Lindisfarne College Spanish students visiting the Manawatū campus.
Music, stories, Spanish and South American wine, and Argentinian empanadas will be part of a fiesta to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Massey University’s Spanish Programme this Friday.
Former and current students and staff will share their stories about courses, trips the fascinating experience of teaching and learning the Spanish language, tango, salsa, flamenco and chocolate, as well as their incredible experiences in Latin America.
One of the milestones for the programme, which is offered on all three campuses as well as online, was signing an agreement with the University of New England (UNE) in 2011, to teach Spanish language and culture to Australian students.
Professor Cynthia White, Pro Vice-Chancellor College of Humanities and Social Sciences, says, “The success of the Massey Spanish @ UNE initiative has been based on the enthusiasm and commitment of staff and students and our long-standing experience in distance language teaching across different platforms.
“We were able to use the online tools used at the University of New England and to adapt to those new settings. We have continued to learn and improve the Spanish learning opportunities we provide and it is particularly satisfying that this decade-long partnership continues to evolve.”
For many years, the programme has been organising a range of cultural activities in the community, including language and literary events, and film festivals. As part of this community outreach programme, staff have also travelled to many places across Aotearoa to visit primary and secondary schools to share their passion for the Spanish language and the culture of Spanish-speaking countries, through a series of language and cultural workshops. Some teachers from these schools will be attending the event to share their stories.
A highlight of the event will be a performance by Wellington-based artists Alda Rezende and Noel Clayton, who will embark on a journey across different Latin American countries, epochs, and music styles.
Special guests include Palmerston North City Mayor Grant Smith and the Ambassadors of Argentina, Chile, Cuba and Mexico, whose embassies have been collaborating with Massey to promote the Spanish language and culture across Aotearoa.
Join in the celebration and be a part of a journey that started in the Manawatū and stretches across countless times and geographies, at 6.30pm at the Palmerston North Central Library, Friday 13 August. This is a free event, and everyone is welcome.
Alda Rezende and Noel Clayton.