Festival of World Languages brings global culture to northeast Louisiana on April 9

The Festival of World Languages is scheduled from 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 9. The festival will be held at ULM's Student Union Building with the theme: "Bridging the Gap."

Sarah Donohue, a bilingual attorney from Lafayette, will address the group on the necessity of learning languages for a variety of careers, according to ULM Department of Foreign Languages Head Ruth Smith.

ULM graduate and Richwood Spanish teacher Michael Holdiness will start the day's festivities off with a demonstration of Latin American percussion instruments.

Students will then divide into smaller groups and be directed to a variety of linguistic and cultural presentations offered by ULM faculty from foreign languages, English, history,and biology.

Each student will also have a dance lesson, either in the salsa or Cajun dances, before returning to the ballroom for lunch and the program, according to Smith.

College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Jeffrey Cass will also make a presentation on the Spanish spoken in Texas along the border with Mexico.

ULM Biology Instructor Marlena Koper and ULM Alum Lauren Courtman will perform traditional and modern belly dancing and the day will culminate with a quiz bowl competition based on the poster and display exhibits provided by participants, followed by an awards ceremony and door prizes.

Nine schools, including West Ouachita, West Monroe, Ouachita Christian, River Oaks, Neville, Many High School, Bastrop, Neville, and Ruston High School will participate, along with representatives from Grambling State University.