Although
Spanish for Business has been taught at Muhlenberg for years,
this specialized language class for advanced students had a
new flavor this year. In taking on this course, our energetic
new colleague Professor Flor María Buitrago began by
searching out the strongest and most up-to-date texts. This
quest lead her to Éxito comercial by Dr. Michael Doyle.
The visit began with a visit to Professor Buitrago’s
class, where students were able to mine Dr. Doyle’s experience
as both professor and consultant in language and cultural issues.
An elegant dinner followed before students, professors, and
colleagues from other LVAIC universities gathered in the Recital
Hall to hear Dr. Doyle’s presentation, “The Business
Language Class Within our Degree Programs: Why do we Need it
and How do we do it?” What could have been a dry lecture
of interest only to teachers was instead a compelling argument
in favor of an entire sequence of courses preparing students
to develop and use their bilingual skills in their professional
dealings. Dr. Doyle is a dynamic presenter whose passions soon
left the crowd in the Recital Hall captivated and unwilling
to leave without a question, comment, or word of praise. This
visit, only one of several lectures and visits incorporated
within the course, provides a snapshot of the “big picture” thinking
that makes Spanish for Business fresh and in high demand.
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