Modern & Classical Languages
Hoyt Hall 126
Dept. 3603
1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-4176
Fax: 307-766-2727
Email: languages@uwyo.edu
The Romans
The Greeks
CHINA: "Walk among the Terracotta Army at Home"
The Terracotta Army was buried with the first Qin Dynasty emperor more than 2,200 years ago. It is the eighth wonder of the world and a UNESCO world heritage site. “Walk” among the Terracotta Army to explore China’s rich history and discover the mysterious story behind the soldiers. Presentation conducted in English. Session hosted by Yan Zhang, UW Senior Lecturer in Chinese.
"Novruz, the Spring Fest, in Azerbaijan"
Presentation on the celebration of Novruz, the Spring Fest, in Azerbaijan and a brief description about Azerbaijan, Baku, and its landmarks. Presentation will be conducted in English. Session hosted by Dilbar Mehdi UW Student in Physiology.
"Words of the Ancestors"
Come watch an amazing presentation on how various cultures built community through oral stories around the stars and sky. Presentation will be conducted in English. Session hosted by Max Gilbraith, UW Planetarium Coordinator.
German-Speaking Countries: "Old German Cursive Writing"
All old handwritten German documents from the 18th to the early 20th centuries are written in a style of handwriting that even modern Germans have trouble reading today. Mark Person will guide you through an introduction to reading this old script, and even trying your hand at writing it. Handouts available in packet. Presentation will be conducted in English. Session hosted by Mark Person, UW Senior Lecturer in German.
"The World and their Mother Tongues"
The world is a vast and fascinating place and with the vast number of languages available to learn, speak, read, and write, however what about where they come from and what languages are similar? Well, we can talk and see this in everyday language. This session will look at the similarities and differences of languages in regions of the world and what else you can learn by understanding your chosen language. Presentation will be conducted in English. Session hosted Thomas Talley, UW Student in German.
"A Look at Scandinavian Languages"
We will look at the story "Stand still, Stay Silent" by Finnish author and artist Minna Sundberg and talk about the similarities and differences in the Scandinavian Languages and why these similarities and differences are important to understand and how to bridge them. Presentation will be conducted in English. Session hosted Thomas Talley, UW Student in German.
The Romans
The Greeks
Turkey and Azerbaijan
The Romans
More Romans
The Greeks
Discover Francophone Countries here!
Azerbaijani
"Sevda T" - The YouTube channel that teaches Azerbaijani
The Romans
The Greeks
Blood Wedding
Azerbaijan
Trigger warning: Ancient Greeks and Ancient Romans often lived short and violent lives. These videos do not occlude the psychological and physical violence that children and adults, both free and enslaved, experienced.
The Romans
The Greeks
Francophone Countries
Discover the region of Brittany, a place of legends, myths, and thrilling history.
Azerbaijan
Introduction to Azeri:
GAMES
Martinstag Laterne basteln – St. Martin’s Day Make a Lantern
Lantern directions in German and English
Lantern instructional video (English)
Laterneanleitungsvideo (Deutsch)
Diego Rivera's Pan American Unity Mural Scavenger Hunt
Look at Diego Rivera's amazing mural and find answers for the crossword.
Karaoke songs with lyrics in Chinese, French, German, and Spanish.
Making an Alebrije
A small turtle alebrije made of newspaper and painted in bright colors. Supplies needed: newspaper, clear tape, masking tape, glue (Elmers), paint (acrylic), paintbrush, scissors.
Kahoot Cognate Game
Hu's Ready for the Year of the Tiger!
Create an advertising poster for McDonald’s in a different language using different examples from other countries, and vote for the best poster to win! Explore the ways that cultures use their languages to create advertising effectively, and how languages can be manipulated to emphasize certain elements of advertising.
Papel Picado
Students will learn how to cut out a pattern on colored tissue paper, known as papel picado. They will also learn how papel picado is used in Mexico to celebrate Día de los Muertos as well as other holidays. Supplies needed: multicolored tissue paper, scissors, tape, string.
Karaoke songs with lyrics in Chinese, French, German, and Spanish
GAMES
A fun game about world languages! The Kahoot is in English and has 60 questions.
Wortwörtliche Redewendungen – Literal Idioms
These printable files contain 144 pairs of cards. The goal is to match the image cards with the literal representation of an idiom to is figurative meaning text card. There are two versions: An all-German version and a second version with English translations.
Animal Sounds in Different Languages
UW Student Volunteers, Juana and Anna, give a fun presentation on animal sounds in different languages. At the end, we test our knowledge with this Animal Sounds Kahoot. Video length: 7:14. Kahoot: 10 questions.
Think Like a Roman Kahoot
This Roman Kahoot requires no previous knowledge of Roman culture or Latin. It works with English derivatives and personal experiences to ask students to think like a Roman.
Song Bingo
French bingo or Spanish bingo. It's a bingo game based on song lyrics. Any language level can play. Each language has three songs with corresponding bingo cards.
Idioms in Different Languages
UW Student Volunteer, Shannon, leads a Kahoot game about idioms in different languages and explains the meanings behind some of the idioms. Play the game first and then watch the video. Kahoot: 10 questions. Video length: 16:29.
Hispanic Kahoot
This Hispanic kahoot has several cultural questions: facts about the Spanish language, cities and places, famous people, etc. 23 Questions.
Les Loups-Garous (Werewolf)
Conversation Based Fantasy Game for French or Spanish. Similar to the games Among Us and Mafia, Werewolf is a murder mystery game with various assigned roles meant to encourage conversation in the target language. Vocabulary has been provided both for French and Spanish. Students must have learned past tense to play well.
You will need:
Instructions can be watched in video. Length: 6:45
Cards for either language.
Test your knowledge of Chinese Zodiac Characters. If you want to learn about them first, go to "Countries and Cultures" and check out the video on China. To play this game, your avatar must jump into the English words that correspond to the Chinese character.
German-Speaking Cities and Countries
Test your knowledge of German speaking cities and countries with the German Kahoot in English. 37 Questions
German Mad Lib
A brief German mad lib about making Pizza. This can work as a paired or group activity – or in the whole class. Students come up with words for each of the required categories. Insert chosen words and enjoy the silly text.
French Culture Quiz
This French culture kahoot has several cultural questions: facts about the French language, cities and places, famous people, etc. 25 questions
Multi-Language Bingo
Bingo game with song lyrics. Cards for a song in French, in Spanish, in Italian, and in Russian.
COUNTRIES AND CULTURES
Belgium
Presentation in English about Belgium. This video requires no previous knowledge of French. Memory cards game (match pictures) - included in video. Length: 12m
China
In the workshop, Zoe will show her video on making dumplings; then, Mary will teach how to make paper dumplings; lastly, Lekili will teach how to write dumplings in Chinese. Language: English. Length: 13:50
Wrapping of 2020 with Chinese Dumplings
UW Chinese Program Brings You Endless Possibilities
Yan Zhang and her students lead us through several presentations and games about Chinese culture. Here are the time stamps for each:
00:00:00-00:20:07: UW Student Sara talks about her study abroad experience in China.
00:20:07-00:33:17: UW Student Kailee leads us through a Kahoot about Chinese culture.
00:33-17-01:02:50: UW Student Paolina shows us the history behind several Chinese zodiac characters.
Denmark
Fun with Difficult Danish
Curious about Danish? Learn about one of the hardest European languages and then test your ability to guess the right vowel sound. Length: 15:55.
Germany
Gothic Lord's Prayer
Now is your chance to read and understand a text written in the Gothic language of the fourth century! This text is seventeen centuries old, but University of Wyoming Senior Lecturer Mark Person will walk you through it, helping you to see clear connections between the old Gothic tongue and the English and German languages of today. Length: 22:00
Greece
Η 11χρονη αρχαία Αθηναία Μύρτις στην παγκόσμια μάχη κατά του κορωνοϊού (The 11-year-old ancient Athena Myrtis in the global battle against the coronavirus)
This United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe video is in Modern Greek with English captions. It enlists the help of an eleven-year-old Athenian girl who died in her people's great epidemic to help the living combat our pandemic. Language: Modern Greek with English subtitles. Length: 1:45
Learn more about Myrtis here, whose face was reconstructed from her skull, after she was discovered in a mass grave for plague victims.
Raramuri
With this cultural activity, learn about the Raramuri in a video (6:17) and reflect on indigenous populations and running with pre-watching and post-watching questions. Lorena Ramírez, a Raramuri Indigenous runner
Roman Culture
Horrible Histories Crimewatch BC
This video presents facts about ancient Roman culture in a fun and humorous way and requires no previous knowledge of Roman culture or Latin. Length: 2:45
Trigger warning: Roman culture was violent. These videos use humor to teach about aggressive human behavior to younger viewers. Teachers may wish to embed these videos in discussions about mental illness, theories about divine right to rule, political dissent, civil war, women's positions in patriarchies, or whose opinions matter in civic discourse.
Horrible Histories - Rotten Romans: Crazy Caligula
This video presents facts about ancient Roman culture in a fun and humorous way and requires no previous knowledge of Roman culture or Latin. Length: 2:37
Trigger warning: Roman culture was violent. These videos use humor to teach about aggressive human behavior to younger viewers. Teachers may wish to embed these videos in discussions about mental illness, theories about divine right to rule, political dissent, civil war, women's positions in patriarchies, or whose opinions matter in civic discourse.
Roman culture and Latin: This quiz assumes some previous exposure to Roman numerals. Play up to 10 levels.
Russia
Russian Folk Tale: Sister Alyenushka and Brother Ivanushka
Hear the Russian folk tale of Sister Alyenushka and Brother Ivanushka retold in English by a UW student volunteer. Length: 05:42
MCL INFORMATION
Japanese Studies at UW
A short overview of the Japanese Studies program at UW. Language: English. Length: 2:28.
Language Placement and Credit by Exam at UW
Learn all about language placement and earning credit for language skills when coming to study at UW. Length: 15:05
MEET AN MCL ALUM
Spanish alum, Jessica Ramírez. Length: 4:09
German alum Emily Wood! Length: 1:20
Spanish alum, Olivia Womack! Length 3:22
Spanish alum, Tim Eardly! Length 3:22
STUDY ABROAD
This is a general summary of the University of Wyoming's various study abroad programs, with information about types of programs, scholarships, and locations with emphasis on studying abroad for language-learning purposes. This video is for students who are in grades 9-12.
Straßburg Study Abroad
Listen to a UW student, Colorado French, talk about his study abroad experiences at UW. Length 17:54
Study Abroad - For Juniors and Seniors
This is a more in-depth summary of the University of Wyoming's Education Abroad program. This video contains information that seniors and juniors who are planning to come to UW may need if they intend to study abroad during their time as undergraduates. The video has more detailed information about the different types of programs, scholarships, locations, and opportunities. This content is suggested for grades 11 & 12, though younger students can watch it if they wish as well. Length 16:20
The Skies and Stars
Native American Star Knowledge
The Language of Space in Europe
This year's program was made possible with the generous support of these donors.
Modern & Classical Languages
Hoyt Hall 126
Dept. 3603
1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-4176
Fax: 307-766-2727
Email: languages@uwyo.edu