As part of its Strategic Plan to increase awareness and interest in international cultures, through its recently established Global Education Program, Bluefield College is hosting a series of Spanish Tertulias on campus.
Designed to teach Spanish-speaking beginners the basics of the Spanish language and Spanish-speaking intermediates or experts how to further enhance their Spanish skills, the Tertulias are open to BC students, faculty, staff, and the community at-large.
“Everybody is welcome to come, whether you have spoken Spanish as a primary language your entire life or if you have never even attempted to speak Spanish before,” said Dr. Gerardo Cummings, BC’s associate professor of foreign languages, who is organizing the weekly events. “This is our way of opening up Bluefield College to the community.”
Bluefield College hired Dr. Cummings this past summer to direct its new Global Education Program, an initiative launched last fall through the college’s new Strategic Plan in order to help fulfill the BC mission to “prepare compassionate, globally minded students who impact the world.”
“My goal is to open the minds of Bluefield College students, staff, faculty, and the community at-large to the world around them,” said Dr. Cummings about his Global Education plans, like the Tertulias. “Knowledge makes you stronger. How will you affect change if you don’t know what is happening in the world?”
The Tertulias, Dr. Cummings said, will not only offer participants the opportunity to practice their Spanish-speaking skills, but also learn more about the Spanish culture and language. The Tertulias, he added, will bring together the campus community and the community at-large in conversation and discussion in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere.
“Tertulia is defined as a ‘social gathering of like minded individuals who share the same love for a language, literature, art, music or film,” said Dr. Cummings. “The Bluefield College Tertulias will offer an opportunity for anyone who would like to talk in Spanish in a non-classroom environment to sit down with fellow students, faculty or staff and get much needed practice.”