Oldenborg Center

The Pomona College Language Residents are the heart of the Oldenborg Center. These young professionals from China, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, and Spain mentor students of language, teach the foreign language conversation classes, organize cultural events, foster conversation at the Oldenborg Dining Hall language tables, and much more.

To read about each language resident, please use the drop down menu under Language Residents.

Where do you live in your home country?

I live in a beautiful city in southern Spain called Granada, located in the region of Andalusia. This city is famous for its impressive monuments, particularly the Moorish palace La Alhambra, the thousands of students that fill the city during the academic year and the delicious, free “tapas” (with every drink you order, you are given a small serving of food). However, my home city is in the region of Murcia, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) to the east of Granada. In this region, the beaches are the most famous and popular attractions.

What is your favorite cultural tradition or holiday? Why is it special to you?

That would have to be Easter because of the way it is celebrated in Spain. People are very passionate about the holiday and its processions during Semana Santa are incredible. Other holidays that I enjoy are Día de la Cruz (Day of the Cross; lots of crosses are displayed all over the city and together with every cross there also a little bar where you can have fun for two days with friends) and Ascension Day, celebrated on August 15^th. For this holiday, everyone spends the night at the beach and there is also a fireworks display.

What is your favorite dish?

I’m a pasta person, I can perfectly cook any kind of pasta but I wouldn’t say no to a nice dish of Spanish paella. Other dishes that I enjoy cooking (but mostly eating) are Gazpacho (cold tomato soup) and a Spanish omelet (made of eggs, potatoes and onions).

What fun activities do you like to engage in?

Mostly hanging out with friends, going to the movies, attending concerts and spending the day at the beach. I also love traveling, which gives me the opportunity to meet new people and also to get closer to the people with who I am traveling.

What do you look forward to the most about being in the U.S. this coming academic year? (Or simply in terms of being at Oldenborg or Pomona College?)

I cannot wait to meet new people and to immerse myself in the culture of California. I am also looking forward to teaching my Spanish conversation classes at the Oldenborg Center and to taking some courses overseas in the unique atmosphere at the Claremont Colleges.Â

Â

Where do you live in your home country?

 I live in St. Petersburg, the so-called Northern Venice, and that’s the city I’m in love with. Why? Because of the joy of being trapped on the wrong side of the river at night, when the bridges are drawn… the romance of the white nights period… the magnificence of the Neva river and its granite embankments… There are countless wonders in this city, and it’s the place I belong to.

What is your favorite cultural tradition or holiday? Why is it special to you?

My favorite holiday is New Year – that’s the time to feel free from the routine and to indulge into dreaming. And among Russian traditions and holidays the most amusing for me has always been the period we call Sviatki. It’s in January, between the Nativity of Christ (7 January) and Epiphany (19 January), and it was believed that during these days you could do everything you wished. Young girls engaged in various rituals to read their fortune. In present times we have fun meeting up at night and trying to do the same – in a dark room with candles and a book revealing the secrets of fortune-telling.

What is your favorite dish?

That’s a difficult question because I cannot say that I have some specific dish that I like the most. Talking about Russian cuisine, I would advise trying traditional Russian soups – like schee (cabbage soup) and borsch (beetroot and meat soup), of course – Russian pancakes, blini, with caviar, and sbiten’, a traditional Russian drink made on the basis of honey with spices.

What fun activities do you like to engage in?

I adore snowmobiling in the forests of the city suburbs, but unfortunately last winter in St. Petersburg was almost snowless. In summer my favorite entertainment is going to boat-tours around the city – I think I never get weary of them.

What do you look forward to the most about being in the U.S. this coming academic year? (Or simply in terms of being at Oldenborg or Pomona College?)

Well, this is my first visit to the U.S., so I think the year will be full of impressions and discoveries. What I really look forward to is experiencing the atmosphere of an American university and meeting new people – especially the students I’ll be working with. Moreover, judging from the pictures I found on the Internet, Pomona is a very beautiful place, and I cannot wait to find myself being there.

Where do you live in your home country?

I live in the northernmost city of Germany called Flensburg. It is located between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea and is only a 5 minute drive away from Denmark. Flensburg is a wonderful city with beautiful scenery, nice people, and a lot to explore!

What is your favorite cultural tradition or holiday? Why is it special to you?

My favorite holiday is our national holiday, the German Unification Day or as we call it – ‘Tag der Deutschen Einheit’. We celebrate it on October 3^rd. It is a result of the unification between the Federal Republic of Germany (BRD) and the German Democratic Republic (DDR) in 1989. All throughout Germany there are big festivals and parties to celebrate our ‘Tag der Deutschen Einheit’ and I enjoy coming together with friends and family to celebrate a united and peaceful Germany. Oh and by the way – our national holiday is also the day of my birthday, so I have more than one reason to celebrate =)

What is your favorite dish?

My favorite food is ‘Milchreis mit Kirschen’ which is like rice pudding with cherries. It is very easy to prepare, all you need is rice, milk, and well – cherries! But you can also eat it with strawberries, blueberries, applesauce… whatever you like! ‘Milchreis’ is very popular in Germany and I can only recommend you try it some time, it is veeeery delicious! =)

What fun activities do you like to engage in?

Well, I absolutely love to spend time with my family and friends. We just pack our bags and spend a day at the beach, go camping in the woods, take our canoes and spend a day on the river, or have a barbecue and enjoy nice conversations. I also love sports – I have been playing handball and volleyball for a few years and I am a big fan of soccer, which is the most popular sport in Germany. Besides that, I enjoy playing the piano and I am learning to play the guitar. And of course – I absolutely love to travel! I have been to California and the West Coast before, but I can’t wait to be coming back for a whole academic year and to get to know the American culture and way of life!

What do you look forward to the most about being in the U.S. this coming academic year? (Or simply in terms of being at Oldenborg or Pomona College?)


I believe that the opportunity to work as a Language Resident at Oldenborg will be a once in a lifetime experience and I can’t tell you how thrilled I am about it! I am excited to meet ‘my’ new students, make new friends, share my culture, and simply be part of Pomona College. I can’t wait to get started and I look forward to seeing you soon =)

Where do you live in your home country?

I live at the foot of the Mont Ventoux in the South of France, near Avignon which is about 60 miles north Marseilles. The town I live in is very small, with only 2,000 people.

What is your favorite cultural tradition or holiday? Why is it special to you?

It can sound common but I love Christmas. Even if I am not fond of snow, I like it when it snows on Christmas day (which is quite rare where I live). I love the atmosphere during Christmas, I like hanging around with friends and going shopping, seeing all the lights on houses’ walls, hearing Christmas songs… I find it very festive. It has always been a family tradition at home; we gather for lunch on December 25th and eat, drink and talk for hours. We usually are about fifteen, and since it is close to my brother’s and my cousin’s birthdays, we celebrate them at the same time with a big cake at the end of the meal.

What is your favorite dish?

My favourite dish is very simple; if you want to make my day, you just need to cook pasta with basil and garlic (or pesto)! I assume it is not very typical from France, but it certainly is Mediterranean. Apart from dishes, I love sweets like nougat (especially the black one with honey and almonds) and chocolate. Dark chocolate is the best, and everything that contains chocolate is delicious to me.

What fun activities do you like to engage in?

I have two horses so I love going for a ride with a friend and spending time in nature. I started watching tennis on TV during Roland Garros 2004 and since then, I love playing tennis and going to tournaments to see the professional players (I have been to Monte-Carlo each year since 2006) and cheer for my favorite one. I wish I could practice extreme sports more often. I have already done parachute jumping (I was fifteen), but I never got the chance to try bungee jumping.

What do you look forward to the most about being in the U.S. this coming academic year? (Or simply in terms of being at Oldenborg or Pomona College?)


Spending one year in the U.S. has been a dream for years, since the trip to the West Coast I did with my parents and brother when I was fourteen. I literally fell in love with this country, so I look forward to going back there. I love meeting new people so I am really looking forward to getting to know American and international people to share my French culture with them, and learn from their own. This is going to be such an amazing experience!

 Where do you live in your home country?

I live in Beijing which is famous for her Chinese mandarin, Beijing roast duck and the Forbidden City^^

What is your favorite cultural tradition or holiday? Why is it special to you?

Moon Day. Every family members will come back home on that day and all sit together to enjoy drinking, chatting, and eating moon cakes (They are round in shape and have sweet stuffing like red beans, nuts and now even chocolate and strawberry sauces insides, yummy!).

What is your favorite dish?

Hot Pot. It can be super spicy or just plain and you can put whatever you like into it^^

What fun activities do you like to engage in?

I like many different activities. I like swimming, spinning, dancing and is learning how to play basketball. I also like hiking but only with many friends together ~~

What do you look forward to the most about being in the U.S. this coming academic year? (Or simply in terms of being at Oldenborg or Pomona College?)

I am looking forward to meeting lots of great people here and working, studying, and hanging out together. I am also looking forward to teaching Chinese, introducing Chinese culture to you and learning more about other cultures.

Where do you live in your home country?
I’m from Wakayama in Japan. I went to elementary school, junior school and high school in Wakayama. I guess you don’t know where Wakayama is.  It is located in Kansai on Honshu Island and it’s near Osaka, which is the second biggest city in Japan. Wakayama is rural and there are many green places, beautiful rivers, the Pacific Ocean and a famous castle.  I went to University in Kobe, which is also in Kansai, but it is totally different from Wakayama.  I love Kobe because it is modern and is an more international city.

What is your favorite cultural tradition or holiday? Why is it special to you?
My favorite cultural tradition and holiday is, of course, New Years Day. It is really fun and enjoyable! When I was a child I got New Year’s gifts from relatives, but unfortunately not now I am grown up…I wish I were still little! I always look forward to eating traditional foods, soup and rice cakes. I celebrate New Years Day with family and friends and we eat, chat and go to a shrine and a temple. New Years holiday makes me happy and relaxed.

What is your favorite dish?
I can’t choose my favorite dish because I love everything!
In my area, Kansai, Takoyaki is very popular. Takoyaki looks like a small ball, about the size of a golf ball, but it tastes much better. Each ball is made from flour, water, fish stock, chopped cabbage and ginger and in the center you put a piece of octopus! I like to hold Takoyaki Parties with my friends.  Other favorite dishes are Sushi, especially Tuna, and any kind of chocolate, and ice cream!

What fun activities do you like to engage in?
I like watching baseball games in the stadium. I am a big fan of Hanshin Tigers baseball team in Japan! I have a team t-shirt, team towel and a megaphone for cheering my favorite team.  Of course I love to watch base ball games on TV as well. In my free time, I often go shopping (mainly window shopping) and go to Starbucks. If you want to know more about Japanese fashion, please come to my office and let’s talk about it!

What do you look forward to the most about being in the U.S. this coming academic year?
Everything I will experience! I think this coming academic year might be challenging for me, but I am so excited about meeting you and doing new things in the U.S.! Though I am Japanese, I don’t know everything about Japan so perhaps I might be able to learn from you, too. I would like to learn from you and share Japanese culture with you.

I hope to see you soon!

Oldenborg works closely with the Foreign Language Resource Center (FLRC). Please visit the FLRC’s web site for more information on the center’s activities, programs, and resources.

Foreign Language Resource Center (FLRC)

Link to Elvira’s Site

Where do you live in your home country?
I have been living in Saint Petersburg for last 5 years (I was born in Siberia)

What is your favorite cultural tradition or holiday? Why is it special to you?
My favorite holiday is Russian Christmas, which we celebrate on 6-7 January. Christmas is especially important for me because every year all my family gather together. It is the best time to remember our traditions! My mother and Granny cook their special Christmas goose and everybody enjoys it after a long advent. Nevertheless, we don’t spend the whole night inside the house. We go out to sing songs, to go sledding and have snowball fights. It is usually very cold at this time and there’s so much snow! We wear warm clothes and don’t sit at one place for long. This frost helps us to feel deeply the Christmas atmosphere.

What is your favorite dish?
My favorite dish is pancakes. I cook pancakes very often but I am never bored with them as every time I use a different filling. For breakfast, I make pancakes with fried forcemeat or curds…This kind of food is nutritious and gives much energy for the day. And when my friends come to visit me I make pancakes with cherry jam or with chocolate and bananas, as they are very good with tea!

What fun activities do you like to engage in?
When I have free time I like to spend it with my friends doing something interesting. Most of all I like outdoor activities: it can be a picnic, a backyard barbeque with funny contests and games, a trip to a soccer or football game or even a fishing trip. Besides that, I like cultural trips very much: a Sunday trip to a picture-gallery, a walking-tour in the city center or a trip to a famous operetta-hall.

What do you look forward to the most about being in the U.S. this coming academic year? (Or simply in terms of being at Oldenborg or Pomona College?)
Most of all I am looking forward to the moment when I meet the students at Pomona who are interested in Russian culture. I cannot wait to share my knowledge with them. I have so much to tell them! I would like to know more about their culture and their way of life and traditions.

Link to Maria’s Site

Where do you live in your home country?
I live in Oviedo, the capital city of the northern region of Asturias, in Spain. It is a small historic, culturally rich city, surrounded by beautiful green mountains and it is famous for its Pre-Romanesque art and the Prince of Asturias Awards –Some of the U.S.A´s winners are Paul Auster, Susan Sontag, Woody Allen, Bob Dylan, etc.- However my family home is in Galicia, where I was born. Galicia is the most north western region of Spain. It is famous for its beautiful landscapes, varied gastronomy and for being the focus of the medieval Way of St. James, followed by pilgrims from all over Europe and the world since the Middle Ages.

What is your favorite cultural tradition or holiday? Why is it special to you?
I love summer holidays because most cities and villages celebrate their local fiestas! I specially enjoy St. James’ Day on July the 25th in the medieval city of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia. As in every Spanish fiesta, gastronomy and fun are the stars. The celebration ends with an audio-visual show with music and fireworks on the main facade of the cathedral at midnight, followed by concerts and parties in clubs. It is special to me because it is the day of celebration of my region.
What is your favorite dish?
I love paella, the most traditional dish of the region of Valencia. This tasty dish is easy to cook and it can include nearly every ingredient, so you can choose your favourite ones. Anyway, the basics are: rice, saffron, olive oil, and meat (chicken or rabbit) or seafood (mussels, prawns, crab…) and vegetables (tomato, peppers…) No matter the ingredients you choose, the result is always delicious and it has all the good properties of the Mediterranean diet.

What fun activities do you like to engage in?
I like meeting people from different cultures, traveling, reading, hiking, partying and I specially enjoy chatting with my friends in a café for hours: no hurries, no worries, only good company and nice conversations to be enjoyed.

What do you look forward to the most about being in the U.S. this coming academic year? (Or simply in terms of being at Oldenborg or Pomona College?)
I look forward to enjoying interesting conversations about Spain and Hispano-America with you, as well as participating in the Hispanic cultural activities we will have during the year. On the other hand, I cannot wait to travel around the USA, learning from the best of its culture, lifestyle and people.

Link to Tabea’s Site

Where do you live in your home country?
I live in a small town in the southernmost state Bavaria, called Forchheim. It is close to Nuremberg, where the world famous Christkindlesmarket takes place in the winter time. The state capital Munich is just a 2 hour-drive away.

What is your favorite cultural tradition or holiday? Why is it special to you?
Here in Bavaria we have the special tradition to spend most our summer - leisure time in the so called “beer-gardens”. These “beer-gardens” are almost like restaurants, just that you can only sit outside, usually under the trees or directly in the woods. Each city celebrates once a year its own “beer-garden” festival with roller coasters, lots of other fun activities and self-made food. In my home town this festival is called “Annafest” (in order to celebrate Anna).

What is your favorite dish?
My favourite dish is called Kaiserschmarrn. It consists of eggs, flour, raisins, and powder sugar and is thus very sweet. It once was the favourite dish of the Emperor of Austria, and always when the cook “messed up” that dish it was served to the servants, because it was nonsense to serve it to the Emperor, a legend says. That’s where the name Kaiserschmarrn = emperor’s nonsense comes from.

What fun activities do you like to engage in?
In my leisure time I do a lot of sports like horseback riding whenever I get the chance, skiing and snowboarding in the Alps in winter and ballroom dancing. The rest of the time I play my instruments (the saxophone, clarinet and piano), play with the Big Band at various events. Furthermore I like to travel round the world and see interesting places. The US is one of them…

What do you look forward to the most about being in the U.S. this coming academic year? (Or simply in terms of being at Oldenborg or Pomona College?)
I am looking forward to get the chance to talk with American students about my home country, discuss interesting topics and dig into the American way of life. I’d love to make many new friends and have lots of fun with them!

Link to Xueting’s Site

Where do you live in your home country?
I currently live in Beijing, but my home is in Xi’an (It has Terra-cotta warrior!).

What is your favorite cultural tradition or holiday? Why is it special to you?
My favorite holiday is Spring Festival, because all the family members will get together, and everybody looks happy and exciting.

What is your favorite dish? (What is your favorite food to eat?)
I love Beijing roast duck!! It’s so delicious!!
What fun activities do you like to engage in?
I like dancing, swimming and hanging out with friends. When I’m alone, I like to read and write something, and decorate my room.

What do you look forward to the most about being in the U.S. this coming academic year? (Or simply in terms of being at Oldenborg or Pomona College?)
I’m looking forward to meeting new friends!!!! I also wish I could make people around me learn more about China.

Spring 2007

Fall 2006

Non-Credit Hebrew Tutorial

Oldenborg Non-Credit Hebrew Tutorial is offered every Wednesday from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in the Oldenborg Glass Conference Room.

Please contact Roni Or for more information at oldenborg@pomona.edu

Rita Bashaw, Director and Asst. Prof. of German

Luz Forero, Assistant Director

Tammi Rendon, Administrative Assistant

Hilary Gay, Coordinator of the Foreign Language Resource Center

The Pomona College Model Arab League (MAL) team, representing the country of Bahrain, sent a delegation to the Western regional competition held April 13-15 at Mills College in Oakland, Calif. and won the Overall Outstanding Delegation award. This is the highest honor at the conference and the second year in a row that the team won this award. Additionally, Pomona College was named as the site for the 2008 conference.Similar to the Model U.N., the Model Arab League is a diplomatic simulation, which gives students the opportunity to engage in research, public speaking, and debate. The objective is to learn as much as possible about the region, and the assigned country, in order to later represent that country in one of five councils in a mock meeting of the League of Arab Nations. These five councils include: the Councils on Joint Defense, Political Affairs, Palestinian Affairs, Environmental Affairs, and Arab Social Affairs.Each of the 12 student delegates received an award—Pomona’s team was the only delegation to be distinguished in this way. The team included two Pitzer College students and one from Scripps College. The Oldenborg Center and the Departments of International Relations and Economics sponsored the Pomona MAL team.Two Pomona students, Jemel Derbali ’10 and Stephen Laux ’09, were nominated to be secretary general for next year’s conference. Derbali declined because he will be studying abroad, but Laux accepted his nomination and was voted in as secretary general for the 2007-08 academic year. Jessica Alampay Lozano served as the program coordinator for Pomona’s MAL team and the faculty trip member was Fernando Lozano, Pomona College professor of economics. Pomona College is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts institutions, offering a comprehensive program in the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Its hallmarks include small classes, close relationships between students and faculty, and a range of opportunities for student research. Visit Pomona College on the web at www.pomona.edu. Pomona College press release, 5/2/07

Photos

Every member of the Pomona College delegation received an award, and was the only school to be distinguished in this way. As a result of the delegates’ individual success, our delegation, representing Bahrain, was awarded the honor of Overall Outstanding Delegation, the highest honor to be had at this conference. This is the second year in a row that the Pomona delegation was awarded this prize.

The students are divided up and represent our assigned country in five different councils. At this year’s conference we provided two former MAL delegates, to chair the Council on Joint Defense and the Council on Political Affairs. For their duties in this capacity sophomore Jemel Derbali was awarded the prize for Outstanding Chair, while junior Stephen Laux was presented with the award for Honorable Mention Outstanding Chair. As part of the Committee of Faculty Advisers present at the conference I heard first-hand the reactions of my colleagues to these two students. Based on my observation of both Steve and Jemel acting as chairs, as well as what was discussed in our Faculty Adviser meetings, it was clear that Jemel and Steve’s readiness for this task helped make the conference run more smoothly and efficiently — a fact that was appreciated not only by the faculty, but also by the students.

Jemel and Steve both received nominations to be Secretary General for next year’s conference. Jemel had to decline the nomination because he will be studying abroad next Spring. Steve accepted his nomination and was later enthusiastically voted in as Secretary General for the 2007-2008 academic year. Springsong Cooper, one of our two Pitzer students and first-participant in Model Arab League was also nominated for this post, but declined the nomination.

The complete list of awards to our delegation are as follows:

* Overall Outstanding Delegation
- Pomona College for the Representation of Bahrain

* Outstanding Chair
- Jemel Derbali (PO’10)

* Outstanding Chair Honorable Mention
- Stephen Laux (PO’09)

* Outstanding Delegation Award in the Council on Joint Defense
- Joseph Wadakethalakal(PO’10)
- Peter Kurtz (PO’10)

* Outstanding Delegation Award in the Council on Political Affairs
- Isaac Jenkins (PO’11)
- Lila Nazemian (SC’10)

* Honorable Mention Outstanding Delegation in the Council on Palestinian Affairs
- Patrick Crawley (PO’08)
- Springsong Cooper (PI’11)

* Honorable Mention Outstanding Delgation in the Council of Arab Social Affairs Ministers
- Anoush Suni (PO’10)
- Dominique Morris (PO’08)

* Honorable Mention Outstanding Delegation in the Council of Arab Environmental Affairs Ministers
- Daniel Tehrani (PO’10)
- Milan Burke, Head Delegate (PI’08)

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR OLDENBORG
LANGUAGE RESIDENTS

Oldenborg Center serves three unique functions at Pomona College, a liberal arts college of approximately 1500 students located 35 miles east of Los Angeles. Oldenborg is at once a) a foreign-language residence hall, b) an international exchange venue, and c) an international affairs center. Oldenborg houses approximately 145 undergraduate students each academic year; the selection process is competitive and successful applicants must demonstrate both knowledge of, and engagement in, modern foreign languages and international affairs. Oldenborg is divided into six separate language sections (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish), each of which is directed by a Language Resident who is a native speaker of that section’s language.

VISA REQUIREMENTS
Language Residents are Exchange Visitors as classified by the U.S. Department of State visa regulations. Language Residents hold J-1 non-degree student visas and, in order to maintain good standing as defined by visa regulations, must enroll in and successfully complete a full academic course load each term as defined by Pomona College (three academic credits). In addition, visa regulations limit Language Residents to work no more than 20 hours per week.

DUTIES
Language Residents are Pomona College staff employees; i.e, they are teaching assistants, not teaching faculty or research scholars. Moreover, since part of Oldenborg’s mission is to provide structured, but still informal, learning opportunities outside the classroom, the majority of work duties performed by Language Residents also takes place outside the classroom and is designed to supplement and enrich the regular academic programming already offered by the College. Language Residents report to the Oldenborg Center Director and, under the Director’s guidance, collaborate with foreign language and international relations faculty in structuring and implementing programming that supports engagement with foreign languages and cultures at the College. As such, Language Resident duties and responsibilities include:

• To serve as facilitators in intermediate and advanced foreign language conversation classes.
• To attend weekday foreign-language lunch tables and provide leadership that stimulates conversation in the target language.
• To organize and provide leadership for Center cultural events, such as film screenings, guest presentations, and other discussions. Although some events may be undertaken on student initiative, the advice and assistance of the Language Resident will be necessary.
• To promote use of the target language and interest in the foreign culture(s) relevant to the language section; to do so in a manner consistent with the Center’s spirit of providing a foreign language immersion environment for students.
• To be prepared to collaborate with individual foreign language faculty for a maximum of 5 hours per week as agreed upon by the Oldenborg Center Director and the Department Chair of the respective language program (monitor drill sections, etc.).
• Additional duties as required.

COMPENSATION
Oldenborg Language Residents receive $11,000 for the academic year (mid-August until mid-May), room and board (16 meals per week plus $160 Board Plus per semester), and subsidized health insurance plan. Since Language Residents must complete three academic credits each semester per visa regulations, the College waives Language Resident tuition for course loads of up to three credits. Language Residents must pay their own travel expenses. All contracts are for one academic year; occasionally, and upon the College’s review, contracts may be renewed for a single additional year.

QUALIFICATIONS
Language Residents must be native speakers of one of the six languages emphasized by the Center: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish. Language Residents must hold a B.A. degree (or equivalent), preferably in foreign languages, linguistics, or a related field. A TOEFL score of 600 or equivalent demonstrable fluency in English is required.

APPLICATION MATERIALS
Applicants for the position of Oldenborg Language Resident should submit the following materials:
• Prospective Language Resident Application
• Cover letter in English (indicating reasons for applying for this position, extracurricular interests, eventual career plans, and other relevant information)
• Curriculum vitae in English.
• Official transcript of academic work (with English translation).
• 2 letters of recommendation. Letters should be sealed by the recommender and, if possible, sent directly to the Oldenborg Center Director.

Finalists for the position will be contacted for a phone interview. For full consideration, application materials should be received by January 31, 2009.

Application materials should be sent to:

Professor Rita Bashaw, Director
Luz Forero, Assistant Director
Oldenborg Center - Pomona College
350 N. College Way
Claremont, CA 91711
USA

Application materials can be also sent via electronic mail to the Oldenborg Center. Include Language Resident Application in the subject of the email.

Interested in working for us? Please let us know! Contact Oldenborg Center by email.

Attention All Pomona Students!!! Oldenborg welcomes applications from rising Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
Applications due in the Oldenborg Main Office by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2009.

Do you have at least one year of college experience in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish?
Are you interested in foreign languages and cultural activities?
Are you interested in living in a Special Interest Group?

Click here for Room Draw Application.

Click here for SIG application

Note: Students must complete separate applications if applying to live in a language hall and a special interest group.

FMI: contact Oldenborg Center by email or Luz Forero, Assistant Director, x 71159

**Students interested from other 5C campuses, please see Oldenborg Staff for details

The Oldenborg working paper series publishes faculty work in progress, collaborative pieces between faculty and students, outstanding student papers, and texts by visiting scholars and speakers. This series focuses on international, comparative, and regional topics with an emphasis on bridging academic disciplines, and is edited by a team composed of faculty and students of Pomona College. For the 2004-2005 academic year the editorial board is: EmilyAvera ’05, Lisa Mueller ’07, Pierre Englebert, Stephen Marks, Rita Bashaw, and Patricia Schiaffini.

Please send submissions to rita.bashaw@pomona.edu

“Both Sides Now: The Emerging Power of Migrant Associations in Mexican Politics”
(This paper has been removed at the request of the author; it is under consideration for publication at a peer-reviewed journal. Please contact the author for more information.)
Heather Williams
Associate Professor of Politics

“Poverty and Democracy in Africa”
Pierre Englebert
Associate Professor of Politics
Monica Boduszynski ‘04

“Innocent Or Not-So-Innocent Bystanders: Evidence From the Gravity Model of International Trade About the Effects of UN Sanctions on Neighbor Countries”
Slavi Slavova
Assistant Professor of Economics

TBA

Spring Application Deadline: Monday, March 23, 2009, at 4pm

 
 Click here for the International Research and Travel Grant Application

Oldenborg International Research and Travel Grants (“Oldenborg Grants”) offer financial support to help cover expenses for international research for a senior thesis or senior exercise. Proposed projects must have received prior departmental approval. A selection committee will review grant proposals and make grant awards. Although awards may be made in amounts of up to $3,500, these grants are intended to supplement, not replace, other sources of funding.

Who can apply?
For the Spring deadline, Pomona College Juniors (rising Seniors) may apply for funding to complete research toward the senior thesis/senior exercise during the summer break.

To learn more:
Conact Rita Bashaw, Oldenborg Director or
Luz Forero, Oldenborg Assistant Director

Submit materials to:

By Email:
Oldenborg Center Please specify “Oldenborg Travel Grant” in the subject line.

Hard copies may be submitted in person or by mail to:
Oldenborg Center
350 N. College Way
Claremont, CA 91711

Satellite is available in 9 different locations in Oldenborg: in each of the six language lounges (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish), in the North and South Tutorial Rooms, and in the International Theater. You are welcome to watch satellite programming in the language lounges and tutorial rooms. Just be considerate of other ongoing programming, such as conversation classes and tutoring hours.

Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish tables meet daily. On Wednesdays, we also feature beginner tables in these six languages. Oldenborg requests that lunch guests honor its tradition of supporting foreign languages; those who wish to converse in English are respectfully asked to visit other college dining halls.

If there is a language you would like to practice that is not listed here, please contact the Oldenborg Center at 621-8018 or email Oldenborg.

Oldenborg offers free peer tutoring at the Foreign Language Resource Center (FLRC) located in Mason Hall.

Fall 2009 Schedule

Language                                      Day                                   Time 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Arabic                                            Sunday                       7:00pm-9:00pm                        

                                                      Wednesday                 8:00pm-9:00pm

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Chinese                                         Sunday                       7:00pm-9:30pm

                                                      Wednesday                 7:00pm-9:30pm 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

French                                           Sunday                       8:00pm-10:30pm

                                                      Tuesday                     7:00pm - 9:30pm  

_______________________________________________________________________________________

German                                         Sunday                        7:30pm-10:30pm

                                                      Monday                      7:00pm - 9:00pm

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Japanese                                        Sunday                        7:00pm-9:00pm 

                                                      Tuesday                     8:00pm-9:00pm

                                                      Wednesday                 7:00pm-9:00pm 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Russian                                         Sunday                          8:00pm-10:00pm

                                                     Tuesday                       8:00pm-9:00pm

                                                     Wednesday                   7:00pm-9:00pm 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Spanish                                         Sunday                         7:00pm-9:30pm

                                                     Tuesday                       7:00pm-9:30pm

Proposed as a coeducational residence that would go beyond the usual concept of “language houses” and “international houses,” the idea of Oldenborg was developed by what was then the department of Modern European Languages and Literature and by Deans J. Edward Sanders, Shelton Beatty and Jean Walton, with the support of President E. Wilson Lyon.
The concept was warmly received by Diederick C. Oldenborg, a retired businessman who had come to know Pomona College through Mr. Allen F. Hawley, director of alumni and public relations. Mr. Oldenborg and his wife, Maisie McMaster, contributed $1,100,00 to start the Oldenborg project. The final cost of the building was $2,300,000.

Construction began on October 2, 1965, and the dedication took place on October 18, 1966. The first students moved in on November 2, 1966. Mr. Oldenborg did not live to see the completion of the building, but Mrs. Oldenborg remained vitally involved in the Center and its programs until her death in December, 1984. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oldenborg, Maisie Barber, and her family, have continued the family tradition of commitment to and support of Oldenborg Center.

Oldenborg Center was newly renovated in 1998.

Oldenborg Center
Pomona College
350 N. College Way
Claremont, CA 91711
909.621.8018
oldenborg@pomona.edu

The Oldenborg Center is located on the Pomona College Campus just south of Bridges Auditorium. You can find an interactive map of the campus here.

The Oldenborg Center for Modern Languages and International Relations was founded to provide students with a living experience of international education. Each year, around 145 students choose to live in foreign language sections that are devoted to programs focusing on six cultures and languages - Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.

Oldenborg Center sponsors a wide variety of international and intercultural activities. These activities, which are open to the entire college community, include an International Relations Colloquium (IRC), an International Film Series, language lunch tables, and international dinners. These activities offer unique opportunities to communicate in a foreign language and to learn about international communities.

Each language section is assisted by a native-speaking graduate Language Resident, whose apartment and lounge are located within the language area. The language lounges are stocked with numerous periodicals and books, as well as a VCR and TV with Satellite broadcast for foreign news and other programming. The Language Residents hold conversation classes and help organize study breaks and cultural events for interested students and Oldenborg residents.

The Oldenborg Center also houses the Virginia Glass Memorial Library, open 24 hours, an International Theatre, two computer labs, and several ethernet-linked computers for student use. For more information, please e-mail the Director of Oldenborg Center, Rita Bashaw, or the Assistant Director, Luz Forero.

For photos from various Oldenborg events, click here http://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/

Model Arab League (this site is currently still under development (status of information (July 23, 2007)

APPLICATION FORMS: Please download here.

Pomona College Delegation Wins Model Arab League Western Regional Competition

The Pomona College Model Arab League (MAL) team, representing the country of Bahrain, sent a delegation to the Western regional competition held April 13-15 at Mills College in Oakland, Calif. and won the Overall Outstanding Delegation award. This is the highest honor at the conference and the second year in a row that the team won this award. Additionally, Pomona College was named as the site for the 2008 conference. Similar to the Model U.N., the Model Arab League is a diplomatic simulation, which gives students the opportunity to engage in research, public speaking, and debate. The objective is to learn as much as possible about the region, and the assigned country, in order to later represent that country in one of five councils in a mock meeting of the League of Arab Nations. These five councils include: the Councils on Joint Defense, Political Affairs, Palestinian Affairs, Environmental Affairs, and Arab Social Affairs. Each of the 12 student delegates received an award—Pomona’s team was the only delegation to be distinguished in this way. The team included two Pitzer College students and one from Scripps College. The Oldenborg Center and the Departments of International Relations and Economics sponsored the Pomona MAL team. Two Pomona students, Jemel Derbali ’10 and Stephen Laux ’09, were nominated to be secretary general for next year’s conference. Derbali declined because he will be studying abroad, but Laux accepted his nomination and was voted in as secretary general for the 2007-08 academic year. Jessica Alampay Lozano served as the program coordinator for Pomona’s MAL team and the faculty trip member was Fernando Lozano, Pomona College professor of economics. Pomona College is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts institutions, offering a comprehensive program in the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Its hallmarks include small classes, close relationships between students and faculty, and a range of opportunities for student research. Visit Pomona College on the web at www.pomona.edu. Pomona College press release, 5/2/07

Photos

Every member of the Pomona College delegation received an award, and was the only school to be distinguished in this way. As a result of the delegates’ individual success, our delegation, representing Bahrain, was awarded the honor of Overall Outstanding Delegation, the highest honor to be had at this conference. This is the second year in a row that the Pomona delegation was awarded this prize.

The students are divided up and represent our assigned country in five different councils. At this year’s conference we provided two former MAL delegates, to chair the Council on Joint Defense and the Council on Political Affairs. For their duties in this capacity sophomore Jemel Derbali was awarded the prize for Outstanding Chair, while junior Stephen Laux was presented with the award for Honorable Mention Outstanding Chair. As part of the Committee of Faculty Advisers present at the conference I heard first-hand the reactions of my colleagues to these two students. Based on my observation of both Steve and Jemel acting as chairs, as well as what was discussed in our Faculty Adviser meetings, it was clear that Jemel and Steve’s readiness for this task helped make the conference run more smoothly and efficiently — a fact that was appreciated not only by the faculty, but also by the students.

Jemel and Steve both received nominations to be Secretary General for next year’s conference. Jemel had to decline the nomination because he will be studying abroad next Spring. Steve accepted his nomination and was later enthusiastically voted in as Secretary General for the 2007-2008 academic year. Springsong Cooper, one of our two Pitzer students and first-participant in Model Arab League was also nominated for this post, but declined the nomination.

The complete list of awards to our delegation are as follows:

* Overall Outstanding Delegation
- Pomona College for the Representation of Bahrain

* Outstanding Chair
- Jemel Derbali (PO’10)

* Outstanding Chair Honorable Mention
- Stephen Laux (PO’09)

* Outstanding Delegation Award in the Council on Joint Defense
- Joseph Wadakethalakal(PO’10)
- Peter Kurtz (PO’10)

* Outstanding Delegation Award in the Council on Political Affairs
- Isaac Jenkins (PO’11)
- Lila Nazemian (SC’10)

* Honorable Mention Outstanding Delegation in the Council on Palestinian Affairs
- Patrick Crawley (PO’08)
- Springsong Cooper (PI’11)

* Honorable Mention Outstanding Delgation in the Council of Arab Social Affairs Ministers
- Anoush Suni (PO’10)
- Dominique Morris (PO’08)

* Honorable Mention Outstanding Delegation in the Council of Arab Environmental Affairs Ministers
- Daniel Tehrani (PO’10)
- Milan Burke, Head Delegate (PI’08)

Prospective Oldenborg Residents

Attention All Pomona Students!!! Oldenborg welcomes applications from rising Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
Do you have at least one year of college experience in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish?
Are you interested in a foreign language immersion experience?
Are you interested in living in a Special Interest Group?
Apply to live in OLDENBORG CENTER

Download Oldenborg room draw applications:
Language Hall or Special Interest Group
Note: Students must complete separate applications if applying to live in a language hall and a special interest group.

•Applications available at Oldenborg and the Office of Campus Life
•Applications are due in the Oldenborg Main Office in early March. Exact date will be announced in January.
•Students with international interests can propose a Special Interest Group

FMI: contact Oldenborg Center by email or Luz Forero, Assistant Director, x 71159

**Students interested from other 5C campuses, please see Oldenborg Staff for details

Work-Study Positions

Interested in working for us? Please let us know! Contact Oldenborg Center by email.

Prospective Language Residents

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR OLDENBORG
LANGUAGE RESIDENTS

Oldenborg Center serves three unique functions at Pomona College, a liberal arts college of approximately 1500 students located 35 miles east of Los Angeles. Oldenborg is at once a) a foreign-language residence hall, b) an international exchange venue, and c) an international affairs center. Oldenborg houses approximately 145 undergraduate students each academic year; the selection process is competitive and successful applicants must demonstrate both knowledge of, and engagement in, modern foreign languages and international affairs. Oldenborg is divided into six separate language sections (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish), each of which is directed by a Language Resident who is a native speaker of that section’s language.

VISA REQUIREMENTS
Language Residents are Exchange Visitors as classified by the U.S. Department of State visa regulations. Language Residents hold J-1 non-degree student visas and, in order to maintain good standing as defined by visa regulations, must enroll in and successfully complete a full academic course load each term as defined by Pomona College (three academic credits). In addition, visa regulations limit Language Residents to work no more than 20 hours per week.

DUTIES
Language Residents are Pomona College staff employees; i.e, they are teaching assistants, not teaching faculty or research scholars. Moreover, since part of Oldenborg’s mission is to provide structured, but still informal, learning opportunities outside the classroom, the majority of work duties performed by Language Residents also takes place outside the classroom and is designed to supplement and enrich the regular academic programming already offered by the College. Language Residents report to the Oldenborg Center Director and, under the Director’s guidance, collaborate with foreign language and international relations faculty in structuring and implementing programming that supports engagement with foreign languages and cultures at the College. As such, Language Resident duties and responsibilities include:

• To serve as facilitators in intermediate and advanced foreign language conversation classes.
• To attend weekday foreign-language lunch tables and provide leadership that stimulates conversation in the target language.
• To organize and provide leadership for Center cultural events, such as film screenings, guest presentations, and other discussions. Although some events may be undertaken on student initiative, the advice and assistance of the Language Resident will be necessary.
• To promote use of the target language and interest in the foreign culture(s) relevant to the language section; to do so in a manner consistent with the Center’s spirit of providing a foreign language immersion environment for students.
• To be prepared to collaborate with individual foreign language faculty for a maximum of 5 hours per week as agreed upon by the Oldenborg Center Director and the Department Chair of the respective language program (monitor drill sections, substitute teach, etc.).
• Additional duties as required.

COMPENSATION
Oldenborg Language Residents receive $11,000 for the academic year (mid-August until mid-May), room and board (16 meals per week plus $160 Board Plus per semester), and College employee benefits (subsidized health care plan). Since Language Residents must complete three academic credits each semester per visa regulations, the College waives Language Resident tuition for course loads of up to three credits. Language Residents must pay their own travel expenses. All contracts are for one academic year; occasionally, and upon the College’s review, contracts may be renewed for a single additional year.
QUALIFICATIONS
Language Residents must be native speakers of one of the six languages emphasized by the Center: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish. Language Residents must hold a B.A. degree (or equivalent), preferably in foreign languages, linguistics, or a related field. A TOEFL score of 600 or equivalent demonstrable fluency in English is required.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Applicants for the position of Oldenborg Language Resident should submit the following materials:
• Language Resident Application Form
• Cover letter in English (indicating reasons for applying for this position, extracurricular interests, eventual career plans, and other relevant information)
• Curriculum vitae in English.
• Official transcript of academic work (with English translation).
• 2 letters of recommendation. Letters should be sealed by the recommender and, if possible, sent directly to the Oldenborg Center Director.

Finalists for the position will be contacted for a phone interview. For full consideration, application materials should be received by January 30, 2009.

Application materials should be sent to:

Professor Rita Bashaw, Director
Luz Forero, Assistant Director
Oldenborg Center - Pomona College
350 N. College Way
Claremont, CA 91711
USA

Application materials can be also sent via electronic mail to the Oldenborg Center. Include Language Resident Application in the subject of the email.

For more information about the International Research and Travel Grant for Pomona Students, please visit the Oldenborg Grant page.

Please see what Oldenborg offers on the following pages.