Foreign Language Department Uses Profession for Missions "W hatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord," probably characterized the Modern Foreign Language Department as much as any department on campus. Although each member of the department was an excellent foreign language teacher. per se, each was deeply interested in the use of a foreign language to carry the gospel of Christ to people who spoke a language other than English. All had served on the mission field. Ava Conley and her husband, Bill. had spent several summers working in Central and South America. Bob Helsten and his wife, Mary Belle, had spent several years in Germany prior to joining the Harding faculty. Drs. Winfred and Dorothy Wright had spent several years in France and other Frenchspeaking countries before teaching at Harding and have biennially conducted a work-study tour to France in the summer. Through Los Conquistadores and Le Circle Francais, the department attempted to acquaint students with the heritage, culture, and way of life of the Spanish and French people. This involved meetings at which the native cuisine was sampled. The music, art, and customs of the people were also experienced. In April, the department sponsored a foreign language festival which brought to the campus 800 high school students. College majors helped with the program designed to stimulate greater interest in foreign languages. Dr. Winfred Wright served as president of the Arkansas Association of Teachers of French. He attended the meeting of the Southcentral Modern Language Association in New Orleans. He also served as president of the Harding University Alumni Association and of the Searcy Noon Lions Club. Mrs. Conley attended the meeting of the Arkansas Philological Association in Fayetteville, presenting a paper. She also attended the Pan American Lectures in Caracas, Venezuela. During the year, Mrs. Conley and her husband worked regularly and systematically with those students who would accompany them in the summer of 1981 to Venezuela for another campaign. In a similar way, Dr. Wright work100 ed with a: group of students who will accompany him to France this summer on a work-study tour. The Spanish and French clubs were used by the Modern Foreign Language Department to acquaint students with the cultures of two countries. While many campus clubs had the reputation for being rather inactive, the Spanish Club, for the last few years, has generated enough interest among its members to help provide the personnel for a successful campaign for Christ in Venezuela. "I think that what the club does is good," explained Cheryl Crockett, vice president of the organization. "It makes the members aware of what's going on in the Spanish world." Ava Conley, assistant professor of Spanish, is the sponsor of the group. Speaking of her, one member said, "She's really involved in the campaigns and keeps everybody up to date on it ." Other projects tackled by Spanish Club members included a fall banquet with exclusively Spanish cuisine. The banquet doubled as a way to serve the community, since the club invited Spanish..peaking people in the Searcy area. Arts and Sciences-Foreign Languages - Don Holland - Don Holland
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