European Languages Alumni Chapter
Chapter Launch
The launch of La Trobe University’s European Languages Alumni Chapter was held on 30 July at Belucci’s function centre in South Melbourne to a warm reception. Alongside a captivating Flamenco dance performance from La Luna, El Sol Y La Terra, staff members treated invited Alumni members, whose time spanned over the last 25 years, to reminiscent stories from the programs’ past and how this has transformed to present day.
Dr Lilit Thwaites (Spanish program coordinator til 2006), enticed the crowd with past memories of the inception of the Spanish studies program at La Trobe University followed by speeches from current program coordinators (Dr AnaMaria Ducasse – Spanish studies program, Dr Nicole Prunster – Italian studies program and Dr Despina Michael – Greek/European studies program) who touched on present day activities involving honours/postgraduate programs, international exchange and scholarships.
Throughout the night Karl Brown, Alumni Relations Officer from the Alumni and Advancement Office, enjoyed meeting the alumni who attended and talked to the group about the benefits of the chapter – which will provide focussed events and activities for European Languages alumni, and encouraged alumni involvement as the chapter grows and develops.
Overall, the night was casual and social, with food, drink music and great conversation. Alumni representing many years of graduating classes and all European languages taught at La Trobe were in attendance.
Follow-up events will be announced in due course. The Alumni and Advancement Office and the School of Historical and European Studies look forward to meeting more alumni at these events European Languages alumni are encouraged to get in touch with feedback and to find out more about ways in which to get involved with the chapter.
European Studies Seminar Series - Semester 2, 2010
Week 1
SPANISH SEMINAR: TUESDAY 27th JULY, 12-1pm HuEd Lecture Theatre
NAJAT EL HACHMI
“Writing from the Borderland.”
Catalan writer, of Moroccan background, author of Jo també sóc catalana [I too am Catalan, 2004], and L'últim patriarca [The Last Patriarch, recently translated into English]. 2008 winner of the Premio Ramon Llull,
the most prestigious award in Catalan letters. Najat el Hachmi will speak in English.
Week 2
SPANISH SEMINAR: THURSDAY 5th AUGUST, 1-2 pm (Undercroft Lecture Theatre)
JOSÉ OVEJERO:
“European Identity: Between Politics and Fiction.”
Spanish novelist, poet and travel writer. He has been awarded the „Ciudad de Irún' prize for his poetry book Biografía del explorador, the 'Grandes Viajeros' prize for China para hipondríacos and the 'Primavera' prize
for his novel Las vidas ajenas. José Ovejero will speak in English (but we are hoping to organise also a seminar in Spanish, the day before).
Week 3
ITALIAN SEMINAR: MONDAY 9th AUGUST 4PM-5.30PM in HU3, 234
BRIGID MAHER: 'Translation and Genre Fiction in the Italian Context: The Case of Nicoletta Vallorani.'
GIANLUCA CAPUTO: TBA
Week 5
GREEK SEMINAR: MONDAY 23rd AUGUST 4PM-5.30PM in HU3, 234
CHRIS MACKIE: 'Iliad Book 24 and the Judgement of Paris'
Week 7
SPANISH SEMINAR: THURSDAY 9th SEPTEMBER, 1-2pm (Undercroft Lecture Theatre)
GUILLERMO ALTARES
“Media and the Arts in Spain: the role of weekly cultural supplements.”
Guillermo Altares has until recently been the editor of “Babelia”, the high-profile weekly cultural supplement
of Spain's major daily El País. He will give an invaluable insight into the role that such supplements play in
promoting, defining, exposing and criticising the arts – and its exponents – in Spanish society today. In
English.
Week 8
POSTGRADUATE SEMINAR (hours to be confirmed) FRIDAY 17th SEPTEMBER: HU3, 234
GILLIAN DARCY (SP): 'An identity marked by linguistic conflict: the case of Valencia, Spain.'
ANNIE FERGUSSON (SP) 'El conquistador conquistado; con perspectivas subversivas en Cabeza de
Vaca.'
LUIGI GUSSAGO (IT): 'It‟s a picaresque journey: from Spain to…?'
LAURA LORI (IT)
Week 9
FRENCH and PORTUGUESE SEMINAR: MONDAY 20th SEPTEMBER: 4PM-5.30PM in HU3, 234
RAPHAËL TRANTOUL, 'Constraining chance in Georges Perec‟s La Vie mode d’emploi'
ISABEL MOUTINHO: 'The Year of the Death of José Saramago: a Nobel-prize winner's views on Europe.'
[SEMESTER BREAK]
Week 10
SPANISH SEMINAR (in Spanish): TUESDAY 12h OCTOBER, 1-2pm (Hu2, 431 to be confirmed)
(But if there is much interest we may ask him also to give a talk in English)
MIGUEL VALIENTE
Ex La Trobe Spanish lecturer, and SBS correspondent:
“Panorámica socio-política de la España actual”.