CWU To Host Third Annual World Languages Day

May 2, 2005

Contact: Kari Taylor (509-963-1218/fax 509-963-1959/e-mail: taylork@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - In what's becoming increasingly a global community, high school students need to expose themselves to other languages and to become familiar with the variety of cultures now more than ever.

That's the thrust behind Central Washington University's World Languages Day (WLD) 2005. The third annual event is set for Friday, May 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the Ellensburg campus.

About 250 high school students and faculty from throughout central Washington are expected to attend and will be able to participate in a variety of workshops and seminars on a topics and disciplines related to world languages, international cultures and history.

University faculty, students and staff, along with members of the Ellensburg community, will lead the workshops.

"This event requires the collaboration of a broad coalition of people who have spontaneously and enthusiastically volunteered their time, energy and expertise to create a day of quality programming," Dr. Joshua Nelson, CWU department of foreign languages chair, says.

The programming will encourage participants to develop an interest in and sensitivity to diverse cultures, while underscoring CWU's commitment to preparing students for lifelong learning and a diverse and changing world by providing a rich and diverse academic, educational and cultural experience, according to Nelson.

One of the day's highlights will be a mid-day cultural fair. The keynote address will be presented by CWU student Deng Lual, who escaped civil war in his home country of Sudan at the age of 4.

WLD is sponsored by the CWU foreign languages department, international studies and programs, conference center, enrollment management, admissions office, alumni relations office, conference center, office of the provost, student affairs and enrollment management, college of arts and humanities, college of business, college of education and professional studies, college of the sciences, CWU Foundation, university store and dining services.

For more information, or for persons of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call (509) 963-1218, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.