National Foreign Language Week 2023 is underway, and Elmhurst University is celebrating with campus events open to students and the entire campus community.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently issued a proclamation declaring March 5-11, 2023, as National Foreign Language Week in Illinois. The Elmhurst U. chapter of the Alpha Mu Gamma national collegiate foreign language honorary society is sponsoring events throughout the week, including:

• International Poetry Reading Night on Tuesday, March 7, 4:00 p.m., Alexander Rooms North and South
• Origami Night on Wednesday, March 8, 5:00 p.m., Prospect Room
• Cultural Dance Night on Thursday, March 9, 7:30 p.m., Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel

The events highlight cultural awareness, cultural competency and community building. For more information, email [email protected] or go to @eu_amg on Instagram.

For the past three years, the National Foreign Language Week proclamation for Illinois has been issued after a request to the governor is made by Elmhurst U. professor of Spanish Beatriz Gomez Acuna, who is faculty adviser to the University’s Theta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma and also serves as the society’s national president.

National Foreign Language Week was inaugurated in the spring of 1957 by Alpha Mu Gamma to raise awareness at a national level about the importance of foreign language study. Local chapters of Alpha Mu Gamma, now spread across more than 40 states, have since taken the initiative in organizing activities during the week.

The Theta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma at Elmhurst University is especially active, with 15 to 20 initiates per year, and consistently supports student travel to, and participation in, the society’s national conference.