Language clubs teach more than just speaking it
From piñatas to origami, and crepes to soccer, students can get involved in foreign language and culture clubs no matter their background.
Utah State University provides students and faculty with many of these clubs. Some include the French, Korean, German, Japanese, and Spanish clubs. Like different cultures, each of these are unique and have many activities.
The French club invites anyone who is interested in the French language or culture to join them. The purpose of the club is to enhance and create an environment for students who want to learn more about France and other French-speaking countries, said Grace McCullough, a junior majoring in liberal arts and international studies.
Sarah Gordon, adviser of the French club, said, “You do not have to speak French to join, but you will learn some if you do. We have absolute beginners, as well as native speakers from France, Quebec and African countries.”
Activities for the French club are usually once a month, plus a weekly conversation hour, Gordon said.
“One night a week we will be planning to have a chill night where we will help each other with homework, practice speaking, and mainly having fun and eating food,” McCullough said.
Major monthly meetings include activities such as showing French films, playing games in French, having French food, and sharing travel experiences, she said.
McCullough said the club offers students the opportunity to get involved and make friends and to do service.
“I love being in the French club because it offers me the chance to keep fluent in a language that I worked hard to learn,” said Chris Bingham, an MBA student in the College of Business.
The Korean club has been at USU since 1989. To be involved, students should have an interest in Korea and its culture. Speaking Korean is optional, said Annie Kim, the Korean club’s adviser.
“The purpose of this club is to allow the few Korean speakers on campus to get together, eat great food, share memories, and just have fun while refreshing our skills and making friends,” said Alisa Baker, a senior majoring in marketing.
“Some of the activities include socials, cooking Korean foods, and translation/cultural presentation service projects for local schools among those who speak Korean,” Kim said.
Meetings for the Korean club are held two to three times a semester. There are usually around 50 people in the club each year, she said.
The German club is open to anyone with experience or interest in German-speaking countries, such as Germany and Switzerland, and want to learn more about the language and culture of these countries, said Felix Tweraser, an assistant professor of German.
Meetings for the German club are scheduled about five times a semester. These meetings include activities such as soccer, community service, film evenings, trips to Salt Lake City, Tweraser said.
“Activities highlight aspects of each culture and bring people together who share an interest in this part of the world,” he said.
Cody Sheffer, a sophomore studying pre-med, said the Japanese club consists of about 20 people each year. It is a club for those who have an interest in Japanese culture and want to learn more.
Activities for the Japanese club include eating Japanese food and service projects, Sheffer said. These activities occur five times a semester.
Sheffer said his favorite activity is when they went as a group to a Catholic school and taught the kids about the Japanese culture, let them try all kinds of foods, and showed them how to make origami.
The Spanish club is open to all who have an interest in the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. There are no formal requirements to become a member, said David Cox, a senior majoring in accounting and finance.
The Spanish club has monthly activities, such as piñata parties, Spanish movies and literature. There are usually 35 students in the club each year who participate in these activities, Cox said.
He said the two main purposes of the Spanish club are to learn more about the culture and improve everyone’s Spanish, and the Sonora Mexico Project.
For the Sonora Mexico Project, about 20 members of the Spanish club get to spend spring break in Mexico building houses in poor villages, Cox said. Because of the Sonora Mexico Project, fund-raising is a big part in the Spanish club.
“It is a good club to join if you have an interest in the Spanish culture and are willing to volunteer time and finances for the Sonora Project,” Cox said. “The Sonora Project is definitely my favorite part.”
Aside from the foreign language clubs, Gordon said. USU also provides Pi Sigma Iota, the International Foreign Language Honor Society. It is a program for students who excel in another language.
“PSI provides cross-cultural activities, affirmation of language ability on students’ resumes, officer opportunities, scholarship possibilities, information on study, jobs, and internships abroad, and honors at graduation,” said Gordon, who is also a faculty adviser of PSI.
To be a member, one must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum ‘B’ average in one or more 3000- or 4000-level language class.
-kbanks@cc.usu.edu