Ethnic Fairs This Weekend

Greek, Native American, German, Scottish, French, Chinese -- "welcome to the world in Indiana isn't just a slogan this weekend: check out these ethnic festivals in the Hoosier heartland!

36th Annual Greek Festival, today and tomorrow; Carmel.
35th Annual (German) Oktoberfest, today and tomorrow; Indianapolis.
19th Annual French Market, tomorrow; Indianapolis.
18th Annual Scottish Festival, tomorrow and Sunday; Columbus.
2nd Annual Chinese Festival, tomorrow; Indianapolis.
Andersontown Powwow and Indian Market; tomorrow and Sunday; Anderson.

Don't forget Indy's International Festival, coming up in November!

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September is Ethnic Festival Month!

The glorious weather of September means more ethnic festivals than there's time to attend!

Some of those on the calendar are:

Oktoberfest sponsored by the German-American Klub, on Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis: 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 September

Little Italy Festival in Clinton: 4, 5, 6, 7 September

Kenya Festival at Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis: 5 September

Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Carmel: 11-12 September

Chinese Festival in Military Park, Indianapolis: 12 September

French Market at St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, Indianapolis: 12 September

Scottish Festival at Bartholomew County Fairgrounds, Columbus: 12-13 September

Andersontown Powwow in Athletic Park, Anderson: 12-13 September

Irish Fest in Military Park, Indianapolis: 18-20 September

(Hispanic) Fiesta on the American Legion Mall, Indianapolis: 19 September

Scottish Highlander Festival in Trafalgar: 26-27 September

There are more details on these (and many other events) at the Nationalities Council's calendar: click here. (And, don't forget that Indy's International Festival is coming up in November!)

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French Market in Indianapolis

The 20th annual "French Market takes place from noon to 10 p.m. 12 September at St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, 4217 Central Avenue, Indianapolis.

The menu of French specialties includes: Tarte Flambé, Quiche, French Onion Soup, Escargot, Oysters, French Bread and herb butter, Cheese, fruit, pate, Rotisserie Chicken, BBQ ribs, Crawfish Etouffée, Tenderloin tips in wine sauce, French pastries and desserts. Entertainment features the Stardusters, Mojo Gumbo, David Ackerman, Living Proof and the Indy Jazz Fest Band.

Admission is free. (Note: this event has traditionally been held on the second Saturday after Labor Day; the date has changed this year to the first Saturday after Labor Day.)

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ESL Program in Indy's Pike Township Expands

When school begins Tuesday (11 August) in Marion County's Pike Township, "Students who don't speak English fluently will get a language boost," writes Gretchen Becker in The Indianapolis Star's NorthIndy section on 8 August 2009. The district will be using the "Newcomer's Program" to target students with low English language skills. Several Pike teachers involved in the program are multi-lingual, including Mieke Kendrick-Lambrecht, a native of Belgium, who speaks English, Spanish, German, French, Dutch and Finnish. Last year, 17% of the district's students (some 1,854) were non-native speakers of English.

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Mandarin Immersion Program to Debut at International School of Indiana

The International School of Indiana will begin a Mandarin immersion program at the kindergarten level next fall that aligns with the International Baccalaureate standards.

The new program, the first of its kind in Indiana, will be a significant addition to the school’s existing Spanish and French immersion programs and will reinforce ISI’s longstanding commitment to engaging Indiana in the global economy.

With more than 1,000 written characters and currently the most widely spoken language in the world, Mandarin is considered the gateway to a better understanding of Chinese culture, society and global influence. ISI students enrolled in the immersion program will master both Mandarin and English languages under the guidance of native-speaking teachers.

The Mandarin immersion program at ISI will begin this fall at the kindergarten level and will be extended up through the school, a grade level at a time, eventually expanding into the middle and high school programs.

In addition to the new Mandarin program, ISI is introducing new IB programs throughout the pre-elementary classes and grades 1-10, which align with the already successful IB Diploma program in grades 11 and 12.

Additionally, the school has substantially increased the time its high school students devote to the sciences. ISI students now easily fulfill the science requirements of the Indiana High School Honors Diploma at the conclusion of their sophomore year, paving the way for advanced science studies for junior and senior students in the IB Diploma program.

Parents interested in the Mandarin program for their children should call the ISI admissions office, 317:923-1951 Ext 369. For general information, visit the ISI website. ISI is currently enrolling students at most grade levels for August 2009, and welcomes applications from all prospective students, regardless of their previous language background.

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April in Paris Dinner to be 26 April

The 19th annual April in Paris dinner sponsored by Ivy Tech Community College of Central Indiana will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. 26 April in The Fountains Banquet and Conference Center, 502 East Carmel Drive, Carmel.

Enjoy a seven-course gourmet meal and wine airing planned, prepared and served by students from Ivy Tech's Hospitality Administration Program. There'll also be a silent and a live aution. Proceeds will benefit Ivy Tech Community College Central Indiana student scholarships.

Individual tickets are $125; sponsorship possibilities include buying a table for eight ($1250). For tickets and more information, click here, or contact Brenda Blakley, 317:916-7829.


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Indy Events à la Française

Butler University students will sing Christmas carols in French during the annual party sponsored by the Alliance Française d'Indianapolis from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. tomorrow (7 December).

Guests are welcome to join in the fun in the Diversity Center, Atherton Hall, Butler campus in Indianapolis. Cost for non-members is $5. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Eloise Sureau, 317-924-3878.

"A Christmas Tale", one of the standout hits of the Cannes, Toronto and New York Film Festivals,opens 19 December at Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis (it's in French with English subtitles).

"A Christmas Tale" is Arnaud Desplechin's dazzling, big-hearted and brilliantly black comedy. In the role that garnered her the Special Prize at Cannes, Catherine Deneuve is Junon, the family matriarch, who greets the news of her life-threatening illness with calm equanimity.

Desplechin regular Mathieu Amalric gives one of the best performances of the year as the black sheep of the family who returns home after being banished for six years. Crowded under the same roof again, solidarity quickly, and hilariously, devolves into feuding, drunkenness and bed-hopping, as everyone struggles to make sense of the mysteries of family, life and what lies ahead. Desplechin's masterful narrative has the breadth of a sprawling novel and the nimble wordplay of a classic comedy.

Then, in January, the Alliance Française d'Indianapolis stages its annual Galette des Rois Celebration 11 January. It'll be held from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the International School of Indianapolis. Tickets range in price from $4 to 12, depending on age and whether one is a member of the Alliance Française d'Indianapolis. Children under 10, however, get in free.

The invitation form is here, or send an email for more information.

It's Purdue's International Week!

A series of events showcasing a variety of languages, cuisine and cultures will take place at Purdue University during Purdue International Week today through Saturday (22 November).

The kickoff event, called The Amazing Race, was at 1 p.m. today. International Week also will feature one-hour sessions of different languages including German, Hindi, Urdu, Japanese, Russian, Italian, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Spanish and Arabic. Food from these countries will be served during the sessions, which are free and open to the public.

The Singapore Food Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (22 November)at the University Church Fellowship Hall, 320 North Street, West Lafayette.

The complete list of the times, dates and venues of all the events taking place during the Purdue International Week is here

Purdue International Week coincides with the International Education Week, which promotes educational programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and seeks to attract scholars from abroad to study in the United States.

Celebration of International Cultures

Valparaiso University will host a Celebration of International Cultures tomorrow (16 October) in honor of the inauguration of the University's 18th president, Mark A. Heckler, according to the Office of University Relations.

The showcase of Valparaiso's international study programs, international students and international service projects and research will take place from noon to 3 p.m. in the Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources and is free and open to the public.

During the Celebration of International Cultures, organized by Valparaiso's Office of International Programs, the public is invited to talk to students and faculty involved with Valparaiso's Confucius Institute, German and French clubs, International Student Association, medical mission trips to Central America, water quality research in China, and other international organizations and study programs. An alumna and Valparaiso business owner also will discuss her native country of Macedonia.

Music and dancing of various cultures will be performed throughout the event and photographs taken by students participating in Valparaiso's study abroad programs will be displayed. Refreshments highlighting the food of various cultures will be offered, including pita bread with minted cucumber and hummus dips, Ethiopian honey bread, baklava, vegetable pot stickers, spanikopita and Chinese almond cookies.

Valparaiso has won national recognition as a model in preparing its graduates with strong cross-cultural skills and global awareness, receiving the prestigious Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization earlier this year. This fall, the University also set a new high in international student enrollment, with 245 students on U.S. student visas registered from more than 50 countries.

Valparaiso University's International Triple Play

First:

Three spring graduates of Valparaiso University’s French program will spend the next year teaching in French schools after being accepted into a selective government-sponsored teaching program, reports the Valpo News Bureau

Emily Peters, a French and biology major from Merrillville; Barrett Ludy, a French and Spanish major from Fremont; and Taylor Steinbruegge, a French and television-radio communication major from Florissant, Mo., will travel to France in September to begin the teaching assistantship program.

The program, sponsored by France’s Ministry of Education and the Cultural Services, places recent Americans graduate in primary and secondary schools where they teach English and help French students practice their conversation skills.

Second:

The dean of Valparaiso University’s School of Law will help the Republic of Georgia begin a major reform of its legal education system this month, playing a consultative role in a gathering of the country’s law educators, judges and attorneys, reports the news bureau.

Jay Conison, vice chair of the American Bar Association committee that is responsible for the accreditation of law schools in the United States, recently was invited to help organize a two-day conference that aims to strengthen the rule of law and the legal education system in Georgia.

Third:

Fourteen Chinese college professors will begin an advanced English program at Valparaiso University this week, reports Inside INdiana Business.

The professors are from Zhejiang University of Technology, the partner university for Valparaiso's Confucius Institute.

The teachers, who arrive tomorrow, will tour houses with two local real estate brokers, visit Fair Oaks Farm to learn about agriculture's significance in U.S. culture and meet with Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas to hear about the nation's system of participatory government.

Tour the IMA in French or Chinese

The next "World Language Tour" at the Indianapolis Museum of Art will take visitors through the European galleries in French. Meet at the entrance to Gallery Level 1 at 6:30 p.m. 15 May for the free tour.

Rather hear it in Chinese? Meet on Gallery Level 1 at the IMA at 2 p.m. 17 May for a free tour of the Contemporary Galleries.

A Musical Tour of Three Continents

The University of Indianapolis Faculty Artist Series will conclude its 2007-2008 season 7 April with a whirlwind tour of three continents.

The free concert features music of French, Spanish, Hungarian and Argentinean composers, along with the premiere of a newly commissioned work by Assistant Professor John Berners (at right), who teaches music composition at UIndy.

Highlights will include soprano Kathleen Hacker performing the music of Saint-Saëns, Marko Petričić playing works by Soler and Ginastera on the bayan accordion, and the premiere of Berners’ Divertimento for oboe, trombone and string bass. Harry Miedema and friends conclude the evening with a unique jazz rendition of Gershwin’s “Summertime.”

The concert will take place in the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall of the university's Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, 1400 East Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis. For more information, call 317:788-3255 or visit the website.

Performers include Kathleen Hacker, soprano; Marko Petričić, bayan accordion; David Bellman, clarinet; Cathryn Gross, clarinet; Louise Alexander, violin; Michael Isaac Strauss, viola; Perry Scott, cello; Pamela French, oboe; Blake Schlabach, trombone; Peter Hansen, bass; Richard Ratliff, piano; Harry Miedema, tenor saxophone; Gary Walters, piano; and Jack Helsley, bass.

From French to Russian

Continuing Studies at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis offers a wide variety of foreign language classes in and around Indy this winter. Many courses -- including Spanish, French, German and Russian -- start next week. Check 'em out and sign up to expand your world (and your mind!).

Too Many Choices, Too Little Time!

Start cutting back on the calories in preparation for next weekend's splurge. It's the weekend with Indy's Irish Fest, Fiesta and the French Market in Indianapolis plus an Oktoberfest in Terre Haute, a Festival Latino in Bloomington and the Trail of Courage Living History Festival harkening back to the days that the French and English set up camp alongside Native Americans in the area that became Rochester. Check the international calendar for details on these events.

In addition, 15 September-15 October is National Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, so there's lots on the calendar with that theme.

Multi-Language Website

The east central Indiana economic development organization Energize-ECI, Inc. is launching a new website it says will show the world that the region is serious about welcoming businesses to the area, according to Inside INdiana Business.

The site can be translated into six languages with the click of a mouse. It will be used as a global marketing tool to enhance economic development and job creation opportunities.

Look for tiny national flags at the top right-hand corner of the site to access automatic translations into French, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, German and Spanish.

Bastille Day Celebration in Indy!

Celebrate the quintessential French holiday with the Alliance Française of Indianapolis: Bastille Day.

This family barbecue will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday (15 July) in Lilly Shelter at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis (enter through the 71st Street gate -- there is a $4 fee to enter but lunch is courtesy of the Alliance).

Food grilling will be 12:30-2:30 p.m. Bring a favorite dish to share, a chair, and frisbee, pétanque -- whatever you like, and we'll provide the rest.

It's a great family event. Guests are welcome for $5, AFI members are free, and we always welcome new memberships.

Please RSVP by 11 July so they can plan food purchases: send an email to rsvp@afindianapolis.org, or call Eloïse Sureau, at 317:924-3878 with the names of those attending and the ages of the children.

International School names new Head of School

David Garner will be the new head of the International School of Indiana beginning in August. He replaces Alain Weber, who will officially leave on 30 June to become the Head of the French Lycée in Chicago.

Garner is currently the Head of School at the International Secondary School in Eindhoven in the Netherlands. A native of Nottingham, UK, he is moving to Indianapolis with his wife Sylvie (who is French) and their daughter, Nathalie. A son, Jonathan, lives near Toronto, Ontario.

More than 200 students, parents, faculty and others attended Weber’s farewell party in the school’s Taurel Building on 24 May. Mr. Weber was also presented with the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash award, a Declaration from the Mayor of Indianapolis of Alain Weber Day, and a presentation of the Alain Weber Endowment Scholarship.

Garner is an expert in international education, language acquisition and the impact of language on cognitive development. Prior to his work at International Secondary School of Eindhoven, Mr. Garner was the Headmaster of the Grammar School, British International School of Prague. His teaching experience includes serving as an IB English instructor at the International School of Vienna and as the Regional Project Director with the Centre for British Teachers Ltd. in Morocco, supervising the work of British teachers placed in French-speaking Moroccan secondary schools to teach English.

Mr. Garner, who has dual French and English citizenship, has an MBA in Educational Management from the University of Leicester in the UK and an MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Reading, also in the UK. He speaks German, French, Russian, Dutch and English.

Purdue's newest president was born in Paris, France

An internationally recognized astrophysicist who is chancellor of University of California, Riverside, was chosen today (7 May) as the 11th president of Purdue University, according to the Purdue News Bureau.

The Purdue Board of Trustees, meeting on the Loeb Playhouse stage on campus, voted unanimously to hire France A. Córdova (right)and then brought her on stage to the music of "Hail Purdue."

According to MyHero.com, Córdova was born in Paris. Expecting a boy whom they planned to name Frederick III, France’s mother sewed little Fs on all the baby’s clothes. Named Francoise, Córdova later shortened her name to France.

The daughter of a Mexican father who attended West Point and worked in the U.S. State Department and a fifth generation Irish-American mother, France was the eldest of 12 children. She helped take care of her younger siblings from an early age and her sense of responsibility stayed with her for the rest of her life.

Córdova received her bachelor’s degree cum laude in English from Stanford University. She enjoyed Existentialist writers like Camus and Sartre. as well as Joyce and Eliot. During her junior year, she worked on an archaeological dig near a Zapotec Indian pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico. Delving deeply into her Mexican heritage, she wrote a short novel and compiled recipes into a Mexican cookbook

Córdova, 59, has served at Riverside since 2002, coming from the University of California at Santa Barbara where she had been vice chancellor for research and a professor of physics for six years. Before that, she was the youngest person to hold the position of NASA chief scientist, working on projects that included the Hubble Space Telescope

Who knew Pernod Ricard had a factory in Indiana?

According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, Pernod Ricard, the French owner of a 150-year-old distillery and bottling plant in the southeast Indiana city of Lawrenceburg, has notified the state that it will lay off 405 workers by 26 June.

Non-English-Speaking? No problem!

The City of Fort Wayne has added language translation links to its official website.

It uses Google Translation Tools to perform the language translations from English into Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic. Flag links for the respective languages can be found on each page on the City’s website.

The new initiative is designed to improve customer service to non-English speaking residents and visitors to the City’s website.

One caveat: "The automated translation services strive to perform the most accurate translations possible, but in some cases, translations may vary. Downloaded forms are not able to be translated at this time," the City notes.