Literature, composition, technical writing and creative writing in English, French and Spanish
Here are the advantages of pursuing a degree or minor from the Department of Languages and Literature:
Strong communication skills rank higher with employers than any other qualities, including work ethic, manners and computer skills, according to the 2007 Job Outlook Survey.
Students foster communication skills and critical thinking through the study of literature, language, and writing in the Department of Languages and Literature. Because these skills are so versatile, graduates are prepared for a variety of careers as well as prestigious graduate and professional schools.
Degrees Offered
Students can also earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in English or French Education through the Department of Teacher Education.
Snapshot of the Major
Over the past five years, the department averaged 70 majors with an ACT score of 23. Each year, about 13 students graduated with a degree from Languages and Literature. Fifty-eight percent of graduates went on to graduate or professional schools.
Dr. Robin White, Assistant Professor of French, Dr. Joelle Bonamy, Assistant Professor of Spanish, and Ms. Mabel Illidge, Instructor of Spanish, were awarded a Board of Regents’ Humanities grant in the amount of $34,884 for “Moving pictures, culture and literature around classrooms” in April 2009. The grant will fund technological upgrades for classrooms and student work.
Dr. Joelle Bonamy, Assistant Professor of Spanish, presented a paper entitled “The influence of education law on language choice in Gibraltar” at South Eastern Conference on Linguistics (SECOL 76), April 8-10, 2009.
Elizabeth Sanders has had a paper on Asian Ghosts accepted for the April 2008 Popular Culture Association and American Culture Association Conference in New Orleans. In addition, she and Dr. MacDonald have coauthored several articles for Salem Press, including “Rudolfo Anaya” in The Critical Survey of Long Fiction. 3rd ed. Pasadena Calif.: Salem Press, 2008; “Chinua Achebe” in Magill’s Survey of World Literature, Revised Edition. Salem Press: Pasadena, California, 2008; and a book review: “Chinua Achebe” in Magill’s Survey of World Literature, Revised Edition. Salem Press: Pasadena, California, 2008. In addition, she and Dr. MacDonald are coauhoring a book E.X. Ferrars for McFarland Press.
Dr. Daryl Holmes, associate professor, was elected editor of the Louisiana English Journal, a peer-reviewed journal focused on supporting research contributions and stimulating an on-going dialogue between elementary, middle, and secondary teachers. It also showcases creative writing. This appointment is a logical extension of Dr. Holmes’ work with the local school system English teachers.
The Fletcher lecture this year will be held on Thursday, March 12, featuring essayist Sam Pickering. His talk is entitled “Seeing Things.” The event is open to the public.
Instructor and former Writing Center director Carolyn Gorman will be presenting “Going Green in Technical Writing: A Service-Learning Approach” at the Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning March 2009. The paper was also published in the Nicholls Arts & Sciences Technical Reports (ASTRe) 2008 issue.
Jackie Jackson, Angie Hammerli, and Molly Bolden of Bent Pages bookstore filmed an HTV segment about the Jubilee Jambalaya Writers’ Conference on
January 4th at the Houma Main Library. Deadline for submitting writing to be critiqued is Friday, February 13th. Further information is available at Terrebonne public libraries, Bent Pages, Cherry Books, and at our website, www.jubileewritersconference.org.
The South Louisiana Economic Council (SLEC) awarded the department $2500 for Dr. Windy Rachal’s participation in service learning projects over the past three years. Most recently, Dr. Rachal’s students helped write community profiles to attract businesses to the Bayou Region. The profiles will be incorporated into an economic development website. In the past, students researched availability of skilled labor, outmigration trends, and post-Katrina wage practices in the region for SLEC grant proposals.
Betty Elfert was honored at this year’s Faculty Institute as Associate Professor Emeritus. Elfert has been teaching at Nicholls for over thirty years in several colleges. She has been most influential as an advisor in University College and an English instructor in Languages and Literature.