| Arabic | Chinese | Classics |
| Comparative Literature |
Secondary Ed, FYS |
French |
| German | Greek | Hebrew |
| Japanese | Latin | Russian |
| . | Spanish | . |
In this content-based elementary language course, students will develop interpretive, interpersonal and presentational skills in spoken and classical Arabic. Participants develop mastery of the Arabic alphabet and sound system, learn to comprehend and compose novice=level written and visual texts, distinguish between formal and spoken forms, as well as some dialectal variation, and engage in person-to-person dialogue while developing an awareness of basic cultural aspects of social interaction in the Arab world. [H]
In this second semester content-based elementary language course, students will continue to develop interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational skills in spoken and classical Arabic. Participants learn to initiate and sustain person-to-person dialogue on a number of topics, narrate in present and past time frames, and produce accurate novice-level written expression. This course explores a variety of culturally relevant topics using authentic written and visual materials. [H, ESPL]
The course aims to develop fundamental listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities in Mandarin Chinese. Students examine approximately 250 new words and more than 30 grammar patterns. Mastery of Pinyin pronunciation is an essential part, and students are trained with computer-based exercises, especially character typing. Class activities may also include practicing calligraphy, singing songs in Chinese, making dumplings, and film shows to enhance students´ understanding of Chinese language and culture. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies.
This course will help students continue to develop fundamental skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Mandarin Chinese, based on CHN 101 class training or equivalents. Students will learn 200 new words and more than 30 new grammar patterns. Mastery of Pinyin pronunciation is still an essential part, and students are to be trained with more frequent computer-based exercises. Class activities also include a calligraphy competition and a Chinese movie show to enhance students' understanding of Chinese culture. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Review and expansion of basic grammar and vocabulary and continued development of familiarity with Chinese characters. Attention to developing reading and conversational skills and a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures of the Chinese people. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Review and expansion of basic grammar and vocabulary and continued development of familiarity with Chinese characters. Attention to developing reading and conversational skills and a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures of the Chinese people. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [GM2, H]
Through a diversity of materials on various topics, students will concentrate on greatly expanding their skills in understanding and using modern Chinese in a broad variety of cultural contexts. The course is open to students who have successfully completed four semesters of Mandarin at Lafayette or who can demonstrate equivalent proficiency. Students will receive advanced training in four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H,GM2]
Through a diversity of materials on various topics, students will concentrate on greatly expanding their skills in understanding and using modern Chinese in a broad variety of cultural contexts. The course is open to students who have successfully completed five semesters of Mandarin at Lafayette or who can demonstrate equivalent proficiency. As a continuation of CHN 211 or its equivalent, students in CHN 212 will receive advanced training in four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H, GM2]
These courses are intended to expand the student's basic capabilities in the four linguistic skills - listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Enrichment of written grammar review with emphasis on the expansion of vocabulary and stylistics. Examination of cultural and contemporary issues through use of texts, films, television, music, and the Internet.
This course explores some of the most important topics of contemporary China through news reading, films, discussions and debates, presentations, and essay writing, all done in the Chinese language. The materials will introduce students to China’s family values, economy and trade, censorship and freedom of speech, gender issues, and so on. It trains students’ language skills while deepening their understanding of China. The course is open to students who have successfully completed six semesters of Mandarin at Lafayette or who can demonstrate equivalent proficiency. [V]
This course explores some of the most important topics of contemporary China through news media, films, discussions and debates, presentations, and essay writing, all done in the Chinese language. The materials will introduce students to economic inequality among China's urban dwellers, China's medical reform, marriage and gender discrimination, the status of Chinese versus foreign languages, and so on. The course trains students' language skills while deepening their understanding of Chinese society. [GM1]
Through a variety of carefully selected readings as well as media resources such as films, TV shows, and news, this course helps students gain an in-depth, multi-faceted and critical understanding of Chinese people, culture and society. Meanwhile, students continue developing Mandarin proficiency in all four skills with special attention given to the acquisition of formal or written language and the development of analytical and critical thinking skills. The course is instructed in Mandarin Chinese. [GM1, GM2, W]
Through a variety of carefully selected readings as well as media resources such as films, TV shows, and news, this course helps students gain an in-depth, multi-faceted and critical understanding of Chinese people, culture and society. Meanwhile, students continue developing Mandarin communicative abilities in all three modes (i.e., interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational) with special attention given to the acquisition of formal written language and the development of analytical and critical thinking skills. The course is instructed in Mandarin Chinese. [GM1, GM2, W]
Study of the most significant figures and their works in European literary history, exclusive of English. The course aims to acquaint students with the classics in the literatures of Greece, Rome, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Russia, and other countries in English translation. No knowledge of foreign languages required. Open to all students. Lecture. [H, V, W]
Study of the most significant figures and their works in European literary history, exclusive of English. The course aims to acquaint students with the classics in the literatures of Greece, Rome, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Russia, and other countries in English translation. No knowledge of foreign languages required. Open to all students. Lecture. [H, V, W]
Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov. These are the titans of Russian literature, but also celebrated innovators in the broader landscape of world literature. This course introduces students to the major figures, trends, and historical contexts of 19th-century Russian literature, where literary experimentation, tense rivalries, and radical politics changed forever the future of Russian culture. We will examine periods of literary activity from Romanticism to the realist novel and end with Chekhov's mastery of the short story. [H, GM2, V, W]
This course offers a survey of the texts and challenges of writing literature in Russia and Eastern Europe since the Soviet regime. From the Russian Revolution and the Cold War, to the rise of authoritarian regimes in our time, we will examine how authors negotiated artistic freedom and state censorship in places where writing was a matter of life and death. Particular attention will be paid to minoritized groups (women, ethnic minorities, and political dissidents). [GM2, H, W]
The aim of this culture survey is to introduce you to how the Soviets saw the West and the way the West -- Americans and Western/East-Central Europeans -- saw the Soviet Union. Cold War cultural hostilities, still very much a part of how the West perceives Russia today, have had a retroactively distorting effect on our understanding of what the Soviet-West encounter looked like prior to World War II. Intellectuals, writers, artists, and activists like Arthur Koestler, Paul Robeson, Langston Hughes, Margaret Bourke-White, and John Steinbeck traveled to the USSR to see what this ''Great Experiment'' portended for the international leftist movement. Fellow travelers or card-carrying members of the Communist Party, these writers -- many of them African-American or suffering from gender discrimination -- were fascinated by the founding of a new state which claimed to have erased social and class difference in order to remake the world. This claim was of course not so simple; authoritarianism under Stalin, de-legitimized by its consequent show trials, executions, and GULAG sentences, embittered many leftists. We'll be working on answers to the following questions: What tools do we have to retrace and reconstruct this cultural movement toward a revisionist glimpse of the USSR? How did the Soviets themselves perceive the West, and later, Western antagonism, toward their ideology and cultural revolution? As we examine photo-journalism, travelogues, comics, and film on this encounter, the verb ''to see'' is meant to be taken literally and figuratively: how do members of these cultures imagine and intellectually conceive of one another? What is really behind the ''othering'' both the West and the Soviets committed against one another? What grey areas can we identify in this cultural meeting and what larger conclusions can we draw about cultural encounters? In textual works, such as fiction or memoirs, we will trace the construction and reconstruction of these cultural anxieties and outright stereotypes. Recent tensions between Russia and the West return to the Cold War era in tone and vitriol. Our task is to follow the inception of these trends in the Soviet period and, most importantly, to call into question the simplicity of the East/West dichotomy. [H, W, GM2]
This course explores the development of Chinese science fiction since the early twentieth century against a history of wars, reform and revolutions, and China’s rise as a great economy and
technological innovator in the world. With stories, novel excerpts, comic books, and films, we will examine the intersection of literature, science, empire and nation, modernity and modernization. This
course will be conducted in English in the form of lectures and discussions. [GM1, GM2]
This course, taught in English, examines images of China on the screen with special attention to the transnational connections in filmmaking and gender representations. It contrasts the Orientalist portrayals of China in European and Hollywood films and the self-orientalization or internal Orientalism in cinemas from the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, engaging with topics including the “new woman,” masculinity and nationalism, global capitalism, and independent filmmaking, and adopting approaches of film analyses, post-colonial studies, and gender/sexuality theories. [GM2]
An examination of Fyodor Dostoevsky's major novels and journalism in the context of his transnational legacy. We examine problems of reading Dostoevsky in the 21st century stemming from his Christianity, politics, and contribution to the global art of the novel. Of special consideration will be the texts and reception of two influential novels, Notes from the Dead House and The Brothers Karamazov. Key theoretical approaches to his work will be discussed. All readings in English. [H, V, GM2, W]
French cinematographers and their works have often stood in contrast to large-scale, epic Hollywood productions. This is not to say that the two traditions are totally distinct: cross-fertilization has occurred in both directions. The French have produced a number of cinematographic masterpieces, and many of their most successful films have been recast for an American audience. In this course, we will examine five distinct genres: 1) the French New Wave with films by Truffaut (The Last Metro), Rohmer (Claire's Knee), Godard (Breathless), and Lelouch (A Man and a Woman); 2) the French Film Noir, with films by Chabrol (The Butcher), Clouzot (Les Diaboliqies), and Malle (Elevator to the Gallows); the Historical Epic, with films by Rappeneau (Cyrano), Chereau (Queen Margot), Vigne (The Return of Martin Guerre); Comedies, with films by Veber (The Dinner Game), Serreau (Three Men and a Baby), and Jeunet (Amelie); and Political Films with films by Renoir (La Grande Illusion), Malle (Au Revoir les Enfants), and Resnais (Hiroshima Mon Amour). [H]
Study of a genre or special topic in foreign literatures in translation. Seminar content is broad in scope and may span several centuries. In addition to the literature, theoretical readings are discussed, and a final research paper is required.
What is war? What is peace? What is love? What is death?—these are the questions raised by Lev Tolstoy’s War and Peace. This course is dedicated to analyzing the artistic world-building of this epic novel, while also exploring its continued social relevance and moral vision. Students will study the text, assess its major commentators, and research its dialogue with today’s burning issues: social justice, anti-colonialism, gender and sexuality, and climate change. (taught in English) [H, GM2, W]
This course is designed to give advanced students the opportunity to investigate intensively an area of special interest. Students are required to meet with the instructor periodically throughout the semester and to submit a scholarly paper, as well as to take an oral examination at the conclusion of the course.
Definitions, sources, and interpretations of myth as a cognitive system in ancient and modern culture. Survey of major divinities, mortals, myths, hero-legends, and cycles of saga, chiefly Greek. Their function in Greco-Roman civilization, their enduring power in Western culture, and their influence upon Western intellectual and artistic achievement. Open to all students. [H]
This course explores the Roman military and its conflicts, equipment, tactics, and contemporary consequences through analyses of modern scholarship and literary accounts of Roman historians, generals, and soldiers. Key conflicts include the Punic Wars, Caesar's Gallic campaign, the Jewish War, and the reclamation campaigns of Julian. These writings, supplemented with secondary sources, will trace the rise and decline of the most powerful military in antiquity and its multiple echoes in the modern world. [GM1, H]
Greek tragedy is one of the most powerful, complex, and influential literary forms of all times. This course will introduce the Athenian institutional framework that made Greek tragedy possible; thoroughly familiarize students with representative works of the three Athenian playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides; trace how Greek tragedy has inspired later dramatists and filmmakers in their work; enhance ''deep learning'' by providing the opportunity to stage and direct select scenes from Greek tragedy. [H]
An introduction to how ancient Greek and Roman scientists expressed their ideas. Provides a systematic foundation in the analysis and interpretation of Greek/Latin terminology. Also investigates aspects of the emerging scientific culture and literature (such as Hippocrates' writings) within the context of ancient society, particularly how the competition among disparate value systems shaped the development of medical theory and practice in antiquity. Besides medicine and bioscience, we consider mathematics, politics, and other scientific disciplines. [H, V]
An investigation of how residents of ancient Rome from diverse origins and different social statuses would have portrayed life in that great, sprawling city: what was most distinctive about how their society was organized, how did people of different statuses and backgrounds inter-relate, and how did public and private civic institutions shape their experiences? An interdisciplinary approach to reconstructing ancient attitudes, critiques, and justifications regarding the many ways of experiencing Roman identity. [GM1, GM2, H]
In the Persian Wars, Greek city-states twice defended themselves against the invading 'Barbarian' forces of the Persian Empire (490 and 480/79). Students in this course will be introduced to ancient Near Eastern politics and culture from a Persian (not Greek!) perspective, will analyze Western literary and filmic representations of the Persian Wars, and will acquire critical awareness of the cognitive and psychological processes (beneficial or harmful) behind formations of collective identity, stereotypes, and Us vs. Them world views. [H, GM1, V]
An investigation of slavery in the Greek and Roman worlds with an emphasis on its connections to other major social and cultural developments such as literature, politics, and religion. Students will analyze literary, artistic, legal, and archaeological evidence to examine the institution of slavery, to explore experiences of enslaved and manumitted people, and to interpret representations of slavery in Greco-Roman culture. Special attention will be paid to how gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity inform slavery. [H, GM1, GM2]
This course explores Roman technology and engineering within the social and geographical contexts of the ancient Mediterranean world and its cultures. Manifestations of ancient technology, from the grand (temples, roads, aqueducts, ships, etc.) to the small (weapons, armor, household goods, etc.), were crafted with hew modern techniques or equipment, yet many still stand today, and echoes of their craft reverberate into modern times. [H]
From the wide chronological, thematic, and generic range of ancient classical literature, students will explore in-depth a special topic in Classical literature in translation and essential accompanying secondary literature. The course work entails, first, extensive readings of ancient literature and modern scholarship; second, writing assignments of various types that will eventually lead to a clearly-argued final essay. This course is recommended for, but not restricted to, students pursuing a minor or self-designed major in Classical Civilization.
From the wide chronological, thematic, and generic range of ancient classical literature, students will choose-in consultation with the instructor-a topic for their own research. The course work will entail, first, extensive and intensive readings of ancient literature and modern scholarship; second, student research that will lead to a research paper. This course may, and oftentimes will, function as a capstone course for students pursuing a self-designed Classical Civilization major.
The GILS Elementary Arabic program covers both spoken and written Modern Standard Arabic with an emphasis on developing speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Guided Elementary Arabic 100 emphasizes learning to read, write, and pronounce the Arabic script. It also covers basic conversational skills and culturally appropriate etiquette, and it introduces students to the predominantly Levantine Arabic-speaking community of Easton, Pennsylvania.
The GILS Elementary Arabic program covers both spoken and written Modern Standard Arabic with an emphasis on developing speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Like GILS Arabic 100, GILS Arabic 101 emphasizes learning to read, write, and pronounce the Arabic script. It also covers basic conversational skills and culturally appropriate etiquette. For true beginners, successful completion for both courses (FLL 100-FLL 101) leads to a proficiency level equivalent to one semester of college-level Arabic study in a more traditional classroom setting.
The GILS Elementary Arabic program covers both spoken and written Modern Standard ARabic with an emphasis on developing speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Like GILS Arabic 100-101, GILS Arabic 102 emphasizes learning to read, write, and pronounce the Arabic script. It also covers basic conversational skills and culturally appropriate etiquette. For true beginners, successful completion of all three courses (FLL 100-FLL 101-FLL 102) leads to a proficiency level equivalent to two semesters of college-level Arabic study in a more traditional classroom setting. [H, EPSL]
This course provides a proficiency-oriented framework for students wishing to acquire communicative competence in a less commonly taught language through guided independent learning. Working with at least one native language partner and a qualified off-campus instructor serving as an external evaluator, students will acquire knowledge of the communicative structures of the written and spoken language. Weekly reading and related skill-building portfolio assignments plus meetings with language partner. Students, external evaluator and FLL Dept establish learning outcomes and assessment rubrics collectively.
Students meet with the instructor on a weekly basis to study teaching methodology, language pedagogy, and second-language acquisition theory. The course also gives students the opportunity to apply what they learn and gain language teaching experience under faculty supervision in local elementary, middle, and high schools. Practicums are available in French, German, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.
Students meet with the instructor on a weekly basis to study teaching methodology, language pedagogy, and second-language acquisition theory. The course also gives students the opportunity to apply what they learn and gain language teaching experience under faculty supervision in local elementary, middle, and high schools. Practicums are available in French, German, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.
Provides students with the four basic language skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Emphasis is on learning the fundamentals of grammar and on the development of verbal skills through their active use. Students having had two or more years of high school French are ineligible to take FREN 101 unless they obtain the instructor's permission. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies.
Provides students with the four basic language skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Emphasis is on learning the fundamentals of grammar and on the development of verbal skills through their active use. Students having had two or more years of high school French are ineligible to take French 101 unless they obtain the instructor's permission. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Accelerated Elementary French is an intensive program for high beginners. This course takes a communicative approach to developing reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, while providing a diverse array of on-line ancillary materials to enhance the student's understanding of French and Francophone cultures. Students wishing to take this course should consult with the instructor in order to determine whether it is appropriate for them. In addition to four hours of class instruction per week, students will be expected to actively engage in self-directed learning, both on-line and in the Language Resource Center. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Review and expansion of the basic grammar and vocabulary of the language. Attention to developing reading and conversational skills and a deeper understanding of the culture of France and other francophone countries. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Review and expansion of the basic grammar and vocabulary of the language. Attention to developing reading and conversational skills and a deeper understanding of the culture of France and other francophone countries. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [GM2, H]
Grammar review with emphasis on areas of greatest difficulty. Enrichment of written expression with emphasis on style and vocabulary building. Examination of cultural and contemporary issues through use of the language laboratory (films, television broadcasts, newspaper articles, computerized programs) and discussion of cultural and literary texts. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Designed for the advanced student wishing to acquire specialized knowledge of the French language for use in business. The course examines a variety of topics such as agriculture, industry, postal services, telecommunications, international trade, customs regulations, banking activities, the stock market, major enterprises, advertising, the insurance industry, the real estate market, job offers and applications, résumé writing, and business correspondence.
Introduction to the study of medieval and Renaissance French literature and civilization. Readings from such works as La Chanson de Roland, Yvain ou le chevalier au lion, Tristan et Iseult, Aucassin et Nicolette, Rabelais's Gargantua et Pantagruel, the poetry of the Pléiade, and Montaigne's Essais. [H]
Readings from such works as Corneille's Le Cid, Racine's Phèdre, Molière's Le Tartuffe, Mme de La Fayette's La Princesse de Clèves, Prévost's Manon Lescaut, Marivaux's Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard, Voltaire's Candide, and Montesquieu's Lettres persanes. [H]
Introduction to the study of such modern literary movements as romanticism, realism, naturalism, symbolism, surrealism, existentialism, and the absurd. Emphasis on poetry, fiction, drama, and criticism in the works of such authors as Mme de Staël, Chateaubriand, Lamartine, Hugo, Stendhal, Balzac, Flaubert, Zola, Maupassant, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Rimbaud, Mallarmé, Jarry, Valéry, Apollinaire, Gide, Proust, Breton, Malraux, Sartre, Camus, Beckett, and Ionesco. [H]
French history, civilization, and culture from the Revolution of 1789 through modern times. Emphasis on major historical figures and events, the evolution of political and social institutions, economic trends, the development of religious, philosophical, and political beliefs, and changes in the modes of artistic expression. [H]
“New Horizons” is an interdisciplinary journey through the Sub-Saharan and Caribbean Francophone Worlds, focusing on the intersections of youth and identity. This course explores a wide array of cultural productions, such as literature, film, graphic novels, visual arts, philosophy, and anthropology, to understand how Francophone youth navigate and reshape their identities in a rapidly changing world. Students will delve into the delicate balance between tradition and modernity, scrutinize the enduring impacts of colonization, and envision a post-modern Africa’s role on the global stage. Through engaging with the creative expressions and intellectual discourses from Africa and the Caribbean, they will gain a deeper understanding of the innovative ways in which cultural narratives can address and navigate global challenges. [GM2, H]
This course examines themes and techniques of imitation and/or subversion of classical and Biblical sources as strategies for defining the self and the creative process in the vernacular. Readings include such genres as the epic, courtly romance, popular theater, allegorical and lyric poetry, short story, and the essay (La Chanson de Roland, Chrétien de Troyes, Le Roman de la Rose, La Farce de Maistre Pathelin, François Villon, François Rabelais, Joachim du Bellay, Pierre de Ronsard, Louise Labé, Marguerite de Navarre, Michel de Montaigne). [H, W]
Study of the development of romanticism, realism, naturalism, and symbolism, with emphasis on such writers as Chateaubriand, Constant, Musset, Sand, Nerval, Hugo, Stendhal, Balzac, Flaubert, Zola, Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Mallarmé, and Villiers de l'Isle-Adam. Attention also may be given to the Parnassian school. [H, W]
The major movements following symbolism are studied in historical context and in the works of such authors as Gide, Proust, Apollinaire, Breton, Mauriac, Colette, Malraux, Sartre, Camus, Ionesco, Robbe-Grillet, Queneau, Perec, Barthes, Kristeva, Ernaux, and Derrida. Topics such as surrealism, Orientalism, ludics, feminism, memory of World War II, the Algerian War, multiculturalism, and Francophonie. [H, W]
French cinematographers and their works have often stood in contrast to large-scale epic Hollywood productions. This is not to say that the two traditions are totally distinct: cross-fertilization has occurred in both directions. This course will examine several eras of French film-making: the Golden Age, the Cinema de Qualite, and the Nouvelle Vague, as well as various genres, such as the the Film Noir, the Cinema du patrimoine, the Cinema de look, the Cinema de banlieue, and Feminist film making. [H, W]
Study of a genre or major theme in French literature. Course content is broad in scope. [H, W]
This course gives students the opportunity to investigate intensively an area of special interest. Students work on their projects independently under the guidance of an instructor. At the end of the semester, students submit a research paper and/or make a substantial oral presentation. Hours arranged.
Tutorial sessions related to the student's investigation of the area chosen for the honors essay. Open to majors in French who are candidates for departmental honors. [One W credit only upon completion of both 495 and 496]
Fundamentals of spoken and written language. Development of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. An introduction to the culture of Germany and German-speaking countries. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies.
Fundamentals of spoken and written language. Development of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. An introduction to the culture of Germany and German-speaking countries. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
The course provides students, who take German at Jacobs University Bremen during the spring semester, with the opportunity to fulfill the German language sequence on either the beginning (GERM 102) or the intermediate level (GERM 110 or GERM 112) by completing an independent study project that has to be approved by the German instructor prior to departure. While abroad, students work under close guidance of the instructor and meet regularly using online communication media. At the end of the semester, students submit their final project for assessment by the German instructor. 0.50 credit course. [H]
Review of fundamental principles of grammar and syntax and expansion of vocabulary with short literary and cultural readings. Attention to improving reading, sharpening conversational skills, and developing a deeper understanding of the culture of Germany and other German-speaking countries. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Review of fundamental principles of grammar and syntax and expansion of vocabulary with short literary and cultural readings. Attention to improving reading, sharpening conversational skills, and developing a deeper understanding of the culture of Germany and other German-speaking countries. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [GM2, H]
This course is designed for students who have advanced German proficiency. Intensive review and practice of fundamental principles of grammar and syntax, and the expansion of vocabulary with a variety of cultural texts. Attention to improving reading, sharpening conversational skills, and developing a deeper understanding of major historical and contemporary aspects of German civilization and the culture of German-speaking countries. [H, GM2]
This course is designed for students who have advanced German proficiency. Intensive review and practice of fundamental principles of grammar and syntax, and the expansion of vocabulary with a variety of cultural texts. Attention to improving reading, sharpening conversational skills, and developing a deeper understanding of major historical and contemporary aspects of German civilization and the culture of German-speaking countries. [H, GM2]
Students will expand and deepen their cultural literacy and interpretive skills by exploring issues of social, cultural, and political significance in German-speaking countries. Through focusing on a variety of textual materials on such topics as identity and multiculturalism, migration and immigration, matters of social justice for women and minorities in modern and contemporary Germany, Austria, and German-speaking Switzerland, students will expand their skills in understanding and using the German language in a broad variety of cultural contexts. Students will receive advanced training of the four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
This course focuses on Vienna and Berlin during the 20th century, and how the past shaped the present. Texts and films present the cities' fascinating art and architecture that reflect the cities' histories and help deepen our understanding of such topics as women's rights and the emergence of the ''new'' woman, anti-Semitism and the rise of National Socialism, forced migration, the reemergence of Austria as a neutral nation, coming to terms with the Nazi past, the second feminist movement, and challenges for today's Berlin and Vienna as world-class cities. [GM1]
This course is designed for students who already have a firm grasp of German language skills (e.g., based on at least four years of high school instruction). Focus on business culture, terminology, and vocabulary, and information about Germany today and other German-speaking countries and their place in both the European and the world markets. Readings of business-related texts and oral presentations. [H]
This course studies texts from newspapers, magazines, and the Internet, and critically views newsreels and video documentaries. Focus on contemporary issues and sociopolitical developments in Germany and German-speaking countries. Emphasis on everyday conversational and idiomatic German. [GM1, H]
This course critically examines diverse readings in German poetry, prose, and drama of the previous two centuries with a focus on critical analysis of contextual meaning and the structure of literary texts. Introduction to literary terminology and techniques of interpretation. Literature as a reflection of Zeitgeist (social taste or the characteristic spirit of the times) that gave form to the cultural outlook of an epoch or generation). [GM1, H]
This course chronologically traces the development of forms of artistic expression in German literature, respectively within each new historical, cultural, and sociopolitical framework. Representative readings from the Classical Era of the late eighteenth century to the present. Emphasis on characteristics and trends of major literary movements. Introduction to notable modes of artistic expression such as Classicism, Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, Impressionism, Expressionism, and Modernism. [GM2, H]
Highlights characteristics of social perceptions as reflected in literary movements. Analysis and interpretation of literature as a medium for critiquing historical and social developments. Literary responses to political absolutism through the growth of liberalism and nationalism. Social forces reflected in literature from the Age of Enlightenment through Storm and Stress, Classicism, Romanticism, Realism, and Naturalism. [GM2, H, W]
This course provides a comprehensive overview of poetry, prose, and drama of the twentieth century. Focus is on matters of literary style, as well as major social, political, and cultural movements that influenced and shaped literary and artistic expression from the turn of the century to the present. [GM2, H, W]
This course analyzes literature after 1945, first and foremost the short story as a reflection of the forces of social change in Germany and other German-speaking countries. Emphasis is on the relationship of artistic expression and history, social issues, political conviction, and personal experience. Focus is on techniques for interpretation of literature. [GM2, H, W]
This content-driven course focuses on investigations of an influential literary or intellectual movement or trend, an individual author or the study of a genre, a literary masterpiece, or a significant theme in German literature. [H, W]
This course provides qualified students with the opportunity to investigate an area of special interest. Students work on their projects independently under the guidance of their mentor and submit a research paper and/or a substantial oral presentation. Hours arranged.
Tutorial sessions related to an investigation of the specific area chosen by the student for an honors essay. Hours arranged. [One W credit only upon completion of both 495 and 496]
Emphasis on achieving skills necessary for sustained reading of Attic Greek texts. Inductive system of continuous reading complemented by deductive study and exercises in grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and composition. Recitation.
Emphasis on achieving skills necessary for sustained reading of Attic Greek texts. Inductive system of continuous reading complemented by deductive study and exercises in grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and composition. Recitation. [H]
Fall: A close reading of at least one major dialogue of Plato with attention to the intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of classical Greece. Spring: A close reading of at least one tragedy of Sophocles or of Euripides with attention to its dramatic art and intellectual and moral content. Recitation. [H]
Fall: A close reading of at least one major dialogue of Plato with attention to the intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of classical Greece. Spring: A close reading of at least one tragedy of Sophocles or of Euripides with attention to its dramatic art and intellectual and moral content. Recitation. [H]
Fundamentals of the spoken and written modern language. Development of listening and speaking skills and of facility in reading and writing standard, unvowelled texts. Introduction to the culture of Israel. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies.
Fundamentals of the spoken and written modern language. Development of listening and speaking skills and of facility in reading and writing standard, unvowelled texts. Introduction to the culture of Israel. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department. Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
A one-semester course, this is an intensive elementary course for motivated beginners. The program stresses a content-based approach to language learning and is designed to help students develop interpretive, interpersonal and presentational communicative skills in Modern Hebrew while exploring key cultural perspectives and practices of Hebrew speakers all over the world. Students will spend three hours of classroom instruction and one hour working either individually or collaboratively in the language resource center. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Review and expansion of the basic grammar, vocabulary, and idioms. Development of skills of self-expression and conversation. Readings in short stories and in newspaper and magazine articles, and monitoring of television broadcasts in the language laboratory to gain a deeper understanding of Israeli culture. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Review and expansion of the basic grammar, vocabulary, and idioms. Development of skills of self-expression and conversation. Readings in short stories and in newspaper and magazine articles, and monitoring of television broadcasts in the language laboratory to gain a deeper understanding of Israeli culture. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [GM2, H]
These courses are intended to expand the student's basic capabilities in the four linguistic skills-listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Enrichment of written grammar review with emphasis on the expansion of vocabulary and stylistics. Examination of cultural and contemporary issues through use of texts, films, television, music, and the Internet.
These courses are intended to expand the student's basic capabilities in the four linguistic skills-listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Enrichment of written grammar review with emphasis on the expansion of vocabulary and stylistics. Examination of cultural and contemporary issues through use of texts, films, television, music, and the Internet.
This course teaches fundamentals of spoken and written language, including real-life situational contexts of greetings, shopping, counting, explaining daily activities, requesting, making plans, and invitations. Students also will learn Japan's three writing systems; hiragana, katakana, and kanji (Chineses characters). Class and laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies.
This course continues teaching fundamentals of spoken and written language, including real-life contexts of explaining situations, expressing opinions and medical symptoms, comparing items, requesting, introducing family members, and making holiday plans.Students will learn more colloquial expressions by using various patterns and continue studying kanji (Chinese characters). Class and laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
This course reviews and expands the basic structure patterns and vocabulary from Elementary Japanese with increasing emphasis on reading. More elaborate social and ritual exchanges, as well as casual speech, are developed including real-life contexts of looking for a part-time job, sending a present, planning a trip, dealing with the Lost and Found, and grumbling or gossiping. Continued study of kanji (Chinese characters). Class and laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
This course continues expanding the basic structure patterns and vocabulary with increasing emphasis on reading. More elaborate social and ritual exchanges as well as honorific/humble speech and passive/causative speech. Real-life contexts are based on business and social settings like at a company, a police station, or a home-stay family. Continued study of kanji (Chinese characters). Class and laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [GM2, H]
This course is aimed at third-year students of Japanese and is designed to foster continued development of the three communicative modes (interpretation, interpersonal dialogue, and formal spoken and written presentation) through the study of a variety of different topics from Japanese geography and history to pop culture. We will cover appropriate chapters in an advanced Japanese-language textbook and utilize multi-media materials to increase both proficiency in the aforementioned modes and cultural literacy.
These courses are for students who continue studying Japanese beyond the Intermediate level, to the Advanced level, in order to develop their skills. It emphasizes reading more authentic materials such as newspapers, magazines, and Internet articles and on writing compositions or corresponding. Also, students will focus on the skill that they want to improve particularly.
Emphasis on achieving skills necessary for sustained reading of classical Latin texts. Fundamentals and exercises in grammar, syntax, and development of vocabulary. Some work on Latin roots for vocabulary-building in English and enhancement of knowledge of European languages. Recitation. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies.
Fall: Reading of short selections in prose and in the poetry of Catullus with attention to the political, moral, and cultural climate of the late Roman Republic. Spring: Reading of at least one book of Tusculan Disputations of Cicero and of selections from the Satyricon of Petronius against the background of the early Roman Empire. Recitation. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Fall: Reading of short selections in prose and in the poetry of Catullus with attention to the political, moral, and cultural climate of the late Roman Republic. Spring: Reading of at least one book of Tusculan Disputations of Cicero and of selections from the Satyricon of Petronius against the background of the early Roman Empire. Recitation. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Courses such as: Latin Lyric Poetry, Latin Elegy, Latin Prose of the Early Empire, Latin Satire, Medieval Latin, Latin Philosophy, Lucretius, and Cicero. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Fundamentals of the spoken and written language. Development of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. An introduction to the culture of Russia. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies.
Fundamentals of the spoken and written language. Development of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. An introduction to the culture of Russia. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Review and expansion of basic grammar and vocabulary. Short literary and cultural readings. Attention to developing reading, writing, and conversational skills and a deeper understanding of Russian culture. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Review and expansion of basic grammar and vocabulary. Short literary and cultural readings. Attention to developing reading, writing, and conversational skills and a deeper understanding of Russian culture. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H, GM2]
A chronological study of the major literary movements and styles from the seventeenth century to the present in prose, poetry, and drama. Special attention is given to the ideological and historical background. [H]
A chronological study of the major literary movements and styles from the seventeenth century to the present in prose, poetry, and drama. Special attention is given to the ideological and historical background. [H]
A course in advanced grammar and syntax designed to develop a high degree of aural comprehension and conversational fluency. Perceptive reading and clear writing are stressed. Discussion of the major social, ideological, and artistic trends and movements of Russia. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
This course emphasizes reading authentic materials and writing compositions and correspondence.
This course emphasizes reading authentic materials and writing compositions and correspondence.
A study of the Russian novella and short story with emphasis on nineteenth- and twentieth-century fiction. Reading and interpretation of works by writers such as Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Gorky, Babel, Olesha, Solzhenitsyn, and others. [H]
A study of developments from 1917 to the present for their literary, social and political significance. Reading and interpretation of works by writers such as Mayakovsky, Gladkov, Fadeyev, Katayev, Simonov, Panova, Evtushenko, Trifonov, and others. [H]
This sequence is for beginners, covering the fundamentals of spoken and written language through the development of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies.
This sequence is for beginners, covering the fundamentals of spoken and written language through the development of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
An intensive program for high beginners. The course takes a communicative approach toward the development of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Ideal for students in need of review, and those with professional, family or travel interests. Class/Laboratory. Not open to students with credit for SPAN 101-SPAN 102. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Review and expansion of basic grammar and vocabulary. Short literary and cultural readings. Development of reading, writing, listening, and conversational skills as well as a deeper understanding of Hispanic cultures. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies.
Review and expansion of basic grammar and vocabulary. Short literary and cultural readings. Development of reading, writing, listening, and conversational skills as well as a deeper understanding of Hispanic cultures. Class/laboratory. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H, GM 2]
Advanced Spanish is an intensive composition course that emphasizes the development of critical and analytical skills in Spanish through the study of Spanish and Latin American literature and film. Designed as a bridge between language development and upper-level civilization, literature, and culture courses, this class focuses on process writing and is generally taken after a student has completed the Intermediate sequence of language study. Language level and subsequent course placement will be determined by the Department of Languages & Literary Studies. [H]
Designed to build on the existing skills of students who have grown up in Spanish-speaking environments, this course provides the opportunity to develop communicative competence in Spanish in both formal and informal settings through the expansion of speaking, reading, and writing skills. Objectives include: review of of such critical language aspects as spelling conventions, written accents, and the variety of linguistic registers or communicative settings (i.e. informal, formal, academic, etc.). Extensive reading, writing, and communicative activities. Equivalent to SPAN 211. [GM1, H]
This course is designed to teach advanced students how to use their language skills within the context of the Spanish-speaking professional world. Students acquire specialized vocabulary and knowledge related to topics such as banking and finance, telecommunications, import/export operations, advertising, and marketing. Course activities include composition of business letters and résumés, summaries, and translation of official documents and business correspondence, exploration and analysis of commerce-related Internet sites, and completion and presentation of a country-specific team project. Class/laboratory. [H]
An interdisciplinary exploration of the Iberian Peninsula's civilizations and cultures as reflected in its history, literature, peoples, politics, and arts. Topics range from Spanish Unification in 1492 through the rise and fall of Spain as an imperial power. Class/laboratory. [H]
An interdisciplinary exploration of civilizations and cultures from the colonial period through the early 20th-century as reflected in its history, literature, peoples, politics, and arts. Class/laboratory. [H]
Cultural productions by Latinx in the United States is right now an essential component of the Hispanic world. States like Florida, California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey, among others offer a diverse US Latinx population. This course analyses literary works writers who identify themselves as Mexican-American, Cuban-Americans, Nuyoricans, Dominican-Americans or migrants from Spanish-speaking countries. This course will focus on critical topics such as identity conflicts, gender issues, immigration, and generational differences. Students will examine through literary text the conflicts present in the Latinx community in the United States. The course will provide to the students a crucial perspective about the contribution of Hispanic heritage to the United States in order to understand cultural differences.
An introduction to the literature of Spain from the eighteenth century to the present, from the Enlightenment through the post-civil war era. The course examines how authors such as Larra, Castro, Pardo Bazán, Galdós, and Machado responded to the challenges posed by the shifting realities of their times. Class/laboratory. [GM2, H]
An interdisciplinary study that examines the evolution of Spanish society from the nineteenth to the twentieth century. Topics include Spain's problematic transition from feudalism to modernity, the rise of regionalism and its impact on national identity, and literary creativity and censorship in a nation vaulting between reactionary and democratic political forces. [GM2, H]
An interdisciplinary study of current cultural and political trends in Spanish America with emphasis on national and continental identities, political responses to development, the vitality of popular culture and the arts, and the growing importance of Hispanics in the United States. Laboratory assignments. [H]
An introduction to Iberian visual cultures from the early twentieth century to the present day. Among the issues addressed are the history of cinema in the Iberian Peninsula, visual representations of war and conflict, and visual interpretations of social issues. [H, GM2]
This survey course offers a broad view into the visual cultures of Latin America, dealing with issues of creation of images, story-telling, consumption, and dissemination of visual productions. Materials can include codex, painting, photography, prints, TV, and cinema. Latin American visual production will be studied will be studies vis-à-vis politics, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationalism, and indigenous peoples. Time period, focused media, and region will vary upon the instructor.
This course introduces students to US Latinx representations through film and TV in the United States Hispanic culture. This course will analyze the interaction between US Latinx communities and society, the linguistic dynamics between English and Spanish as a part of the family environment, among other topics. This course will explore also a critical approach to the US Latinx stereotypes in film and TV.
An introduction to the literature of Spanish America, from the early twentieth century to the present day. Among the issues addressed are the literature of social protest and reform, artistic experimentation in contemporary poetry and narrative fiction, and the rise of the novel in the second half of the twentieth century. Class/laboratory. [H]
This is a creative writing course in Spanish. It will use creative writing to explore and deepen students’ understanding of the Spanish language, Latin American literature, and the various stages of the writing process (prewriting, drafting, editing, revising). The course will use critical readings of different texts and genres (poetry, short stories, novels, crónicas) as models for student assignments and creative writing projects. The course will be divided into different sections, each with a different focus related to genre and specific writing goals. Students will choose one of the writing exercises/assignments in each section to develop, draft, and workshop for a grade. In total, they will produce four creative writing assignments during the semester. [GM2, W]
This course will explore the influence of the crime fiction genre in contemporary Latin American literature. Students will develop an understanding for the varying ideological perspectives the genre offers in different cultural contexts, its influence on narrative form, as well as its possibilities for social critique.
An in-depth study of a literary theme, genre, author, or movement in the cultural context of Spanish America (US Latinx and Latin America) during the late nineteenth century through the present day. Topics are focused on LGBTQ+ studies and will analyze Film, Theater, Novels, Short Stories, and Poetry. [GM1, W]
This course will explore contemporary youth productions and the representation of youth in the Latin American cultural field (literature, cinema and music). Focus will be placed on the importance of coming-of-age narratives, autofiction, and the relationship between politics and aesthetics. Students will develop an understanding for the ways in which youth subjects and subcultures interrogate ideas related to power, race, gender and social class.
This course examines the history of migration to and from Spain during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries via its representation in literature, film, theater, photography, and popular media. We will approach Spain's dual history of emigration and immigration with a critical lens that reads the categories of ''immigrant'' and ''Spaniard'' as porous and historically fluid. [GM2, H]
This course examines several key features of the vibrant Hispanic Caribbean community and its continuing presence in New York City from the 19th Century to today. This diverse demographic is also an important facet of the ever-evolving Hispanic cultural identities of the wider United States. Course participants will explore the aesthetic dynamics of the U.S. Caribbean cultural products, practices and perspectives through the analysis of digital, textual and audiovisual narratives, food, dance, and music.
An interdisciplinary approach to the long-lasting resistance of indigenous peoples through the Americas. The course will study indigenous productions regarding subjects such as religion, gender, class, economy, and environmental sustainability during Colonial and/or Republican periods on literature, visual arts, cinema, and political theory. A special focus will be placed in the emergence of decolonial and anti-capitalist struggles led by indigenous intellectuals and theoreticians in our contemporary world.
An interdisciplinary exploration of civilizations and cultures from the colonial period through the early 20th century as reflected in it history, literature, peoples, politics, and arts. This course is an introduction to Hispanic Caribbean culture and literature. Class/laboratory. [W]
An in-depth study of literary themes, genres, authors, and/or movement in the cultural context of the Africana Diaspora in the Hispanic Caribbean from the late 18th century to the present day. Topics will include a focus on Afro-descendant writers and will analyze theater, novels, autobiography, and poetry. [H, W]
Cervantes' masterpiece as it relates to today's reader, its impact on contemporary culture, and the stylistic innovations that make this novel a modern classic. (Formerly SPAN 425) [H]
An introduction to the literature of Spain from the Middle Ages through the seventeenth century, from the story of the Cid through the myth of Don Juan. Class/laboratory. (Formerly SPAN 310) [H]
The course's aim is to introduce students to theoretical issues and the practical applications of translation. We will combine theory and practice to examine the full complexity of translation as both an art and a science. Specifically, we will work with the particular features of the translation process from English to Spanish and Spanish to English through a semester-long translation practicum. Among the issues to be considered are equivalence, decoding and recoding and untranslatability. [H, W]
An in-depth study of the influence of colonial literature in both the formation of a Latin American identity and the development of contemporary writing. Texts by the explorers, missionaries, and conquistadores in the New World (including Columbus, Friar Bartolomé de las Casas, Hernán Cortés), and the subsequent generations of ''American-born'' writers (such as ''The Inca'' Garcilaso de la Vega). May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Class/laboratory. [H, W]
An in-depth study of a literary theme, genre, author, or movement in the cultural context of Spanish America (US Latinx and Latin America) during the late nineteenth century through the present day. Topics are focused on LGBTQ+ studies and will analyze Film, Theater, Novels, Short Stories, and Poetry. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Class/laboratory. [W]
Development of research skills and methodologies as applied to a specific topic in Hispanic studies: a literary theme, genre, author, or movement, and/or a cultural, historical, or political trend in Spain or Spanish America. Required of all majors in Spanish during the fall of their senior year. Only open to non-majors with permission of the instructor. [W]
Development of research skills and methodologies as applied to a specific topic in Hispanic studies: a literary theme, genre, author, movement, and/or a cultural, historical, or political trend in Spain or Spanish America. Required of all majors in Spanish during the spring of their senior year. Only open to non-majors with permission of the instructor. [W]
Individual research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Open only to qualified juniors and seniors. Hours arranged.
Open only to majors in Spanish who are candidates for departmental honors. Tutorial sessions related to the student's research and essay project. Hours arranged. [One W credit only upon completion of both 495 and 496]