Department of Romance Studies

Upcoming Events

Interested in ROMS events? Please check this page often! You are also invited to join one or all of our Google Groups in French and Francophone, Hispanic and Italian Studies by using the ROMS sign-up sheet. Thank you and welcome!

Stay tuned for more events in spring 2024!

Organized by the Division of the Humanities

Stay tuned for more events in spring 2024!

Organized by the World Languages and Cultures (WLC) Committee

Stay tuned for more events in spring 2024!

Recent Events

flyer for Celebrate ROMS event. colorful image of "Ode to joy" painting by Jaime Rozen. text is included in the body of this page.
CELEBRATE ROMS!

Hosted by the Romance Studies Department: French & Francophone, Hispanic, and Italian Studies

Date: Thursday, November 16, 2023
Time: 2:00–3:30 p.m.
Location: International Lounge in Usdan

  • chat with faculty, UDRs, Study Abroad reps, IIM advisors, & more!

  • learn about our programs and spring 2024 classes!

  • “HAPPY HOUR” - stop by for snacks & soft drinks

  • enter a raffle for Lizzy’s gift cards!

This event is part of I Am Global Week 2023!

flyer for All Languages Dinner event. names of languages taught at Brandeis in the background; banner at top with "English" crossed out and "I Am Global Week presents"; other text matches the description on this page. QR code at the bottom corner links to the registration form also linked on this page.
9th Annual All Languages Dinner

All members of the Brandeis Community (undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff) are invited to experience and celebrate the linguistic diversity of Brandeis during the "I Am Global Week 2023." There will be twelve different languages participating this year: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Yiddish, and Latin.

Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: The Faculty Club
Registration: Starting November 1st, use this link to sign up for the All Languages Dinner.

Stay for a few minutes or for the entire hour. If you speak several languages, visit multiple tables! No matter your level of proficiency, you are welcome! The only rule is NO ENGLISH! Please speak only the language of a specific table (tables) during your visit (you will take a mini language pledge before entering the room).

  • The first 10 individuals who register for each language will receive a voucher for FREE dinner buffet. There will also be culture-specific desserts/snacks at each language table. Registrants will be notified via email if they will receive a voucher (look for an e-mail from your professor), and the vouchers will be available on each language table on the day. Please note that students are given priority to sign up for the free dinner allotted for each language table. The sign-up form will be available on November 1st.
  • If you are not among the first 10, please do not be discouraged and bring your own food! You will also be able to enjoy savory or sweet snacks provided by the language program hosting your table.

Presented by the World Languages and Cultures Committee, the Division of Humanities, and the Mandel Center for the Humanities, with generous support from the Provost and the Dean of Arts and Sciences.

flyer for Mauro Bucci event and film screening. image of Hotel Splendid movie poster. text is included in the body of this page.
Hotel Splendid: migration stories through the lens of ethnography

Film Screening and Q&A with writer, producer, director, filmmaker, and editor: MAURO BUCCI

Movie Night with Pizza
Sunday, November 12, 2023; 6:00–8:00 p.m. in Mandel G03
If you plan to attend, use this RSVP form to let us know!

Q&A with Mauro Bucci
Tuesday, November 14, 2023; 12:45–1:35 p.m. in Shiffman 219
Mauro Bucci will join us via Zoom to discuss the film and answer any questions you may have!

Hotel Splendid is the intimate and profound story of an African community that lives in an Italian tourist hotel turned into an emergency camp for refugees.

Students in ITAL 30 are required to attend these events, but ALL are welcome and encouraged to join!

Sponsored by the Brandeis Italian Studies Program as part of I Am Global Week 2023.

flyer for cheese event. image of cheese and bread with flags from relevant countries. text is same as on this page.
Formaggio, Fromage y Queso!

This is a joint event hosted by the French, Italian, and Hispanic Studies UDRs.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023
5:30 – 7:00 pm
SCC Atrium

Please join us for a ROMS celebration of Cheese and Community: We will be celebrating all three cultures with different cheeses, meats, and breads!!

poster for Federico Laffitte event. image of person in a canoe on water with trees in background (provided by the film director). text reads same as below
Federico Laffitte: a conversation about El verano de camoatí

4-5:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 2023 | Shiffman 219

Join us to talk virtually with Argentinean director Federico Laffitte about his portrayal of the lives of young people in Patagonia. Event will be held in Spanish.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Professor Kristen Turpin, senior lecturer in Hispanic Studies.

Organized by the Department of Romance Studies. Sponsored by the School of Arts and Sciences.

Haitian Folklore and Dance

7-8 p.m. Nov. 1, 2023 | Schwartz 112

Vin fete!

Venez fêter!

Come celebrate!

A dynamic event featuring Haitian folklore and participatory dance with explanations in English. Haitian-style snacks provided. All are welcome!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Professor Catherine Theobald.

Sponsored by the School of Arts and Sciences

RAPHAËLLE FRANÇOISphoto of presenter

Education & Outreach Manager, Guest Company Dancer

Raphaëlle François was born in Haiti and started dancing at nine years old at Artcho Danse, a highly distinguished dance school in Haiti. She trained in several dance styles, such as modern, jazz, contemporary, classical and ballroom dance. Raphaëlle was inspired by Haitian folklore and decided to specialize herself in Afro-Contemporary dance.

At the age of 12, she became a member of the Artcho Danse School Company and launched a professional career that projected her around the world. She performed, gave workshops and promoted Haitian culture in prestigious institutions such as Tokyo National Ballet, Quartier in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New York City, Ballet Hispanico in New York City, Ballet Roto in Dominican Republic and in Cyprus, Jamaica. She has also created pieces, such as "ti mari'' (Haiti), "Marasa," and "Y continuamos'' (Dominican Republic, Dance Festival Edanco). Raphaëlle is currently working on a series of workshops called " Vin danse ak Raphaelle" around the world where she teaches basic Haitian Folklore techniques.

Jean Appolon Expressions (JAE)
Instagram: @jaebostonhaiti

poster for Humanities Trick or Treat with spider web border and ghost. text is also on this page at left.
Humanities Trick or Treat

Stop by Department Admins for candy and to learn more about their programs, courses, majors/minors, events, and more! Trick-or-Treating will take place on Halloween (Oct. 31) in two shifts below. We look forward to seeing you!

10 am - 1 pm

  • English - Rabb 144
  • Philosophy - Rabb 303
  • ROMS (Romance Studies) - Shiffman 108
  • COML (Comparative Literature & Culture) - Shiffman 108

12 - 4 pm

  • Division of Humanities - Mandel Center Pod 127
  • Classical and Early Mediterranean Studies - Mandel Center Pod 225
  • NEJS (Near Eastern & Judaic Studies) - Lown 211
  • GRALL (German, Russian & Asian Languages & Literatures) - Shiffman 116
poster for event with same text as on website with picture of speaker and French Flag with Star of David
Antisemitism in France Today: A History & Conversation

With Professor Jennifer Cazenave

Oct. 5, 2023 | Shiffman 216

  • Questions about attitudes regarding Jews in France today?
  • Wondering how the place of Jews in France has evolved since 1945?
  • Interested in studying abroad but concerned about antisemitism in
  • France and in Europe in general?
  • Want context to better understand "Prayer for the French Republic?"
A short presentation followed by a question-and-answer session in English about the current state of antisemitism in France.

Jennifer Cazenave is an assistant professor of French & Film at Boston University. She is the author of "An Archive of the Catastrophe: The Unused Footage of Claude Lanzmann’s 'Shoah' " (2019), as well as numerous articles and essays on French cinema, Holocaust films and traumatic histories.

Sponsored by the Center for German and European Cultural Studies.

poster for crepe night. Text is the same as on web page.
Fresh Crêpes with the French UDRS

Sept. 27, 2023 | Upper Usdan

Enjoy crêpes with us!

Come to dinner and dessert with the French Department. All are welcome.

poster for play with same text as on website. Picture of Jewish family against abstract rendition of Paris and Eiffel Tower
"Prayer for the French Republic"

Sept. 28, 2023 | Huntington Theatre, Boston, MA

"Prayer for the French Republic" by Joshua Harmon

An event for students in French and Francophone Studies. A limited number of tickets available to any student enrolled in French, on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't wait!

"Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, wickedly funny." — The New York Times