Words Matter! Infusing International Relations with Foreign Language & Diplomacy

• In Event: Diversified Approaches to Simulations and Games in the Classroom II (Livestreamed)

Abstract

The goal of “Words Matter” supported by a $300,000 Federal Grant from the Department of Education, is the development of an interdisciplinary International Relations program with a foreign language component focusing on diplomatic language skills. The Objectives are threefold: a) Strengthen the IR/D Curriculum through New Course Development; b) Expand foreign language offerings at LIU to include language professionalization in the official languages of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish) and c) Provide enhanced qualifications (Training) in foreign languages and diplomatic fluency for faculty in IR and ten faculty across the college to infuse within non-language courses.

The Curricular approach includes a. Critical [UN official] language infusion (Symbolism, Etymology and Phraseology, and Communications theory), b. Building an interdisciplinary community of practice, and c. Training. In this paper and presentation, I will introduce the program and our first year of data,

Author

• Dalia Fikry Fahmy, Long Island University, Brooklyn