Westminster College Language in Motion Serves 1,300 Area Students

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College's Language in Motion (LIM) program reached more than 1,300 area students during its seventh year.

Language in Motion is an innovative outreach program that gives study-abroad returnees, international students, and upper-level language students the opportunity to create language and cultural activities for presentation in K-12 language, social studies, and other classes where culture can be studied.

This year's team of 16 Westminster students, led by Milagros Swerdlow, Spanish lecturer and coordinator of Language in Motion, gave 85 presentations at area schools this spring and hosted 115 high school language students for Intercultural Day, which focused on the issue of immigration around the globe. 

"Critical awareness of global issues is increasingly important in our world.  That starts with a basic understanding of other cultures, so it is important for high school, middle school, and elementary teachers to have their students exposed to innovative lessons on international subjects," Swerdlow said.

In areas schools, LIM team members gave presentations on the following topics: yoga and tea in India; graffiti art in Chile; climbing seven summits of the world; connecting with communities in the Dominican Republic; South Africa and freedom; exploring France through animal sounds and music; bullfighting in Spain; Andalucía; Costa Rican culture; Scottish culture; Irish culture; Peruvian culture; Brazilian literature and dance; and the Mayan society today.

"My students had wonderful opportunities to explore and discover a variety of cultures through the Language in Motion program. Sharing the similarities and differences among cultures provided my students with a better understanding of the world in which they live," said Dawn Marcantino, first grade teacher at New Wilmington Elementary School.

Westminster's Language in Motion program is sponsored by Westminster's Department of Modern Languages, Drinko Center for Experiential Learning, and the Heritage Chair of Humanities. 

Contact Swerdlow at (724) 946-7264 or email for additional information. 

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