The mission of the Center is to promote language learning on USC campus.

Director of the Center

Evgeny Dengub

Dr. Evgeny Dengub is a teaching Professor of Russian and Director of the Basic Language Program at the University of Southern California, where he also leads the Center for Languages and Cultures. A recipient of the American Councils of Teachers of Russian (ACTR) Distinguished Service Award and multiple accolades from the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages (AATSEEL), Dr. Dengub is widely recognized for his contributions to language pedagogy. His co-authored textbooks Etazhi (2021) and Panorama (2017) have received awards for excellence in language teaching materials. He also co-edited The Art of Teaching Russian, recognized by the Modern Language Association with the Kenneth W. Mildenberger Honorable Mention Award. Most recently, he co-created OK Story Cards, an educational resource for storytelling and language development

Dr. Dengub served on the ACTR Board of Directors and as Associate Director of the Kathryn Wasserman Davis School of Russian at Middlebury College, where he led STARTALK programs that trained over 100 Russian language educators.

His current research focuses on alternative grading practices, including ungrading, and their impact on student learning and motivation.

You can reach Evgeny by email at dengub@usc.edu or schedule a Zoom meeting with him.

Evgeny Dengub

 

Professional Development Committee

CLC PD Committee is committed to promoting best practices in language and culture teaching and assessment, exploring new tools and methodologies for in-person and remote teaching, offering a platform for faculty to share best practices, as well as providing grants, advice and mentoring to faculty in support of their teaching and research, and inviting experts to share best practices and the latest research in the teaching of foreign languages.
  • Suzanne Wali, Master Lecturer, Director of the Arabic Language Program (Chair)
  • Peyman Noujoumian, Professor (Teaching) of Persian, Director of the Persian Language Program
  • Francesca Ricciardelli, Lecturer of Italian
  • Mina Soroosh, Assistant Professor (Teaching) of French

Community Outreach Committee

The goal of the Community Outreach committee is to create meaningful partnerships with the global communities surrounding USC. Through the implementation of service-based outreach programs and the organization of events, we aim to provide learning opportunities and bring awareness to the importance of studying the diverse languages and cultures represented in our campus, the community, and the world.
  • María Mercedes Fages Agudo, Master Lecturer in Spanish, Chair
  • Jaclyn Cohen-Steinberg, Associate Professor (teaching) of Spanish
  • Jamie Fudacz, Assistant Professor (teaching) of Spanish
  • Lori N Mesrobian, Associate Professor (teaching) of Spanish
  • Jennifer Misran, Lecturer in French
  • David Zarazua, Associate Professor (teaching) of Spanish

Language Exchange Program Committee

The USC CLC Language Exchange Program offers a platform to pair students with a native or near-native speaker of the language they are learning so they can expand their spoken communication skills, meet new friends, and be better able to engage the world around them.
  • Anahit Milagerdi Hakoupian, Associate Professor (Teaching) of Spanish
  • Christopher Magriney, Lecturer in Chinese, Chair

Foreign Language Literary Journal Advisory Board

The Faculty Advisory Board provides resources, support, guidance and oversees students in coordinating the publication of the literary journal.

  • Anahit Hakoupian, Associate professor (teaching) of Spanish, Co-chair
  • Evgeny Dengub, Professor (teaching) of Russian, Co-chair
  • Lucas Matthew Herchenroeder, Associate professor (teaching) of Classics
  • Tin-Yu Tseng, Assistant professor (teaching) of Chinese

AL Award Selection Committee

  • Hagit Arieli-Chai (chair), Lecturer, Director of the Hebrew Language Program, Hebrew Union College
  • Jenifer Crawford, Professor of Clinical Education, Rossier School of Education
  • Peyman Noujoumian, Associate Professor (Teaching) of Persian, Director of the Persian Language Program, Department of Middle East Studies

Certificate of Proficiency in Two or More Languages

  • Coordinator: Jackie Cohen-Steinberg, Associate Professor (Teaching) of Spanish

Foreign Language Teacher Training (AL orientation)

  • Coordinator: Julia C. Chamberlin, Master Lecturer in French

Multilingual Talent Show

  • Suzanne Wali (Arabic), chair
  • Ivette Miriam Gomez (Spanish)
  • Jennifer Misran (French)

Questions? Want to serve on a committee?

If you have questions to or about the committee or would like to serve on it in the future, please, email Evgeny Dengub at dengub@usc.edu

Annual Reports