For Chris Matthews, working at the Less-Commonly-Taught Languages Coffee House is meaningful because it gives him the opportunity to introduce students to a variety of new languages they may not have otherwise been exposed to. “Language diversity is very important to me, and that extends into the classroom,” Matthews, a senior linguistics major and LCTL student engagement specialist, said. “That’s our Language Coffeehouse.”This year’s coffeehouse will be the biggest yet, according to Aiyangar, with languages including Wolof, Persian, Hebrew, Swahili and American Sign Language represented. To prepare the coffeehouse, language faculty select and buy snacks and drinks for each booth, from both Pittsburgh and beyond. Matthews said his primary role as a student employee at the coffeehouse is to direct and oversee student volunteers.
