Members of KHAOS, UMSL’s student K-pop dance group, perform on stage in the Blanche M. Touhill Performance Arts Center on Friday during World Languages Day. More than 700 high school students from across the St. Louis region attended the event. (Photos by Derik Holtmann)
When Jesse Barnard stepped into the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on Friday, she was flooded with fond memories.
Barnard graduated from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in French and returned to earn a bachelor’s degree in education in 2020. This time, Barnard came back to take part in UMSL’s World Languages Day celebration as a French teacher at STEAM Academy at McCluer South-Berkeley. She brought 12 French students to the annual event, but the school’s Spanish program brought an additional 50 students.
“Bringing my students here, I see the gears turning when they’re here, meeting people, talking to teachers, seeing that language can actually be something that’s a career,” she said. “I think today really provides them an opportunity to see that’s possible.”
Criminology and criminal justice major Emma Gudgel teaches simple phrases and answers questions using American Sign Language as part of World Languages Day at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
Fellow UMSL alumni Caitlin Crain and Amy Roznos had similar experiences returning to campus for the event. Crain and Roznos teach Spanish and French, respectively, at Francis Howell Central High School. It was the first time in four years they were able to bring students to World Languages Day, but Crain said it felt like coming home, especially as she ran into her former professors throughout the day.
“Coming back, it makes me feel proud bringing students here and to be able to say, ‘I went here, and it’s great,’” Roznos said. “I was really talking it up when I was getting the field trip forms, ‘You should definitely go because UMSL’s such a great place.’”
The Department of Language and Cultural Studies organized the event for the sixth year in a row, with more than 700 high school students from across the St. Louis region participating in the festivities. That represented a 200-person uptick from last year.
Sandra Trapani, teaching professor of French and chair of the Department of Language and Cultural Studies, said World Languages Day gets high school students thinking about the next step of their language study and how they might use language skills in their future careers.
“It’s part community engagement and part recruitment because some of the kids never would have a chance otherwise to come to campus,” Trapani said. “We know from past years that if we get them here, if they get to see a little bit about the programs, get to see the campus, there’s a better chance that they will consider UMSL as an option.”
The day kicked off with an opening ceremony in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall. Three UMSL students spoke about their experiences in the French, Japanese and Spanish programs, and afterward, attendees were treated to a performance by KHAOS, UMSL’s student K-pop dance group. Following the performance, Trapani set the high schoolers loose on campus.
Modern Language major Claire Neske greets high school students in French during World Languages Day activities held Friday in the lobby of the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
Some students took part in a scavenger hunt in their target language that encouraged them to explore campus. Meanwhile, others stopped to chat with representatives from the College of Arts and Sciences, the International Business Program, Pierre Laclede Honors College and UMSL Global. However, the day’s biggest attractions were the numerous game and activity tables set up throughout the Touhill lobby.
A particularly popular game was Janken Pon, a Japanese version of Rock Paper Scissors with a fun twist. UMSL volunteers played with the students, challenging them in the childhood game. But, whoever won grabbed a toy hammer to bonk their opponent on the head. The losers scrambled to grab a bowl to protect themselves. Chuckie Feldman, a second-year Japanese major, was overseeing the chaotic game.
“People have been very receptive to it,” Feldman said. “What I’ve noticed is that in the first round, they’re really nervous about the hammer. The second round on, they are in it. They love it.”
This is the second year that Feldman has volunteered at World Languages Day. He said there wasn’t a strong emphasis on foreign language in his high school, but the Japanese program hooked him when came to UMSL. He’s continued to volunteer to pay it forward and inspire high school students to continue to study a foreign language.
“Even though these are games, you still get to learn about the culture,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun, so you’re going to positively remember it.”
Barnard, Crain and Roznos all had similarly positive experiences at UMSL. Barnard enjoyed the small class sizes in the French program, while Crain felt an incredible sense of belonging. Roznos added that the university makes it easy for students not only to apply but to succeed when they get to campus. They hope the event might persuade at least a few of their students to follow in their footsteps.
“UMSL has great classes and great professors, so hopefully they see that,” Roznos said. “Also, I want them to see some of these UMSL students and be like, ‘Oh, they’re cool, and they’re studying French or studying Spanish. Maybe I could do that, too.’ They can see themselves in these students and continue their language study because that’s always my goal.”
It was an extraordinary day for those setting eyes on UMSL for the first time as well as familiar faces.
“I’m so happy to be back here,” Barnard said. “Big thanks to my professors, Madame White and Madame Trapani. They do a great job every year and did a great job teaching me. I love UMSL.”
