·        Professor of French (1998-present)

·        Associate Professor of English and French (1991-1997)

·        Assistant Professor of English and French (1986-1991)

·        Vice-President and Administrator of National French Exam, South Dakota Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French

·        Coordinator, Department of Modern Languages and Communications (1996-2000 and 2002-2004)

·        Director, Federal Department of Education Title VIa grant for Strengthening Foreign Language and International Studies programs (1999-2002)

·        Chair, Department of Language, Literature and Communications (1994-1996)

·        Acting Director NSU Honors Society (1991)

·        Author, Federal Department of Education Title VIa grant for Strengthening Foreign Language and International Studies programs (pending 2005-2007)

·        Chair, Foreign Language Discipline Council, South Dakota Board of Regents (2000-2004)

·        Chair, Council of English Department Chairs and Writing Center Directors (1995-1996)

·        President, SD Chapter, American Association of Teachers of French (1994-1998)

·        Statewide Contest Administrator for AATF National French Exam (1993)

·        Translator for Joint Publications Research Service (U. S. I. A.) (1984-1986)

·        Teaching assistant, Department of Germanic Languages, U.T. Austin (1982-1984)

·        Instructor, Department of French and Italian, University of Texas at Austin (1979-1981)

·        Instructor of English, Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1977)

 EDUCATION

PhD. University of Texas at Austin (1988) Comparative Literature. Dissertation: "The Role of the Fantastic in the Authorship of Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen)."

MA. University of Texas and Sorbonne/Université de Paris IV (1978)

(equivalence), French. Thesis: "L'Idéal de l'Honnête Homme dans Le Misanthrope de Molière et dans The Plain Dealer de William Wycherley."

BA. Northwestern University (1975) English

SPA training for NCATE accreditation (2006)

University of California at Berkeley, ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview Workshop (2002)

University of Minnesota, CARLA Summer Institute, “Using Technology in the Second Language Classroom” (2002)

Université de Montpellier II, l’Institut d’Administration des Entreprises, Stage Ambassade de France: Business French (1997)

Université de Paris IV/Sorbonne: Diplôme de Langue et de Civilisation française (1977)

Alliance française, Paris. Certificat de français parlé; Diplôme de langue française (1976)

 

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

AWARDS

·        Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad/Hungary (2006) (Declined due to family health emergency)

·        Governor Janklow’s Advanced Faculty Awards for Teaching with Technology: “Revising and Expanding the Use of Technology in the Beginning and Intermediate French Curriculum” (2002)

·        Governor Janklow’s Faculty Awards for Teaching with Technology: “Expanding French Studies through Technology” (1998)

French government bourse for training program in Business French at University of Montpellier II, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1997)

·        Burlington-Northern Outstanding Teacher Award (1992)

  •       NEH Literary Translation Institute at the U.C. Santa Cruz, (1988)
  •       Aurora Borealis Prize: Nordic government award presented at the Conference of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies (1986)

    • ·        George C. Marshall Memorial Fund Dissertation Support (1982-1983)

     

    SCHOLARSHIP

    Publications

    The Learning Organization, translation of Den Lærende Organization, for Scandinavian Training Design. (1995)

    "The Phenomenon of Intertextuality and the Role of Androgeny in Isak Dinesen’s ‘The Roads Round Pisa’” in Isak Dinesen and Narrativity: Reassessments for the 1990s, Gurli Woods, ed., Carleton University Press. (1994)

    "Shakespeare and Dinesen," presented at the First Dakotas Conference on Earlier British Literature (1992) and published in the Proceedings (1993).

    The Pact: My Friendship with Isak Dinesen by Thorkild Bjørnvig and De Ubændige: Om Ibsen, Blixen og hverdags Virkelighed by Aage Henriksen (book review). Research in African Literatures. Spring, 1986.

    "The Fantastic in Isak Dinesen's Osceola Production," Scandinavian Studies. Autumn 1985. Previously presented at an International Symposium: "Karen Blixen/Isak Dinesen: Tradition, Modernity, and Other Ambiguities," University of Minnesota, April 1985, and published in the proceedings.

    "The Fantastic in Scandinavian Novels after 1978" (article refereed for Scandinavian Studies).

    Papers

    “Etablishing international collaborative partnerships between secondary and higher education institutions using SIPEV and Internet-based videoconferencing.” 16th Annual Seminar of the Russian Association of Teachers of French. Moscow. (2007)

    “Teaching for Proficiency: A Review of Pedagogical Principles Affecting Design and Practice in Elementary French Textbooks at the University level in the United States.”  14th Annual Seminar of the Russian Association of Teachers of French. Moscow. (2005)

    “À l’Occasion du Bicentenaire de la vente de la Louisiane : L’Influence française sur le développement culturel, politique, et économique du Midwest américain.” 13th Annual Seminar of the Russian Association of Teachers of French. Moscow. (2004)

    “SIPEV (Site Internet Pour les Echanges Virtuels) : une nouvelle ressource pour l’emploi de la langue française comme moyen de communication internationale” Twelfth Annual Conference of the Russian Association of Teachers of French. Moscow. (2003)

    “The Danish Virtual Picture Album,” presented at the annual conference of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, Brigham Young University. (2002)

    Discussant at the Trilateral International Seminar “Les Langues ouvrent les portes” organized by the Russian Association of Teachers of French, the Danish Association of Teachers of French, and the Danish Association of Teachers of Russian, Copenhagen, (2002)

    “Adapting Portes Ouvertes for Distance Education with WebCT,” 74th Annual Convention of the American Association of Teachers of French, Denver. (2001)

    “Delivery of Upper Division Language Courses via V-Tel and Internet,” Statewide conference on Collaborative Changes: Creating E-Learning Solutions, University of South Dakota, Vermillion. (2001)

    “L’Enseignement du français aux Etats-Unis,” Xth annual conference of Russian Association of Teachers of French, Moscow. (2001)

    “Using Internet-based Technology (WebCT) in the Language Classroom,” Tri-State Foreign Language Conference, Sioux City, IA. (2000)

     “The Role of Language and Culture in the International Business Curriculum.” 4th Annual SD International Business Conference, Rapid City, SD. (1997)

    “L’Emploi de l’Internet dans les cours de français commercial,” Université de Montpellier II, Institut d’Administration des Entreprises. (1997)

    “The South Dakota Challenge,” jointly presented with Dr. Karen Cardenas (SDSU) and Prof. Judith Horning (SDSU) at a special session of the Annual Conference of the Central States Association of Language Teachers, Columbus OH. (1997)

    "Joseph Nicolas Nicollet: More than a street in Minneapolis," American Association of Teachers of French, Lyon, France. (1996)

    "J. N. Nicollet: Rediscovering the Discoverer," 38th Annual Conference of the Linguistic Circle of Manitoba and North Dakota.  Minot State University. (1995)

    "France Today," South Dakota Chapter of American Association of Teachers of French, Sioux Falls. (1995)

    "Joseph Nicolas Nicollet: A Cultural Chameleon ‘qui dansait avec les loups,’" South Dakota Humanities Conference. (1993)

    "Sex and Violence in Karen Blixen's Out of Africa and 'Carnival.'"  Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, University of Massachusetts. (1991)

    "Translating Tanne: Dinesen's 'The Hermits.'"  Midlands Conference on Language & Literature at Dana College and Creighton University. (1991)

    "Intertextuality and Androgeny in "The Roads Round Pisa," invited presentation for International Conference: Karen Blixen, a Reevaluation for the 1990s at Carleton University, Ottawa. (1990)

    "L'Affinité française de Karen Blixen," Association for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies in Canada, Université Laval. (1989)

    "The Sources for Dinesen's "Heloïse": Maupassant, Wassermann, and Blicher," Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies. Brigham Young University. (1989)

    "Dinesen's 'Babette's Feast':  The Artist as Aristocratic Communard," Midlands Conference in Language and Literature, Dana College and Creighton University. (1989)

    "The Seducer in Karen Blixen's 'The Monkey,' Søren Kierkegaard's Either/Or, and Choderlos de Laclos's Les Liaisons Dangereuses." Midlands Conference in Language and Literature at Dana College. (1988)

    "Computer Assisted Instruction and French in Action."  Joint conference of Social Studies and Foreign Language Teachers, Mitchell, SD. (1988)

    "Fictions in Gestation." MLA. (1986)

    "Karen Blixen and Isak Dinesen: A Literary Partnership." Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies.  Luther College, Decorah, IA. (1986)

    "Karen Blixen's Illegitimate Son: A Reappraisal of Pierre Andrézal and The Angelic Avengers." Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies.  U. Illinois. (1985)

    "Karen Blixen as Osceola. Rebellion and Recovery in the Early Fantastic Narratives."  Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies.  U. Washington. (1984)

    "Names and Plurisignation in 'The Cardinal's Third Tale.'" Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies.  Vanderbilt University. (1982)

    Grants

    “A Proposal to Develop a collaborative program in the teaching of Russian via distance learning technologies, and to Establish an International Studies Major with an area concentration on Eastern European and Russian Studies at Northern State University.” U.S. Department of Education Title VIa grant proposal. (2004, 2005)

    “A Proposal to Strengthen and Enhance the Teaching of Foreign Languages including the development of a Less Commonly Taught Language program, to Establish an International Studies Major, and to Increase Global Awareness among the Faculty, Staff, and Students at Northern State University.” U.S. Department of Education Title VIa grant proposal. (2003)

    "Turning the Corner in South Dakota: Building the Base, Internationalizing the Campus, and Expanding Foreign Language Enrollments" U.S. Department of Education Title VIa grant proposal. (1999-2002) Funded
     

    PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

    ·        American Association of Teachers of French

     INTERESTS

     

    COMMUNITY SERVICE

    Clerk of Lincoln Township, South Dakota, 1995-present (elected position)

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    2. French Links

     Tennessee Bob's site: the most complete and extensive collection

     So why should you study French?

     American Association of Teachers of French

     France diplomatie: official site of French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

     Cultural Services of the French Embassy

     Maison de la France: official French tourism site

    Asterix link to the comic strip character.

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    3. Spring Break Study tours to France

    Northern students, faculty, and friends travel to France over Spring Break.  Since 1992, groups ranging in size from 10 to 26 people have discovered French history, culture, art, cuisine, and nature in trips organized through the Office of Extension Studies and/or the NSU Foundation.  The trips last 13 days and always include several days in Paris.  Other destinations have included Normandy, the Loire valley, Perigord, Provence, and the Cote d'Azur.  Costs are generally about $2200 and include all expenses including airfare, hotels at double occupancy, some meals taken as a group, all train and ground transportation, all entrances to museums and sites, and 2 hours of undergraduate credit.  The tour and course description  gives details for the Spring 2008 Study Tour. The application can be printed and sent in, as well. Here are a few pictures from the Spring 2000 Study Tour:
     The greco-roman archeological site of Glanum in Provence
    Waiting for the bus in Paris

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    4. South Dakota Cooperative French Studies Program (incl. links to faculty at USD and SDSU)

    In 1996, faculty at Northern State, South Dakota State, and the University of South Dakota were charged with developing a new state-wide program in French that would make more efficient use of faculty and resources while providing students with improved service and more choice.  The faculty designed a program that incorporates technology (video-conferencing, Internet-based course delivery, email linked classes, etc.) and study abroad and internship opportunities into a curriculum geared towards both immediate future employment and continued study at the graduate level. In 1997, the Board of Regents approved the plan; the curriculum allows students to take the first two years of study in an intensive face-to-face environment.  The third and fourth years take place in a shared environment where different courses originate at each of the three cooperating campuses.  In this manner, students have the benefit of a "virtual" department that is much bigger than the one on their home campus.  They learn from more faculty, interact with more students, and take advantage of more contacts and opportunities while being guaranteed the courses they need when they need them and in the order they need them.  Language lab facilities are rapidly being upgraded and course curricula are being adapted to a modern, learner-centered format.  Current faculty in the system include:

    Dr. Casey Black, NSU
    Katia Maroun, USD
    Dr. Marie-Pierre Baggett, SDSU

    Dr. Molly Enz, SDSU

    M. Alexis Annes, SDSU

    7. Study abroad links

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    8. French at Northern State University

     NSU FACT SHEET:

    Career Opportunities
    Most people assume that French majors find jobs as a teachers, interpreters, translators, or foreign service officers. But most of them find themselves in the same careers as other liberal arts majors: in business, communications, tourism, government, and in professions like the law and medicine. Combined with training in other areas, French gives candidates a big leg up on the competition when they look for jobs and promotions in the real world. 

    Think for a minute: French is a very practical language. Besides the prestige (a French word!) that French imparts to a speaker, a French major becomes much better at English. Did you know that about half of all English words came from either French or Latin and Greek (often through the medium of French)? This makes French  very easy to learn. 

    Consider, too, that French is the second most studied foreign language in the world (after English). French is a language of business, instruction, and government in 42 countries on all five continents. Only English is a more universally used language. So you see, it’s no accident that only French and English are used in the Security Council of the United Nations and that only French and German are used in every country doing business in the European Union. 
     

    		 Closer to home, South Dakota exports over $150 million to Canada, where one quarter of the population live in Quebec (and where the law requires that all contracts be written in French). By contrast, South Dakota exported only about $6 million to Mexico. The international marketplace provides opportunities for people trained in both Spanish and French. 

    The New French Studies Program
    Together with USD and SDSU, NSU offers a whole new curriculum designed to meet the needs of our state. The Cooperative French Studies Program offers two lines of emphasis: Commercial French and General Studies. Both develop real, usable language skills that are honed in internships, study abroad and exchange programs. This system-wide cooperative major insures that students know exactly when courses are offered so that they can finish their program of studies in four years or less. 

    Advanced Placement
    Students who have already studied French may challenge a course at any level and receive credit at no extra charge for the courses leading up to that course. For example, if a student enrolls in the third semester course (FREN 201 Intermediate French) and passes the course with a grade of C or better, he or she will be given a grade of S (satisfactory) for FREN 101 and 102, and eight semester 

    		 hours of credit will be placed on the transcript. No placement tests. No fees. 

    Of course, students should check with a faculty advisor about which course is the appropriate one to challenge. 

    Opportunities Abroad 
    NSU is the only South Dakota public university that has participated in an exchange program that brings French teaching assistants to campus and which sends Northern students to France for a whole year as paid teaching assistants in French high schools. Another agreement allows students to pay tuition and room and board at South Dakota prices while receiving the instruction and services at either the Université d'Orleans or the Université de Picardie-Jules Verne. In addition, Northern sends about twenty students to France every year at Spring Break for a two credit hour study tour. 

    For information on these and many other possibilities or if you would like to learn more about French at Northern, contact: 

    Casey Black, Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin
    Dept. of Modern Languages and Speech Communications 
    Northern State University 
    Aberdeen, SD 57401 
    (605)626-2404 
    blackc@northern.edu 
     

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    9. Joseph N. Nicollet

    Click on this link to find out about this important scientist and mapmaker of the 1830s.
    Be sure to visit the NICOLLET TOWER & INTERPRETIVE CENTER
     

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    10. Growing grapes in the northland....

    Since 1992 I have been experimenting with various varieties of winter-hardy grapes.  It IS very possible to grow grapes for juice, jelly, and wine production using organic cultural techniques.  Contact me for a list of recommended varieties and some tips on how to go about it. Or visit the site of the Minnesota Grape Growers Association.

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