This Week in LANG 4/27/2026

Dear colleagues, 

Thank you so much for attending the last department meeting and helping to celebrate the careers of Xiaohong Muller, Jane Houston, Carlos Coria-Sanchez and Michèle Bissière. It was wonderful to see all of us come together to recognize their impact on our department over the years. We will miss them and remember them. Please see here the video I shared to honor our retirees. 

Please also see here a revised This Year in LANG 2025-26 (which now includes the Heritage Language Symposium Slides that had been omitted in the earlier version. I apologize to all of the organizing faculty). 

Thank you for celebrating together. 

Dates and Events this Week

Chair Office Hours Week of April 27

T 11-1 (face to face and virtual), W 11:00-12:30 (face to face and virtual), R 3-5 (virtual) 

Wednesday, April 29

• Last Day of Classes

Thursday, April 30

• Reading Day

Friday, May 1

• Exam Period begins 

Looking Ahead: Dates and Events Spring 2026

May 11, 12, 14 and 15

• GLI Institute

May 13

• 4th Charlotte AI Summit for Smarter Learning

August 9

• 11:59 pm deadline to submit Syllabi for each class taught in Fall 2026

August 10

• Beginning of Fall 2026 Semester

August 17

• First Day of Classes, Fall 2026

August 21

• First Department Meeting, 2:30-5:00 pm, LRC 

Congratulations

The JAPN 4410 Showcase held on Thursday, April 23, featured student presentations highlighting their projects and professional journeys. Students Nydasia Gray, Ian Lawton, and Bea Mattiello shared their experiences, reflecting on both the processes and execution of their work as they worked toward their goals. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear their journeys and see how they applied their learning in meaningful ways.

Presenter Spotlight: Enika Banerjee

The Charlotte Global’s GLII Community Practice 3 was held on April 23, 2026. Enika Banerjee presented “Designing Global Learning for Engagement: An Experiential Learning Approach.” Enika highlighted how thoughtfully designed global learning experiences can foster engagement, reflection, and intercultural communication within existing courses.

The presentation introduced several global learning models, including Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), Global Networked Learning (GNL), faculty-led short-term study abroad, and Project-Based Learning (PBL). Across these approaches, Enika emphasized structured interaction, shared knowledge, immersion, and real-world application as key to meaningful learning. Drawing on practical examples and audience discussion, the session underscored the importance of cultivating globally educated citizens prepared to engage in an interconnected world.

Information for Faculty and Staff

Upcoming Events

Syllabi

Syllabi are due August 9, 11:59 to be uploaded in the portal made available by Academic Affairs. Notification will come to you via email as soon as the portal is available. See minimum elements required by the UNC System regulation and a Faculty FAQ webpage provided by Academic Affairs.

Department Meetings for the 2026-27 Academic Year

Department Meetings Fall 2026

Semester starts August 10

August 21, 2:30-5:00 

September 18, 2:30-4:00

October 16, 2:30-4:00

November 13, 2:30-4:00

December 3, 10:30-12:00, End of Semester Celebration 12:00-2:00

Department Meetings Spring 2027

January 15, 2027 2:30-4:00

February 19, 2027 2:30-4:00

March 19, 2027 2:30-4:00

April 29, 2027 10:30-12:00, End of Year Celebration 12:00-2:00

Wishing you a good last few days of classes, a happy Reading Day and then a succesful beginning of the exam period. 

All the best, 

Anabel