John A. Rassias directed the first pilot operation for in-country training for the Peace Corps in the Ivory Coast in 1966.

Selected Activities

John A. Rassias

Personal Story

Professional Highlights

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Publications
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Activities
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Honors
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Teaching Experience

Publications about Professor Rassias



Consultant for Peace Corps language programs: served as Director of Language Programs for Peace Corps at Dartmouth from 1964 to 1968, in French and other languages spoken in Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta).

Formally addressed Peace Corps Language Coordinators conferences and conducted workshops in various States, as well as in Canada, Cameroon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Sweden, Togo, Burkina Faso (Upper Volta), and in Micronesia (Saipan), from 1964 to 1977.

Directed the first pilot operation for in-country training for the Peace Corps in the Ivory Coast in 1966, as well as the first total immersion program in the United States in 1967 at Dartmouth.

One of three representatives from the United States to the first International Volunteer Service Conference in Furudal, Sweden, 1969.

Keynote speaker at Associations of Foreign Language Teachers conventions in some in 49 States annually, since 1972, along with other organizations, including the American Association for Higher Education.

Special demonstrations of teaching techniques to visiting scholars from the Peoples' Republic of China, 1973 and 1981, and to Bulgarian delegations visiting United States, 1985.

Directed pilot program in Spanish for New York City Transit Police, 1978-79. Citation: “To a great teacher, enthusiast and humanist whose concern for cultural understanding led to the New York City Transit Police-Dartmouth College Language Program, “ conferred by Chief Stanley Garelik, 1979.

Appointed to President Carter's Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies, September 1978. Participated in Commission meetings and public hearings nationally. Named Chair of the Task Force on Foreign Languages of the President 's Commission. Member of the special writing team to draft the final report of the Commission at Aspen, Colorado, July 1979 and issued in November 1979, entitled: Strength Through Wisdom: A Critique of U.S. Capability. A Report to the President from the President's Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies.

Appointed Visiting Scholar for the North Carolina Center for Independent Higher Education and lectured at Mars Hill College, Lenoir-Rhyne College, and Guilford College, 1979.

Direct special intensive language courses in summer sessions at Dartmouth (All Language Programs) for instruction in American Sign, Chinese, French, German, Greek (Modern), Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, since 1981.

Direct nationwide methodology workshops at Dartmouth College three times annually, since 1967.

Certificate of Merit from New York City Transit Police Hispanic Society, Inc., for “nurturing unique understanding of the Hispanic Community within and through a ‘Rassified’ Humanism of language....” 1982

Trained all City of Baltimore's high school foreign language teachers in the Method, 1984-85. Honorary Citizenship of the City of Baltimore and Mayor’s citation “for contributions to the civic welfare...[and] as an earnest expression of appreciation...for the splendid quality of public service rendered,” conferred by Mayor Donald Schaeffer.

Directed pilot program for Federal Law Enforcement agents in Spanish in Glynco, Georgia, 1983-84-85. Program running in full force to present with hundreds of agents trained through the Rassias methodology. Certificate of Appreciation issued in 1985 for “...professional contributions, personal interest, and dedication in [the] implementation of the Law Enforcement Spanish Training Program of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center,” conferred by Director Charles T. Reinkovich.

Named President of the Rassias Foundation of Dartmouth College by the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College.

Publisher and Executive Editor of THE RAM's HORN, publication of the Rassias Foundation.

Lectures and demonstrations of Methodology in Hong Kong and Tokyo, 1986.

Delivered lectures and conducted Methodology workshops to Greek teachers of English and Greek in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece, under auspices of the United States Information Services. (March, 1988)

Returned to Athens, Greece, on invitation of Hellenic Centre, to offer additional lecture-workshops to language teachers. (May, 1988)

Directed special program in English for Russian Environmentalists at Dartmouth 1987-1992.

Workshop for teachers of language and culture in Thailand, 1990.

Workshop for teachers of language and culture in Hong Kong, 1993. Personnel from International Schools in Hong Kong and Chinese University.

Appointed to the Modern Language Association Commission on Professional Service, 1993-1995. The Commission produced a written document on the state of professional service. Published by the Modern Language Association, 1996.

Elected to the Division on Literature, 1995. Five-year term, ending in 2000.

Appointed Chair of the Archbishop’s Commission on the Greek Language and Hellenic Culture. Report completed and delivered on May 27, 1999.