Wesleyan Scholar to Lead Workshops on Analog Games and Language Learning April 7-8

The Italian Club-Circolo Italiano and the Italian Program announce a two‑day series of events featuring professor Camilla Zamboni of Wesleyan University, a leading scholar in analog game design and language pedagogy. Professor Zamboni's work highlights the powerful role that non‑digital, interactive, and play‑based environments can play in building language proficiency, enhancing community engagement, and enriching service‑learning experiences.

The visit will introduce students, faculty, and community members to new strategies for incorporating analog, role‑playing, and narrative design games into language and culture courses. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore hands‑on activities that lower learner anxiety, encourage experimentation, and bring cultural learning into interactive and collaborative spaces.

We invite faculty, graduate students, instructors, and community members to join us and learn about the ways analog games can enrich language learning through creativity, collaboration, and meaningful engagement.

Workshop Schedule

April 7 - Workshop 1: Gamification and Analog Games in L2/LS Courses
Noon to 2 p.m. - JBTH 207
Event open to the public - Refreshments provided

April 8 - Workshop 2: Narrative and Role‑Playing Games in language Courses
Noon to 2 p.m. - JBTH 207
Event open to the public - Refreshments provided

The workshops are open to the campus community and welcome participants from all departments and levels of language study.

 Questions? Contact Valentina Morello at vmorello@uark.edu

Sponsors

The workshops are sponsored by the Italian Club-Circolo Italiano; the University of Arkansas Humanities Center; the Classical Studies Program; The World Languages, Literatures and Cultures Department; the World Languages & Digital Humanities Studio; the Italian Program and the Professor Antonio Marinoni and Rosa Zagnoni Marinoni Endowed Chair.