Wesleyan Fries Center for Global Studies

Wesleyan Fries Center for Global Studies The Fries Center for Global Studies houses Study Abroad, Fellowships, and the Language Resource Center.

MISSION
The Center for Global Studies is committed to helping all members of the Wesleyan community achieve the knowledge, language skills, and sensitivity each person will need in order to exercise effective and responsible citizenship in an increasingly inter-dependent world. VISION
Our emphasis on intercultural communication, experience, and knowledge reflects the value we place on adaptability

, compassion, and cultural self-awareness with respect to the world beyond our borders. These qualities and practices put Wesleyan’s liberal arts program at the forefront of global education and are the hallmark of responsible global citizenship.

Looking back on when our FLTAs went apple picking in the fall- it wasn’t too cold yet!
12/04/2025

Looking back on when our FLTAs went apple picking in the fall- it wasn’t too cold yet!

Drop by Fisk 201 this afternoon to learn more about our office, and the work that we do!
11/17/2025

Drop by Fisk 201 this afternoon to learn more about our office, and the work that we do!

Meet Dhara - our Hindi FLTA! Namaste!Dhara Kanchan is the Fulbright FLTA for Hindi at Wesleyan University. She comes fro...
11/11/2025

Meet Dhara - our Hindi FLTA!

Namaste!

Dhara Kanchan is the Fulbright FLTA for Hindi at Wesleyan University. She comes from Jhansi, a city in India known for its rich history and cultural heritage. Dhara is passionate about sharing the vibrant tapestry of her homeland’s culture. She is a dedicated scholar, holding a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in English. She plans to pursue a PhD focused on the fascinating intersection of translation studies, cultural studies, philosophy, and folkloristics. Her academic work includes co-translating a classic Hindi short story published as a chapter in Becoming Translators: Theory and Practice of Translation, and she has presented papers at national conferences.

In her role as an FLTA for Hindi, Dhara is committed to creating an immersive and learner-centric classroom. As a cultural ambassador of India, she brings her love for Indian literature, art, and media into her teaching to foster a dynamic and engaging learning environment. She also has experience teaching underprivileged children through the Social Service League at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and has worked with non-profit organizations dedicated to the uplifting of government schools in India. Beyond her academic pursuits, Dhara is a devoted musician with over five years of training in Indian classical ragas on the synthesizer and has recently begun learning the flute. She is also a certified yoga practitioner, and she holds a diploma in the Bhagavad Gita, which enriches her understanding of Indian philosophy.

For Dhara, this opportunity to teach at Wesleyan is a chance to deepen her intellectual horizons and immerse herself in American culture while building meaningful connections with people from diverse backgrounds. She views this experience as a living embodiment of her core principle: Sa Vidya Ya Vimuktaye (knowledge is that which liberates), a journey of transformation for both herself and society.

11/04/2025

Whatever it takes to pass the vocab quiz ‼️

Applications for CLS are open! Come to the Alumni Panel THIS Thursday (10/30) at 12 pm in Fisk 201 to learn more from pr...
10/29/2025

Applications for CLS are open! Come to the Alumni Panel THIS Thursday (10/30) at 12 pm in Fisk 201 to learn more from previous Wes recipients.

Meet Kohei, our Japanese FLTA! My name is Kohei Konishi, and I was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. I graduated with a B...
10/23/2025

Meet Kohei, our Japanese FLTA!

My name is Kohei Konishi, and I was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages from Kansai Gaidai University in March 2024. During my time there, I also completed the English teacher training program. When I first entered university, I planned to become an English teacher. However, during my one-year exchange program at Millersville University in Pennsylvania in 2022, some friends asked me to teach them Japanese. That experience sparked a new dream of becoming a Japanese language teacher. After returning to Japan, I began taking courses in Japanese language teacher training in my senior year.

Although I completed my degree in March 2024, I still had one final project left in the Japanese teacher training program, with the field study scheduled for fall 2024. Since I had several months free between February and August, I decided on a whim to go to Australia on a working holiday.

I love exploring new countries and places, as well as meeting new people. One of my favorite hobbies is fishing—in fact, I even went fishing just five days before coming to the United States. I also enjoy cooking and watching Netflix with friends.

Last but not least, meet Joan!! Joan is one of the French FLTAs this 2024-2025 academic year. She grow up in the Paris r...
11/01/2024

Last but not least, meet Joan!! Joan is one of the French FLTAs this 2024-2025 academic year. She grow up in the Paris region (Île-de-France) before moving to the US in 2016, when she was thirteen. After moving back to France at the end of high school, she studied in a highly selective Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles in Lyon, to finally get into the ENS Paris-Saclay grad school to study Anglophone literature, history and linguistics. She is currently writing a dissertation on the translation of the novel The Stone Door by surrealist author Leonora Carrington. Above all else, Joan has always wanted to study and teach languages, and she is thrilled to meet everyone at Wesleyan, teaching as well as learning in all the classes and events she can. Joan spends a lot of her free time learning new recipes in her kitchen (she makes a fantastic loaf, but has yet to master the legendary French baguette), but she will not miss an opportunity to play a Dungeons & Dragons or mosh around in the pit of any concert she can get into.

Meet Maryem!!! Maryem Ajbouni is thrilled to join Wesleyan University as the Arabic Fulbright FLTA for this academic yea...
10/29/2024

Meet Maryem!!! Maryem Ajbouni is thrilled to join Wesleyan University as the Arabic Fulbright FLTA for this academic year. She comes from Kairouan, Tunisia, a city renowned for its deep historical roots and vibrant cultural heritage. Maryem holds a Master’s degree in English Literature, with a dissertation focused on American literature and disability studies. She plans to pursue a PhD after her time at Wesleyan and is eager to enrich her understanding of American culture through the university’s various courses and activities.

Maryem brings a diverse range of teaching experience to her role, including two years with young learners and one year with adult students in Tunisia. She also spent a year in Turkey, where she was captivated by the country’s rich history and unique culture, and built enduring friendships. During her time there, she taught English and was voted Teacher of the Year by the student body! Her experience extends to online teaching, which allowed her to engage with students from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

Maryem is deeply passionate about the Arabic language and culture and is enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge and appreciation with her students. Her interests also include psychology, fashion, music, reading and writing. Maryem looks forward to intercultural communication and welcomes engaging, friendly conversations, especially those with a touch of humor!

Say bonjour to Marie!! Marie grew up in France, in the countryside-ish region of Paris. After highschool, she went to ob...
10/25/2024

Say bonjour to Marie!! Marie grew up in France, in the countryside-ish region of Paris. After highschool, she went to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Paris 8 University. In 2019, she got a work holiday visa in Canada and discovered a real passion for traveling. Marie went back to France to finish her Master’s degree in Psychology specialized in Ergonomics, and after a first full-time professional experience in Toronto (Canada), she realized that she needed a career that would allow her more flexibility to travel the world and share her love of learning languages. So since 2023, she has been studying online to obtain a Master’s degree in Didactics of Languages at Sorbonne Nouvelle, while traveling North America in her self-converted campervan. Being an FLTA is truly a first step into her dream of helping others learn French language and cultures of the french-speaking world. For her Master’s thesis, she would like to do some research on alternative efficient methods of teaching-learning languages based on neuroscience and cognitive psychology. In her free time, she likes to watch independent films, go to the (climbing) gym, learn languages (such as Italian and Chinese at the moment), or play boardgames. And whenever she get some time off, she loves to grab her backpack and hiking shoes and fly to discover a new country!

Manuela recently completed her studies in Anthropology at the University of Los Andes in Colombia, where cultural studie...
10/17/2024

Manuela recently completed her studies in Anthropology at the University of Los Andes in Colombia, where cultural studies were a key focus of her research. She is passionate about sharing knowledge on the lived experience of anthropology in Spanish-speaking regions, as understanding a region’s culture provides deeper insights into its language and how people interpret life.

Her studies have focused on Latin America, known as “Abya Yala,” a term meaning “living land” or “land in bloom.” She is also interested in medical anthropology, which explores how culture shapes local understandings of health and illness. She has participated in conservation and reforestation initiatives in the Putumayo jungle, deepening her understanding of environmental perspectives and the need for real change to mitigate climate change.

Next up, Alba! Alba is from Madrid, Spain. She recently graduated in International Relations from the Universidad Complu...
10/17/2024

Next up, Alba! Alba is from Madrid, Spain. She recently graduated in International Relations from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Her passion for learning new languages and exploring different cultures has always driven her, which is why she chose this field of study. This curiosity led Alba to spend a year abroad in Warsaw, Poland, as part of the Erasmus program—a truly unforgettable experience where she immersed myself in a new environment. She has a deep love for discovering new foods and am passionate about traveling. Her curiosity drives her to explore new cultures and learn about different ways of life. She finds joy in connecting with diverse experiences and places. Spending quality time with her family and friends is also very important to her, as they provide invaluable support and joy in her life.

Meet Carlos! Carlos is one of the Spanish Foreign Language Teaching Assistants for the 2024-2025 academic year. Born and...
10/17/2024

Meet Carlos! Carlos is one of the Spanish Foreign Language Teaching Assistants for the 2024-2025 academic year. Born and raised in Madrid, a city whose vibrant energy and rich history continue to inspire him, he pursued a degree in Art History with a focus on contemporary art at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, followed by a master’s in museology and art management. Carlos is particularly intrigued by the Movida Madrileña, the revolutionary 1980s countercultural movement that transformed Madrid’s artistic and social landscape, though he is also interested in digital art and new creative platforms.

Throughout his career, Carlos has participated in various EU cultural projects, traveling to diverse locations such as Aruba, Rome, Berlin, Greece, and Croatia. These experiences have enriched his understanding of the transformative power of art across cultures. He has also worked at Freijo Gallery in Madrid and at the National Museum of History in Romania. This year, Carlos aims to immerse himself in American culture while introducing his students to the richness of Spanish art.

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