Global Literacy and Languages for Specific Purposes
The Research Cluster on "Global Literacy and Languages for Specific Purposes: Curricular design for building transferable skills" unites faculty from a range of disciplines to discuss and define shared goals and best practices to provide students with global perspectives and transferable skills aligned with skills employers seek in the contemporary workplace. The cluster explores ways in which the department of World Languages and Literatures can facilitate the design and implementation of interdisciplinary, context-specific programs that respond to employer needs and promote cross-cultural communication skills. Topics of discussion include curricular innovation, academic and corporate partnerships for internships and field work abroad and at home, and the assessment of SMU’s Common Curriculum requirements, with a focus on the integration of world languages and cultures for professional purposes across the curriculum.
Please contact the cluster organizers if you would like to join the group, or collaborate on a workshop:
Paola Buckley, Teaching Professor of French
Aria Cabot, World Languages and Literatures Teaching and Technology Center Director
Yuriko Ikeda, Assistant Teaching Professor of Spanish
We certify with the Global Seal of Biliteracy
Awarded in more than 50 countries, the Global Seal of Biliteracy is a verifiable international certification that conveys proficiency with language skills in two or more languages for our qualifying candidates. This stackable certification offers a competitive advantage by empowering bilinguals with digitally shareable documentation that opens the door to scholarships, advanced course placement, increased study abroad opportunities and so much more. The Global Seal is and will be FREE for all.
To learn more about the Global Seal of Biliteracy, visit their website at www.theglobalseal.com.
FALL 2026
Thursday, October 15, 11:30 AM / 3:30 PM. Global Seal of Biliteracy Recipient Celebration. Join us for refreshments and a celebration of the 53 SMU students who received a Global Seal of Biliteracy in Arabic, Chinese, Italian, French, Spanish, and/or German in the Spring 2026 semester!
TBC - Languages for Legal Careers. Join us for refreshments and a presentation on practical ways to apply your language study to careers in legal professions.
TBC - Multi-lingual Mock Interviews. Join us for refreshments and a presentation on virtual mock interview platforms in multiple languages.
SPRING 2026
March 2027: Annual Meeting of the Texas Joint Committee for Language (TJCL). With sponsorship from Avant Assessment and the Region 10 Education Service Center, the cluster will host the fourth annual meeting of the Texas Joint Committee for Language (TJCL), an initiative aimed at advancing language education across the state of Texas. The meeting will unite K-20 representatives from world language programs with the common goal of furthering language education in the state of Texas, breaking down unintentional silos between K-12 and Higher Ed language programs, and fostering collaboration among educators, administrators, and other stakeholders. Lunch provided to all registrants.
April 2027: "World Languages Work: Pathways to Careers in World Languages." Join us for our annual alumni panel to learn about four recent SMU alumni who are putting their language skills to work in a range of different professional sectors.
May 2027: World Languages Internship Poster Session. Join us for light bites and a poster session featuring current internships in World Languages. Attendees will consist of SMU faculty, SMU internship partner institutions, and undergraduate students interested in completing an internship for academic credit that includes a foreign language component.