Foreign Language Symposium

Lundi, 26 octobre, 2009

Dear Students, Teachers, and Judges,

The date has been set, and we hope you can join us for the 2010 NET OLÉ Foreign Language Symposium to be held at Texas A&M University-Commerce on Monday, March 29th. Rooms have been reserved for the Spanish events in the Sam Rayburn Memorial Student Center, and French and German events will be held in the Hall of Languages. Last year, nearly 600 students from thirteen high schools participated, and we anticipate at least as many in 2010.

Contest Directors / Vice-Presidents this year are divided by language:

Deutsch – Ms. Sheila Easley at Greenville High School;
Español – Ms. Tiffany Muñoz, Ms. Maryna Otero, and Mr. Eduardo Mendoza, all at Mt. Pleasant High School;
Français– Ms. Elizabeth Porter at Greenville High School.

If you have questions about events, I encourage you to contact them directly. Their email addresses can be found by clicking on their names on the Net Olé home page.

When you come to campus Monday, March 29th, I encourage you to look around, as new buildings keep springing up, the latest of which is the Music Building. Our Golden Leos will be on hand to provide tours, and there will be tables to pick up information about our programs. Students might especially like to learn more about our Honors College, which offers four-year scholarships. Can we interest you in our foreign language programs and opportunities to study abroad through Texas A&M-Commerce? Students interested in pursuing a Spanish major or minor can contact the Spanish Advisor, Dr. Inma Lyons at Inma_Lyons@tamu-commerce.edu. For Master’s Degree courses in Spanish, contact the Graduate Spanish Advisor, Dr. María Fernández at Maria_Fernandez@tamu-commerce.edu. We are currently offering some French courses online, and I would be happy to tell you more about those if you’ll contact me. The university has included globalization as part of its strategic mission, and in that vein, there is talk of adding additional languages, such as Chinese and Italian. ¡Veremos!

I look forward to welcoming you all March 29th , 2010. The Contest Directors / Vice-Presidents join me in encouraging you in your efforts to learn Spanish, French, and German. We are all instrumental in making tomorrow’s global citizens multilingual, and students deserve recognition for their desire to engage others in their native language. All the best to you in your academic pursuits in 2009-10!

Bis bald!

Dr. Philippe Seminet
Associate Professor of French
NET OLÉ President