School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, University of Galway

Congratulations to Judith Bierwolf who completed a Structured Research Masters in German and was conferred with a Masters of Arts yesterday afternoon. Judith's thesis, which was supervised by Dr. Deirdre Byrnes, explored education in GDR literature, focusing on the conflict between the individual and the state in Christa Wolf's 𝑁𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑢̈𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝐶ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑇. and Erich Loest's 𝐸𝑠 𝑔𝑒ℎ𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑛 𝐺𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑒 𝑀𝑢̈ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑟 𝐸𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑒.

Dr. Bianca Rita Cataldi proudly announces that Episode 3 of our podcast BABEL in Galway is now live!
This time, Andrea Ciribuco and Bianca Cataldi are joined by Dr. Rachel Robinson (Spanish and Latin American Studies, University of Galway - School of Languages Literatures and Cultures) and Dr. Marion Krauthaker (French Studies, University of Galway - School of Languages Literatures and Cultures) to discuss ecopoetry to/from/about the peripheries, women's writing, and experimental poetry.
Listen on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OkDPA8PVD7hHVv1GZQL3B
You can also read the accompanying Substack blogpost written by our colleague Jeannine Bätz here: https://babelingalway.substack.com/p/episode-3-ecopoetry-tofromabout-the?r=5u8v16&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

Congratulations to Dr. Rachel Robinson who participated in the LASA (Latin American Studies Association) 2026 International Congress in Paris recently titled “Republic and Revolution” with an organized panel (A cien años del futuro del libro’) and a presentation on Tomás Browne, a contemporary Chilean poet. At LASA, Dr. Robinson was also engaged in the The Routledge Companion to Twenty-First Century Latin American Poetry (Routledge, 2026) book launch, in which she recently published a chapter entitled: "Music and Performance: Sense and Nonsense in Contemporary Chilean Poetry”. Dr Robinson also joined in a colloquium “Lenguas inventadas y experimentos lingüísticos de vanguardia at NYU Paris and Sorbonne Université while in Paris. Find out more here https://lasaweb.org/fr/lasa2026/ and here https://crimic-sorbonne.fr/manifestations/lenguas-inventadas-y-experimentos-linguisticos-de-vanguardia-neocriollo-neo-amerique-y-amefrica-ladina/

Another fantastic EDI event on "Decolonising the Curriculum" organized by Dr. Pilar Alderete Diez took place yesterday. Dr. Tanja Kovacic, EDI Race Equality Advisor, facilitated a very thought-provoking workshop on the subject, Dr. Andrea Ciribuco and Sylvie Mossay gave inspiring presentations and Dr. Pilar Alderete Diez summarized our findings in closing remarks and insights, as well as introducing and organizing the event and designing the posters and leaflets in collaboration with colleagues.

Interesting one-day seminar taking place on Thursday, June 18th: Challenging Narratives: What is the Place of Human Rights in Spanish and Latin American Studies?

📣 🎯 📟 SAM-ACCESS Project >>> CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: Make Your Teaching More Accessible

If you are interested in making your teaching materials more accessible, inclusive and effective for all students, and would like to receive recognition for the training through a certificate, then this is an opportunity for you.

We are inviting teaching and academic staff across all Colleges and Schools at the University of Galway, University of Galway - School of Languages Literatures and Cultures, to participate in the SAM-ACCESS Project – SDH, AVT & MA for Accessible Higher Education, funded by University of Galway EDI.

This innovative initiative focuses on Subtitling for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (SDH) and Media Accessibility (MA) in higher education. You will learn practical subtitling skills using your own teaching materials, helping to create more inclusive learning environments in line with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the University’s EDI priorities.

👩‍🏫 Open to: Teaching Assistants, PhD researchers, Postdocs, Lecturers, Professors, and all teaching staff interested in accessibility and innovation in education.

✅ Introduction to key theories and methodologies in Audiovisual Translation, Subtitling for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing and Media Accessibility
✅ Hands-on training in subtitling and media accessibility
✅ Practical digital skills directly applicable to teaching
✅ Certificate of participation

Led by Dr Francesca Nicora, an expert in didactic audiovisual translation (DAT) and Sveva Zafferri, PhD candidate in Translation Studies, who is working on DAT and AI.

⚠️ Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Register early!

📲 Scan the QR code below for more information and to register.

🙏 Please help us spread the word and support this initiative.
Post by Dr. Nicora:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/francesca-nicora-ph-d-5474587b_universityofgalway-accessibleeducation-inclusiveteaching-share-7458797472774164480-aF-N?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAApXIscBjyNeWkS26pMrHpVxeKfQs0jOBsk

Our 2-year, part-time Diploma in German will help you develop the skills to communicate successfully in the German-speaking world.

Through the course's module on German culture, you will also gain a deeper insight into a region that plays a vital role in central Europe's intellectual and economic life, as well as in its cultural history.

Now taking applications: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/courses/adult-and-continuing-education-courses/german.html

*CLÁR NUA 2026-2027* MA (Taighde Struchtúrtha) sa Ghaeilge (Structured Research Masters in Irish)

The most inspiring School Research Day was had amongst colleagues of our School yesterday! Fantastic work in progress all around.