Dear Readers,
Please find below the link to our 2024 Fall Traditions Newsletter.
EURO Visiting Scholars 2024: Noemi Giampaoli
The Institute for European Studies is pleased to host three visiting scholars this academic year: Matteo Renghini, Noemi Giampaoli, and Caterina Scalvedi. There is much to learn from them, as they share their research expertise and culture with us during their time at EURO and Indiana University.
Please read our interview with Noemi Giampaoli and stay tuned for a video where she discusses her research and culture more in-depth.
Welcome to the Institute for European Studies! As an opportunity for our audience to learn more about European culture, can you share some details about where you grew up and any of the traditions of the area? What makes this area unique in Italy?
Hello everyone, and first of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity to get to know you and to introduce myself. I’m Noemi, and I’m 29 years old. I’m a research fellow at the Polytechnic University of Marche in Ancona, a city in the Marche region of Italy.
I was born and raised in a very small town in the Marche called Porto Potenza Picena (a subdivision of Potenza Picena), not too far from where I work. My town is quite small, with about seven thousand inhabitants. It’s like living in a big family where everyone knows each other, and friendships and bonds of collaboration with neighbors are easily formed.
Porto Potenza Picena is a peaceful and charming place, famous for its beaches and its clear sea, perfect for those looking for a relaxing vacation. Despite its small size, the town has an ancient history and boasts several historical sites, such as the Torre di Sant’Anna, an old tower just a stone’s throw from the sea. It is also a town with strong maritime traditions, being home to many fishermen. One of the most cherished traditions in the area is the patronal festival, during which the town comes alive with processions, music, stalls, and historical reenactments to share the town’s history and many traditions with younger generations even today. It’s a moment that brings the whole community together and attracts people from neighboring towns as well.
What makes Porto Potenza Picena unique is the perfect blend of the sea, history, nature, tranquility, and local traditions. And… for me, it’s home!
What are the main goals that you would like to accomplish while you are a visiting scholar here?
I would love to learn more about the department and the university in general. This university is definitely larger than the one where I study and work in Italy, so I’m very curious. I would like to meet both young researchers and others to exchange research ideas and discuss key topics of interest to me, such as economics, business, and finance.
One of my goals here as a visiting researcher is also to continue my research and share more about the topics I work on through seminars, meetings, and informal conversations. And then… I’d like to take advantage of this time to improve my English as well, why not?
What are your favorite things about Bloomington or Indiana University so far? Is there anything that surprised you?
As mentioned above, since I come from a smaller University, the first thing that surprised me was the size of the University and its spaces. Right now, one thing I truly appreciate, and that is rare to find in Italian Universities, is the presence of so many green areas within the University. I have always imagined Universities and cities in general as places that unfortunately have few parks and green spaces. Instead, having the opportunity to walk between buildings and stroll under the trees in the park is incredibly welcoming and makes me feel truly at home.
Another thing I immediately noticed and appreciated about the city is that, as a visiting researcher, I can easily reach the University, and the transportation is exceptional. It feels like a city built for people and around the University, which allows me to fully enjoy campus life. That said, I’m sure I will discover even more things that will make me love Indiana University even more!
One of the goals of our department is to facilitate a better understanding of the relationship between the European Union and the United States. What would you say are the most important things to know about the EU-US economic relationship that US students who do not study the EU may not know?
The economic relationship between Europe and the United States is one of the largest in the world, with trade and foreign direct investments supporting millions of jobs on both sides. Despite the cooperation, many differences may be obvious to European citizens but not to students from the United States.
One of the most apparent differences is the legal system. For instance, an important aspect is the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is much stricter than US privacy laws, influencing companies operating on both continents. Additionally, the EU is evolving and has set ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy. The challenges Europe faces are significant, as are the objectives, but many strides are being made.
Finally, one of the most recent developments is the Next Generation EU, the EU’s post-pandemic recovery plan. This plan is promoting a green and digital transition that is guiding businesses, citizens, and Europe more broadly towards new changes, through the provision of significant funding. This could profoundly influence trade dynamics between the states and create new opportunities!
What is your next professional goal that you will work toward when your time at IU is complete?
My next professional goal, once my time at Indiana University is complete, is to return to Italy enriched with a broader cultural and academic perspective. I aim to share the insights and knowledge I’ve gained during my visit with my colleagues and students back home, fostering a more global understanding of our research areas.
In addition, I am committed to continuing my research. I plan to apply the methodologies and ideas I’ve encountered at Indiana University to my work in Italy, which I believe will enhance both my personal growth and contribute to the advancement of my department. I aspire to collaborate with fellow researchers and industry professionals to address pressing economic challenges and explore innovative solutions.
Finally, my goal is to grow continuously as a researcher. I love the University, and I love research!
EURO MA Thesis: “Changing Circumstances: Why the European Union’s Accession Process No Longer Fits the Political Moment” – Jack David Rosswurm
We proudly present EURO MA Graduate Jack David Rosswurm’s completed MA Thesis titled “Changing Circumstances: Why the European Union’s Accession Process No Longer Fits the Political Moment”.
Jack is happy to discuss his work with you and can be contacted at jrosswur@iu.edu.
European Legend: the Beast of Gévaudan
Author Sara Couch is a graduate assistant to the Institute for European Studies.
You have heard about European legends Jack the Ripper, Dracula, and the Loch Ness Monster. How about the half-demon, half-goat creature, Krampus, which is so popular in Bloomington, Indiana that we host the largest Krampus event in North America?
I would would like to introduce you to a story you may not yet be familiar with. The Beast of Gévaudan, thought to be a wolf, once stalked and killed up to 300 people in a few years’ time in France.
Image Source: Wikipedia Commons
The setting of the story seems to be lifted from the pages of a fairytale.
Gévaudan is a province of Southern France where rural villagers lived the sort of life that Belle sings about in Beauty and the Beast. Picture fields of wheat and pastureland reaching from hamlets to the border of dense forestland that even Le Petit Chaperon Rouge (Little Red Riding Hood) would hesitate to enter.
There’s no need to limit your deep dive on the Beast of Gévaudan to Google. Perhaps the most disturbing thing about the creature is the amount of historical evidence proving its existence. In fact, the events surrounding it’s reign of terror have been called “one of the best-documented historical episodes of wolf predation”.
A report written by scholars Linnell et al. (2002) notes that among the various historical documents are:
- Two accounts by abbots
- Publications by several historians
- Church and parish records
- Official written reports of the events
- Death certificates
- Private letters
- And “extensive information handed down by witnesses in the 18th century.”
Though there is dispute among scholars about the exact number of attacks and victims, it is certain that at least one hundred people were killed by this man-eating carnivore in the province of Gévaudan between 1764 and 1767. There is also much debate about what—or who—the Beast of Gévaudan really was.
It began in the summer of 1764, when young Marie Jeanne Valet was tending to cattle. She observed a creature who was “like a wolf, yet not a wolf” approaching her. The bulls of the herd charged the animal and drove it away, saving her life. A short time later, 14-year-old Jeanne Boulet was killed while in the field with sheep on June 30, 1764. Residents of this rural area had long encountered wild animals, including wolves, near their homes. But this was no common wolf. Researcher Karl-Hans Taake writes that “surviving victims, other eyewitnesses, and hunters” who encountered the animal described it as a “large carnivore that had upright hair on the back of its head and neck and a dark line along its spine”. A governmental delegate of the area named Étienne Lafont described the animal as “much bigger than a wolf” in a report, saying it was like a hyena, with a “snout somewhat like a calf’s and very long hair”.
The beast preferred stalking children and women who were solitary, like those tending to livestock, but also slaughtered grown men. The beast typically targeted the head or neck of victims, often decapitating them. The animal’s unusual appearance, odd predation tactics, and sheer number of victims were the perfect recipe for theories that it was supernatural in nature. A poster printed in 1764 (below) when translated, claims that the beast “likes to attack Women and Children, it drinks their Blood, cuts off their Heads, and carries them off.”
Source: Wikipedia Commons
Lafont urged women and children to be chaperoned by an armed man when in the pastures of Gévaudan, but few people in this poor region owned a firearm. The stalking and attacks continued, and newspapers began to report on the horrific events.
Word of the beast’s slaughtering reached the Palace of Versailles, and King Louis XV assigned royal hunters to hunt it down. As time went on, reward money from various sources piled up for whomever could kill the beast. Townspeople, noblemen, and the army attempted to track and kill the creature responsible. Eventually, with no luck, the King sent his personal bodyguard and gunbearer, 71-year-old François Antoine, to destroy the threat in Gévaudan. At an abbey near Chazes, Antoine and his nephew killed an enormous wolf and sent its body to Versailles. The men were rewarded and hailed as heroes for finally bringing the nightmare to an end, and the villagers showered them with praise and gratitude.
Then the beast returned.
No assistance came from Versailles this time, as the King insisted Antoine had already killed the animal at fault for all of the deaths. For 18 months, additional fatalities accumulated in the region. Local farmer Jean Chastel is credited with finally shooting the Beast of Gévaudan on June 19, 1767. Witnesses said the animal had non-wolf characteristics, and an autopsy was performed upon it. Human remains were found inside its stomach, confirming that this was indeed the beast that had recently stalked and killed a villager, the legend that so many sought to kill. Of course, Chastel should have been applauded as a hero. Many wondered out loud (perhaps from hurt pride and emasculation) how a mere farmer could have succeeded in besting the beast, when so many highly-skilled marksmen had failed? Perhaps Chastel had trained the creature to attack humans, they said…or perhaps Chastel was the creature?
What truly was the Beast of Gévaudan? A werewolf, literal wolf, striped hyena, or demon? It is known that in the time period that the attacks took place, noblemen and aristocratic types held exotic animals from afar in menageries on their estates. Inspired by Louis XIV’s “grand menagerie” at Versailles, these collections of live animals could include hyenas, lions, ostriches, or camels. Could it be that an exotic animal escaped from a noble’s menagerie and, starving, began to feed on humans? The possibility can’t be discounted. Such animals would certainly look very odd to rural people, causing them to only be able to describe it as “wolf-like”. The descriptions of the Beast of Gévaudan by eyewitnesses certainly point out traits not common to wolves.
Karl-Hans Taake published a compelling argument in 2020 that the beast was not a member of the canine family at all, but rather, a male lion. Taake analyzed the “physique of the Beast, the descriptions of its fur, its prey selection, its predatory attack behaviour, its handling of human victims, as well as its response to the pressure imposed by hunters” in order to contradict the long-held belief that a wolf was behind these historic attacks. When reading Taake’s paper, it is difficult to disagree with the evidence that he presents. Taake points to the various eyewitness descriptions of “upright hair on the back of its head and neck…long tail with its tassel, the flat upper side of the head, the stronger front of the body as compared to the rear” which seem to directly describe a male lion. Taake notes firsthand accounts of the creature that say it “attacked by surprise, ‘laying in ambush”, stalking its prey by ‘creeping on its belly like a snake’, and rearing ‘up on its hind legs’ during the attack.” What wolf had jaw strength powerful enough to crush a human skull into two pieces “in the way a man’s mouth might crack a nut”, the author asks.
Source: Wikipedia Commons
The truth may never be known. After the autopsy was performed on the Beast of Gévaudan, its body was sent to Versailles. Upon arrival, it was completely rotten and subsequently destroyed. Two hundred fifty-four years have passed, but curiosity about the creature has never faded. Modern scholars like Karl-Hans Taake continue to try and make sense of the details surrounding the attacks that began in 1764. Cryptozoologists claim the beast was actually a hybrid or prehistoric creature of some sort, and popular podcasts like “Supernatural with Ashley Flowers” spook listeners by highlighting each gory detail.
The beast is gone; the legend lives on.
EURO Visiting Scholars 2024: Matteo Renghini
The Institute for European Studies is pleased to host three visiting scholars this academic year: Matteo Renghini, Noemi Giampaoli, and Caterina Scalvedi. There is much to learn from them, as they share their research expertise and culture with us during their time at EURO and Indiana University.
Please read our interview with Matteo Renghini below and enjoy the attached video of him discussing his hometown of Ancona, Italy. We will post interviews with our other visiting scholars in the coming weeks.
Matteo, welcome to the Institute for European Studies! As an opportunity for our audience to learn more about European culture, can you share some details about where you grew up and any of the traditions of the area? What makes this area unique in Italy?
Hi! Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity! My name is Matteo Renghini, and I’m 29 years old. I was born and raised in Ancona, a small city in the Marche region of Italy. Ancona is a beautiful city surrounded by the sea, characterized by gentle hills and stunning beaches. During the summer, the city becomes a popular tourist destination. Founded by the Greeks and later inhabited by the Romans, Ancona has many open-air archaeological sites from that period, including a fantastic Roman amphitheater overlooking the sea that is always open to visitors. When it comes to food, Ancona is famous for a unique type of mussel and for producing a special variety of red wine grown in the nearby hills.
Ancona, though small, is a beautiful city to visit!
What are the main goals that you would like to accomplish while you are a visiting scholar here?
As for work, there’s plenty to do here at IU. I have a few ongoing projects that I plan to complete while I’m here. The main goal is always to try to produce quality papers that are innovative compared to existing ones. Here, I will be able to tap into a different network to exchange research ideas and receive valuable feedback on my work. Additionally, I’ll attend many interesting seminars, which could provide a great opportunity for discussions and potential future collaborations. I’m confident this will make a difference in the final outcome.
What are your favorite things about Bloomington or Indiana University so far? Is there anything that surprised you?
There are many things that have impressed me, both about the city of Bloomington and Indiana University. First of all, I found Bloomington a small but very welcoming town , with mostly young people who are always willing to help you discover new things. Additionally, both the city of Bloomington and the University surprised me with their high level of internationalization, which is evident just by looking at the diversity of the students. I also really appreciated how strongly both students and Bloomington residents are connected to their university and the whole sports culture that surrounds it.
As for IU, almost everything has been a surprise. Considering the beautiful campus, its buildings and the overall organization, which is always efficient and ready to solve any problem you might have, I find the entire campus to be a wonderful place to study and work.
In short, both Bloomington and IU have impressed me greatly, and I believe this is a perfect place to study and work while remaining in an international environment.
One of the goals of our department is to facilitate a better understanding of the relationship between the European Union and the United States. What would you say are the most important things to know about the EU-US economic relationship or monetary policy that US students who do not study the EU may not know?
Since I’ve been here, I’ve realized that many things we Europeans take for granted aren’t necessarily the same in the United States, and vice versa. This applies both to economic aspects and to monetary policy. Regarding the economy, after the pandemic, Europe launched significant funding programs across various sectors, touching multiple aspects of the economy. A large portion of this plan focuses on the green and digital transitions, aiming to create a more sustainable, zero-emission economy. Moreover, this dual transition is expected to promote the development of cutting-edge technologies, particularly in the field of zero-emission energy production. All of this should enhance the European Union’s competitiveness in relation to major economic powers.
The issue of the environment and the green transition has been a critical topic in Europe in recent years. This involves not only economic policy and the promotion of specific programs but also monetary policy. In fact, unlike the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank has launched a review of some of its monetary policy programs with the goal of accelerating the reduction of emissions and promoting the transition to a greener economy.
I believe these economic and monetary policy aspects—topics at the core of my research interests—could be of interest to an American student who is unfamiliar with the European Union but wants to start understanding the direction it has taken.
What is your next professional goal that you will work toward when your time at IU is complete?
When my visiting period at IU comes to an end, I will continue working on both existing and future research projects, with the goal of pursuing an academic career within the university. I am confident that this valuable international experience at IU will be of great benefit to my future career.
Welcome Back to EURO!
As the fall semester approaches, we would like to introduce our department to new students (welcome!) and remind current students and the wider academic community about our mission and the resources that we offer.
EURO on Campus
EURO is located in the Global and International Studies building (GISB) with IU’s other internationally recognized Area Studies Centers. This means that we are always at the center of the action for all global programming on campus!
Throughout the academic year, EURO hosts a variety of programs centering on European topics of interest. Past events have included European film screenings, discussions led by visiting lecturers and topic experts, and book talks with current EURO professors. These events are always free and usually held within GISB, making it convenient for students and HLS faculty to attend. These events are advertised on our website, email lists, and social media! Reach out to us at euroinst@iu.edu if you’d like to be added to our events list. Otherwise, check us out on our events webpage, Instagram, Facebook, or X!
The most exciting EURO-hosted event each year is certainly the Midwest Model European Union. This three-day event is one of the few simulations of the European Union taking place in North America each year. This academic year, MMEU is set to take place on 4, 5, and 6 April 2025.
Study Europe and the European Union
The Institute for European Studies offers a minor in European Studies to both undergraduate and graduate students. This is a flexible degree that can be adapted to almost any plan of study. One of our affiliated faculty, Elizabeth Cullen Dunn, may have said it best when she stated that “there has not been a more interesting time to be a Europeanist in 30 years.” The value of learning about Europe and the EU becomes more apparent with each news cycle. The European Union and the US continue to work bilaterally on key issues including providing aid to Ukraine, managing trade and the power of Silicon Valley tech giants, and protecting democracy.
Adding a European Studies minor to your degree could be a valuable investment, no matter what career you have in mind.
Our MA in European Studies
A degree in European Studies was certainly the right choice for graduate MA students Jack Rosswurm and Sara Couch. As a recipient of a Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship, Jack was able to gain proficiency in Estonian Language and is continuing his graduate studies within the Second Language Studies department.
Sara worked as a graduate assistant to the EURO department throughout her graduate program and received a paid internship at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington, D.C. in 2023. It was there that she was inspired to further study the EU and US approaches to regulating artificial intelligence.
EURO is proud to have an alumnus of our MA program teaching comparative and international policy and organizational management at Indiana University. Sean William Long graduated from EURO (then called West European Studies) in 2004 and now serves as an adjunct lecturer at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Professor Long completed 25 years of active duty service as an officer in the United States Army and served as an Army foreign affairs specialist, working for organizations such as the Defense Intelligence Agency and at U.S. embassies in Paris, France and Belgrade, Serbia. Prof. Long has lived and worked in five different countries promoting U.S. national security, defense cooperation, and diplomacy.
When asked about his time in the EURO program, Prof. Long said:
“I had a great experience earning my MA with European Studies. The diversity of courses available to me from top schools at IU allowed me to tailor the program to what I wanted. Moreover, what I learned proved very valuable during my career as a US Army Foreign Area Officer focused on the European region. I often referred back to what I had learned while serving in various international security and defense positions in Europe and Washington, DC.”
No matter if your goals include working for the government, learning a European language, or studying European history, a EURO degree can be a valuable asset to your existing program or as a standalone MA degree.
For K-12 Educators and Professors of European Studies
EURO believes in the importance of bringing Europe into the classroom, whether in grade school or at the post-secondary level. That is why we collaborate with K-12 instructors on numerous initiatives every year providing classroom lesson plans, attending conferences for foreign language instructors, and creating kid-friendly activities to introduce young people in our community to Europe.
EURO also has a European film collection with over 700 titles available to lend to instructors. Check it out!
Reach Out!
We can help connect you with ways to fund your EURO education. Please take a look at our graduate and undergraduate program pages on our website or reach out for more information.
However you plan to integrate European studies into your education, EURO is here for you. Please feel free to connect with us on campus or send us an email any time at euroinst@iu.edu.
We wish you a wonderful start to your academic year.
EURO Alumni Spotlight: Jack Rosswurm
The Institute for European Studies is proud of our recent MA graduate Jack Rosswurm, who successfully defended his thesis titled “Changing Circumstances: Why the European Union’s Accession Process no Longer Fits the Political Moment” in May. Jack is continuing his graduate studies this fall in the department of Second Language Studies, for which he has been awarded a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship for Estonian language. Jack shares EURO’s dedication to promoting scholarship of Europe, the European Union, and lesser-known European languages here in the US, and his presence will be missed in our office.
Jack is a great example of the versatility of the EURO MA degree. He says that he was drawn to the program because he wanted to gain a deeper understanding of a second language while also having the ability to explore the culture and wider political matters that inform it. For this reason, he balanced courses like “The Politics of the European Union” with Dr. Justyna Zając alongside Estonian language with Dr. Piibi-Kai Kivik and Baltic History with Dr. Toivo Raun.
Jack is a dedicated scholar of second languages, particularly Estonian, for which he has received numerous honors and awards. “IU is the only school in the United States to regularly offer three years of Estonian language instruction,” says Jack, “and one of only two schools in the US that offers any instruction in the language”. Jack received three FLAS fellowships to study Estonian language in his time at EURO and also received an Alo Raun Award for Excellence in Estonian Studies in the fall 2023 semester.
Jack received the prestigious Hamilton Lugar School Dean’s Scholarship in the summer 2023 semester, which helped to support him while he completed an internship with the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC). In the summer 2024 semester, Jack also received a Title VIII award to study Hungarian language and culture.
Jack was heavily involved with the Baltic and Finnish Students Association (BaFSA) while a EURO MA student. He says that a highlight of his time with the club was helping to plan and host the Estonian Independence Day Celebration on February 22, 2024. Jack was involved in every detail of the event, working with Dr. Piibi-Kai Kivik to outline the itinerary, emailing other departments to secure donations for the food and materials, and working with staff at EURO to design a flyer advertising the evening. The event was attended by many members of the local Estonian community, and featured Estonian trivia, cuisine, and traditional music sung by the IU Slavic Choir. Estonian Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Kristjan Prikk, addressed attendees to kick off the celebration.
Looking ahead, Jack sees himself applying his skill set to work at a think tank or in a role within the federal government. “After completing my MA in European Studies, I am excited to continue learning Estonian and gaining a deeper understanding of the Baltic region,” says Jack.
We wish Jack great luck in the Second Language Studies Department!
EURO to Host Book Launch for Professor Michael De Groot’s “Disruption”
The Institute for European Studies is excited to host the book launch for Professor Michael De Groot’s new work Disruption: The Global Economic Shocks of the 1970s and the end of the Cold War. We hope that you will consider joining us on March 26, 2024, from 12-1 PM in HLS room 4067.
In Disruption, De Groot argues that the “the global economic upheaval of the 1970s was decisive in ending the Cold War”, With the disappearance of postwar conditions during the 1970s, Washington and Moscow were forced to make a decision: promote their own economic interests, or support their partners in Europe and Asia. You can read more about the book and place an order for it on the publisher’s page.
Professor De Groot is presently an assistant professor in the International Studies department of the Hamilton Lugar School. He is teaching two courses this semester: “The End of the Cold War and the World It Made”, exploring the end of the Cold War and its legacy and “Oil and Power in Global Affairs”, which examines how changes in the political economy of oil impact producer and consumer countries.
The book launch will be an engaging session where Professor De Groot will share insights about his book and answer queries during a Q&A session. Coffee and cake will be served.
Professor Jan-Werner Müller to Discuss Far-Right Populism in Europe at HLS March 21
Professor Jan-Werner Müller of Princeton University will discuss far-right populism in Europe on March 21 at 5 PM in Shreve Auditorium. This subject matter is particularly pertinent given the upcoming European Parliament elections taking place in June. Will the populist far-right triumph? What are the underlying political dynamics at play? Dr. Müller will address these questions and more during his comprehensive talk.
In addition to shedding light on the contemporary political landscape, Professor Müller will put these developments into a historical context. He will also evaluate the various strategies that have been proposed to push back against the rise of the populist far right. This is an opportunity that students and faculty will appreciate if they are keen on understanding the complex interplay of politics in Europe -and the world- today.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from an esteemed figure in the field of politics and social sciences. We look forward to seeing you at Shreve Auditorium for this timely discussion.
About the Speaker
Jan-Werner Müller is Roger Williams Straus Professor of Social Sciences and Professor of Politics at Princeton University, where he also serves as the Founding Director of the Forum for the History of Political Thought. He is the author of Contesting Democracy: Political Ideas in Twentieth-Century Europe (2011), What is Populism? (2016), and Democracy Rules (2021), among others. His public affairs commentary and essays have appeared in the London Review of Books, the New York Review of Books, Foreign Affairs, The Guardian, The New York Times, and Project Syndicate.
In Today’s Classroom, Students Need a Window to the World
I am a graduate student in European Studies at Indiana University. But if not for the inspiration I found in one high school French class, I likely wouldn’t be here. As foreign language and culture offerings in K-12 education seem to move from the back burner to the fridge, I worry about the dwindling opportunities for other young students to find their own moments of inspiration and wonder.
At my rural high school, there were only three other students in my French course. We had great fun choosing French nicknames (I was Hélène), translating Le Petit Prince, and gazing over the glossy photos of francophone cafes and beaches in our textbook. We felt quite sophisticated sampling Perrier for the first time, munching on French cookies and baguettes with real European butter that Madame Nowling kindly brought for us.
Those bites of baguette dropped crumbs of hope into my heart; I wondered if I might one day go to Europe. It didn’t seem so out of reach to Mme. Nowling, who spoke to us with a sense of expectation and confidence that we would travel and continue to study the language. She framed lessons around how we might use our knowledge abroad, saying “Now, when you go to France…” before diving into vocabulary or verb tenses.
As foreign language and cultural offerings in schools become increasingly rare, I worry about the possibilities that young students will have to be inspired. Indiana’s new high school graduation pathways require foreign language coursework only for those seeking honors diplomas. That is, if language classes are offered at all. A statewide teacher shortage has forced some districts like New Palestine High School to only offer French language coursework virtually. No baguettes for you! How inspiring it must be after years of COVID e-learning to stare at a screen, learning to conjugate, without an instructor to correct your pronunciation of “le désert”.
And speaking of deserts, the desertion of foreign language offerings by authorities and institutions is just one reason why programs like Indiana University’s “Windows to the World” are so critical. The Windows to the World (W2W) project began as an online resource connecting rural Indiana K-12 educators with IU’s museum collections and archives. Completely free of charge, teachers can have access to digital renderings from IU’S collections of artifacts from around the world as well as educational materials developed by area studies specialists and curriculum experts. Since W2W doesn’t focus on just one language or culture, instructors can incorporate W2W’s teaching tools in a variety of ways. It’s up to the teacher whether to build an entire learning experience around a W2W activity or adapt it to supplement an existing lesson plan.
A cohort of eleven Indiana educators inaugurated the first series of W2W training workshops and have shared international content from the website with over 700 students across the state. The number of students positively impacted will only continue to increase thanks to a recent grant which made redesigning the W2W website possible. The site is now much more user-friendly and content is being consistently designed, uploaded, and updated.
Learning resources vary widely based on subject matter and intended student age group, but the goal is to make the content as engaging and thought-provoking as possible. It’s the sort of stuff that I would have loved to have access to when I was in school. Even now, I find myself inspired by the content that the W2W team is developing.
Sarah Hensler displays the Korean Hanbok paper doll clothing and accessories she is developing.
W2W Project Manager Sarah Hensler shared paper doll designs that she is developing as a lesson supplement with me, describing how the clothing will complement a lesson about Korean culture. The pint-size attire is representative of actual Hanbok, traditional Korean clothing. I told her that I was quite jealous of the students who would one day get their hands on these learning materials-what a cool lesson!
Access to such neat educational materials can have great learning outcomes on students, particularly in their most impressionable years. Particularly when, like me, they attend rural school systems where there isn’t much support for instructors who want to provide fun, out-of-the-box activities. Years (and I’m happy to report, several trips to Europe) later, I can only emphasize the educational impact those fun lessons in the classroom had on my life and academic trajectory. I truly believe it only takes one moment of inspiration to see new opportunities for yourself that you didn’t quite imagine before.