Last Thursday Dr. Mike Ledgerwood (chair) and our Department of World Languages and Cultures continued a Samford tradition that began in the 1950s, hosting a convocation program called “Christmas Around the World.” Hundreds of students read scripture and sang carols in 17 different languages,including the singing of “We Three Kings” in English—by our students in the English as a Second Language program. When Dr. Doug Clapp was sidelined with the flu on Thursday morning, Dr. Ledgerwood covered for him by leading our students in Latin with the singing of “Veni Emmanuel.” “I figured if I waved my hands people would respond,” said Dr. Ledgerwood. “I’m glad that was true. And don’t mention this to Dr. Hopkins!”
(Sorry, Mike. The line was too good not to pass along.)
The world is better because we speak many languages—and we teach many languages at Samford.