Students explore cultural differences on Language Day
Donna P. Crilly
Issue date: 5/5/09 Section: Features
With a serape draped over his shoulder and a sombrero perched on his head, Steven Sopha, vice president of the Spanish club, strummed his guitar and sang "Levantandos los Manos" to an audience of students shouting, "OTRA, OTRA," when he finished.
Sopha, who was given the Spanish name "Esteban," was just one of the many performers from different countries around the world, who participated in the annual Language Day fair at City College.
Language Day, which took place on April 22 in Gorton Quad, is a major cultural event on campus, according to Jaime Estrada, chair of the language department.
Many instructors, full-time and adjunct faculty, participated in the event by setting up booths and giving passers-by a quick insight on the exotic cultures and languages abroad.
The myriad of performances included a belly dancer, couples dancing to songs from Sweden, Finland and Denmark and flamenco dancers, to name a few.
"Would you like a little bit of Rumba," Spanish professor Maria Clara Romero-Huerta asked the onlookers of the flamenco performance.
Led by Rocio Carrera and Sevilla-trained, guitar-bearing fiance Oscar Aragon, the dancers clacked their heels and twirled their dresses to songs like "Tanguillos de Cadiz."
Carerra, who's dance school "Paloma Aragon," attracted several students to get her business card shortly after the clacking ceased.
The seven languages taught at City College, including French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Italian, Russian and American Sign Language, certainly didn't limit the amount of countries and cultures represented at the fair.
Spanish and Arabic speaking nations, for instance, flaunted the cultures of several, wearing traditional garb, flashing ethnic jewelry and posting several hand-drawn signs showcasing the countries.
Unfortunately for some, the Italian Club brought only pictures of wine instead of the real thing. It simply wasn't allowed.
Exploring and learning about cultural differences between foreign countries and the USA was just one of the benefits of having Language Day on campus.
Sopha, who was given the Spanish name "Esteban," was just one of the many performers from different countries around the world, who participated in the annual Language Day fair at City College.
Language Day, which took place on April 22 in Gorton Quad, is a major cultural event on campus, according to Jaime Estrada, chair of the language department.
Many instructors, full-time and adjunct faculty, participated in the event by setting up booths and giving passers-by a quick insight on the exotic cultures and languages abroad.
The myriad of performances included a belly dancer, couples dancing to songs from Sweden, Finland and Denmark and flamenco dancers, to name a few.
"Would you like a little bit of Rumba," Spanish professor Maria Clara Romero-Huerta asked the onlookers of the flamenco performance.
Led by Rocio Carrera and Sevilla-trained, guitar-bearing fiance Oscar Aragon, the dancers clacked their heels and twirled their dresses to songs like "Tanguillos de Cadiz."
Carerra, who's dance school "Paloma Aragon," attracted several students to get her business card shortly after the clacking ceased.
The seven languages taught at City College, including French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Italian, Russian and American Sign Language, certainly didn't limit the amount of countries and cultures represented at the fair.
Spanish and Arabic speaking nations, for instance, flaunted the cultures of several, wearing traditional garb, flashing ethnic jewelry and posting several hand-drawn signs showcasing the countries.
Unfortunately for some, the Italian Club brought only pictures of wine instead of the real thing. It simply wasn't allowed.
Exploring and learning about cultural differences between foreign countries and the USA was just one of the benefits of having Language Day on campus.
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