Category Archives: Faculty News

HISP Faculty Focus, October 2018: Professor E. Berenice Marquina Castillo

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Prof. Berenice Marquina Castillo

A graduate herself from the College of Charleston with an M.Ed. in Spanish, Professor Marquina Castillo has taught every course in the Basic Spanish Language Program since she joined the Department of Hispanic Studies in August 2009.  A native of Mexico, she also earned her undergraduate degree in Hispanic Language and Literature at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the same alma mater of renowned writers Carlos Fuentes, Octavio Paz and Elena Poniatowska, among others.  Besides sharing her first-hand cultural perspectives in the classroom, she has also bolstered her pedagogical skills through her participation in the College’s Professional Learning Club and her certification in Distance Education Readiness, which in turn has enabled her to teach online Spanish courses for the department.

Beyond the classroom, Professor Marquina Castillo has also served  the department and College in numerous capacities to include her role as a mentor for SPECTRA (Speedy Consolidation and Transition Program), member of the LCWA IT Advisory Group and Distance Education Committee, Co-Adviser of the Spanish Club, and a departmental mentor for new faculty, among other activities.

In her own words:

Being a part of the Hispanic Department has been a wonderful experience, I get to share my passion for the Spanish language with enthusiastic and inspiring students, and I am surrounded by talented and creative colleagues who constantly reinforce and fuel my interest in learning. I am fortunate to work with students as a mentor and advisor, but also, to learn and share knowledge with colleagues through committees and learning clubs.

The Department of Hispanic Studies congratulates Professor Marquina Castillo for her dedication to students, colleagues and programs at the College of Charleston, and for being selected for our October 2018 “Hispanic Studies Faculty Focus.”

Stay tuned for November 2018’s feature…

HISP Faculty Focus, August 2018: Dr. Silvia Rodríguez Sabater

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Dr. Silvia Rodríguez Sabater

Professor Rodríguez Sabater earned her Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics at Indiana University prior to starting her career in the College of Charleston’s Department of Hispanic Studies, where she is currently an Associate Professor.  Since joining the College’s faculty in 2000, she has taught at every level in the Spanish curriculum to include basic language through graduate courses for the M.Ed in Languages (Spanish) program, and she has taught for the Honors College.  In addition to her impressive teaching record and tireless dedication to students, she has an extensive and sustained record of successful leadership with curriculum management and development through her past roles as Basic Spanish Language Program Coordinator (2009-2011), Director of the M.Ed. in Languages Program (2015-2018), and her current assignment as Chair of the Hispanic Studies Distance Education Committee, which has been responsible for the department’s proactive response to the growing demands for online learning.

Of Dr. Rodríguez Sabater’s countless contributions at the College of Charleston during her 18 years to date, her initiative with curriculum development and pedagogical innovation has been especially noteworthy and impactful.  In 2015, for example, she co-founded the Hispanic Studies Teaching Discussion Series as a professional development platform for language teachers in the School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs, and she has distinguished herself as one of the department’s foremost experts on distance education.  As a pioneer of second language teaching, Professor Rodríguez Sabater’s ongoing work is leading us all through the ever-changing academic landscape of the 21st century.  In her own words:

I am an advocate for learning languages and cultures at all levels. I enjoy teaching because of the close connection I develop with students and faculty in Hispanic Studies and other disciplines. But what I love the most is the creative process of teaching! I enjoy reflecting on my teaching, developing new curriculum, helping students in the learning process, and creating realistic assessments. I also have a passion for adapting the use of new technologies to the learning of languages and cultures.  I am also particularly proud of my time as Director of the M.Ed. in Languages. I have been fortunate to serve this program and its students during a period of growth and achievement when we implemented several changes and initiatives such as the digital portfolios, the new online ESOL program, the expansion of the curriculum, and more efficient communication with students.

The Department of Hispanic Studies congratulates Dr. Silvia Rodríguez Sabater for being selected for our August 2018 “Hispanic Studies Faculty Focus.”  Stay tuned for September 2018’s feature…

Summer I ONLINE Course Opportunity! “The Role of the Quran in Contemporary Islam”

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Registration for Summer classes begins on March 10!

ARST 273 (CRN 30754) will be offered ONLINE by Dr. Ghazi Abuhakema during Summer I.

Course Description: In this course, ARST 273, The Role of the Qur’a and its Place in Contemporary Islam, students are introduced to some of the key ideas and themes of the Quran and its role as the ultimate source of authority for Muslims. The course also examines current, and, in some cases, controversial, issues, and explores how particular Qur’anic passages have been cited and interpreted with respect to these issues.

 

Chinese Professor Brings Ancient Flavor to Celebration of Charleston’s Super Moon

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Chinese Professor Brings Ancient Flavor to Celebration of Charleston’s Super Moon

When the next super moon brightens the sky September 9, 2014, you might find College of Charleston professor Lei Jin eating a moon cake to celebrate. That’s because the extra-large-looking moon is celebrated in Chinese culture with the Moon Festival.

RELATED: Read about the “super” full moon that rises September 9, 2014.

Jin has become a go-to expert on all aspects of Chinese culture in Charleston. As president of the Chinese Association of Greater Charleston, she’s organized a Moon Festival event on Saturday, September 6 at the Palmetto Island County Park in Mt. Pleasant.

“The Chinese Moon Festival is equivalent to the American Thanksgiving holiday,” says Jin, director of the college’s Asian Studies Program. “In China, it’s a national holiday.”

Like Thanksgiving, the Moon Festival focuses on food and family, moon cakes and large gatherings of relatives. The annual festival dates back more than 3,000 years to a time when people paid tribute to the moon, believing that would bring a better harvest.

RELATED: Take Chinese at the College of Charleston.

Originally from southwest China, Jin moved to the U.S. to study literature and fell in love with the Lowcountry.

Today, she teaches Chinese language, literature and cinema at the College and serves as a mentor for the Asian Students Association and Chinese Club. She also has plenty of non-Chinese students who want to learn about the ways of the most populous country in the world.

“We have more and more students majoring in international studies or international business,” says Jin. “They need to prepare themselves in terms of language and culture. China plays an important role in the world’s economy.”