
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.
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
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
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.
Category | Date | Title | Presenter | Episode Recording |
---|---|---|---|---|
Latin | 02/10/2020 | Roman Marriage | Frank Williams & Mary Stevens | View (opens in new tab) |
Chinese | 07/17/2025 | Find your path to nature: Iconic natural landmarks in China
| Christina Efird | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 05/05/2025 | Culture of Russian | elena Skudskaia | View (opens in new tab) |
Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish | 04/22/2025 | Spring Holidays Around the World | Christina Efird and World Language Coaches | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 02/13/2025 | Japanese Valentine’s Day
| Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 04/03/2025 | Easy Japanese Cooking
| Kayoko Green | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 03/18/2025 | Vamos a la Playa: A Coastal Tour In Spain
| Juan Martin | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 03/11/2025 | Kanji 101
| Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 10/08/2024 | Top 10 University Cities of Spain | Juan Martin | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 05/06/2024 | Culture Café: Travel the World through Art | NCVPS World Languages Team | View (opens in new tab) |
Mandarin Chinese | 05/07/2024 | Along the River During the Qing Ming Festival | Judy Chen | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 05/02/2024 | El Cinco De Mayo -- Facts vs. Fiction
| Fanella Tague | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 05/01/2024 | Longevity in Okinawa
| Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 04/16/2024 | Japanese Culture
| Japanese National Honor Society Students and Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 08/21/2024 | Who knows best? Japanese Trivia Quiz!!
| Kumiko Baird | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 12/03/2024 | Machu Picchu, Truly a World Wonder
| Carrie Maravi | View (opens in new tab) |
Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish | 12/11/2024 | The Holiday Sampler: Traditions from Around the World
| Sarah Boutin and the NCVPS World Language Team | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 12/17/2024 | Who Knows Best? Japanese Trivia!
| Kumiko Baird | View (opens in new tab) |
Arabic | 10/22/2024 | The Arabic Club and the Arabic Honor Society
| Farida Badr | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 08/22/2024 | Kyoto Japan: The Thousand Year Capital
| Kayoko Green | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 08/15/2024 | Your Survival Guide in Japan
| Izumi Harris | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 08/20/2024 | Hauntings and Spooky Ghost Stories from Japan
| Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 04/15/2024 | Unexpected Russian Adventure
| Tanya Miller | View (opens in new tab) |
Student Research Alliance | 02/18/2020 | Are Some Mental Illnesses Linked to Others? | Jazmin V-G | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 08/05/2024 | Robots of Japan
| Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 02/19/2020 | Your Voice, Your Vote | Elizabeth MacDonald | View (opens in new tab) |
French | 02/25/2020 | Mardi Gras ... Unmasked! | Anabela Mendes | View (opens in new tab) |
French | 03/18/2020 | French Art and the Musée d'Orsay | Teresa Drian | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 03/30/2020 | Culture Trip Yekaterinburg, Russia | Tatyana Miller | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 10/06/2020 | El Camino de Santiago: A Christian Pilgrimage Route in Spain | Juan Martin | View (opens in new tab) |
French | 10/28/2020 | Francophone Music | Anabela Mendes | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 1/09/2020 | Trip to Japan with Japanese 3 Students | NC Virtual Japanese 3 Students | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 1/07/2021 | Trip to Japan with Japanese 3 Students | NC Virtual Japanese 3 Students | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 02/09/2021 | Holocaust Survivor: Inheriting the Role of a Witness | Sharon Halperin | View (opens in new tab) |
French | 02/16/2021 | Mardi Gras Magic | Elizabeth Lovelady-Alfonso | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 02/23/2021 | A Trip to Miyazaki | Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 02/23/2021 | Foreign Language Careers: Translation and Interpretation | Marisa Blachy | View (opens in new tab) |
Student Research Alliance | 02/24/2021 | The Trigonometry of Blood Spatter Analysis | Nidhi K | View (opens in new tab) |
Student Research Alliance | 02/25/2021 | The Immunology and Biology of the SARS- CoV-2 Virus | Anuragh S | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 11/09/2020 | Russians In Space | Meredith Doubleday | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 03/10/2021 | Top 10 University Cities in Spain | Juan Martin | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 03/03/2021 | The Russian Scientific World | Meredith Doubleday | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 03/25/2021 | Kanji 101 | Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 4/14/2021 | Japanese School Life | Kayoko Green | View (opens in new tab) |
Mandarin Chinese | 04/15/2021 | Taiwan - A Formosa Island | Maggie Lin | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 04/20/2021 | Robots of Japan | Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Mandarin Chinese | 04/27/2021 | Culture Cafe: A Trip to Si Chuan Province | Tina Wang-Fulford | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 04/29/2021 | Japanese Kimono | Kumiko Baird | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 05/10/2021 | Dogs of Japan | Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 7/14/2021 | Culture Cafe: The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens | Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Student Research Alliance | 07/29/2021 | COVID Vaccine & Medical Discoveries | Shurti | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 09/27/2021 | Vamos a la Playa: A Spanish Coastal Tour | Juan Martin | View (opens in new tab) |
Student Research Alliance | 09/23/2021 | Student Research Alliance Information Session | Herman Hall | View (opens in new tab) |
Student Research Alliance | 08/05/2021 | Student Research Alliance: COVID & Social Media Use | Noah C | View (opens in new tab) |
Student Research Alliance | 07/29/2021 | COVID Vaccines & New Medical Breakthroughs | Shruti A | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 10/26/2021 | Comics and the Cold War | Meredith Doubleday | View (opens in new tab) |
Mandarin Chinese | 10/28/2021 | The Chinese Ghost Festival | Judy Chen | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 10/28/2021 | Spooky Japan | Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 04/08/2024 | Machu Picchu: Exploring a World Wonder | Carrie Maravi | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 04/02/2024 | Ninja | Kayoko Green | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 03/06/2024 | Japanese Traditional Clothing, KIMONO | Kumiko Baird | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 02/08/2024 | Vamos a la Playa: A Spanish Coastal Tour | Juan Martin | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 8/04/2020 | Robots of Japan | Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Mandarin Chinese | 7/28/2020 | Chinese Dragon Boat Festival & Race | Judy Chen | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 02/13/2024 | Valentine's Day in Japan
| Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 12/01/2021 | Kanji 101 | Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
French | 12/06/2021 | Les Fêtes Francophones | Anabela Mendes | View (opens in new tab) |
French | 12/07/2021 | French Art | Teresa Drian | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 12/14/2021 | The Wind Rises (Japanese Animation) | Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 12/15/2021 | The Holiday Sampler | Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Chinese | 1/27/2022 | Chinese New Year Celebrations and NC Lantern Festival | Christina Efird and Tina Wang-Fulford | View (opens in new tab) |
Student Research Alliance | 2/04/2022 | Student Research Alliance: The Internal & External Factors of Memory Function | Isabella W | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 2/09/2022 | Incredible Russia: Unique facts about Russia and Russians | Kateryna Decker | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 2/16/2022 | Las Fiestas de San Fermín in Pamplona, Spain | Ana Kistler | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 2/24/2022 | The Age of Discovery: Russian Exploration of North America in 18th Century | Roza Starodubtseva | View (opens in new tab) |
French | 03/01/2022 | Mardi Gras Magique | Elizabeth Lovelady-Alfonso | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 03/02/2022 | Russian "Mardi Gras" - Maslenitsa
| Micah McMinn | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 03/02/2022 | Top 10 University Cities in Spain
| Juan Martin | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 03/09/2022 | African American Genealogy
| Grace Jackson | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 03/15/2022 | México Pueblos Mágico (Mexico Magical Towns)
| Laura Garza | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 03/15/2022 | Bulgaria
| Oxana Kostadinova | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 03/15/2022 | Kanji 101
| Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 03/23/2022 | Easy Japanese Cooking
| Kayoko Green | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 03/28/2022 | Feria de Abril
| Olga Jennings | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 03/30/2022 | Let's Make Mochi & Hot Pot - Japanese Cooking
| Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 04/06/2022 | What is Siberia?
| Elena Allen | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 04/06/2022 | A Trip to Miyazaki, Japan
| Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 04/08/2022 | Global Art History
| Grace Jackson | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 04/08/2022 | The Food Sampler
| Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Chinese | 04/21/2022 | Chinese Dragon Boat Festival
| Judy Chen | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 05/10/2022 | Taiwan – A Formosa Island
| Mengjiun "Maggie" Lin | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 07/07/2022 | Culture Cafe - Favorite Vacation Spots
| NC Virtual Conversation Coaches | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 10/03/2022 | Top 10 University Cities in Spain
| Juan Martin | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 10/12/2022 | Introduction to the Stock Market Club
| Ellen Hart & Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 10/27/2022 | Spooky Japan
| Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 11/29/2022 | Kanji 101
| Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 12/06/2022 | A Trip to Japan
| Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 12/14/2022 | NC Virtual Stock Market Club
| Sarah Boutin & Ellen Hart | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 12/14/2022 | Holiday Celebrations Around the World
| Sarah Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 02/13/2023 | Valentine's Day in Japan
| Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Chinese | 02/21/2023 | The Double Seventh Festival
| Judy Chen | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 03/01/2023 | Top 10 University Cities in Spain
| Juan Martin | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 03/14/2023 | The JET Program
| Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
French | 03/21/2023 | High School in France
| Teresa Drian | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 03/22/2023 | Sociolinguistics: How the way we communicate represents our culture
| Grace Jackson | View (opens in new tab) |
Student Research Alliance | 03/27/2023 | Mathematical Applications of Flat-Folded Origami in Self-Assembling Robotics | Cheryl L | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 04/05/2023 | Nara: Oldest Capital of Japan
| Kayoko Green | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 04/26/2023 | Mirrors and Windows: How poetry captures different cultural experiences
| Grace Jackson | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 04/27/2023 | Yum! Dim Sum
| Maggie Lin | View (opens in new tab) |
Russian | 05/01/2023 | Unexpected Russian Adventure
| Tanya Miller | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 08/01/2023 | The Ancient Cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt through the Lens of Art | Laurie Sloan | View (opens in new tab) |
Student Research Alliance | 09/12/2023 | Efficiencies of Linear and Binary Search Algorithms
| Lakshya M | View (opens in new tab) |
Spanish | 09/25/2023 | Top 10 University Cities in Spain
| Juan Martin | View (opens in new tab) |
Student Research Alliance | 09/01/2023 | Designing 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) |
Spanish | 10/26/2023 | Vamos a la Playa: A Spanish Coastal Tour
| Susan Piner | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 11/30/2023 | Kanto and Nebuta Festivals
| Revae Bostwick Boutin | View (opens in new tab) |
French | 12/04/2023 | French Art Through the Eras
| Teresa Drian | View (opens in new tab) |
Japanese | 12/12/2023 | Kanji 101
| Revae Bostwick | View (opens in new tab) |
Other | 12/14/2023 | Holiday Traditions Around the World
| Sarah Boutin and NCVPS Conversation Coaches | View (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)