UW-Madison event offers taste of world languages

UW–Madison will give high school students and teachers from across the state a sample from the more than 60 languages taught on campus at special event on Tuesday, April 13.

The third annual World Languages Day on the UW–Madison campus is expected to attract nearly 700 high school students from Wisconsin Rapids to Cuba City. All sessions will be held from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Memorial Union, Red Gym and Pyle Center, all located on Langdon Street.

Through 48 sessions focusing on storytelling, cinema, skits, cuisine, dance, music, clothing and more, the students will be able to get a taste – sometimes literally – of language and cultural opportunities they might like to pursue.

“This is an invaluable opportunity for students,” says Catherine Reiland, World Languages Day coordinator. “Some of the languages represented here are simply seldom taught at other universities in the United States. Fortunately, the size and caliber of education proffered by the university can support such a wide array of language programs.”

The scope of options offered at World Languages Day covers the globe, from both Americas to Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In addition, participants will have an opportunity to learn more about various ethnic groups in Wisconsin — indigenous peoples, Scandinavians, Germans and others – that helped shape the region and continue to influence it.

Harold Scheub, Evjue-Bascom Professor of Humanities in the Department of African Languages and Literature, will welcome the event’s participants. Scheub spent 10 years in Uganda and Lesotho, teaching and researching the oral traditions of eastern and southern Africa. He has published 11 books and many articles on the subject.

“World Languages Day will not only highlight UW–Madison’s language, culture and area-studies programs, but will also send the message that language learning is important to members of a global community,” says Magdalena Hauner, associate dean for the arts and humanities in the College of Letters and Science.

The college is sponsoring the event, with additional support from UW’s eight Title VI Centers, the UW–Madison International Institute and the Anonymous Fund.

Participating schools include Columbus High School; Cuba City High School; Southwest High School, Green Bay; Central High School, La Crosse; East, Edgewood, La Follette, Memorial and West high schools, Madison; Lincoln High School, Manitowoc; Neenah High School; Brookwood High School, Ontario; Oregon High School; Sauk Prairie High School, Prairie du Sac; Sparta High School; Stevens Point Area High School; Tomah High School; Verona High School; and Lincoln High School, Wisconsin Rapids.

For more information or a complete schedule of activities, contact Catherine Reiland, (608) 262-4077 or reiland@ls.admin.wisc.edu.