Rossina Soyan (DC 2024), assistant teaching professor of Russian at Arizona State University, was announced as a winner of the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) 2026 Indigenous Language Scholarship Support Fund. Her research interests include reading development, language contact and intergenerational transmission of Indigenous languages. As a Tuvan speaker, Dr. Soyan investigates the intergenerational transmission and use of Tuvan and Russian languages in Tuva, Russia. Her latest project focuses on identifying governmental policies and community-driven efforts aimed at preserving and promoting the Tuvan language within the last decade.

Sanghee Kang was nominated as an honored guest at the 2026 Dietrich Ball for her positive impact on students' experience in Dietrich College.

GCAT master's student Morgan Tarr was awarded a Pierre C. Fraley Scholarship from the Alliance Française de Philadelphie, which aims to give students the opportunity to increase their language proficiency in French and to enrich their understanding of French culture and contemporary society.

Two new LCAL courses have been awarded funding through the Immersive Cultural Innovation (ICI) Fund, made possible by the generous support of 2006 alumnus: East Asian Art: Culture and Digital Creation (developed by Haixia Wang) and Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture: From Stigma to Creativity (developed by Bo Zhan). Guided by consultants Stephan Caspar and Stefani Taskas, the course development process will continue in collaboration with The Kenner Room, LCAL Studio and Humanities Commons and the TELL Committee. This collaboration will support the integration of digital humanities tools and immersive technologies to enhance innovative teaching and learning experiences at CMU.

Katharine Burns, with her collaborator Tracy Quan, University of Colorado Boulder, presented "The (In)visible student: Discursive and ideological positionings of heritage language learners in three world language teacher methodology textbooks" at the National Heritage Language Resource Center's Fifth International Conference on Heritage/Community Languages held at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Kiyono Fujinaga-Gordon co-hosted a community workshop with Akitaka Yamada, Keio University, on Miyako Island, Japan, bringing together community members from across generations and social roles to discuss current and historical challenges related to endangered languages, cultures and land. ALSLA master's student Esther Hesse helped brainstorm workshop ideas and assisted in developing the language attitude surveys that Dr. Fujinaga-Gordon conducted during her field visit this spring.

Sanghee Kang and her colleague published their research article "AI-generated feedback in an EAP writing classroom: The collaborative process of feedback, uptake and revision quality" in the Journal of English for Academic Purposes.

Dr. Kang also gave the keynote speech "Exploring Applications of Generative AI in L2 Korean Education" at the 5th Korean Applied Linguistics Symposium hosted by the Penn State Institute for Korean Studies in collaboration with Monash University.

Seth McCombie (DC 2025) and Khaled Al Masaeed presented "Ya Ustaz?: Multimodal openings and closings to student requests for assistance in an advanced Arabic media course" at the International Conference on Conversation Analysis and Language Teacher Education at TED University in Anakara, Türkiye.

They also presented "Interactional functions of student tellings in Arabic study abroad (virtual presentation)" at the 10th International Conference on the Development and Assessment of Intercultural Competence, hosted by the Center for Education Resources in Culture, Language and Literacy at the University of Arizona.

Mame-Fatou Niang delivered the keynote "Tools from the Past to Repair our Futures" at the University of Geneva's Graduate Center. The conference explored how collective memory shapes contemporary inequalities, arguing that building a more just future requires confronting what societies choose to remember or forget and recognizing the historical roots of present-day injustice.

In early March, members of the LCAL community participated in the 57th Annual Convention of the Northeastern Modern Language Association (NeMLA) held in Pittsburgh, sharing research and pedagogical innovations across a wide range of fields.

Nevine Abraham presented two papers — “Challenging the Frame: Counter-Narratives of Coptic Identity in Contemporary Egyptian Culture” and “The Forgotten Volunteer: Unearthing Palestinian Anti-Fascism in the Spanish Civil War.” She also co-presented with Ezzohra Moufid on “Bridging Perspectives: Centering Connection and Empathy Through Virtual Exchange on Global Issues.” In addition, Dr. Abraham chaired a session on “Integrating AI in Arabic Language and Culture Learning,” featuring presentations by Lama Nassif, “Empowering L2 Learners Through AI-Informed Training: Fostering Autonomy and Informed Engagement,” and ALSLA doctoral student Joseph Garcia, “AI Activities in a Beginner Online Arabic Class: Successes, Improvements and Takeaways.”

Two Arabic studies students also presented posters based on course projects completed under Dr. Abraham’s supervision, with participation supported by LCAL. Messou Fofana (Human-Computer Interaction and Linguistics major, Arabic studies minor) presented “A Digital Humanities Critique: Whitewashing Zahra in the Miramar Film,” while Qianru Tan (Philosophy major, Arabic studies minor) shared “Cross-Campus Virtual Exchange through Storytelling in Novice Arabic Interaction.”

Additional LCAL contributions included Felipe Gómez, who presented “Naguales, brujas y (re)generación: espiritualidades disidentes en el cómic mexicano.” Pina Gemboni co-organized and chaired the panel “Sport and Migration in Italian Literature, Cinema and Media,” and co-organized “Decolonizing Domestic Space in Postcolonial Italy.” She also presented “Domestic Space in Wu Ming 2 and Antar Mohamed Marincola’s Timira: Romanzo Meticcio,” with both panels generating engaging discussions on migration, colonization and decolonization in Italy.

Students in our Black Italy course had a blast when Michael McEachrane visited their class on March 11. He shared his research, answered students' questions and engaged in a thoughtful discussion about his article "Racial Social Democracy and the Swedish Welfare State."

Later that evening, students in Italian language classes gathered for a movie and pizza night. They watched the Italian film L'isola delle rose, enjoyed pizza and each other's company.

As part of the Humanities Scholars Program, Therese Tardio and Mame-Fatou Niang took a group of students for an experiential learning component of Dr. Niang's course Practicing Public Humanities. Students met with representatives at the United Nations, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the U.S. Mission in Geneva and the Museum of Ethnography of Geneva, connecting course discussions on knowledge production and public interface to real-world practices.

LCAL's language conversation groups are open to all students at CMU, regardless of field of study or experience level. Led by graduate students and/or faculty, our conversation groups offer students the opportunity to practice their language skills in a relaxed environment while engaging in fun cultural activities like playing games, dancing, watching movies/tv shows, eating snacks, etc.

All language groups will meet in the LCAL Studio and Humanities Commons (POS 343) unless otherwise noted.

Please note: groups only meet when regular classes are in session.

CBESA served as co-curator of the Diaspora Salon in Marrakech, Morocco, contributing to the intellectual framework, thematic direction and international partnerships that shaped the program. The four-day event brought together scholars, artists and financiers to reflect on questions of memory, diaspora and global Black cultures.

LCAL's Professional Certificate in Language Program Administration is a one-year, online program. Courses are designed for current educators and graduate students who are seeking to advance in their careers through language teaching, language supervision, language program administration and/or curriculum development. 

• Deadline: March 31, 2026

For those interested in learning more, we are hosting a virtual open house on Tuesday, March 24 at 7 p.m. (ET). Register today!

Additionally, we are still accepting applications for our three master's programs for fall 2026:

• M.A. in Applied Linguistics & Second Language Acquisition
• Deadline: May 1, 2026
• M.A. in Applied Linguistics & Second Language Acquisition — Advanced Study
• Deadline; May 1, 2026
• M.A. in Global Communication & Applied Translation
• Virtual open house on Tuesday, March 17 at 8 p.m. (ET). Register today!
• Deadline: May 13, 2026