Dr. Nilsa Lasso-von Lang                                                                                                                   Foreign Languages, Moravian College,  1200 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018

 

Education

 

Ph.D. Spanish, University of Arizona, Tucson , Arizona, 1999

 

Major area of concentration: 19th and 20th Century Spanish American Literature

 

Minors: Pre-Columbian Epoch to Independence and Contemporary Peninsular Literature

 

Others:  Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition Theory and Literary Theory and Criticism

  

MA Spanish, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1994

Program concentration: Hispanic Literature, Studies of Language Acquisition and Foreign Language Pedagogy, Linguistics, Theatre, oral communication and interpretation. Research Paper:  “Women in the Ten Comedies of the Golden Age

 

BA Spanish, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1992

High Honors

 

University of Panama, 1985-1988

Area of concentration:  International Affairs (completed three years)

 

Teaching Experience

 

Assistant Professor of Spanish, Moravian College, 2002-Present

SPAN 394 - Linguistic Varieties/Language Contact and Changes in the Hispanic World.

SPAN 386 - Field Study: Business Spanish

SPAN 386 – Field Study: English/Second Language

SPAN 358 – Latin American Popular Culture and Tradition

SPAN 300 – Independent Study Courses: Latin American Literature

SPAN 248 – Latin American Contemporary Culture

SPAN 241 - Introduction to Literature of Spain and Latin America

SPAN 230 – Advanced Grammar and Composition

SPAN 155 - Reading and Culture.  Reading and response writing designed to develop proficiency at the intermediate level.  Aspects of culture including history, the arts, and literature.

SPAN 150 - Conversation and Contemporary Life.  Designed to develop oral proficiency at the intermediate level.

SPAN 110 - Introductory Spanish III. Design to achieve intermediate-low proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

SPAN 105 - Introductory Spanish II.  Design to achieve intermediate-low proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

SPAN 100 – Introductory Spanish I.  Design to achieve intermediate-low proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

WRIT 100 - Introduction to College Writing.  Topic: “Latino/a Literature in the USA”

Assistant Professor of Spanish, Southwest Missouri State University, 1999-2002:                                                         

SPAN 101 - Elementary Spanish I.  Essentials of grammar through oral practice, dictation, reading, writing.   Course conducted in Spanish as far as practicable.                                                                               

SPAN 102 - Elementary Spanish II.  Continuation of SPN 101.               

SPAN 101. 750 (telecourse) – Course Info Student Web Site (Blackboard).  It is innovative in adopting a comprehension-based approach for the teaching of Spanish.                                                                     

UHC 110 - Freshman Honors Seminar – an introduction to the Honors College and to the University’s academic life.                                      

LLT 180 - Language and Literature Teaching (General Education  Course)                                          

SPAN 210 - Spanish for Native Speakers.  Business and Professional Spanish/ Translation and interpretation

SPAN 297 -Spanish in the U.S.A.: Communication and Culture.  Including Business and Professional Spanish/Spanish and Technology.          

SPAN 312 - Business Spanish/Translation and Composition.  Review of Grammar with writing practice; emphasis on idioms

SPAN 315 – Business/Professional Spanish                                          

SPAN 326 - Civilization of Spanish America- a cultural development of Latin America - from Pre-Columbian civilizations to present day.        

SPAN 410 - Translation and Interpretation 

SPAN 457- Modern Spanish Essay and Poetry

SPAN 498 - Contemporary Central American Female Writers               

Graduate Associate Teacher, University of Arizona, 1994 –1999:

Spanish 201 and 202 designed to improve skills in the Spanish language and to explore the many facets of the Hispanic culture.

Spanish 251 Intermediate Spanish, combining all forms of language skills (speaking, reading, writing and comprehension) with intermediate grammar. 

Spanish 350 Readings on the Literary Genres

Adjunct Faculty, Pima Community College, 1996-1999:

Spanish 111 Elementary II

Spanish 210 Intermediate I

Spanish 211 Intermediate II

Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Northern Iowa, 1992- 1994:

Spanish 001 Elementary I

Spanish 002 Elementary II

Spanish 052 Intermediate Composition

Spanish 062 Intermediate Conversation

Teacher’s Aide and Spanish Tutor, University of Northern Iowa and Blackhawk County Elementary Schools, 1990-1992: As an undergraduate at the University of Northern Iowa, earned credits by teaching Spanish in a program called “Teaching Spanish at Elementary Schools” organized by the University and the County.  Earned credits by helping professors in classes, such as “Bilingual Practicum.”  Tutored some Spanish majors and minors.

Teacher’s Aide, Hawkeye Community College, 1990: Served as a Teacher’s Aide in a basic Spanish course for adults and received the Certificate “Friend of the Class”

Instruction of Adults, University of Panama and Department of Education, 1987-1988: Instructor of Adults for Language and Literacy Development Program

Conferences

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workshops

Paper “Evolución de la lírica en Panamá: Segunda mitad el siglo XX.”  61st Annual Kentucky Foreign Language Conference.  University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.  April 17-19, 2008.

“Poesía centroamericana contemporánea:  Guatemala, El Salvador y Nicaragua.” Middle Atlantic Council on Latin American Studies (MACLAS), XXVIII, Albright College, PA, March 31, 2007.

“Conversations:  Promoting Panamanian Culture and Literature.”  Panama City, Panama, December, 2006.

“Service-Learning in Higher Education:  Critical Issues and Directions.” Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, October 1, 2005.

"Círculo de Lecturas - Panamanian Writers." Biblioteca Regelio Sinán and Latino University of Panama, Panama City, Panama, June-July 2005.

"Cuadros pintados y morales de Rafael Pombo."  Middle Atlantic Council on Latin American Studies (MACLAS), XXVI Annual Conference, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, April 7-10, 2005.

 “B. Peralta: Su obra en un contexto histórico.” Middle Atlantic Council on Latin American Studies (MACLAS), XXV Annual Conference, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA, February 20-21, 2004.

"Kuna Yala Indians:  Past and Present."  Latin American Indigenous Literature and Art (LAILA) Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 9-14, 2003.

"Spanish in Contact with Indigenous Languages in Guatemala." Middle Atlantic Council on Latin American Studies, XXIV Annual Conference, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown, PA, February 21-22, 2003.

Full attendee, The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) 36th Annual Meeting and Exposition, November 21-24, 2002

Guest at the 4th Annual LatinoExpo, New York, October 27, 2002.

"La mujer como única tónica temática en la obra de Peralta y Lars." The 54th Annual Kentucky Foreign Language Conference.  University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, April, 2001

“El humor en el teatro centroamericano contemporáneo.”  The Annual Conference of the International Society for Luso-Hispanic Humor Studies.  McGill University, Montreal, Canada, September, 2000.

“The Otherness without Love in Mañana digo basta.”  The 53rd Annual Kentucky Foreign Language Conference.  University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, April, 2000.

“A Sociopolitical Approach to Bertalicia Peralta’s Narrative.”  The IX Annual Symposium on Latin American Literature. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, March, 1999.

“La trama convergente en Ave sin nido, La vorágine y Doña Bárbara.”  The VI Annual Symposium on Latin American Literature.  Hispanic Writers in the US.  University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, March 1996.

“The Portrait in Sueño de VeneciaIts Function as a Unifying Element.”  ALDEEU- Association of Spanish Doctors in the United States.  Encuentro Internacional XV Asamblea General, Albuquerque, NM, May 1995.

“Mario Benedetti’s The Truce:  The Presence of the Dead Wife and the New Love in Santome’s Life.” V Annual Symposium on Contemporary Latin American Literature, Tucson, AZ, March, 1995.

“Teaching Ideas/Teaching Literature to First and Second Year Spanish Students.” Conference/Orientation for Returning GATs.  University of Arizona, January, 1995.

 

 

Participated in "Teaching, Learning and Assessing with Technology." NEALLT, Lafayette College, Easton, PA, April 3-5, 2009.

Participated in meetings/worshops "Promoción de la literatura infantil." Ernesto Castillero National Library of Panama City, Panama, January, 2009.

Participated in The Seventh Annual LVAIC SSAO Professional Development Workshop, Moravian College, November 2008.

Participated in the Teagle Foundation Assessment Workshop, Moravian College, October, 2008.

The Sixth Annual LVAIC SSAO Development Workshop.  “Piecing Together the Student Success Puzzle:  A Day with George Kuh."  Muhlenberg College, November 2, 2007.

"Teaching that Promotes Learning." by invited guest Dr. Maryellen Weimer.  Moravian College, October 31, 2007.

“Shifting the Geography of Reason:  Black Studies from a Philosophical Perspective” by Temple University’s Professor Lewis R. Gordon.  Moravian College, October, 2007.

The LVAIC Africana Studies Consortium Meeting/Dinner.  Moravian College, September, 2007.

Exploring Our Students Learning - "The Millenial Generation."  Organized by the Committee for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT), Moravian College, March 13, 2007.

LinC Open Meeting/Workshop for Junior Faculty.  Moravian College, September 28th, 2005

Assessment within LinC Strategies for a Learning Centered Institution.  Presented by Dr. Mary Allen.  Moravian College, October 20, 2004.

“Muralismo.” Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Puebla, México, June 14, 2004.

“Expresiones de la cultura popular de México.” Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Puebla, México, June 7, 2004.

“Artesanía popular.” Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Puebla, México, May 31, 2004.

“México mesoamericano y sus sitios arqueológicos más importantes.” Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Puebla, México, May 24, 2004.

“Foreign Languages:  Teaching with Technology.” Faculty Development Programs, Houghton Mefflin in conjunction with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the International Association for Language Learning Technology (IALLT), September 26-27, 2003.

"Summer Workshop for Writing Teachers."  LinC, Moravian College, June 3-4, 2003.

"Mindful Teaching in Hostile Times."  LinC Committee, Moravian College, May 23, 2003.

"Bilingual Professionals and Job Opportunities in the USA Government." Department of Foreign Languages, Moravian College, March 20, 2003.

"Legal Update on Topics in Higher Education." Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges, Moravian College, February 28, 2003.

2001 Professional Education Unit (PEU) and Ozarks Partnership Teacher Enhancement Initiative, Southwest Missouri State University, September, 2001.

Leadership/Internship Training Program, Southwest Missouri State University, 2000-2001.

“Front Page 2000 Level 1.”  Continuing Education and the Extended University, Southwest Missouri State University, October 6, 2000.

“Electronic Classroom Assessment.”  Continuing Education and the Extended University, Southwest Missouri State University, September 22, 2000.

“Campus Conversation: The Scholarship of Teaching.”  Southwest Missouri State University, September 16, 2000.

“Blackboard 4.0- Level I.”  College of Continuing Education and the Extended University, Southwest Missouri State University, September  8, 2000.

“Internet Research.”  College of Continuing Education and the Extended University, Southwest Missouri State University, July 11, 2000.

Publications

 

 

Articles:

“E   "Evolution of Panamanian Poetry:  1950s to Present.”  Anthology Studies in Honor of Dr. Lanin A. Gyurko.  Edited by Ken Hall and Ruth Muñoz-Hjelm.  Juan de la Cuesta Hispanic Monographs, 2009.

 

“Lenguas en contacto en México: Español/zapoteco, español/tzeltal y español/tzotzil.” Variedades lingüísticas en el mundo hispano:  El español en contacto con otras lenguasEdited by Ferrero and Lasso-von Lang.  AuthorHouse, 2005.

“Feminism and Catholicism in Latin America: A Personal Experience.”  Reconciling Catholicism and Feminism?: Personal Reflections on Tradition and Change. Edited by Sally Barr Ebest and Ron Ebest; foreword by Sandra M. Gilbert.  Notre Dame University Press, 2003.

“Lo otro sin amor en Mañana digo basta.” Grafemas: Publicación de la asociación de literatura femenina hispánica, 4.1 (2000).

Books and Anthologies:

Co-editor, Variedades lingüísticas en el mundo hispano:  El español en contacto con otras lenguas. (second edition in progress)

Bertalicia Peralta: Life and Work F&G Editores/F&G Libros de Guatemala, October, 2007

Co-editor, Variedades lingüísticas en el mundo hispano:  El español en contacto con otras lenguas. AuthorHouse Publisher, 2005.

Selected Additional Publication:

“A Sociopolitical Approach to B. Peralta’s Narrative.”  Proceedings of the IX Annual Symposium on Latin American Literature. University of Arizona, 1999.

“Interview with Panamanian writer Bertalicia Peralta, June 1, 1998.” GraFemas: Publicación de la asociación de literatura femenina hispánica, 4.2 (1998).

“The Portrait in Sueño de Venecia: Its Function as a Unifying Element.”  Cuadernos de Aldeeu. 1995-1996.

Poems and Short Stories:

Edadmuerte.”  Babel: A Poetry Journal, Moravian College, 2007

“My Dear Aslin.” The Colors of Life. Edited by Howard Ely.  The International Library of Poetry, 2003-2004.

"Así comienzo..." Poetry Journal, Modern and Classical Languages, SMSU. Spring 2002.

“Bus Route.” The Missouri Philological Association Journal, PMPA. Central Missouri State University, Spring 2001.

Demencia.”  Forum:  Poetry Journal, Modern and Classical Languages, SMSU. Spring 2000.

“My General,” “A Gift for You,” “Tiemblo”  Letras Femeninas, 24.1-2 (1998): 234-236

“Divina Aceptación” and “El milagro de vivir” published in Culturadoor, June/July, 1997.

 

Awards/Grants and Honors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional Service

 

Received the title "Friend of the Library" at the Ernesto J. Castillero National Library of Panama City, Panama, January 2009.

Arts and Lectures Committee Grant for an International Art Exhibition organized by the Foreign Language Department and Payne Gallery, 2006-

Faculty Development Research, Summer Stipend, Moravian College, 2005.

Faculty Development Research Grant, Moravian College, 2003

Representing Moravian College at the Hispanic Business Council's Breakfast, 2002

Research/Travel Grant, Southwest Missouri State University, 2001 and Teaching Summer Grant, Continuing Education 2000                                                  

Master Advisor Certificate, Academic Affairs, Southwest Missouri State University, 1999                                                                                

Graduate Fellowship, University of Arizona, 1994 and 1996,              

Graduate Scholarship, University of Northern Iowa, 1992-1994,    

Dean’s List, University of Northern Iowa, 1991-1992,                   

Hispanic Grant and Scholarship, University of Northern Iowa, 1991-1992,                                                                                            

 

 

 

Chair, Foreign Language Department, 2008-

Chair, Internal Review Committee, 2008-2010

Member, Strategic Panning Diversity Sub-Committee, 2008-2009

Chair/Coordinator, International Art Exhibition Committee, 2006-

Faculty Coordinator, Field Study Project, 2006-2007 and 2008-2009

Member, German Search Committee, 2007-2008

Fund Raiser, International Art Exhibition- Arte! Beaux-Arts! Kunst! 2006-

Reviewer, Pre-revision for Perspectivas (7th Edition). Thomson-Heinle Publisher, August 2006

Member, Editorial Board Scientific Journals International – Humanities (SJI), 2005-

Member, Honors Committee (Director and Liaison) 2005-2006

Member, Spanish Search Committee, 2005-2006

Participant, Faculty Discussion with Dr. Tobie van der Vorm- Presidential Search Process, 2005

Member, Arts and Lecture Committee, 2003-2006

Member, Spanish Search Committee, 2004-2005

Coordinator, student project "Language Contact" in Mexico - SOAR, 2004

Editor, Moravian College Poetry Journal for Students, Foreign Language Dept., 2003-Present

Member/reviewer, ACTFL- Foreign Language Annals, 2002-

Member, Moravian College Diversity Council, 2002-

Member, Faculty Development Research Committee, 2002-2003

Member, Moravian College Recruitment Council,

Advisor, Moravian College Spanish Club, 2002-2004

Chair/Editor, Poetry Journal Committee, 2001-2002                                   

Chair, ARTSRAVE- Celebration of Arts Committee, 2001-2002               

Member, Language Day Committee, 2001-2002                          

Member, Alumni and Outreach Committee, 2001-2002                      

Member, College of Arts and Letters, Scholastic Action, 2000-2001                                                                                                  

Member, College of Arts and Letters Leadership Program, 2000-2001       

Co-coordinator, Spanish Outreach Program/Missouri Migrant Education, 2000-2001                                                                                           

Member, University Degrees Committee, 2000-2001                        

Advisor, The Hispanic-American Leadership Organization (H.A.L.O.)

Member, College of Arts and Letters Scholastic Committee, 2000-2001     

Member, Technology Planning/Advisory Committee, 2000-2001

Member, Professional Education Advisory Committee, 2000-2001

Member, Language Fair Committee, 2000-2001                                     

Member, Recruitment Committee, 2000-2001                                    

Group Facilitator for Spanish Section, 2000-2001                          

Member, Advertising Committee for the Arizona Journal of HCS, 1999

Editorial Assistant, Arizona Journal of Hispanic Cultural Studies, 1998.

Judge, Poetry Contest, Southern Arizona Language Fair, 1998

Professional Affiliations

 

Middle Atlantic Council of Latin American Studies (MACLAS), 2003-                   

Latin American Indigenous Literature and Art (LAILA), 2003-                                  

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, 2002-                             

International Society for Luso-Hispanic Humor, 2000-                                

Missouri Philological Association, 2000                                                

Feministas Unidas Association, 2000                                                    

Foreign Language Association of Missouri, 2000-                                       

Modern Language Association, 1999-                                                   

Asociación de Literatura Femenina Hispánica, 1997-2000                                

Ethnic Minority Association, 1991-2000                                                   

Hispanic Association, 1991-Present                                                                  

Sigma Delta Pi, 1994-Present                                                                   

American Association of University Women, 1992-1994                                 

Spanish and Portuguese Club, University of Northern Iowa, 1992-1994               

Sigma Lambda Honorary Society, 1988-1989                                                                                                                

Languages

Spanish:  Native Speaker                                                                            

English:  Near-native Proficiency                                                              

Portuguese:  Reading and writing proficiency (Received Bilingual-Portuguese Program Certificate from The University of Northern Iowa)