 elcome to the Fall 2020 Issue of Global Voices, William & Mary’s Modern Languages & Literatures newsletter! We now have one of the stranger semesters behind us, are looking forward to a long break, and are hopeful for a return to normal sometime next year. This issue is full of stories on the creativity of our students and our faculty who figured out new ways to learn and to teach under pandemic restrictions.
Interacting through Zoom is difficult for any type of course, but perhaps especially so for classes in a foreign language. While we all gained considerable experience after the shift to remote teaching last spring, the fall presented many more challenges as whole classes met and worked together only virtually, never having interacted with each other in real life before. Innovative apps, new channels of communication, and much patience from all involved meant that our curriculum could continue to be delivered. While our Language Houses had to make do without International Fellows this year, some traditions were upheld and some activities took place, like conversation hours outdoors, or tutoring online. In some ways, we discovered that the virtual format offers distinct advantages over in-person events. Homecoming was one such occasion. Without the time and expense related to travel back to Williamsburg, many more alums were able to tune into Zoom sessions from far and wide. If we didn’t see you this year, we hope to do so next year, perhaps in parallel face-to-face and virtual venues? We also welcomed two new faculty members this fall, Carlos Rivera Santana in Hispanic Studies, and Kate Conley (our former Dean of Arts and Sciences) in French and Francophone Studies. Below, you can sample some blog posts on film and lecture series organized this semester, read some study abroad reports from last year, see how our Undergraduate Teaching Assistants fared in the Zoom environment, learn about undergraduate research projects conducted remotely, and much more. We hope you enjoy them all! In these times of financial uncertainty for many of our students, your gifts have an even greater impact than usual. As soon as we return to campus, and as study abroad programs resume, it will be your contribution that makes a difference in a student’s life. Consider giving to the department, or to one of our language programs: |
Fall 2020 Stories:fall2020
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