Ethan Woldenberg, a student of SUNY Oswego's Modern Language Department, had an extraordinary and unforgettable semester abroad in Mexico at UDLAP, near Puebla. He chose to take classes with native Mexican students, which challenged him to communicate exclusively in Spanish. Despite the difficulties, he formed lasting friendships, engaged in community service, and explored various Mexican states, gaining a new perspective on the country's beauty.
Ethan's Spanish skills significantly improved during his semester abroad, allowing him to speak with a natural accent effortlessly.
His Spanish education at SUNY Oswego, particularly the "Making Madrid" course, was excellent, enhancing his academic Spanish and preparing him well for his studies in Mexico.
Leilhana Abu-Sbaih, a student in SUNY Oswego’s Modern Language Department, recently designed and successfully presented a poster titled “Abundance and Allusions: Cuba in Espejo” at the Fall Scholarly and Creative Activities Poster Symposium at SUNY Oswego. “Abundance and Allusions” is the result of Leilhana’s excellent scholarly and creative work in the “The Caribbean in Colonial Times” course during Spring of 2023. Her piece analyzes the Greco-Roman allusions in the influential epic poem Espejo de Paciencia (1608) by Spanish author Silvestre de Balboa, written in Cuba. According to Leilhana, “Presenting the findings of my research was a tremendously meaningful opportunity to showcase my passion for Caribbean Studies! The poster served as a valuable platform for showcasing the foundation of my synthesis and forging unique connections across disciplines, as students and faculty from across SUNY Oswego’s dynamic community engaged in insightful dialogue.”
Madi Bernhardt, a SUNY Oswego student majoring in Spanish and Adolescent Education, was accepted to present a conference paper at the Middle Atlantic Council of Latin American Studies (MACLAS) at Colgate University on March 15, 2024. Madi has worked with Professor Gonzalo Aguiar Malosetti throughout the semester to pursue independent study research based on the literary work of Uruguayan author Fernanda Trías. She has focused her research on exploring the eerie, dystopian landscapes in Trías’s La azotea and Mugre rosa, a couple of novels that reflect on contemporary reconfigurations of family bonding and the loss of meaningful human interactions in today’s society. Madi has studied and analyzed these texts as well as other resources and will have the incredible opportunity to present her final paper at the MACLAS conference in March.