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Texas Tech Study Abroad Fair

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The Study Abroad Office and the Department of CMLL collaborated this year on the week- long pre- study abroad fair in an attempt to bring awareness of the phenomenal opportunities offered through the Texas Tech faculty-led programs and the Texas Tech affiliated programs at the Texas Tech Study Abroad Office.

In support of study abroad week and the Texas Tech Study Abroad Office, CMLL hosted "CMLL Goes to the Movies" throughout the week of September 6-9, 2016. Each evening, students, faculty or staff gathered together in the Foreign Languages, Qualia room to screen one of four films from which TTU students and friends received an introduction to Japanese, German, Jewish, and Bogotá film, culture and social issues.

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On September 6th, TTU students witnessed the breathtaking dance Sevillanas performed by Mr. Phillip and Dr. Sara Guengerich. Dressed in traditional costume, the couple twirled, snapped their fingers, and stomped to the Spanish music in the Free Speech Area outside the Student Union building.

Classics Faculty-led Study Abroad 2016 - Roman Archaeology in Northern Italy

Dr. Hannah Friedman conducted a pilot project with an international collaboration including Dr. Kathrine Huntley of Boise State, and Dr. Penelope Allison from University of Leicester during Summer 2, 2016.

The ancient Roman colony of Libarna, located just outside of Serravalle Scrivia, in the province of Alessandria, was founded in the 2nd century BCE. This region was an interesting cultural mix culturally Gallic, but was also settled by Etruscans and later the Romans. The archaeological site has had a long and complex history over the past 200 years, which has included numerous piecemeal excavations most of which were driven by modern construction projects In addition to the amphitheater, previous excavations at the site conducted primarily in the 1800s, 1930s and 1970s uncovered public buildings including a theater, bath complex, forum and urban blocks. This however is a small portion of the city and only the public areas.

Friedman explained, "We know a lot about public structures both at Libarna and other Roman sites but very little about private lives. Also most of what we know about roman domestic structures comes from southern Italian sites such as Pompeii and Ostia, places with very different history, environment and culture than northern Italy."

This year one of our project's goals is to piece together all the old excavations, which are poorly documented, before adding new information through excavation. Our inaugural season focused on utilizing multiple geophysical techniques, including Resistivity, Magnetometry, Ground Penetrating Radar and a Drone, to better understand both the excavated portions and that which is yet to be uncovered.

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Using resistivity, the team discovered what appears to be a large structure measuring 20 meters by 30 meters (66 feet by 98 feet), with a platform and three rooms in the back. Images indicate the temple faces east in the direction of the old Roman forum — the main civic and commercial center of the ancient city. This temple would be the first religious structure found at Libarna.

Data also revealed some rectangular structures to the south of the previously excavated amphitheater along the edge of the city. These structures are intriguing because they are not aligned with the grid system used in Roman cities like Libarna.

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This is the first international project of its kind in the region and researchers are reaching out to local people to garner support. Dig director Melania Cazzulo, a local archaeologist, has been instrumental in helping LAP's team work with local landowners to get permission to survey their lands with a drone and the geophysical survey equipment (most of ancient Libarna lies under privately owned land). The mayor of Serravalle Scrivia (the modern town), Alberto Carbone, also took a personal interest and came to visit researchers at the site.

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Expected to spread over at least five years, the project will study the cultural and economic development of the area originally settled during the Iron Age by the Liguri people of northwest Italy and later colonized by the Romans in the second century BCE. Information collected during this first summer in the field will help create a more accurate and dynamic map of the archaeological site to determine where to begin excavations in summer 2017.

Learn more about the project and see some hilarious pictures at https://libarnaarchproject.org/

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Four Texas Tech students and one student from Boise State participated in the program as an introduction to archaeology and to spur them on to future endeavors in the field of archaeology. Read two students' recounting of their experiences.

"Being part of the LAP has been life changing. Before I came on this trip I didn't know exactly what the archaeological process looks like and I never had been to Europe, now I know about both! ...I think it's critical to understand and apprechiate the entire (archaeological) process. It feels amazing to know that I helped collect the data to make future discoveries possible. " - Chloe Morris, TTU Sophomore Languages & Cultures-Classics & History double BA

"I've made some great memories and friendships and have learned so much, I came to Italy knowing nothing, but now if any has questions about the mag, res, or DGPS I've got it. The farmer's tan is real but I loved every day in the field." – Melisa Franklin, TTU Senior History BA & Classics Minor

French Faculty-led Study Abroad 2016 in Reims, France

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Nineteen Texas Tech students travelled to Reims, France in June, 2016 to participate in the faculty-led program under the direction of Dr. Carole Edwards. Jerry Cuellar and Elizabeth Hammond, both graduate students and teaching assistants in the MA Romance Languages-French program, worked with Edwards to create an exciting month of complete immersion in the French language and culture.

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Students earned six credits towards a major or minor and participated in a wide variety of rich cultural experiences ranging from several workshops, trying their hands at sculpturing, developing an appreciation of French cheese, to participating in a conference presented by Dr. Rémi Fontanel (Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne).

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Excursions including: nature hikes, visits to museums, attending sporting events, and visits to historical sites provided a memorable and life changing immersion experience.

Several student testimonials with different fields of study attest to the life-changing impact of the program and language learning.

"This trip was a trip of a life time. So many thing were different cultural from France to the US but my favorite moment had to be going to Normandy. I'm a big history buff and seeing something that was part of both of our history was incredible." – Bailey Booth, Senior BA Electronic Media & Communication

"My favorite moment here was during the Joan of Arc festival. It looked like I had gone back in time with
all of the medieval costumes and street vendors... I had the opportunity to see history come alive in front of this beautiful place." - Kira Kuykendall, Senior BS Kinesiology

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"The city of Reims has been here for 2000 years and was here before France was even a country. This cathedral has crowned almost all of the French kings and learning these things was truly shocking and amazing. I loved being able to see and walk in the same places our ancestors walked thousands of years ago." – Madison K. Bell, Junior BS Zoology

"A couple of French buddies decided to take a few of us to visit the vineyards and have a picnic... We walked around taking selfies and pictures, and talked and joked around with them. This by far is one of my best cultural moments because we had a chance to be with people our age and have an experience not listed in our itinerary." – Dorellyn Jackson, Junior BA Language & Cultures-French

German Faculty-led Study Abroad 2016 in Munich, Germany

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Under the direction of Dr. Anita McChesney, nineteen Texas Tech students participated the Summer I German faculty-led program in Munich, Germany. Dylan Lewis, graduate student and teaching assistant in the MA Languages & Cultures-German program, worked alongside McChesney gaining first-hand insight into the study abroad program. Homestays, delicious food, and interesting excursions to historical sites in addition to attending language courses at the foreign institution, Inlingua and a culture class through Texas Tech, fostered a heightened cultural awareness and the importance of learning languages.

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"Studying abroad in Munich with the Texas Tech German faculty-led program was the smartest decision I've made in college so far. Full immersion in a foreign environment is the best way to acquire proficiency in another language and further develop it! Without a doubt, though, the most invaluable thing I got from it was meeting wonderful people whom I've become very good friends with and still talk to today." - Zachary Mcnutt, BS Wind Energy

"My favorite part about the study abroad program in Munich was getting to see Neuschwanstein castle. It was truly breathtaking to see it in person since it is such an iconic and magical sight. I also really enjoyed experiencing the every-day things like going to the grocery store or relaxing in the park with my host family and the locals. It felt like we lived there!" - Dylan Lewis, LACU-German M.A. & Graduate Teaching Assistant

Italian Faculty-led Study Abroad 2016

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Ten eager students joined Instructor Francesca Beretta in Italy for the Italian faculty-led study abroad program in Tuscania. Beretta shared her perspective, "Our summer 2016 in Tuscania officially sets forth the Texas Tech Faculty-led Study Abroad Program in Italy. The Lorenzo de' Medici School and Tuscania's families made our stay incredibly enjoyable. Everybody in town was pleased to see how hardworking and well-behaved our Red Raiders were. We travelled most weekends discovering parts of Italy off the tourist map. It was a wonderful six-week experience."

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Students' testimonials say it all:

"I made lifelong friends over my stay in Italy, and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had." Christiana Walden, Senior, Management BBA, Italian minor

"I was hosted by a family that truly took me in as one of their own while I was fully immersed in a culture that taught me something new every single day. Whether I was eating gelato in front of the Trevi fountain, swimming in the beaches of Otranto, or simply eating dinner with my host family in Tuscania, I was faced with entirely new experiences that helped me to grow as an individual as well as a student. Italy will forever have a piece of my heart and I am so thankful for the six short weeks that I was spend there." – Rachel Risley, Political Science BA, Italian minor

"I was nervous because I had only completed the first year of Italian language. However, with the experience of living in a small community that spoke little English, I realized my language skills were better than I thought." – Michele K. Moore, Senior Anthropology BA, Italian Minor

Mexico Field Course 2016 San Lui Potosi, Mexico

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Texas Tech and the Spanish program of the Department of Classical & Modern Languages & Literatures hosted the Summer I faculty-led program under the direction of Drs. Steve Corbett and Jorge Zamora.

Students experienced total immersion while living with a host Mexican family in San Luis Potosí. The fast-paced, well-balanced experience included: theater, movies, concerts, and sporting events, socializing at sports clubs in addition to visits to historical and archaeological sites in Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Playa del Carmen, and the pyramids of Chichen Itza. Students earned 6 credits of upper-level Spanish towards a minor or a major.

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"The Mexico Field Course will leave you feeling gratified but bitter you have to return home. My experience exploring a new culture, art, history, and religion was transcendent. At the very least you take away the ability to understand a new language but, the host families, professors, tutors, students, and contemporaries will establish a new place in your heart that only they can occupy. The experience is raw and the situations you work through in Spanish, both enjoyable and challenging will push your boundaries. My cheeks and stomach were in constant pain because of the laughter and smiles. In addition, you find a new social responsibility to act as a lesion between two cultures. It is only unfortunate that you can't stay longer." – Sarah Bridges, Business BBA, Spanish minor

Texas Tech Center, Seville Spain Study Abroad 2016

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The Texas Tech Center situated in Seville, Spain offers all levels of Spanish language classes which draws Texas Tech students year round to study language there. Texas Tech faculty and graduate part-time instructors teach the courses and the center provides interesting excursions on a weekly basis. Students from the summer courses testify of the excellence in teaching and learning Spanish and Spanish culture at the Texas Tech Center.

"The time spent in Seville and learning Spanish was precious... It wasn't always easy, and there were definitely times I just wanted to give up and go home and be comfortable with my friends and family in a familiar place where I understood everyone, but pushing through those times taught me the most. It's frustrating as hell living in a country where you don't speak the language, and even though I was learning it, there were so many times when the language barrier led to frustrations and misunderstandings. However, at the end of the day I always got where I needed to be and did what I needed to do and learned from every mistake and mishap." – Amanda Burton, Junior Kinesiology BS, Spanish Minor

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"I have loved my time in Spain. I love the architecture, the history, the people, and the culture. Living with a Spanish family has been very interesting and enlightening. In Spain, in my home and in the streets, I have to speak Spanish every day. To study abroad is the best way to learn a new language because it is very important that you practice the language and are immersed in the culture. " – Chanel Cox, Junior English BA.

"Being able to make friends out of strangers, visit old beautiful places, and learning another language really made me appreciate this program." Bella Kalayilparampil, Senior Psychology BA

"We did many things together like watching movies in the open air summer cinema, practicing our Spanish in the market, eating "tapas" and snails in a restaurant with our Spanish tutors, and traveling to Cádiz and tanning on the beautiful beach. During our trips to places such as Itálica, the Alhambra, the Mezquita, and La Rábida, we learned a lot about the culture and the history behind Spain. Whether it was learning Spanish in class or traveling to many places in Spain, I will miss the places, food (especially snails), culture, and my class, but most importantly talking to the people of Spain." – Eric W. Johnston, Junior Supply Chain Management BBA, Spanish Minor

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"Although the Spanish class is very demanding, it is also very rewarding being able to use the language you are learning to talk to the locals." – Ryan Provencio, Biology BS

TTU Intercession in Costa Rica – January 2017

Texas Tech Intercession in beautiful Costa Rica will take place during January 2017. Students will take one Spanish course, SPAN 1310 Survival Spanish Language and Culture that will fulfill the Multicultural requirement. Students will study situation –based Spanish and the cultures of the Hispanic world to prepare students to study abroad. The course will be taught by Texas Tech faculty and students will have the privilege of homestays for full immersion in the culture.

Classical & Modern Languages & Literatures

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    CMLL Building, 2906 18th St, Lubbock, TX 79409
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    806.742.3145