Dr. María José García Vizcaíno, Associate Professor, Spanish and Latino Studies, who was also one of the event’s organizers, noted “We were excited to meet our new students, as well as reconnect with our current students. It was a wonderful, fun, community-building event . .  . . it is very gratifying to see our students get to know each other . . . and have a good time in an academic environment. . . .”

Dr. Anne Edstrom, who is also an associate professor in the department, shared ” I had a wonderful time .. . . I thoroughly enjoyed being . . . with our students. . . . [And] [T]he students really enjoyed themselves and appreciated the opportunity to be together in person.”

The department is also about to begin their cultural activities for the semester, which include fun, informative academic events such as virtual lecture series and interviews/talks with alumni, as well as film forums and bilingual poetry readings. For more information, contact howellc@montclair.edu.

Matthew Berg presented his research entitled, “The Radicalization of an Aesthetic:  Puig’s Political Use of Camp.”  He explores the role that queer aesthetics play in identity politics.

Cristina Moricete carried out a survey-based linguistic study that examined views about the use of Spanish and English in public spaces in the United States.

Link to her presentation:

Dr. Raúl Galoppe’s Message to the Class of 2020

When we all toasted to the New Year, I’m sure we thought this 2020 was going to be a year of
“perfect vision” and, in your case, the year marking your graduation and the beginning of a new stage in your lives. Of course, all this was true but little did we know that the “vision” and the months ahead were going to try us in such unprecedented ways. When we toasted to 2020 we didn’t expect a graduation in quarantine and in the middle of such uncertainty. And yet, this moment is worth celebrating.

We must recognize our students’ accomplishments even more emphatically now because they mean so much this year. They are a testament to human resilience, flexibility, creativity, and a clear indication that you, dear graduates, are ready for the new world that lies ahead. A world relying on technology and virtuality to overcome the unexpected. A world resorting to social distancing–I hope only temporarily–in the name of public health and the common good.

I wish I could write this farewell message in more prosperous and propitious times. However, I write these words with hope and happiness. My hope is inspired by the exceptional work that you all have done to complete your studies. Your success today forecasts the many extraordinary opportunities that will come your way in the future. My happiness is rooted in optimism because, I know, you are well prepared to make a definitive mark in this unpredictable world.

With your degree in hand, you will rise to the challenge. Light up the dark paths as you traverse the forest of life. Always stand on the side of knowledge and against irrational confusion. Use your expertise in the Spanish language and culture to foster communication and understanding among people. Embrace what is to come and always follow your heart. By doing so, you’ll forge a promising future and make this world a better place.

A final word as you prepare to part: remember that you will always keep an important place in our department’s history and, as alumni, your initiatives will be enthusiastically welcome. Therefore, let us not say goodbye, only hasta pronto.

Newsletter 2020

]]> /spanish-and-latino-studies/2020/05/26/felicitaciones/feed/ 0 /spanish-and-latino-studies/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2020/05/052419_6000_UnderGRAD-Commencement-MP-300x225.jpg /spanish-and-latino-studies/2019/12/04/from-mormon-missionary-to-msu-classroom-slts-professor-unveils-new-memoir/ /spanish-and-latino-studies/2019/12/04/from-mormon-missionary-to-msu-classroom-slts-professor-unveils-new-memoir/#respond Wed, 04 Dec 2019 16:23:22 +0000 http://www.montclair.edu/spanish-and-latino-studies/?p=771 “My [Mormon] mission impacted me as a teacher in every possible way in that I’ve built my entire career out of my time in Spain. . . .My two years in Spain are replete with endless examples that fuel my in-class teaching. [I] fell in love with the culture, people, food, architecture and history,” explains Adjunct Professor Zachary Balog who recounts his experience in late 1990s in the Canary Islands through his new memoir Saving Souls in Paradise: A Mormon’s Failed Mission in the Canary Islands. Professor Balog teaches Spanish for Healthcare Practitioners at MSU.

While providing some background about the Mormon church, the memoir details why he decided to become a missionary, which is considered a rite of passage for Mormons according to Professor Balog. The book is about the daily life of a missionary, key cultural topics including semana santa, his encounters with local food such as papas arrugadas and paella, as well as wine traditions. In addition, the mission introduced him to the picturesque novella Lazarillo de Tormes. He also explains why the mission was a “failure” and how it affected him going forward.

“[The experience] required exiting my comfort zone, reaching out to strangers in the streets, and finding ways to share new ideas. As a professor, I live in front of students daily, but also communicate with them [digitally]. [My time as a missionary] gave me a better understanding of people in general and helped me improve my communication skills,” notes Professor Balog.

Since the memoir covers travel, culture, language, religion and philosophy, Professor Balog hopes the memoir will “appeal to all sorts of readers.”

“I think I am most proud of the book because it first entertains through stories, reveals the secrets of missionary life, but is also full of lessons. Everything I learned and experienced as a missionary that was relevant I tackle in the book. I like to think that it has depth because it delves into age old questions about religion and the purpose of life,” he states.

Link to the book on Amazon:

On November 6, 2019, the Spanish and Latino Studies Department and CHSS Career Development collaborated to host Career Night for the second time. The department was quite generous in even offering a door prize, which was a large basket of school supplies. Seven professionals from different fields were invited to speak about their jobs in a panel and interact with the students. Some of the featured guests were: a speech-language pathologist, a bilingual investigator, a Spanish/English interpreter, a CEO of a Spanish news magazine and a supervisor of interpreting services in the Superior Court of NJ. The speakers emphasized the relevance and importance that a Spanish degree holds in their careers, and provided crucial advice about their respective careers. Afterwards, the students were able to speak personally with the professionals, learn more details about their jobs and even do some networking. About 50 students attended who were greatly benefited by this special event. It was supposed to be only 2 hours long, but the professionals and students stayed speaking with each other for almost an extra hour!

One student commented: “Career Night is very useful for people who don’t know what they will do after they graduate. It’s a really good way to learn about different career opportunities, and even to do some networking for internships or future jobs. It gave me hope that there is a positive future for my degree choice, which is Spanish.”

Another observed: “It was amazing to hear about so many different things you can do with a Spanish degree and the Certificate in Spanish Translation! It was fascinating to hear the professionals share about their different jobs and experiences. I learned that a Spanish Major or Minor is necessary, can open many doors, and is more important than I had previously believed. This encourages me to study harder and do well with my Spanish minor.”

We hope that this event will continue to be held every year, and that more professionals would be invited to speak to and with the students at Montclair State in the future.

Story by Abigail Faña

Under the guidance of Dr. María José García Vizcaíno, Associate Professor, the students produced a specially adapted script of the play El coronel no tiene quien le escriba (No One Writes to the Colonel) by Nobel-Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Vanessa Carrillo served as the voiceover. In May it was performed to a sold-out audience which included visually impaired members of the Hispanic community in New Jersey and New York at the Repertorio Español, in New York City.

Through audiodescription, the audience members are able to listen through an earphone and special receiver to a narration that describes the performance’s relevant visual elements without intruding on the performers’ dialogue.

One of the unique moments of the event was the pre-show experience or tactile experience that took place before the play. In this pre-show experience, those with visual impairments were able to touch a miniature stage and key objects of the performance to give them a holistic experience of the artistic and literary component of the play.

Dr. Maria José García Vizcaíno, Associate Professor, Spanish and Latino Studies, accepted the award on behalf of her students, noting “It was a very exciting project. . . . My students and my class were amazing. They did everything. They did the script and the voiceover. They did the community outreach. . . . The reviews and feedback were very, very positive from the audience. We would like to hopefully repeat the experience.”

The organization’s Achievement Awards salute “outstanding contributions to the establishment and/or continued development of significant audiodescription programs in each of three areas: media, performing arts and museums,” according to their guidelines.

Dr. Joel Snyder, Director, Audio Description Project, American Council of the Blind, noted that the award’s guidelines “describe your [Dr. García Vizcaíno’s] work with the students of ����vlog quite well. . . . congratulations on this richly deserved honor.”

Story by Caroline Howell

Below on left and above- Dr. Maria José García Vizcaíno receives award from Chris Gray, Audiodescription Project Chair, American Council of the Blind; on right, Dr. García Vizcaíno pictured with the other recipients.

MSU Spanish majors Rosa Sanchez Perez (second from left) and Cristina Moricete (far left) have been volunteering at the “mesa de conversación” with the Spanish Club at Bradford Elementary. Spanish teacher Judith Grodner (center) is joined by fellow organizers, parents, and children for these regular gatherings that give everyone a chance to practice their conversation skills.

One of the unique moments of this event was the pre-show experience or tactile experience that took place before the play. In this pre-show experience, those with visual impairments were able to touch a miniature stage and key objects of the performance to give them a holistic experience of the artistic and literary component of the play.

“This was a truly rewarding experience for the students and audience alike on so many different levels: academic, professional and personal. We are looking forward to organizing more events like this,” Dr. Garcia Vizcaino noted.

Story by Caroline Howell

See more photos here: