Printer Friendly VersionLANGUAGE MATTERS IV:
READING AND TEACHING TONI MORRISON IN TRANSLATION
An invitational workshop for teachers in US and French schools held in conjunction with Sixth Biennial Conference "Toni Morrison and the Circuits of the Imagination/Toni Morrison et les Circuits de l'Imaginaire"
As Morrison's works are translated into more languages, the novels become an important means of communication between and across cultures. Teachers, especially those teaching Morrison in language cultures that may be different from Morrison's own, play a critical role not only in reading her work in translation, but also in providing cultural interpretation and ultimately, shaping understandings that reach beyond boundaries of culture and language. For Language Matters IV, we want to facilitate the dialogue between teachers from the US and Paris who are teaching Morrison, some in English, others in French. We will consider the challenges of teaching translated texts and develop strategies for implementation. While our focus will be on the English to French-French to English translations, teachers attending the conference from other language areas are welcome to join us, since many of the issues to be raised pertain to the field of translation studies.
WHAT: A discussion of The Bluest Eye and Song of Solomon by French and English teachers. These books will be available in French.
WHO: 28 teachers will be selected to meet with 2 teacher-discussion leaders and scholars of translation studies. These teachers must all have an ongoing commitment to teaching works by Toni Morrison and participate in web-based (virtual) discussions subsequent to the workshop. US teachers, working together, must apply as a team (one French, one English). US teachers will each receive a stipend of $800 to help with the cost of travel and lodging.
WHEN: The workshop is scheduled for Saturday, November 7. Selected teachers will also be able to attend all conference events, November 4-7, 2010. See the website [tonimorrisonsociety.org] for conference schedule, hotel information, and updates.
ALL SELECTED TEACHERS RECEIVE COMPLIMENTARY CONFERENCE REGISTRATON
ELIGIBILITY:
- A French and English teacher from Paris and the banlieue who has taught Morrison in English or in translation;
- An English teacher from the US who has taught Morrison's work in English, together with a French teacher from the US (French proficiency required);
- A graduate student, committed to teaching, who has focused on cultural translation in Morrison's work and/or whose field is translation studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Selection will be based on submission of a letter of interest by US teacher teams. French teachers will be selected by invitation only. The letter must indicate the level of engagement in teaching Morrison's work and a proposed plan for future teaching. The French member of the US teacher team must include evidence of French classroom teaching/French language proficiency. Before the beginning of the workshop, selected participants and teacher teams must submit at least 3 concrete examples of translation matters that affect the teaching of Morrison.
DEADLINE:
We will begin reviewing letters of interest immediately and will continue until all the spaces are filled. Up to 14 teachers from the US and 14 from Paris will be selected. All letters must be submitted by August 1 to receive consideration.
SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION ELECTRONICALLY TO:
Paris.tms@gmail.com (Please put Language Matters IV in Subject line)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Maryemma Graham, PhD
Project on the History of Black Writing
Department of English
University of Kansas
1445 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045
785-864-2557
mgraham@ku.edu
ABOUT LANGUAGE MATTERS
Language Matters is a national educational and service initiative of the Toni Morrison Society. Established in 2001, it is designed to provide opportunities for interactive dialogue among school teachers and between teachers and scholars, and to create appropriate instructional materials for those teaching imaginative literature, especially the novels of Toni Morrison in secondary school classrooms. Language Matters, coordinated by the Project on the History of Black Writing at the University of Kansas, is a three-time NEH grant recipient. LM-IV extends the conversation about teaching Morrison's work to French and English teachers in the US and abroad.
