Department of

World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures Department at MBC

About WLLC | Study Abroad | Scholarships and Awards | Faculty | Links

About WLLC

The fields of anthropology, French, Spanish, Asian studies, and Latin American studies are housed in the World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department (WLLC) at Mary Baldwin. The department is unique in that the language disciplines and the various area studies are linked by anthropology. Within this inter-disciplinary department, professors work together as mentors of the various majors.

The WLLC senior seminar groups together all the seniors and full-time faculty of our department. Senior students and faculty in Anthropology, Asian studies, French, and Spanish meet at least twice a month to discuss the students’ work in progress. In these meetings student learn to talk about their work to a specialized audience as well as to a non-specialized multidisciplinary audience, preparing themselves for their final oral presentation. The discussion of their respective theses with students of different majors as well as with faculty of different disciplines teaches students to see their work from different perspectives and to talk about their work to various audiences.

WLLC offers language and/or cultural studies in all the major (non-U.S.) areas of the world: Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Arabic World.

*Of special note: MBC’s strong Asian studies program requires the study of the Japanese language. Study in Japan, or another Asian country, is encouraged and facilitated. There is also the possibility of completing an internship in Japan or elsewhere in Asia. MBC has three affiliated universities in Japan. Our sister school, Doshisha Women’s College, sends students every year to MBC.

MBC also offers two years of Arabic language classes. The college has hosted Fulbright Arabic scholars and Arabic language teaching assistants in residence at MBC.

Study Abroad

WLLC requires or recommends study abroad for all its majors.
WLLC has a long history of organizing May Term Abroad programs.

  • Martha Walker offers study of French drama and attendance at French plays in Paris
  • Carrie Douglass organizes study in Spain, a country she lived in for eight years.
  • Ivy Arbulu accompanies students to her native Peru and other places in South and Central America.
  • Daniel Metraux has created many courses to study different aspects of Japan, a country he has lived in and studied for years. He also organizes trips to Australia/New Zealand, Switzerland, Croatia, California/British Columbia (to study Asian American culture)

Study Abroad and May Term at MBC

For study abroad in Japan, contact Dr. Daniel Metraux: dmetraux@mbc.edu

Doshisha Womens's College in Kyoto, Japan: www.dwc.doshisha.ac.jp/english/index.html                                                           
Tokyo Jogakkan College:  http://www.umsl.edu/services/abroad/universities/tjc.html

For summer study or semester abroad in Peru, contact Dr. Ivy Arbulú:  iarbulu@mbc.edu.

University of Virginia Peru Program: http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/uvaperu/

For semester abroad or summer study in Valencia, Spain, contact Dr. Carrie Douglass: cdouglas@mbc.edu

UVa Hispanic Studies Program in Valencia, Spain: http://www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port/valencia/

Photos of past study abroad and May Term trips

Other Study Abroad Links
www.goabroad.com
www.studyabroad.com

Scholarships and Awards

Russell Scholarship  
The recipient is a rising senior outstanding in academic achievement, character, and service. The recipient works on a special research project in her field. The award includes funds (approximately $1,000) for a research project designed by the student with a faculty advisor.

Dorothy Mulberry Scholarship This scholarship includes funding for Spanish students to study abroad, in a Spanish speaking country, for up to one full year. One scholarship per year will be awarded. Contact person: Dr Arbulú: iarbulu@mbc.edu

Melissa Mitchell Memorial Travel Award for May Term. This award will provide $500 to a student of Mary Baldwin College who will be involved in a formal program of study outside the United States in May Term 2007.

Melissa Mitchell Memorial Award in Asian Studies: for an outstanding Asian studies major, given at the Honors Convocation in March.

(see department professors for more information and applications for these awards)

Faculty

Ivy Arbulú, Spanish 
e-mail:  iarbulu@mbc.edu

Carrie B. Douglass, Anthropology
e-mail:  cdouglas@mbc.edu

Julie Garkov, Spanish
e-mail: jgarkov@mbc.edu  

Martha Walker, French
e-mail:  mwalker@mbc.edu

Anne McGovern, French
e-mail:  amcgover@mbc.edu

Daniel Metraux, Asian Studies
e-mail:  dmetraux@mbc.edu
Daniel Metraux Web site

Sahar Saba, Arabic T.A.
e-mail:  saba@mbc.edu

Nelson Sanchez, Spanish
e-mail: nsanchez@mbc.edu,

Yusri Zaro, Arabic
e-mail: mzaro@mbc.edu;

Links

Power of Babel (pdf) – The department newsletter for alumnae/i

International Newspaper links:
El Pais, La República, Le Monde, Libération, Al Jazeera, An-Nahar, Japan Times

International Radio links:

Radio France Internationale, 3000 Stations in the World