Tertulia

Tertulia: Undergraduate SMU Journal of World Languages, Cultures, and Literatures

Journal description

Tertulia is a peer-reviewed undergraduate journal dedicated to showcasing student work related to languages, literatures, cultures, and intercultural experiences. The journal provides a creative and academic space for students to engage with a broader community through scholarly, cultural, and creative expression. Tertulia promotes multilingualism, intercultural understanding, and the value of language and literary study in today’s world while supporting high standards of scholarship across multiple languages.

Language Requirements

The journal welcomes submissions related to Spanish, French, Italian, German, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, and English.

Call for Submissions

Tertulia invites undergraduate students to submit original work for an upcoming issue. The journal welcomes submissions related to Spanish, French, Italian, German, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, and English. We encourage students to submit work that reflects linguistic, cultural, literary, creative, and professional interests connected to their language or area of study. Submission Deadline: December 31

We welcome submissions in areas such as:

• Research papers (8–10 pages)
• Analytical or reflective essays
• Creative writing (poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction)
• Interviews
• Language for Specific Purposes (LSP) projects or essays
• Cultural analysis
• Translation projects
• Multimedia or digital projects
• Artwork, photography, or music related to language and culture
Submission Guidelines
• Submissions are open to undergraduate students.
• Research papers should be approximately 8–10 pages in length.
• Creative, multimedia, and professional submissions may vary in length and format depending on the genre.
• All submissions must be original work created by the student.
• Written submissions should follow MLA formatting guidelines.
• Please submit your work to: tertulia@smu.edu.

Please include the following information with your submission:

• Full name
• University
• Major/minor (if applicable)
• Year in school
• Title of submission
• Type of submission (research paper, poem, interview, LSP project, multimedia project, etc.)

Possible Topics

Students may submit work related to:
• language and identity
• multilingualism and bilingualism
• literature and film
• cultural traditions and practices
• translation and interpretation
• heritage language experiences
• professional applications of language study (healthcare, business, education, law, sustainability, media, etc.)
• study abroad or intercultural experiences
• community engagement through languages

Why submit?

Publishing in Tertulia is an opportunity to:
• share your work with a broader audience
• showcase your academic and creative achievements
• contribute to a multilingual and multicultural intellectual community
• highlight the real-world and professional relevance of language study
• gain experience contributing to a peer-reviewed academic publication

Editors

Dr. Mónica Fernández Martins is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Spanish at Southern Methodist University. She holds a Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese Literatures and Cultural Studies and an M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics from Texas Tech University. Her research focuses on Iberian Studies, particularly the intersections of gender, class, nation, and identity in 19th-century Spain and Portugal, and has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Hispanic Studies Review and Bulletin of Spanish Studies. Her additional areas of scholarly interest include linguistic ideologies and Spanish as a Heritage Language. Her teaching trajectory spans more than ten years, with experience delivering instruction in L2 and heritage Spanish at U.S. universities and in study abroad programs in Spain.

Dr. Maria del Pilar Melgarejo is an Associate Teaching Professor of Spanish at Southern Methodist University and Faculty in Residence of Cockrell-McIntosh. She holds a Ph.D. in Spanish and Latin American Literature and a MA in Literature and Philosophy. She is the author of the book The Language of Regeneration in Colombia and Mexico in XIX century. She has published about poetry, film, and literature in Latin America.

Dr. Yuriko Ikeda is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Spanish at Southern Methodist University. She earned her Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from Texas Tech University and has extensive experience teaching language, culture, and Spanish for Specific Purposes courses. Her interests include language pedagogy, Spanish for Heritage Speakers, social and emotional learning, and contemporary Hispanic literature. She previously served as editor of Céfiro during her graduate studies and has published work on language teaching, culture, and Hispanic literature. She is passionate about creating opportunities for students to connect language learning with creativity, cultural understanding, and real-world experiences.

For more information about the journal, visit: https://scholar.smu.edu/tertulia/