Modern Language Day marks 45th year
Excitement and competition filled the air as almost 200 students from nine Georgia high schools took part in a variety of competitions at the 45th Modern Language Day held April 21 on the University of North Georgia's (¶¶Òõ̽̽App) Dahlonega Campus.
The students participated in exhibits, skits, and other performing arts, and in the day's grand finale, they competed in the Language Bowl that incorporated knowledge of both language and culture.
North Hall High School edged defending champion Lumpkin County High School for the Language Bowl championship.
Other high schools that attended were Dawson County, Gainesville, Jackson County, Morgan County, Shiloh, South Forsyth, and White County.
This year marked the return of the event to an in-person format after it was held virtually in 2021 and canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Modern Language Day had students from Spanish and French classes on hand this year.
"We're always happy to have these students on campus, especially being able to be back in person this year," Dr. Olivier Le Blond, associate professor of French and event director, said. "They can show mastery of the languages they are studying, and we are able to demonstrate the dynamic nature of our language programs offered at ¶¶Òõ̽̽App."
¶¶Òõ̽̽App's Department of Modern Languages offers academic programs in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, and Russian, and it partnered with the Department of Spanish & Portuguese on the event.
"Modern Language Day is one of ¶¶Òõ̽̽App's longest running traditions. It displays how important languages are for our students and how much studying languages reflects ¶¶Òõ̽̽App's values," Dr. Christopher Jespersen, dean of ¶¶Òõ̽̽App's College of Arts & Letters, said. "The day is a celebration of the hard work students put into learning languages in schools across ¶¶Òõ̽̽App's service region, and we are always proud to host these high-achieving students."
Dr. Guy Oliver, a former ¶¶Òõ̽̽App professor of French, started Modern Language Day in the 1970s, and it has evolved and added languages through the years. ¶¶Òõ̽̽App faculty serve as judges who bring a light-hearted element to the intense competition.
"The rules have evolved to reflect new language pedagogies and the younger, more diverse students and teachers in the public schools," Dr. D. Brian Mann, department head of Modern & Classical Languages, said. "However, this day remains as a long tradition at ¶¶Òõ̽̽App, a destination event for generations of students, teachers, and faculty."
Two students attend national forensic program
A PSA student spent time at UT Martin gaining work experience and earning college credit toward a criminal justice degree. A second ¶¶Òõ̽̽App student also attended.
Officers grew thanks to opportunities at ¶¶Òõ̽̽App
Jaden Clark-Davidson and Brandon Clark-Davidson were two of the 20 ¶¶Òõ̽̽App cadets who commissioned Sept. 10 as second lieutenants in the Army and Georgia Army National Guard.
Alum gets paid to 'dig in the dirt'
Samson Larsen, a 2025 graduate, uses his history degree and anthropology minor to 'dig in the dirt' and discover artifacts, skills he gained in archaeological field school while he was a student.
Students sharpen skills on Peru study abroad
Eight ¶¶Òõ̽̽App students took part in a five-week study abroad to Peru this summer, gaining both language and cultural experience.