In Spring 2018, (CLAC) Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum hosted an interactive poster session showcasing undergraduate research in multiple languages (Arabic, French, Mandarin and Spanish).
The event, sponsored by Duke Service-Learning, the Health Humanities Lab, and CLAC, is part of a new initiative from Duke Global Health Institute that helps Global Health students build cultural literacy through language labs. The language laboratories are organized by the (CLAC) Initiative and partner with the Community-based Language Initiative (CBLI)--both initiatives that connect academic language learning to communities.
“We want students to listen to the voices of people in these communities to get their perspective, because we’ve found that helps us better understand health disparities,” said Deb Reisinger, director of CLAC and DGHI affiliate.
Joan Clifford, Director of (CBLI) and Duke Service-Learning Faculty Consultant, noted hearing a striking number of languages being spoken in the room as well as a broad range of countries and topics represented:
“This is probably one of the few moments at Duke where you have students presenting projects in Arabic, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. The multilingual posters showcased health topics ranging from maternal health, Chagas, air pollution, cancer, and more. The public was able to interact with the authors in English or the target language and the sound level in the room attested to the interest in talking ---whatever language was preferred.”
Clifford noted that one of the most poignant moments of the event was overhearing two students, switching between English and Mandarin to discuss the high rates of stroke in certain parts of China:
"This was one of the best moments of the event for me—seeing language used to build knowledge and personal connections. The study of languages expands our ways of seeing and interacting in the world and Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum provides dynamic opportunities for engaged learning."
