Fall 2017 Integrated Language Options (ILO)
Integrated Language Options (ILOs) constitute the core elements of the RCAH CLAC Program. ILOs provide language immersion opportunities for students. In an ILO, students use the language to collaborate with each other and their language mentor on a semester-long project. Fall 2017 topics and projects are listed below.
French Title: Vodoun and Nature in Benin
Description: Students learned a Vodoun creation story, studied the various deities, and explored the effect that Vodoun has on the daily lives of people in Benin. We realized that many aspects of this religion are all connected through a focus on nature. The Vodoun creation story begins with Mawu-Lissa, the creator god-pair, who are represented by the earth and sky, upon which everything else exists. In Benin, the snake, the owl, certain plants and trees like the Iroko, and rainbows all have sacred meaning or represent deities. Students decided to represent these and other important features and symbols in their project.
Participants: Abigail Kuplicki, Shayla Croteau, Carly Lizé, Monica Holland, and Sarah Maynard with fellow Erika Kraus.
Italian Title: Cosa bolle in pentola?
Description: Italians are very proud of their food, do not mess up with it ! During the semester the group has explored the various italian culinary tradition, what to do and what to avoid when sitting at an italian table, and how to prepare some of the most famous italian dishes. At the showcase the group will show how to prepare pasta all’uovo from scratch.
Participants: Chiara Bowey, Lucas Capalbo, Olivia Jones, Kate Kelly, Grace Koeple, with fellow Danilo Balzarini
Portuguese Title: A comparison of immigration between Portuguese-speaking countries and the United States
Description: Based on the political climate around immigration in the United States, this project investigated the opinion of representatives from Brazil, Portugal, Angola and the United States on immigration in their own countries and what are possible stereotypes the the mainstream society has of the immigrating minorities.
Participants: Daniel Greenson, Kent Miller, Maggie Demko and Katie Harger with fellow Lucas Capalbo
Spanish Title: Creating Satires as a way to Explore Socio Political Relationships between two Places, People, Cultures (The Case of Puerto Rico and the United States)
Description: For our Spanish Integrated Language Option (ILO) we are creating an informational website that aims to explore how satires can be used to analyze socio-political and historical issues between the United States and Latin America. Focusing on the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico, we discuss ways we can educate people in our local Michigan communities about these relationships and its racial, historical, and political effects on people and society. Given Puerto Rico recently being hit by Hurricane Maria, and the political response from elected officials, the complex problem ingrained in the relationship between the United States as a colonizer of Puerto Rico became a focus of this ILO.
Participants: Anna Cool, Sadie Shattuck, Juli Ginn, Shelby Merlino, Jess Black and Madison Campbell with fellow Christina Restrepo Nazar
Spanish Title: Spanish festivals: tradition or exaggeration?
Description: Known by its fierce bulls and flying tomatoes, Spanish festivals are famous around the world. Festivals, such as San Fermin and La tomatina, dates back to the 15th century carrying typical regional elements from Spain. Besides the beautiful traditional aspects of these festivals, some practices, such as animal torture and excessive drinking, divide opinions in Spain and around the world. Should these traditions continue or should they be modified to better fit a more modern mentality? This project will explore this debate and attempt to draw lessons to the American’s own traditional practices.
Participants: Olivia Jones, Amy Potchen, Natalya Swartz, Isabel Hershey and Kate Kelly with fellow Lucas Capalbo