University of Memphis World Languages and Literatures

☀ Summer may be quieter on campus, but there are still plenty of exciting things happening at WLL! ☀

We have been busy welcoming incoming Tigers during the NSOs each week to share the many language learning opportunities available at UofM through the WLL.

Attending orientation this summer? Stop by our table to say hello and grab a Tiger keychain of your own!

And our summer check-ins aren't over yet... 👀 Any guesses where our Tigers will be taking us next? Here's your hint: 🥐🍁⚜🍟

Another peek at what our WLL Tigers are doing over in Costa Rica this month! 🇨🇷 We are so grateful to our partners at UNA Campus Sarapiquí for welcoming our students and creating such meaningful language and cultural learning experiences.

🌎 Did you guess correctly? 🌎

Eight WLL students are spending their summer studying Spanish language and culture in Costa Rica, and they are already halfway through the program!

So far, students have:
🌴 Visited Limón to learn about Costa Rica's Afro-Caribbean culture and heritage
⚡ Explored the country's hydroelectric energy initiatives
🍍 Toured a pineapple farm
🏙️ Visited the capital city of San José
🦥 Met some of Costa Rica's most famous residents at a sloth sanctuary

Along the way, they have been building their Spanish skills while experiencing Costa Rica's culture, history, and natural beauty firsthand.

We look forward to following the rest of their journey. ¡Pura vida!

And while our Tigers are exploring Costa Rica, exciting things are happening here on campus, too. Keep an eye on our page for more summer updates from WLL and around the university!

🌎 Where in the world are our WLL Tigers this summer? 🌎

From study abroad programs and research projects to community engagement and professional experiences, our students and faculty are making the most of the summer months.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing snapshots of the exciting places, people, and projects that make up the WLL community on campus and beyond.

For our first location: ☔🌿🦥

¡Pura vida! It's rainy, incredibly biodiverse, and there may be a sloth or two hiding in the trees. Any guesses where some of our Tigers are spending their summer?

Central High School is currently hiring for two Spanish teaching positions and is seeking educators interested in helping grow and strengthen the program from Spanish I through AP Spanish.

Candidates do not need to be fully licensed at the time of application and may qualify through a permit pathway or while completing licensure requirements. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals passionate about language education and program development.

Apply here: https://instructional-scsk12.icims.com/jobs/61086/classroom-teacher/job

Interested in Italian culture, history, art, film, fashion, food, and more? Consider enrolling in **ITAL 3500: Italian Legacies** this Fall 2026.

Taught asynchronously online in English by Cosetta Gaudenzi, this multidisciplinary course explores the global influence and enduring impact of Italian creativity and culture across a wide range of fields. The course counts toward the Major Concentration in Italian or the Minor in Italian Studies and may also be taken as an elective.

📚 ITAL 3500 – Italian Legacies
🌍 Fall 2026
💻 Asynchronous Online
📧 [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])


UofM College of Arts & Sciences

Joseph Taylor is a first-year student majoring in French, Spanish, and Italian, and language learning has long been a central passion. During sophomore year of high school, Joseph earned the Tennessee State Seal of Biliteracy in French. In junior year, Joseph studied Japanese and Spanish through dual enrollment coursework at East Tennessee State University.

Since then, studying languages has opened doors to opportunities once thought impossible, including volunteering at Treadwell Elementary School as a bilingual tutor. Multilingualism has also allowed Joseph to assist more customers at work, develop close international friendships, and travel with confidence across language barriers. This summer, Joseph will travel to Italy for an internship at a summer camp opportunity made possible through language study and intercultural engagement.

Each new language has brought meaningful fulfillment through friendship, music, literature, and a more empathetic worldview. Through multilingualism, Joseph has encountered people from many different backgrounds and discovered a passion for pursuing work that amplifies voices across languages and cultures. Experiences working with children have also demonstrated the profound impact of making others feel understood in the language most comfortable to them.

After completing a bachelor’s degree, Joseph plans to work as a flight attendant before later pursuing a Juris Doctor degree. Language learning has fostered deeper interpersonal connections, strengthened cognitive and cultural awareness, and created opportunities for a richer understanding of the world.
UofM College of Arts & Sciences

The Spring 2026 Italian Film Festival was a tremendous success, drawing approximately 80–90 attendees at the University of Memphis screenings and more than 100 attendees at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens event. Thank you to Cosetta Gaudenzi for her outstanding work coordinating this year’s festival, which brought together students, faculty, and members of the broader Memphis community through Italian cinema, culture, and conversation.

We are grateful to everyone who attended and helped make this year’s series such a memorable success.

UofM College of Arts & Sciences

Congratulations to our Spring 2026 inductees into Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society: Ricardo Franco, Hannah White, Nicole Carmona, Catalina Salazar, and Kayla Caraballo.

We are proud to recognize these students for their academic excellence and dedication to the study of Spanish.

UofM College of Arts & Sciences

UofM College of Arts & Sciences