Truman State University Department of Languages and Linguistics

09/17/2026

to our 2025 Truman Language Festival!

Fall means it’s almost time for the annual Truman Language Festival!🍁Each year we invite high school language students and teachers to campus for a day of language and linguistics related leaning and fun. Whether you are interested in learning to salsa dance, writing your name in Japanese, attending a planetarium show in Spanish or French, or mastering chopstick skills and etiquette, there is something for every language enthusiast to enjoy!

✨📣Stay tuned for exciting new features coming to this year’s festival.

Tag a high school teacher in the comments who should bring their class this year, on November 5th! Registration will be open soon!

 

09/16/2026

Over the weekend, students in SPAN 367: Medical Spanish with Dr. Hayes put their classroom learning into practice at the Kirskville Health Expo, hosted at A.T. Still University. Students volunteered at the registration table and helped with Spanish interpretation. Great work representing the department and supporting the community!

 

09/16/2026

Don’t miss out on CLCA’s Mid-Autumn Festival on October 3rd! This is a favorite annual event among students and faculty. Tickets are free but limited, so make sure to get them soon!

Contact Chinese Language and Culture Association for more info!

09/14/2026

We are so proud of our alumni and the incredible work they do! German alumnus Brian Jacob (class of 2015) was recently featured in local newspaper after winning the prestigious German Embassy Teacher of Excellence Award for 2026 and attending the 100th Anniversary National Conference of the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) in Boston, MA this summer.

Brian is a German teacher at Lindbergh High School, one of the largest German programs in the state!

You can read more about Brian and his work teaching and advocating for language education at the link in our bio. Herzlichen Glückwunsch! 🇩🇪🎉

 

09/10/2026

Congratulations to Truman State’s Rho Rho chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, for being one of only 12 chapters in the country to be named an Honor Chapter for 2025-2026! 🎉This is also the 33rd consecutive year Truman has earned this prestigious distinction, which represents the longest continuous Honor Chapter status in the 107-year-history of Sigma Delta Pi!

This recognition is based upon the caliber of chapter projects that reflect the Sigma Delta Pi mission of honoring excellence in the study of the Spanish language, contributing to cultural understanding and upholding the goals of the society. In addition to the student leadership team, Chapter Adviser Professor Stacy L. Davis was instrumental in earning this year’s national honor. 

 

09/04/2026

What a great picture! We love this throwback!

Did you take a foreign language class at NMSU in 1994? If so, chances are you had one of the professors in this week’s photo. Seated, left to right: Betty McLane-Iles, Rebecca Harrison, Shannon Jumper, Tom Capuano. Standing, left to right: Karen Kay, Clifton Kreps, Patrick Lecaque, Julie Minn, Roy Tanner, Greg Richter, Ellen Hecht, Bill Cummins, Lucy Lee-Bonanno. (Not every foreign language professor at that time is pictured.)

09/01/2026

Our next Study Abroad Spotlight is Luke Fatka, who spent the Spring 2026 semester in Tokyo, Japan! 🇯🇵

08/31/2026

Have you always wanted to learn to salsa dance, but don’t know where to start? Sigma Delta Pi, the National Hispanic Honor Society, has you covered! 💃🕺All are invited for a fun evening of dancing, no experience required!

SDP Capítulo Rho Rho

08/28/2026

Join linguistics students at the tables by Dr. Olsen’s office (McClain 329) to study and socialize this afternoon (and every Friday during the semester) from 3:00-4:00 PM!

This is a great chance for new students to meet returning students, chat about how the first two weeks of the semester have gone, get your homework done before the weekend starts, and there might even be guest appearances by your LING professors dropping by to say hi! 👋