This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the history and techniques of East Asian calligraphy as one of the supreme artistic accomplishments in China, Japan, and Korea. It combines the historical study of this art form with its hand-on practice as an art performance. Emphasis is put on the understanding of the multi-function of calligraphy in East Asian society.
Introduction to the fundamentals of Mandarin Chinese in four basic skills: comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasis is on the development of communicative skills, in both oral and written language.
Introduction to the fundamentals of Mandarin Chinese in four basic skills: comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasis is on the development of communicative skills, in both oral and written language.
Development of oral and written fluency at the intermediate level. Emphasis is on the acquisition of basic sentence patterns and their application in day-to-day situations. Oral and written assignments on a variety of topics are included to enhance students' control of grammatical forms and communicative skills.
Development of oral and written fluency at the intermediate level. Emphasis is on the acquisition of basic sentence patterns and their application in day-to-day situations. Oral and written assignments on a variety of topics are included to enhance students' control of grammatical forms and communicative skills.
This course focuses on patterns, translation, and the use of linguistic structures to articulate ideas in public speaking and composition writing. Course material includes a multimedia component and a grammar review. Students who have completed 300-level courses may enroll for credit.
This course aims to develop increased accuracy in communication skills utilizing Mandarin Chinese in a cultural context. Emphasis is on oral fluency, comprehension, and the language used in daily life. Course material includes study of films and songs with class activities and discussions geared toward further understanding of the society in which the language is spoken.
This course integrates linguistic functions and structures with culture via listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. Course materials are derived from contemporary Chinese film, TV plays, and other media sources. The course focuses on oral fluency in Chinese through class discussions utilizing topics presented in the original media materials and their illustration of language in a cultural context.
Chinese language studies with specific concerns on issues related to popular culture as well as contemporary social and political conditions. This course includes a grammar review and a multimedia component, and aims for development of oral and written fluency at the advanced level with emphasis on reading, writing, and group discussion.
Chinese language studies in the world of business and media. Areas of exploration include China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and their transpacific Chinese-speaking network. This course includes a grammar review and a multimedia component, and aims for development of oral and written fluency at the advanced level with emphasis on reading, writing, and group discussion.
Chinese language studies focusing on classical and contemporary literary texts that are available in either traditional or electronic format. This course includes a grammar review and a multimedia component, and aims for development of oral and written fluency at the advanced level with emphasis on reading, writing and group discussion.
This Chinese language studies course explores traditional values and contemporary issues via films produced in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The course includes a grammar review and a multimedia component, and aims for development of oral and written fluency at the advanced level with emphasis on reading, writing, and group discussions.
Chinese language studies explores topics related to food in Chinese culture. This course includes a grammar review and a multimedia component, and aims for development of oral and written fluency at the advanced level with emphasis on reading, writing, and group discussion.
In this modern Chinese language course students improve reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through an exploration of sources related to Chinese thought. Sources are drawn from Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist texts as well as those produced by modern political and intellectual movements. This course includes a grammar review and a multimedia component, and aims for development of oral and written fluency at the advanced level with emphasis on reading, writing, and group discussion.
Germans are still asking themselves the question: "What does it mean to be German?" Throughout its recent history, Germany has repeatedly turned to Berlin, its re-designated (and re-designed) capital, in an attempt to find its own identity. In this way, Berlin could be seen as a mirror of German affairs. Emphasizing the textual and visual histories of the city, this interdisciplinary course explores the effects of transition and upheaval on Berlin, highlighting the interconnectivity of history and memory discourses, topography, popular culture, the arts, politics, urban renewal, and multiculturalism. Discussions focus on Berlin's ever-changing façade and constant self-reinvention and re-evaluation. Definitions of "metropolis" and close readings of the city as "textual space" will be covered within the framework of questions of modernity and post-modernity. The class meets on-campus during ten weeks of the spring semester, with individual consultations and preparation for Germany thereafter, and has a required study-abroad component that will take the class to Berlin for five weeks during summer to engage the course themes first-hand. No previous German-language experience or coursework is required. Course taught in English.
Introduction to the fundamentals of French and focus on the development of comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasis is placed on active communication.
Introduction to the fundamentals of French and focus on the development of comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasis is placed on active communication.
The course aims to develop oral and written fluency with contextualized, meaningful, and communicative activities, including study of films, multimedia and contemporary texts. Special emphasis is on acquiring the ability to use French in conversational situations, consolidating and expanding familiarity with previously studied grammatical forms, and developing vocabulary.
The course aims to develop oral and written fluency with contextualized, meaningful, and communicative activities, including study of films, multimedia and contemporary texts. Special emphasis is on acquiring the ability to use French in conversational situations, consolidating and expanding familiarity with previously studied grammatical forms, and developing vocabulary.
FREN 202 or above required for study in a French-speaking abroad program.
This course studies how popular French culture, drawing from a rich and complex tradition heavily influenced by mass media, permeates contemporary French society. It is manifest in various cultural artifacts such as gastronomy, clothing, consumption, and entertainment. This course examines the boundaries between high and low culture, the various postmodern approaches that challenge the definitions of French mass culture, and the claims that pop culture trivializes and commercializes values.
This course is designed as an introduction to the principles and practice of translation. Through weekly exercises on texts ranging from newspaper articles and ads to contemporary young adult novels and literary fiction, students build up their French vocabulary and grammar skills. Particular attention is paid to the syntactic differences between French and English and to some of the thorniest issues for French language learners (articles, past tenses, relative pronouns etc.). Readings are in French and English with discussion conducted in French only.
Through a contextualized exploration of Paris from historical and/or contemporary perspectives, students develop their language skills through intensive grammar review, vocabulary enhancement, written expression, and conversational fluency. The course aims to prepare students for upper-level French courses and study abroad by improving French written and oral fluency though a project-based approach, focusing on different aspects of Parisian life of interest to students, from artistic movements to fashion and food.
Applications of French in non-literary contexts. Expansion and application of French in the areas of economy, politics, media, and international issues The course may include a multimedia component and a grammar review.
In this course, students analyze modern literature by women from francophone diaspora. This course focuses on increasing cultural competency and allows students to read in translation three novels and a play from francophone women writers. Students examine writings from Senegal, Haiti, Quebec and France/Morocco that address issues of personal autonomy, female creativity, social constraints, and cliché of sexual identity. The course also draws from the work of some francophone female cineastes, such as Mati Diop's 2019 drama Atlantics. Although student read the work in translation, class instruction is entirely in French
Readings, writing, and discussions based upon civilization and culture of France and the French-speaking world. Special emphasis on political and intellectual thought. This course may include a multimedia component.
This course is a critical examination of key texts and influential figures coming from, focusing on, or relevant to the Francophone world. The course emphasis is mainly on various aspects of cultures of Quebec, Francophone Africa, and the French Caribbean, and ends with an examination of the Francophone postcolonial context.
This course combines linguistic functions and structures with culture through an integration of listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. The raw material derives from twentieth-century French film. The course concentrates on improving oral fluency in French by using the topics of the film as starting points, sources of information, and illustrations of language in a cultural context for class discussions.
This course is a workshop format to improve writing skills, vocabulary development and an enhanced appreciation and sophisticated command of written French through a variety of texts and frequent writing exercises. Writing formats over the semester may include various styles such as journalism; creative writing; essays; correspondence; blogging; reviews of film, art, or books; web page design; ePortfolios; etc. Semester coursework will be informed by a French or Francophone cultural topic and will explore some particularly advanced grammar points.
This course is designed to introduce students to the methods of textual analysis through the reading and discussion of works in various genres in French. Emphasis will be placed on the development of analytical skills, in particular, close readings of works by authors from different periods.
This course will present students with an overview of the development of French literature from the middle ages to the 20th century, focusing on short fiction. Students will gain an understanding of the periodization and development of French literary movements in relation to historical events and changing socio-political structures. At the same time, students will develop skills in critical analysis as they approach literature written in French, often for the first time. Through reading and discussion, students will develop literary acumen, see the same work of literature from different angles and improve their use of written and spoken French in academic discourse in preparation for more advanced upper-division French courses for which they will have developed a critical and historical context. This course satisfies the gateway requirement for French and Francophone Studies literature majors.
A study of the major genres of French literature from the revolution to the modern days through techniques of close literary analysis. Readings and discussion of French intellectual thought of recent years.
A study of modern Francophone literature from the French Caribbean, the Maghreb, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Canada. The course provides an introduction to the literatures that have emerged in the French-speaking countries and regions of the world in recent decades, illustrating their astonishing breadth and diversity, and exploring their constant state of tension with the literature of France.
Close analysis of modern Francophone literature by women. Writings from France, Canada, Africa, and the Caribbean that address issues of personal autonomy, female creativity, social constraints, and clichés of sexual identity are examined.
This course is a critical examination of the works of one French or Francophone author, or multiple closely related authors, whose works greatly influenced the literary, political or cultural history of their time.
This course is designed to engage students with various aspects of French or Francophone cultural life in a historical and/or sociological context at an upper-division level. The cultural studies approach of the course will emphasize analysis of primary texts (literary works, historical documents, works of art, etc.) as they relate to cultural constructs. The course allows for either a synchronous or asynchronous historical approach, but will necessarily contextualize iterations of cultural expression in the French or Francophone worlds.
This course is for all students interested in African studies, in Francophone writers, and issues related to Gender Studies in Africa. No prerequisite or French language is required. Lectures and all in-class discussions are conducted in English. French Studies majors read and turn in their assignments in French. Other students read and turn in their assignments in English. This class explores African women writers and critics, looking at their theoretical priorities and cultural positions. This course is designed to provide students with specific and a general view of the status, achievements and experiences of African women in fiction. Reading authors from diverse African countries gives students a broad understanding of the challenges African women encounter. The course allows students to decipher the nuances of women's experiences and the diversity of African societies. A contrast is made with Western feminist traditions. Authors include Chimananda Ngozi Adiche (Nigeria), Mariama Ba (Senegal), Assia Djebar (Algeria), Buchi Emecheta (Nigeria) and Tsitsi Dangarembga (Zimbabwe). The discussion focuses on issues of identity, oppression, tradition, resistance, exile, language, and colonialism.
An intensive study of the major literary texts of French Classicism and Enlightenment with emphasis on the philosophical and political transformations of the time period.
A study of nineteenth-century French literary movements and close readings of selected texts. Examination of the interplay among the world of ideas and the political scene in France.
An intensive study of the major themes, forms, and techniques in modern French literature.
This course offers a detailed analysis of contemporary French literature, and a general examination of the intellectual currents these texts illustrate or express. Through close analysis of key 21st century French texts, the course explores aesthetic issues raised by French thinkers, examines how writers are tackling literary concepts from the turn of the century, and re-thinks the definition of a new literary language.
Synthesis of various aspects of literary studies. Topics to meet special needs. Since content changes, this course may be repeated for credit.
Classroom and laboratory practice to develop basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The course sequence of foreign language instruction is Elementary Level 101, 102, Intermediate Level 201, 202. A student who has received a C (2.00) grade or better in any course in this sequence or its equivalent cannot subsequently receive credit for a course which appears before it in the sequence. Proficiency range after German 102: Novice Mid to Novice High (ACTFL); A1 (CEFR); 0/0+ (ILR).
Classroom and laboratory practice to develop basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The course sequence of foreign language instruction is Elementary Level 101, 102, Intermediate Level 201, 202. A student who has received a C (2.00) grade or better in any course in this sequence or its equivalent cannot subsequently receive credit for a course which appears before it in the sequence. Proficiency range after German 102: Novice Mid to Novice High (ACTFL); A1 (CEFR); 0/0+ (ILR).
Students continue to develop German language skills at the intermediate level, with emphasis on reading authentic texts, building a more sophisticated vocabulary, expanding grammar, honing their speaking and listening skills, and writing strategies that focus on long-term and short-term assignments. Greater emphasis on cultural competency and acquisition. GERM 201 and 202 prepare students for advanced coursework in German Studies and study abroad in a German-speaking country. The course sequence of foreign language instruction is Elementary Level 101, 102, Intermediate Level 201, 202. A student who has received a C (2.00) grade or better in any course in this sequence or its equivalent cannot subsequently receive credit for a course which appears before it in the sequence. Proficiency range after German 202: Intermediate Mid to Intermediate High (ACTFL); A2-B1 (CEFR); 1/1+ (ILR).
Students continue to develop German language skills at the intermediate level, with emphasis on reading authentic texts, building a more sophisticated vocabulary, expanding grammar, honing their speaking and listening skills, and writing strategies that focus on long-term and short-term assignments. Greater emphasis on cultural competency and acquisition. GERM 201 and 202 prepare students for advanced coursework in German Studies and study abroad in a German-speaking country. The course sequence of foreign language instruction is Elementary Level 101, 102, Intermediate Level 201, 202. A student who has received a C (2.00) grade or better in any course in this sequence or its equivalent cannot subsequently receive credit for a course which appears before it in the sequence. Proficiency range after German 202: Intermediate Mid to Intermediate High (ACTFL); A2-B1 (CEFR); 1/1+ (ILR).
This course surveys the history and development of German cinema after 1945, including canonical works by Staudte, Schloendorff, Wenders, Kluge, and Fassbinder. The course begins with the immediate post-WWII era and continues through contemporary films, examining major trends of German cinematography during four major periods: the Truemmerfilm, the New German Cinema of the Federal Republic, DEFA films in the GDR, and the cinematic trends after German reunification. In order to come to a better understanding of how one can define German cinema, students' focus will be on both thematic and formal aspects. Class discussions will focus on questions such as: What is the relationship between a specific film and its historical-cultural context? Is this relationship overt or hidden? What does (or did) a German audience see in the film? How can we analyze and interpret these films from today's standpoint? German films might reflect on German issues, but is there a distinct German film language/style and what position do these films occupy within world cinema? What are the theoretical and formal concerns of German filmmakers? May be taught in German or English.
Was National Socialism the incarnation of evil in the modern world? How could twelve years of Nazi control in Germany alter world history? Did its culture consist only of propaganda and party rallies? Why did the Nazi leadership consider art and culture so central to its political goals? In the past 25 years scholars have taken a serious look at Nazi culture and revealed a much more complex set of factors at work in all areas of cultural life. This interdisciplinary course introduces students to the often contradictory but fascinating historical, social, and economic conditions that led to cultural shifts when the Nazis came to power in 1933 and then examines how Nazi policies simultaneously and systematically influenced all aspects of life in Nazi Germany (Gleichschaltung). Students consider both the 'lowbrow' culture and everyday life as well as the more traditional and sophisticated domains of 'high' culture. Topics include: religion, youth education, the 'camp system,' Fascism, environmentalism, racial theories, disability and discrimination, propaganda and entertainment films, colonial ambitions, art and architecture, gender roles and family, and consumer culture.
This course explores the words, actions, thoughts, and feelings during one of the most tumultuous periods of early twentieth century cultural history. The course treats a wide variety of materials with a focus on the fascinating and groundbreaking innovations in visual and performing arts, material culture, and urban planning and architecture that relate to turn-of-the-century Europe, World War I, Weimar Germany, and the rise of German National Socialism.
No one can hope to comprehend the challenges Germany faces today without confronting the triumphs and tragedies of the German past. Questions of sovereignty and individual freedom, as argued by bloggers and in the press, acquire supreme significance when viewed in light of Germany under Bismarck, the failure of the Weimar Republic, the nightmare of National Socialism, forty years of division, the Pandora's box of unification, and Germany's crucial role in the European Union. Students study the evolution of the German political system even as they develop the basic vocabulary of history and politics.
Thirty years ago, on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall opened. Less than a year later East and West Germany were politically and economically united, and the German Democratic Republic officially ceased to exist. Yet scholars, journalists, writers and filmmakers have continued to explore the 40 years of divided Germany, including tensions that continued after unification. This seminar explores some of the many literary and cinematic representations of the East both as a place many are glad to have left behind as well as a place of longing for others. The course begins with a brief discussion of the history the GDR, the "Wende," or time of transition leading up to the fall of the fall, and German unification. Among other questions, the course considers these questions: What aspects of the GDR past are thematized in texts? Which aspects are glorified or denigrated? Which aspects are remembered wistfully and which angrily? How do western and eastern authors/filmmakers differ in their treatment of the GDR past? What do these differences suggest about unification and the future of Germany? Class will be conducted in German in a supportive environment. All assignments will be written or presented in German.
The focus of this course is on didactic literature: fables, fairy tales--many of which serve both to teach and to entertain (docet et delectat, the Latin dictum)--and the modern-day parables of authors such as Franz Kafka.
Being green is not a new trend for Germans. In fact, Germany has consistently led the way, not only within Europe but also throughout the world, in how to be environmentally friendly and natural resource conscious. Germany is (and has been) a world leader in solar and wind technologies and boasts one of the smallest carbon footprints of any industrialized major economy in the world. Why are Germans so green? What is Germany's position on today's major debates surrounding global warming, climate change, conservation, urban planning, public transportation, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection? How do Germans see themselves vis-à-vis nature as represented in the arts? In this course students explore these and other questions related to nature and the environment from a German perspective, from the mid-eighteenth century through today. The course introduces students to a wide variety of subject matter and topics in literature, film, news items/current events, science, art, politics, language, and contemporary consumerism.
This course is designed to engage students with various aspects of German Studies at the upper-division level. Course topic and content will vary by author, genre, and medium based on departmental needs and course instructor. Because course content varies, this course may be repeated once for credit.
This course offers an introduction to basic grammatical concepts, terminology, and linguistics of Germanics with emphasis on the relationship between German and English. The course provides an overview of IPA transcription, phonology, morphology, etymology, syntax, and a linguistic approach to the history of Germanic languages and peoples in Northern and Central Europe through social contact and migration. Languages covered may include Old, Middle, and New High German; Old and Middle English; Frisian; Dutch and Afrikaans; Old Saxon; Old Norse (modern Icelandic); and Yiddish. Prior knowledge of German is required. No prior knowledge of general linguistics and/or language history is assumed.
The history, theory, and development of the literary genre Novella, featuring some of the more bizarre and fascinating works of the greatest German authors. Emphasis upon the function and limits of genre in literary analysis.
This course exposes students to representative German-language dramatic works, with the intention of staging a public performance at the end of the semester. Additional shorter texts on dramatic theory and visual and/or videos will supplement course materials. As a practical component to the course, we will also conduct technical acting exercises and in-class readings of the dramatic texts. Emphasis will be on closely reading texts, on discussing them in German, and providing opportunities to systematically advance and improve articulation of spoken German. Students participate in all facets of theatrical production, from character development, acting and performing, directing, requisitions and props, and promoting our play.
Students read a selection of works by German, Austrian, Swiss, and Romanian Nobel-prize-winning authors, including Gerhart Hauptmann, Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse, Nelly Sachs, Heinrich Böll, Günter Grass, Elfriede Jelinek, and Herta Müller.
This seminar introduces key themes and concepts in contemporary German-speaking literature and cultural studies with a focus on the role of human-nature interactions. Students examine contemporary issues and questions such as: How can we better understand climate change and its effects and develop systemic / planetary thinking according to proper scales (space, size, time)? How can we talk about our way of life and reflect on globalization, consumption, capitalism, civilization, alienation, and exploitation? What does it mean to be 'human' and how are we responsible for affecting / degrading the earth? What is the 'non-human' and how do these concepts interact? What is the 'Anthropocene' and is such a title really appropriate for our human-driven geological age? Does this require a completely new conception of history, memory, or knowledge? How do we define concepts such as nature, conservation, entanglement, connectedness, sustainability, resilience, and habitability within our current moment? How are social justice and feminism related to climate change?
This seminar seeks to interrogate assumptions about contemporary German and American culture and examine how one can better define what German and 'Germanness' means today (if at all possible) from the perspective of the outsider, the foreigner, and the other. What do the words 'Heimat' and 'Nation' mean to Germans today and why have these notions remained so fluid - even undefinable - in the German context? In this course, students engage with various literary texts, film, news items, and other media from Germany after reunification (1989/90). The course begins by touching on current events and debates surrounding the nation-state, immigrants, and multiculturalism in Germany's increasingly evolving social and political landscape in the twenty-first century. Then it explores these questions and topics in several units, focusing on the following themes: Germany's ever-changing capital Berlin and its role within the European and German cultural landscape; perspectives on contemporary Germany and the problems of identity, assimilation, and integration into the Leitkultur/dominant culture from German-Jewish, German-Turkish, and Afro-German writers, artists, and their communities; the on-going reassessment of life in the former German Democratic Republic and the phenomenon of so-called 'Ostalgie'; and finally, Germany's legacy of and continued struggle with fascism.
From the very beginning of its history, photography has served as a device to reflect on and about representation. In this seminar students explore the many interrelations between literature and photography specifically in the German context as they are represented in genres of fiction, illustrated texts, autobiography, photo books, and others. Students will read and discuss selected texts, photo narratives, and combinations of photos and texts, as well as the supposed affinities and analogies between story-telling and photographic images. The course highlights theoretical texts about photography and its inclusion (or intrusion) into the literary discourse, including a short history of the medium.
Synthesis of various aspects of literary studies. Since content changes, this course may be repeated for credit.
This course provides a solid grounding in Greek and Latin roots and other word components used in English with the aim of facilitating comprehension of both technical and non-technical vocabulary, including the specialized vocabulary of particular technical and professional fields such as the biological sciences, medicine, and law. Students will learn the principles at play in word formation and develop the ability to quickly recognize and analyze vocabulary derived from ancient Greek and Latin. In the process, we will learn about the historical, cultural, and linguistic underpinnings of the etymological influence ancient Greek and Latin have exerted on the English language. No previous knowledge of Latin or ancient Greek is required.
This course is an introduction to the classical Greek of Athens in the fifth and fourth centuries BCE and is primarily designed to provide students a foundation for reading Greek tragedy, philosophy, and history in the original. Special emphasis is placed on the sound of Greek. Students also become familiar with some of the fundamental characteristics of Greek civilization.
This course is a continuation of 101. Students further their study of the basic grammar and vocabulary of classical Greek with the aim of reading Greek tragedy, philosophy, and history in the original. Special emphasis is placed on the sound of Greek. Students also become familiar with some of the fundamental characteristics of Greek civilization. Successful completion of this course and Greek 101 satisfies the university's foreign language requirement.
Students continue to develop Greek language skills at the intermediate level, with emphasis on reading ancient texts in either prose or poetry, as well as building a more sophisticated vocabulary and expanding their control of grammar. Greater emphasis is placed on cultural competency and understanding Greek society. Writing assignments emphasize close reading of a text to understand how ancient authors manipulated the language. The course sequence of Greek language instruction is Beginning Level (101-102), Intermediate Level (201), and Advanced (301). Students may repeat 301 for credit as often as they like.
Students read substantial selections from ancient authors. The majority of class time is spent on the study of the syntax, semantics, and stylistics of those readings in order to build students' speed and accuracy in reading Greek, and to facilitate appreciation of the texts. In addition, students become familiar with the cultural contexts of their readings through discussion, brief lectures, secondary readings, and student reports and papers. Reading selections vary: they may be centered on the production of a single author, or organized around a cultural theme, literary genre, or historical event.
Introduction and development of the four basic language skills: comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Acquisition of two native scripts, Hiragana and Katakana, is emphasized in 101. Emphasis is on basic sentence patterns with basic vocabulary and development of communicative skills in everyday situations.
Introduction and development of the four basic language skills: comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasis is on basic sentence patterns with basic vocabulary and development of communicative skills in everyday situations.
Development of practical communication skills by enhancement of oral and written skills at the intermediate level. Previously studied grammatical patterns are consolidated and expanded upon, while new ones are introduced.
Development of practical communication skills by enhancement of oral and written skills at the intermediate level. Previously studied grammatical patterns are consolidated and expanded upon, while new ones are introduced.
In this course, students develop an understanding of Kanji and Kanji-based vocabulary and its role in Japanese daily life. Special emphasis is on accuracy in Kanji usage in writing and reading. Calligraphy is used to improve Kanji stroke orders and formation. The course may include some grammar review.
This course examines popular culture and society through sources such as manga, animated films, and feature films. These form the basis for reading, writing, and discussion. Special emphasis is placed on speech levels, male/female speech, formal/informal speech levels, informal speech, and slang and regional dialects.
This course serves those students who have completed JAPN 202 and wish to improve their skills in all areas: oral, aural, reading, and writing. Special emphasis is placed on listening and speaking skills. Class discussion, conversational exercises, reading materials, and writing assignments center on a variety of original Japanese materials which comment on recent social and cultural phenomenon.
Previously studied grammatical patterns are consolidated and expanded upon, while new ones are introduced. Development of oral and written fluency, and reading at the third-year level. Lesson topics focus on current as well as traditional uses.
This course is designed for students who wish to further improve their language skills in all areas: oral, aural, reading, and writing. The first half of the semester places special emphasis on writing and the second half of the semester on speaking, so that students will further develop their proficiency in these two areas as a preparation for advanced level courses. The course goal is to enable students to obtain intermediate to high intermediate level communication skills in both written and spoken Japanese. Students will be trained to write letters, messages, resumes, 2-4 page long compositions, reports, speeches, and to carry on longer and more natural conversations and participate in group discussion in Japanese.
In this course, students focus on strengthening their kanji-based vocabulary at intermediate and higher levels to improve reading and writing. Stroke order and formation are emphasized. Class discussion will improve speaking and listening skills and also may include grammar review.
This course is designed to further advance high intermediate Japanese learners' listening skills and to improve their vocabulary, sentence patterns and expressions as well as deepen their understanding of Japanese culture. Students explore contemporary Japanese usage and culture through Japanese TV dramas including animation and everyday listening materials. Although the focus is on listening, exposure to authentic Japanese materials will enhance students' communicative competence in their four language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing).
Students strengthen all four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking by using original Japanese materials that appear in both written form and as films. Students first read an original novel or short story, building vocabulary and kanji. Later they view the film made of the story, working on listening comprehension. Activities include weekly writing assignments on readings, kanji and vocabulary quizzes, class discussion of the books and films, and writing English subtitles for the movies.
Students strengthen reading and writing skills by reading a wide variety of Japanese prose, including newspaper articles and editorials, and nonfiction and fiction. Activities include writing assignments and class discussion of the readings, and a significant final research paper and presentation. The final weeks of the class are devoted to peer review of completed work on the research paper, and student presentations of research.
This course is designed to develop high intermediate level translation skills from English to Japanese. Students have an overview of the considerations that the translator should take into account when approaching texts. Particular attention is paid to understanding the sentence structural differences between English and Japanese, cross-cultural differences in stylistics, making the appropriate choice of words and phrases, and further advancing students' expressions in the Japanese language. Although the focus is on acquiring translation skills, exposure to authentic Japanese materials enhances students' communicative competence in their four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) as well as deepens their understanding of Japanese culture.
This course is the pre-advanced Japanese language course. The focus of this course is on preparing students to be able to handle academic report writing and oral presentation in Japanese through Japanese geography and culture. Japan has 47 prefectures and is divided into 8 regions. Students will learn an approachable and wide-ranging survey of the geography and culture of each region of Japan as they examine authentic materials. This class is carefully designed for students to learn about the geographical setting of Japan, the people's way of life, and the nature of Japanese society as if students were traveling across Japan.
This course is an introduction to classical Latin (particularly as spoken, written, and read in the first centuries BCE and CE) and provides students a foundation for reading Roman poetry, drama, oratory, and history in the original. Special emphasis is placed on the pronunciation of Latin. Students also become familiar with some of the fundamental characteristics of Roman civilization.
This course is a continuation of 101. Students further their study of the basic grammar and vocabulary of classical Latin with the aim of reading Roman poetry, drama, oratory, and history in the original. Special emphasis is placed on the pronunciation of Latin. Students also become familiar with some of the fundamental characteristics of Roman civilization. Successful completion of this course and Latin 101 satisfies the university's foreign language requirement.
Students continue to develop Latin language skills at the intermediate level, with emphasis on reading ancient texts in either prose or poetry, as well as building a more sophisticated vocabulary and expanding their control of grammar. Greater emphasis is placed on cultural competency and understanding Roman society. Writing assignments emphasize close reading of a text to understand how ancient authors manipulated the language. The course sequence of Latin language instruction is Beginning Level (101-102), Intermediate Level (201), and Advanced (301). Students may repeat 301 for credit as often as they like.
Students read substantial selections from ancient authors. The majority of class time is spent on the study of the syntax, semantics, and stylistics of those readings in order to build students' speed and accuracy in reading Latin, and to facilitate appreciation of the texts. In addition, students become familiar with the cultural contexts of their readings through discussion, brief lectures, secondary readings, and student reports and papers. Reading selections vary: they may be centered on the production of a single author, or organized around a cultural theme, literary genre, or historical event.
An introduction to the fundamentals of the Spanish language, with an emphasis on active learning and a focus on comprehension, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students will develop communicative and intercultural competence by exploring the diversity of Spanish-speaking communities around the world. No previous knowledge of Spanish required.
Spanish 2 offers a slightly more accelerated introduction to the fundamentals of Spanish language for students with some previous knowledge of Spanish (1 or 2 years of HS instruction or equivalent). The course emphasizes active learning, focusing on comprehension, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students will develop communicative and intercultural competence by exploring the diversity of Spanish-speaking communities around the world.
Spanish 3 is an intermediate language course intended for students who have taken about 3 years of high school Spanish (or equivalent). It is designed to provide students with an active learning experience as they strengthen their language skills and develop their intercultural competency. Students advance their proficiency in the areas of comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. Cultural material is integrated into these four areas to expand knowledge and cultural awareness of Spanish-speaking communities in the United States and around the world.
This course provides students with an active learning experience as they strengthen their language skills and develop their cultural competency. This course introduces students to advanced grammatical structures and focuses on specialized vocabulary used in professional fields including business, health sciences, and law. It emphasizes the development of comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Cultural material is integrated into these four areas to expand students' knowledge of Spanish-speaking communities in the United States and around the world.
This course develops students' writing and editing skills in Spanish by exploring various types of writing (descripción, narración, reportaje, exposición and argumentación) and the processes needed to develop these styles of composition. As part of the mastery of the skills necessary for writing in Spanish, the course incorporates a review of key and complex grammatical structures.
This course combines linguistic functions and structures with culture through an integration of listening, speaking, reading and writing activities. The course concentrates on improving oral fluency in Spanish by using the topics of Spanish and Latin American films, and their illustration of language in cultural context for class discussion.
SPAN 205 introduces students to different variations (or dialects) of the Spanish language, paying special attention to the Spanish spoken in the United States (also known as Spanglish). It explores Spanglish through the voices of its speakers, as well as through texts and videos, facilitating reflections on why some varieties of Spanish, such as Spanglish, are perceived as less prestigious. The course also incorporates regular activities that practice intermediate and advanced grammar topics.
This course examines the importance of various food products in the development of the original civilizations of the American continent, and the impact that the crops imported by the colonizers have had on the destruction of human cultures and natural ecosystems. Crops native to the Americas (corn, potato, tomato, squash, beans, cacao) and those introduced during colonial times (sugarcane, rice, coffee, bananas), have defined the modern world's foodscapes and have shaped the culture, the history, the economy and the politics of countries around the world. The course will focus on corn in particular, examining its farming, harvesting and cooking methods throughout history, reviewing religious myths and cultural traditions connected to it, and studying its presence and relevance in today's food industry and in our daily lives.
This course introduces students to the culture and civilization of Spain with emphasis on the history, art and prevalent cultural myths and practices integral to the development of the Spanish nation. This course considers the relevance of these cultural elements within an Hispanic context and a global perspective.
This course introduces the student to the culture and civilization of Latin America, with an emphasis on the history, visual art, music, and prevalent cultural myths integral to the civilizations and cultures of the region. The course considers the relevance of these cultural elements within a Hispanic context and a larger world perspective.
SPAN 310 offers in-depth study of literary and cultural topics in the Spanish-speaking world that are interdisciplinary in nature, multiregional in approach, and genre inclusive. As such, it incorporates short story, poetry, drama, essay, and film, and it covers several regions, including but not limited to the Southern Cone, Central America, the Caribbean, and Spain. Potential topics for this rubric are advanced culture courses, literatures of the periphery, narratives of the migration experience, advanced translation, linguistics, or any course which is interdisciplinary in nature. In addition to learning about the concrete topic of the class, students develop their critical skills, and improve their speaking, reading, and writing skills in Spanish. Because content will change, this course may be repeated for credit.
A panoramic survey of the literature of the Americas. The texts studied in the course reflect literary developments up to the present. Works to be discussed illustrate cultural elements that are evidenced in today's society. Latine Literature written in the United States may also be included.
A panoramic survey of Spanish literature from the early modern period to the present. Works to be discussed illustrate cultural, political, and social issues critical in the development of Spanish literature. This course has a multimedia component.
This course considers the main cultural and literary issues of the Hispanic world as represented in the short story. Writers from both sides of the Atlantic are studied with emphasis on the close reading and analysis of the texts.
This course examines poetry as an authentic expression of Hispanic literature. Writers from Spain and Latin America are studied with emphasis on the close reading and analysis of their poems, the study of meter, rhyme, and other elements of prosody, as well as writing critically about poetry.
An overview of Spanish cinema since the Civil War to the present. All films are studied in reference to the historical developments in Spain from 1939 to the present. Works by Berlanga, Buñuel, Saura, and Almodóvar are screened. Course includes required screening lab.
This course surveys Latin American cinema, with a particular emphasis on contemporary films. The acquisition of technical vocabulary will facilitate a careful examination of the selected works. Together with literary, critical, and theoretical texts, this analysis will lead to a broader discussion about the key cultural and social issues of the region.
This course covers approximately 200 years of Spanish drama. Students read complete dramas from several of Spain's most prolific playwrights while covering the major literary movements and tendencies of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
This course explores major theatre pieces of the twentieth century and is organized around important theatrical centers in Latin America and the study of terminology related to the theatre. The two largest units focus on Argentina and Mexico, but the course also covers plays from Chile, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and some Chicano works. The growing importance of performance theory and art is included in the coursework.
This course explores the relationship between documentary film and social movements in Latin America and Spain. Students analyze a series of 20th and 21st century social documentaries in their respective historical and political contexts, paying special attention to the techniques utilized by filmmakers and audiences to intervene in the public sphere. In the process, they become familiar with the conventions of different schools of documentary filmmaking in Spain and Latin America as well as the rationale behind the use of specific film techniques. This course fosters community-engaged learning and it satisfies the experiential learning graduation requirement. It combines film theory with hands-on experience in documentary filmmaking. Students expand on the concepts discussed in class by learning how to produce short documentary films that explore a social issue that affects Tacoma. As such this course requires significant out-of-class engagement with our local communities.
A study of the major genres of Hispanic literature through close analyses of selected masterpieces. This class prepares the student for more advanced studies in literary and cultural studies.
This course explores the human experience of migration, exile, and/or diaspora by offering an overview of some of the more significant migration processes within the Spanish-speaking world, and by exploring the social, political, historical, economic and intellectual implications of those processes. The class consists of close readings of literary works in several genres, including poetry, plays, short stories and essays, and the screening of several films. It also includes readings on cultural aspects of and theoretical approaches to this phenomenon. Readings and visual texts are in Spanish and/or English, and all discussion and testing is in Spanish.
How do new ways of seeing and being seen shape the divergent experiences of modernity in Latin America? This is the basic question that SPAN 322 asks by examining a series of case studies that roughly span the last two hundred years of its history. "Modernity" is an object of much debate, but might be provisionally defined as the competing accounts of the major sociopolitical, economic, and cultural processes shaping our world. Traditionally, the foundational literary works of the so-called "lettered city" have been the sources privileged by scholars to understand Latin American modernities. Drawing on recent scholarship, this course adopts the interdisciplinary approach known as "visual culture" in order to understand how emergent technologies and their attendant practices have been instrumental in constructing and critiquing particular configurations of power. These may include photography, pavilions at international expositions, museums, performance art, and multimedia spectacles.
This course will provide students with an overview of Iberian feminism from a transatlantic perspective (Spain-the Americas). First, we will examine the origins of Iberian feminisms, paying special attention to transatlantic literary networks and spaces. In doing so, we will discuss key concepts around feminism and/or women's writing: the struggle over women's rights; women as a labor force and consumers; models of gender identity and nation building; sexual liberation, etc. Second, we will analyze the major global debates and challenges within contemporary feminisms (transfeminism, decolonial feminisms, ecofeminism or pinkwashing) and their articulation in the Iberian context. We will cover a variety of feminist artifacts and practices (short fiction, manifestos, performance, memoirs, poetry, strikes, etc.) with emphasis on how and why these texts often blur genre conventions.
This course analyzes the relationship between art, race, science, and sexuality in Latin America. In particular, we study the development of Eugenics in Mexico in the first three decades of the 20th century. The course is divided into four sections: first, we explore the historical development of Eugenics. Then, we examine the history of Eugenics in Latin America. Next, we focus our investigation on the Mexican School of Eugenics. In the final section, we scrutinize the influence of Eugenics in the 1925 and 1932 Mexican debates concerning art, literature, and nationalism -- emphasizing the connection between body taxonomies and artistic productions.
This course surveys roughly one hundred years of Latin American film, from 1896 to the present, with a focus on feature-length narrative films. As its title suggests -- a riff on the title of Gabriel García Márquez's celebrated novel -- its overarching theme is the role film has played in shaping collective identities (national, racial, sexual, etc.) throughout the region. That is, this course tracks the development of film as a technology and as a form of artistic expression in Latin America, as well as the social, political, and economic realities that it represents and shapes.
This course explores the diversity of the Latina/o/x/e experiences and introduces students to the originality of artistic and cultural expressions of the Latinx communities in the United States, focusing on texts written originally in Spanish. Plays, performance pieces, short stories, novels, testimonies, poems, essays, films, documentaries, and blogs help students understand the complex and often silenced histories of the U.S. Latinx population. Thus, literature becomes a place where identities and ideologies are articulated, debated and contested. Through readings and discussions, students explore questions related to community building, migration and diaspora, racism and racial relations, transnational politics, discourses of power and privilege, and the intersections of sexuality, gender, race, and class. Most readings are in Spanish, with some in English and Spanglish. Discussion, writing assignments and tests will be conducted in Spanish.
Synthesis of various aspects of literary studies. Topics to meet special needs. Since content changes, this course may be repeated for credit.
An intensive study of selected works reflecting the intellectual, political, and aesthetic changes in Spain from 1140 to 1499 AD.
This course examines the relationship between culture and politics in nineteenth century Latin America. Studying foundational works of Latin American literature alongside other, oft-ignored cultural artifacts, it traces the role of the people in the rise of the modern nation-state.
A survey of Spanish literature between its two golden ages; close reading of selected texts; consideration of the Enlightenment, Romanticism, and Realism in a Spanish context; and examination of interplay among society, politics, art, and literature.
In this course, students examine how post-dictatorial Spain (from 1975 to present) remembers competing accounts of a recent violent past. First, the class analyzes a series of transatlantic cultural artifacts that constructed the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and the anti-Francoist resistance as international battles against Fascism. Second, the class concentrates on the ways in which contemporary memory artifacts (films, graphic novels, memoirs, etc.) thematize ideological battles in gender, sexual, and racial terms, paying close attention to the divergent articulations of these conflicts by peripheral nationalisms within Spain (Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia).
This course focuses on the exploitation of the land and the people of Latin America by the global agro-industrial complex, as seen through its literature. Students examine three novels that detail the power dynamics at play in the growing and harvesting of cash crops (in particular sugar, coffee, and bananas) grown in a plantation system exclusively for exportation. These narratives depict the basic tensions that both define and undermine their communities, and serve as allegories of the region's past and present. We read, discuss, and research these novels alongside other textual and cultural artifacts, as well as a corpus of contemporary scholarship, in order to understand both specific historical moments as well as the broader sociopolitical processes common to the region that we know today as Latin America. Central to the course is the power dynamics at play in the construction of historical narratives, racial justice, and collective memory; the systems of oppression that privilege certain stories while silencing others; the resistance to remembering a violent past that continues to shape the political present; and the potential of memory as a tool for resistance.
This course surveys roughly one hundred years of Latin American film, from 1896 to the present, with a focus on feature-length narrative films. As its title suggests -- a riff on the title of Gabriel García Márquez's celebrated novel -- its overarching theme is the role film has played in shaping collective identities(national, racial, sexual, etc.) throughout the region. That is, this course tracks the development of film as a technology and as a form of artistic expression in Latin America, as well as the social, political, and economic realities that it represents and shapes.
This course provides students with an overview of Iberian feminism from a transatlantic perspective (Spain-the Americas). The class starts with an examination of the origins of Iberian feminisms that pays special attention to transatlantic literary networks and spaces. In the process, students are introduced to key concepts around feminism and/or women's writing: the struggle over women's rights; women as a labor force and consumers; models of gender identity and nation building; sexual liberation, etc. The second part of the course is centered around the major global debates within contemporary feminisms (transfeminism, decolonial feminisms, ecofeminism or pinkwashing) and their articulation in the Iberian context. This course covers a variety of feminist artifacts and practices (short fiction, manifestos, performance, memoirs, poetry, strikes, etc.) with emphasis on how and why these texts often blur genre conventions.