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Culture Café Speaker Series

The Culture Café hosts hour-long lectures on various cultural topics in Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Latin, and Arabic to broaden our students’ cultural and world views. The presentations are delivered by the faculty of the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) as ancillary instruction for interested students on a variety of cultural, culinary, historical, geographic and architectural themes related to the target languages of our World Language Department. Past sessions are as diverse as the sounds of the languages we teach, including the importance of studying abroad, Incan Agricultural Practices, a local’s view of Sochi during the recent Winter Olympics, Mother’s Day Traditions from the Arab World, the beauty of Paris, Tokyo, Rome, and the list goes on and on. Previous guest speakers include professors from the University of North Carolina, faculty from the Florida Virtual School, students from NCVPS, citizens of Russia and Egypt, and even the son of the President of Costa Rica. Our aim is to bring the majesty of the foreign cultures we teach to our students, and inspire our students to travel abroad and immerse themselves in the places and cultures we are studying.

Join a Live Session

Watch the Culture Café video below. Then check out our Café calendar to find the next event.

When you’re ready to join, click “Join the Café.” We look forward to seeing you there!

 

The Culture Café is on break until July.

promotion for Culture Cafe session

Students will learn to appreciate famous natural landmarks in China and connect with their own path to nature.

Presenter: Christina Efird

Date: Thursday, July 17

Time: 1:00 PM

Zoom: https://ncvps.zoom.us/j/6887014947

Promotion for Culture Cafe Session

Students will explore the energy, balance, and joy of traditional Chinese sports–where ancient customs meet modern fun.

Presenter: Christina Efird

Date: Thursday, August 7

Time: 1:00 PM

Zoom: https://ncvps.zoom.us/j/6887014947

SEARCH & VIEW OUR PREVIOUS EPISODES:

*Note: If playback errors occur, right-click and view in a new browser window. Still having issues? Please view in a different browser or a non-school-owned device.

CategoryDateTitlePresenterEpisode Recording
Latin02/10/2020Roman Marriage
Frank Williams & Mary StevensView (opens in new tab)
Chinese07/17/2025Find your path to nature: Iconic natural landmarks in China
Christina EfirdView (opens in new tab)
Russian05/05/2025Culture of Russian
elena SkudskaiaView (opens in new tab)
Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish04/22/2025Spring Holidays Around the World
Christina Efird and World Language CoachesView (opens in new tab)
Japanese02/13/2025Japanese Valentine’s Day
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Japanese04/03/2025Easy Japanese Cooking
Kayoko GreenView (opens in new tab)
Spanish03/18/2025Vamos a la Playa: A Coastal Tour In Spain
Juan MartinView (opens in new tab)
Japanese03/11/2025Kanji 101
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Spanish10/08/2024Top 10 University Cities of Spain
Juan MartinView (opens in new tab)
Other05/06/2024Culture Café: Travel the World through Art
NCVPS World Languages TeamView (opens in new tab)
Mandarin Chinese05/07/2024Along the River During the Qing Ming Festival
Judy ChenView (opens in new tab)
Spanish05/02/2024El Cinco De Mayo -- Facts vs. Fiction
Fanella TagueView (opens in new tab)
Japanese05/01/2024Longevity in Okinawa
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Japanese04/16/2024Japanese Culture
Japanese National Honor Society Students and Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Japanese08/21/2024Who knows best? Japanese Trivia Quiz!!
Kumiko BairdView (opens in new tab)
Spanish12/03/2024Machu Picchu, Truly a World Wonder
Carrie MaraviView (opens in new tab)
Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish12/11/2024The Holiday Sampler: Traditions from Around the World
Sarah Boutin and the NCVPS World Language TeamView (opens in new tab)
Japanese12/17/2024Who Knows Best? Japanese Trivia!
Kumiko BairdView (opens in new tab)
Arabic10/22/2024The Arabic Club and the Arabic Honor Society
Farida BadrView (opens in new tab)
Japanese08/22/2024Kyoto Japan: The Thousand Year Capital
Kayoko GreenView (opens in new tab)
Japanese08/15/2024Your Survival Guide in Japan
Izumi HarrisView (opens in new tab)
Japanese08/20/2024Hauntings and Spooky Ghost Stories from Japan
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Russian04/15/2024Unexpected Russian Adventure
Tanya MillerView (opens in new tab)
Student Research Alliance02/18/2020Are Some Mental Illnesses Linked to Others?
Jazmin V-GView (opens in new tab)
Japanese08/05/2024Robots of Japan
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Other02/19/2020Your Voice, Your Vote
Elizabeth MacDonaldView (opens in new tab)
French02/25/2020Mardi Gras ... Unmasked!
Anabela MendesView (opens in new tab)
French03/18/2020French Art and the Musée d'Orsay
Teresa DrianView (opens in new tab)
Russian03/30/2020Culture Trip Yekaterinburg, Russia
Tatyana MillerView (opens in new tab)
Spanish10/06/2020El Camino de Santiago: A Christian Pilgrimage Route in Spain
Juan MartinView (opens in new tab)
French10/28/2020Francophone Music
Anabela MendesView (opens in new tab)
Japanese1/09/2020Trip to Japan with Japanese 3 Students
NC Virtual Japanese 3 StudentsView (opens in new tab)
Japanese1/07/2021Trip to Japan with Japanese 3 Students
NC Virtual Japanese 3 StudentsView (opens in new tab)
Other02/09/2021Holocaust Survivor: Inheriting the Role of a Witness
Sharon HalperinView (opens in new tab)
French02/16/2021Mardi Gras Magic
Elizabeth Lovelady-AlfonsoView (opens in new tab)
Japanese02/23/2021A Trip to Miyazaki
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Other02/23/2021Foreign Language Careers: Translation and Interpretation
Marisa BlachyView (opens in new tab)
Student Research Alliance02/24/2021The Trigonometry of Blood Spatter Analysis
Nidhi KView (opens in new tab)
Student Research Alliance02/25/2021The Immunology and Biology of the SARS- CoV-2 Virus
Anuragh SView (opens in new tab)
Russian11/09/2020Russians In Space
Meredith DoubledayView (opens in new tab)
Spanish03/10/2021Top 10 University Cities in Spain
Juan MartinView (opens in new tab)
Russian03/03/2021The Russian Scientific World
Meredith DoubledayView (opens in new tab)
Japanese03/25/2021Kanji 101
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Japanese4/14/2021Japanese School Life
Kayoko GreenView (opens in new tab)
Mandarin Chinese04/15/2021Taiwan - A Formosa Island
Maggie LinView (opens in new tab)
Japanese04/20/2021Robots of Japan
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Mandarin Chinese04/27/2021Culture Cafe: A Trip to Si Chuan Province
Tina Wang-FulfordView (opens in new tab)
Japanese04/29/2021Japanese Kimono
Kumiko BairdView (opens in new tab)
Japanese05/10/2021Dogs of Japan
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Japanese7/14/2021Culture Cafe: The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Student Research Alliance07/29/2021COVID Vaccine & Medical Discoveries
ShurtiView (opens in new tab)
Spanish09/27/2021Vamos a la Playa: A Spanish Coastal Tour
Juan MartinView (opens in new tab)
Student Research Alliance09/23/2021Student Research Alliance Information Session
Herman HallView (opens in new tab)
Student Research Alliance08/05/2021Student Research Alliance: COVID & Social Media Use
Noah CView (opens in new tab)
Student Research Alliance07/29/2021COVID Vaccines & New Medical Breakthroughs
Shruti AView (opens in new tab)
Russian10/26/2021Comics and the Cold War
Meredith DoubledayView (opens in new tab)
Mandarin Chinese10/28/2021The Chinese Ghost Festival
Judy ChenView (opens in new tab)
Japanese10/28/2021Spooky Japan
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Spanish04/08/2024Machu Picchu: Exploring a World Wonder
Carrie MaraviView (opens in new tab)
Japanese04/02/2024Ninja
Kayoko GreenView (opens in new tab)
Japanese03/06/2024Japanese Traditional Clothing, KIMONO
Kumiko Baird View (opens in new tab)
Spanish02/08/2024Vamos a la Playa: A Spanish Coastal Tour
Juan MartinView (opens in new tab)
Japanese8/04/2020Robots of Japan
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Mandarin Chinese7/28/2020Chinese Dragon Boat Festival & Race
Judy ChenView (opens in new tab)
Japanese02/13/2024Valentine's Day in Japan
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Japanese12/01/2021Kanji 101
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
French12/06/2021Les Fêtes Francophones
Anabela MendesView (opens in new tab)
French12/07/2021French Art
Teresa DrianView (opens in new tab)
Japanese12/14/2021The Wind Rises (Japanese Animation)
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Other12/15/2021The Holiday Sampler
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Chinese1/27/2022Chinese New Year Celebrations and NC Lantern Festival
Christina Efird and Tina Wang-FulfordView (opens in new tab)
Student Research Alliance2/04/2022Student Research Alliance: The Internal & External Factors of Memory Function
Isabella WView (opens in new tab)
Russian2/09/2022Incredible Russia: Unique facts about Russia and Russians
Kateryna DeckerView (opens in new tab)
Spanish2/16/2022Las Fiestas de San Fermín in Pamplona, Spain
Ana KistlerView (opens in new tab)
Russian2/24/2022The Age of Discovery: Russian Exploration of North America in 18th Century
Roza StarodubtsevaView (opens in new tab)
French03/01/2022Mardi Gras Magique
Elizabeth Lovelady-AlfonsoView (opens in new tab)
Russian03/02/2022Russian "Mardi Gras" - Maslenitsa
Micah McMinnView (opens in new tab)
Spanish03/02/2022Top 10 University Cities in Spain
Juan MartinView (opens in new tab)
Other03/09/2022African American Genealogy
Grace JacksonView (opens in new tab)
Spanish03/15/2022México Pueblos Mágico (Mexico Magical Towns)
Laura GarzaView (opens in new tab)
Russian03/15/2022Bulgaria
Oxana KostadinovaView (opens in new tab)
Japanese03/15/2022Kanji 101
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Japanese03/23/2022Easy Japanese Cooking
Kayoko GreenView (opens in new tab)
Spanish03/28/2022Feria de Abril
Olga JenningsView (opens in new tab)
Japanese03/30/2022Let's Make Mochi & Hot Pot - Japanese Cooking
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Russian04/06/2022What is Siberia?
Elena AllenView (opens in new tab)
Japanese04/06/2022A Trip to Miyazaki, Japan
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Other04/08/2022Global Art History
Grace JacksonView (opens in new tab)
Other04/08/2022The Food Sampler
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Chinese04/21/2022Chinese Dragon Boat Festival
Judy ChenView (opens in new tab)
Japanese05/10/2022Taiwan – A Formosa Island
Mengjiun "Maggie" LinView (opens in new tab)
Other07/07/2022Culture Cafe - Favorite Vacation Spots
NC Virtual Conversation CoachesView (opens in new tab)
Spanish10/03/2022Top 10 University Cities in Spain
Juan MartinView (opens in new tab)
Other10/12/2022Introduction to the Stock Market Club
Ellen Hart & Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Japanese10/27/2022Spooky Japan
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Japanese11/29/2022Kanji 101
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Japanese12/06/2022A Trip to Japan
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Other12/14/2022NC Virtual Stock Market Club
Sarah Boutin & Ellen HartView (opens in new tab)
Other12/14/2022Holiday Celebrations Around the World
Sarah BoutinView (opens in new tab)
Japanese02/13/2023Valentine's Day in Japan
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Chinese02/21/2023The Double Seventh Festival
Judy ChenView (opens in new tab)
Spanish03/01/2023Top 10 University Cities in Spain
Juan MartinView (opens in new tab)
Russian03/14/2023The JET Program
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
French03/21/2023High School in France
Teresa DrianView (opens in new tab)
Other03/22/2023Sociolinguistics: How the way we communicate represents our culture
Grace JacksonView (opens in new tab)
Student Research Alliance03/27/2023Mathematical Applications of Flat-Folded Origami in Self-Assembling Robotics Cheryl LView (opens in new tab)
Japanese04/05/2023Nara: Oldest Capital of Japan
Kayoko GreenView (opens in new tab)
Other04/26/2023Mirrors and Windows: How poetry captures different cultural experiences
Grace JacksonView (opens in new tab)
Japanese04/27/2023Yum! Dim Sum
Maggie LinView (opens in new tab)
Russian05/01/2023Unexpected Russian Adventure
Tanya MillerView (opens in new tab)
Other08/01/2023The Ancient Cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt through the Lens of Art
Laurie SloanView (opens in new tab)
Student Research Alliance09/12/2023Efficiencies of Linear and Binary Search Algorithms
Lakshya MView (opens in new tab)
Spanish09/25/2023Top 10 University Cities in Spain
Juan MartinView (opens in new tab)
Student Research Alliance09/01/2023Designing a Low-Cost Sensor to Identify Bathymetric Features for Automated Rip Current Detection
Indu G., Carolina J. and Luca C.View (opens in new tab)
Spanish10/26/2023Vamos a la Playa: A Spanish Coastal Tour
Susan PinerView (opens in new tab)
Japanese11/30/2023Kanto and Nebuta Festivals
Revae Bostwick BoutinView (opens in new tab)
French12/04/2023French Art Through the Eras
Teresa DrianView (opens in new tab)
Japanese12/12/2023Kanji 101
Revae BostwickView (opens in new tab)
Other12/14/2023Holiday Traditions Around the World
Sarah Boutin and NCVPS Conversation CoachesView (opens in new tab)

Contact Us

Curious about the Culture Café program? Interested in presenting a session?

Please contact:

Kendall Nifong
North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS)

Email: kendall.nifong@ncpublicschools.gov