, event scheduling and management, meeting planning and travel logistics and community engagement.

TES leadership is open to all MIIS students, from all departments and fields of study!  Please send resume and cover letter to teamelsalvadormiis@gmail.com by Friday, March, 8th and visit our Team El Salvador blog.

• Check out all of the participating employers
• View the schedule of events

Even though I’ve lived in this country for many years, I still, naturally, prefer Chinese food.  Lydia knew my preference, so she always suggested that we go to a Chinese restaurant, and for quite a few years, our Monday dinner restaurant was the Great Wall – almost exclusively. Several times I suggested that we eat in a restaurant of a Western style, but she would always reply that SHE preferred Chinese food. However, I knew that she was only accommodating me.

We talked about a wide range of topics, including culture, politics, language, literature and, of course – translation. Lydia liked to emphasize the importance of language and literature and said several times that even though our students are not going to work in the area of literature, some amount of literary training is still necessary. She liked to unpack condensed language in difficult texts and I am so grateful that I have benefited so much from those language talks.

Once, when we were stepping out of the restaurant, we looked up to see a bright full moon in the deep blue sky. ‘The Postmodern Moon’, I exclaimed. Lydia was so happy to see the moon and agreed with my description of the moon. Yet later, neither of us had any idea how I could link this moon with postmodernism. There must be some reason, perhaps over the dinner, our topic was postmodernism, or perhaps we talked about some postmodern guys and mentioned deconstruction. There is no way for us to recover that memory. But that is not important. The important thing is that since that night, whenever we saw a bright moon together, we would say to each other “The ‘Postmodern Moon’. Lydia, if by any chance, you now know that ‘something’ that linked that bright moon to postmodernism, I would like one last chance to discuss it.
Thank you, Lydia.”

~ Excepts from a memorial speech given by T&I Professor Zinan Ye