Modern Languages Courses

FREN 101A , FREN 103A Intensive Elementary French

Equivalent to elementary French, but designed for students who have taken French previously and who are not true beginners. Development of aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing.

GERM 101

Willkommen! This sequence is focused on learning the German language by learning about the cultures and lives of people living in German-speaking Europe today. Students will engage with readings, videos, films and music. The goal of this course is increased intercultural knowledge and the ability to use that cultural knowledge to effectively communicate in German. Students demonstrate their abilities by using German to accomplish real-world tasks. Open to beginners, and placement by examination.

FREN 101

Development of language skills: listening, comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. Essentials of grammar complemented by readings in literature and culture, with extensive practice in speaking. Students must complete the sequence FREN 101, 102, 103 to fulfill the language requirement.

SPAN 101

Development of language skills: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Essentials of grammar with emphasis on culture through language. Reserved for students with no previous Spanish language study or by permission of instructor.

SPAN 101A

Elementary Spanish, but designed for students with previous study in Spanish or another language and/or experience.

FREN 102 Elementary French II

GERM 102 Elementary German Ii

SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II

FREN 103 Elementary French Iii

FREN 103A Intensive Elementary French Ii

GERM 103 Elementary German Iii

SPAN 103 Elementary Spanish III

SPAN 103A Intensive Elementary Spanish II

FREN 110E Poodles and Boodles: French Identities and Individualities

(Taught in English) Beret, baguette, Marcel Marceau, Edith Piaf are images and icons that one associates with the French identity. But what does it mean to be French? What does it mean to be Francophone? What is this French "je ne sais quoi?" This course will focus on the multi-faceted question of French identity in France and in the Francophone world, but also in America. French is intrinsically linked to the history of America and its people, but how? Why is there such an important French presence in the US and what does it mean from an identity standpoint? This course is taught in English and is specifically designed for first year students or students interested in French and Francophone civilization with no prior knowledge of the language. Does not satisfy Second Language Element.

GERM 151 German History on Film

This course will examine German films (alongside some graphic novels and other texts) which take as their subject historical moments and events. We will examine the manner in which German culture views its own history via mass, popular media such as film. Such media necessarily generate collective memories and historical imaginaries which may or may not comport with historical fact. Themes may include (but aren't limited to) the legacy of the Holocaust and World War II, the division and unification of Germany, and migrants' experiences. This course is taught in English.

GERM 152 Dungeons, Dragons, and Deutsch: TheRoots of German Fantasy

In this course, students encounter dragons, heroes, gods, oaths, and courtly love, following the early roots of these themes into their modern depictions and usage today. Drawing on their experience with modern fantasies, the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game, and renaissance faires, students delve into the roots of the fantasy genre with Middle High German epics, lyric poetry, songs, and short stories. Additional materials from the French and English epic traditions will also be incorporated and students will discover the history of the texts' dissemination into their relevant contexts. In each unit students will navigate the texts in translation, draw connections between the Medieval referents and the modern adaptations, and then creatively incorporate the themes, characters, topics, and lessons of the literature into modern projects. These projects include but are not limited to: creating Dungeons and Dragons character sheets, assisting in developing a D&D world and/or campaign, developing a theatrical adaptation, writing knightly codes of conduct, and comparing modern fantasy stories with their Middle High German referrents. This course is taught in English.

GERM 153 German Fairy Tales In Context

GERM 154 Gender Studies German Literature & Culture

This course introduces students to Gender Studies in German literature as well as leading to literary paradigms of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Literary Gender Studies often concentrates on the representation of gender in literature. This course adds an additional perspective: it also focuses on the gender of literature. Literature is associated with practice and faculties of the mind that carry connotations of masculinity and femininity. The different ways in which literature is gendered not only determine the type of literature produced, but they also have a decisive influence on the access men and women have to literature as authors and readers. This course is taught in English.

GERM 155 Tolerance and Intolerance in Literature and Film

Ideas that came out of German Enlightenment spread throughout Europe and beyond. Tolerance, one of the core ideals of the Enlightenment, always faces its opposite, intolerance. This course provides an in-depth look at the reverberations of German Enlightenment in various forms of tolerance and intolerance in literature and film. Political, social, and religious tolerance and intolerance are examined through literature, film and theoretical texts in various historical moments, times of political unease, cases of religious mistreatment or coexistence etc. Specific attention is paid to topics such as racism, instances of political persecution, and interreligious amity. For each literary work or film, students get a historical background and examine the work with the help of theoretical discussions. Students will gain perspectives on diverse forms of tolerance and intolerance in different contexts. This course is taught in English.

GERM 195B Queer & Kinky German Culture

FREN 201 Intermediate French

This course seeks to consolidate students' skills in grammar and reinforce their listening, reading and writing abilities through a variety of formats including: written compositions, readings, and oral presentations. Readings will be taken from news articles, fiction and non-fiction, and poetry.

GERM 201 Intermediate German

Broad analysis of German-speaking cultural products, practices and perspectives supported by a broad range of authentic texts ranging from fiction and non-fiction readings to films, online videos and more. Topics include recent history, current events, traditions and contemporary German-speaking cultures. Students further develop the ability to understand and communicate new knowledge in German on a variety of topics and from a variety of perspectives. Oral and written examinations.

SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish

This course is designed both as an introduction to interpreting authentic texts (online articles and videos, various literary genres, and film) and as a grammar review, especially those linguistic aspects commonly difficult for intermediate students of Spanish. The course is organized around several cultural and historical themes in order for students to become aware of different perspectives in the Spanish-speaking world. By being exposed to Spanish through readings, videos and film, students will further develop their proficiency in the Spanish language as well as improve their understanding of Hispanic cultures.

GERM 202 Young Rebels

Moments of crisis often bring into sharp relief the differing worldviews between generations. This course will explore historical periods through the lens of intergenerational conflicts. Youth movements often attempt to tarry with the guilt of the past and the stakes of the future. We learn about the cultural and historical contexts and trace the reactions of young people through literature, film, and historical documents. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, dissidents under the Nazi and East German Communist regimes, the 1968ers in West Germany, environmental and anti-nuclear protest movements, and more.

GERM 203 The Environment in the German Imagination

From record-breaking renewable energy production to a historical fascination with natural spaces and woodlands in fairy tales and other literature, German-speaking central Europe has long been at the forefront of environmentalism and sustainability. This course examines both historical and contemporary environmentalist movements, examining cultural products, practices and perspectives of German-speaking peoples which make environmentalism and sustainability a priority. Topics may include contemporary laws and policies, everyday cultures of sustainability, energy production, historical movements such as Romanticism, environmentalism under various German regimes in the 20th & 21st centuries, and more.

SPAN 205 Introduction to Spanish Translation 0.5

In this course students will practice their Spanish language skills through weekly translation exercises and class discussion on difficult choices in translation. The course will focus on recognizing the common pitfalls of English speakers such as false cognates, common grammatical and syntax errors, etc. We will work on a variety of texts responding to local community needs and through partnerships with NGOs. The class will also translate legal documents such as birth certificates, police reports, and sworn statements related to asylum seeker cases. Finally, we will investigate many aspects of becoming a freelance translator, including how to place a professional bid, the use of translation tools and internship opportunities.

SPAN 206 Introduction to Spanish Interpreting 0.5

This course offers students the opportunity to refine their language skills, improve memory and fluency while learning about career opportunities for interpreters. We will focus on exercises in three main areas: community, medical, and legal interpreting. In addition to protocols, the course covers aspects of the profession including: ethical dilemmas, the legal rights of LEPs (persons with limited English proficiency), and the interpreter's role as conduit, clarifier, cultural broker, and advocate. In class, students will perform mock scenarios and scripts. Students will be given the chance to practice consecutive, simultaneous, over-the-phone interpreting, and sight translation.

SPAN 208 Flamenco: The Music and its SocialHistory 0.5

From the poorest and most marginalized areas of 19th-century Andalucia, Spain emerged a unique musical art form known as flamenco that has since mesmerized audiences across the globe. In this course, students acquire basic vocabulary to analyze and discuss key features of flamenco singing, dance, and guitar, including the various song structures (palos) that constitute flamenco as a musical genre. Attention to the cultural traditions of Andalucia that involve flamenco is also essential, as is the influence that certain ethnic groups, particularly the gitanos (Romani) of Andalucia, have had on the art form over time. Taught in Spanish. No prior knowledge of music is necessary.

SPAN 209 Spanish in Business and Other Professional Contexts 0.5

Introduction to what business and other professional contexts look like in the Spanish-speaking world. In addition, we will study the language structures and cultural formalities needed to engage in effective communication and to develop successful relationships in these professional environments. Attention is also given to professional writing and oral tasks in accordance with appropriate cultural conventions. In this way, the course is not only for students wanting to use Spanish for business purposes, but also for those planning to work in non-profit organizations, the public sector, community organizations, or engage in activism. Taught in Spanish.

FREN 210 Conversation

This course is designed to develop proficiency in the four basic communicative skills of speaking, writing, listening, and reading French, and competence in the French and Francophone cultures of the world. The development of oral communication skills will be stressed throughout the course, and written competency in a variety of communicative functions will be emphasized as well.

SPAN 210 Conversation and Composition 1, 0.5

Practice in understanding, speaking, and writing Spanish through the use of cultural texts, such as literature, online articles and blogs, film, and music. Course can be repeated for credit if the topic is different. Instructor's permission is required to take the course a second time.

SPAN 210A Spanish Conversation/Composition 0.5

FREN 211 Intermediate French Grammar and Composition

This course seeks to consolidate students' skills in grammar and reinforce their listening, reading and writing abilities through dictations, written compositions, readings, and oral presentations. Readings will be taken from news articles, fiction and non-fiction, and poetry.

GERM 211 German Traditions and Cultures

This course will examine traditions, festivals, celebrations and daily culture in the German-speaking world. These analyses will provide a window into the multifaceted history, culture, and values of the various peoples and cultures calling Central Europe home (whether intergenerationally or newly arrived). Possible topics include long-standing and well-known traditions such as Oktoberfest as well as daily routines and traditions which shape life in these cultures.

GERM 212 Deutschland ist (k)ein Einwanderungsland: Migration and Immigration in

In this course, we will look at current political and popular debates as well as literature to explore the complex history of migration and immigration since the Second World War. Through a variety of text--including film, literature, scholarly research, poetry, and news article--we will examine the artistic, cultural, historical, political, and religious impacts of immigration on culture and life in Germany today.

GERM 213 German Crime Stories

Whodunnit? Wer hat's getan? In this course, we will read, identify, and analyze the Krimi- (crime) and Detektiv- (detective) story genre in the German-speaking realm. From the biblical Cain and Abel up through the popular Tatort television series, this class will explore the structure and expression of the genre while lending a critical eye to the gendered, racial, and class-based stereotypes prevalent in crime and mystery stories. Students will work through a variety of texts-including short stories, novels, television, and news-culminating in solving their own mystery in a "Murder Mystery" hour at the end of the course.

FREN 215 Introduction to French Literature

An introduction to the different literary genres - poetry, theatre, novel - and to approaches to a literary work. Focus on close reading and discussion of texts across the centuries. Examples of authors studied: Ronsard, Moliere, Baudelaire, Zola.

FREN 220 Francophone African Literature

An introduction to African authors who write in French. The texts exist in an underlying conflict between two cultures: African and European. The course emphasizes the relationship between the texts and the socio-economic and political structures.

SPAN 220 Spanish for Healthcare 0.5

This course is designed for the intermediate language learner who would benefit from specific training in Spanish used in a medical context. The course covers anatomy, common illnesses, doctor-patient dialogues, as well as particular cultural elements related to within Hispanic/Latino communities, such as common beliefs, rituals and folkways related to health and healthcare practices.

GERM 221 German Film

SPAN 221 Healthcare, Social Work, and Education in Oaxaca 0.5

During the term on-campus, the course meets weekly to learn geography, culture, linguistics, social issues and demographics of Oaxaca, Mexico. Once on-site in Oaxaca, students are assigned to one of three areas: education, social work, or medical. For this portion, students spend several hours at the participating institution shadowing professionals through a collaboration with Child Family Health International. The on-site component is designed for students interested in a career in Spanish-English language interpreting, or careers in healthcare, social work and education. The travel component requires an additional fee of approximately $1,800 plus airfare.

GERM 222 Contemporary Conversations in German-Speaking Cultures

SPAN 222 Medical Interpreting 0.5

This course is designed for intermediate-high language learners interested in a career in medical interpreting or who want to improve their knowledge of medical Spanish. The course covers ethics, protocol, and cultural aspects of interpreting in a medical context as well as linguistic elements that differ between Spanish and English that tend to create difficulties for interpreters. Students practice interpreting while classmates role play using scripts. Performances cover consecutive interpreting, over-the-phone interpreting, as well as conference interpreting. Students completing 40 hours of training are qualified to take the National Certification Exam.

FREN 230 Introduction to French Culture

What is culture? Using a multifaceted approach - anthropological, semiotic, sociological - students will begin to define what it means to be French. Readings will address some of the symbols and icons of French life, such as the Tour de France, the Marseillaise, etc. Films will also be used to understand daily life.

MODL 230 Teaching & Learning Languages

This course provides students with an overview of research-informed Second Language Acquisition principles in order to improve the quality of their peer-tutoring and teaching assistant work in a second language. The course will include readings, written reflections, course observations, and practical exercises to prepare for tutoring work. The course culminates in mock exercises that require students to provide tutee feedback and coaching informed by research-based projects.

SPAN 230A Cult Span Spking World-Spain

SPAN 230C Culture of the Spanish Speaking World: The Caribbean

SPAN 230EE Cult Span Spkng Wrld: Andes Trvl 0.5

SPAN 230E studies various civilizations that shaped the Andean world. It examines the characteristics of the pre�Columbian societies as foundational ethnic groups in which the Inca Empire based its organization. It also studies the conquest of the Inca Empire by Spaniards and the subsequent implementation of hybrid colonial and postcolonial Andean societies. This course will now culminate in an optional study trip (SPAN 230EE) that provides students with a unique cultural immersion experience in the Andes of Peru, an experience that can not be replicated in the classroom. SPAN 230EE may be taken up to three times to different destinations.

SPAN 230B Cult Span Spking World-Mex/C.Am

SPAN 230D Cult Span Spking World-Sthrn Con

SPAN 230E Cult Span Spking World-Andean

SPAN 233 Translating and Interpreting in Legal Contexts 0.5

Description: This .5 credit course explores the field of interpretation and translation (Spanish-English, English-Spanish) in the context of immigration and the crisis at our border. We will read about immigration issues in the United States, with a focus on asylum seekers, the application process, and recent changes to guidelines. Additionally, we will practice interpreting with mock scripts, and carry out translations for real asylum cases. Students will learn about the country conditions that are leading to an increase in asylum claims in the Northern triangle, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba through first-person narratives, police reports, sworn statements and newspaper accounts. This course will be ideal preparation for anyone looking to serve as a translator or interpreter in this field. Prerequisite: SPAN 205 or SPAN 206.

GERM 235 Introduction to German Literature

Readings and discussions in German of various nineteenth- and twentieth-century works and their literary, cultural and historical contexts. Students will learn the basic skills they need to analyze literature and film (e.g., writing a summary, writing a characterization), culminating in critical analyses of narrative prose, drama, and poetry.

SPAN 235 Introduction to Hispanic Literatures

This course is designed to introduce students to literature through critical reading of representative works from different genres and diverse countries of the Spanish-speaking world, as well as to the different ways scholars approach literature. Through close readings of texts, including short story, drama, poetry and essays, students acquire analytical and interpretive skills as they study how and why a work is constructed and what its social and cultural implications are. Students explore themes unique to Hispanic literature as well as what connects it to world literature. Taught in Spanish.

FREN 240E Introduction to French Cinema

SPAN 241 Tourism in Spanish-Spking World

MODL 260E Introduction to General Linguistics

This course will introduce the traditional areas of linguistics to give students a reasonable taste of what can be studied about language. It will also introduce students to linguistic analysis by examining how linguistics is applied in the real world to answer questions and resolve problems. Topics covered include language structure, meaning-making, language variation, language and the brain, language acquisition and applied linguistics.

GERM 301 German Romanticism

SPAN 301 Advanced Spanish Language

In this course, students will develop their language competence through in-depth study and practice with key grammatical and usage topics through diverse texts. This course is for students who have studied Spanish abroad or for advanced majors or minors who wish to improve their Spanish proficiency.

GERM 302 Young Rebels

Moments of crisis often bring into sharp relief the differing worldviews between generations. This course will explore historical periods through the lens of intergenerational conflicts. Youth movements often attempt to tarry with the guilt of the past and the stakes of the future. We learn about the cultural and historical contexts and trace the reactions of young people through literature, film, and historical documents. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, dissidents under the Nazi and East German Communist regimes, the 1968ers in West Germany, environmental and anti-nuclear protest movements, and more.

GERM 302E Realism In the German Context

GERM 303 The Environment in the German Imagination

From record-breaking renewable energy production to a historical fascination with natural spaces and woodlands in fairy tales and other literature, German-speaking central Europe has long been at the forefront of environmentalism and sustainability. This course examines both historical and contemporary environmentalist movements, examining cultural products, practices and perspectives of German-speaking peoples which make environmentalism and sustainability a priority. Topics may include contemporary laws and policies, everyday cultures of sustainability, energy production, historical movements such as Romanticism, environmentalism under various German regimes in the 20th & 21st centuries, and more.

FREN 304 Symbolist Poetry

Primarily a study of Baudelaire and Rimbaud, with supplementary study of Mallarme, Verlaine and Nouveau.

FREN 305 Topics in Nineteenth Century FrenchLiterature

The development of the Romantic movement, realism, naturalism, and symbolism.

SPAN 305 Spanish American Literature ThroughModernismo

The development of Spanish-American literature from pre-Columbian times to the twentieth century; Popol Vuh, Columbus, Cort�s, Las Casas, Inca Garcilaso, Sor Juana In�s de la Cruz, Bol�var, Sarmiento, Isaacs, Hern�ndez, Mart�, Dario. Alternate years.

SPAN 306 Twentieth Century Spanish-AmericanLiterature

The development of the contemporary Spanish-American narrative: Gallegos, Asturias, Carpentier, Rulfo, Garcia M�rquez, Vargas Llosa, Borges, Cort�zar, and Ferr�. Representative works in poetry: Vallejo, Mistral, Storni, Neruda. Alternate years.

SPAN 308 Don Quixote

This course is dedicated to reading and discussing both parts of Don Quixote (1605, 1615) in order to understand the text's profound influence on world literature, why many call it the first modern novel, and its relevance to issues in the 21st century. Our primary focus is on the narrative innovations that Miguel de Cervantes created to not only transform and undermine the literary genres of European literature known during the seventeenth century, but also to expose and dismantle the "idealisms" found in the social, political, religious, historical, and literary discourse of his day, the outcome of which is a literary and philosophical text unlike any other seen before or since.

SPAN 309 Contemporary Latin American Cinema

A survey of contemporary cinema of Spanish speaking countries of Latin America. We follow a trend starting with the avant-garde cinema of the political revolutionary turbulence of the 1960's, the "New Latin American Cinema", which continues today with a series of films that originated as a reaction to the neo-liberal and globalized capitalism of the 1990's. The films are treated as visual texts, studying the film as a genre with particular stylistic forms and techniques to represent social reality ideologically and in the context of social and cinematic history.

GERM 311 German Traditions and Cultures

This course will examine traditions, festivals, celebrations and daily culture in the German-speaking world. These analyses will provide a window into the multifaceted history, culture, and values of the various peoples and cultures calling Central Europe home (whether intergenerationally or newly arrived). Possible topics include long-standing and well-known traditions such as Oktoberfest as well as daily routines and traditions which shape life in these cultures.

GERM 312 Deutschland ist (k)ein Einwanderungsland: Migration and Immigration in

In this course, we will look at current political and popular debates as well as literature to explore the complex history of migration and immigration since the Second World War. Through a variety of text--including film, literature, scholarly research, poetry, and news article--we will examine the artistic, cultural, historical, political, and religious impacts of immigration on culture and life in Germany today.

GERM 313 Mystery und Mordgeschichte: Crime and Detective Stories

Whodunnit? Wer hat's getan? In this course, we will read, identify, and analyze the Krimi- (crime) and Detektiv- (detective) story genre in the German-speaking realm. From the biblical Cain and Abel up through the popular Tatort television series, this class will explore the structure and expression of the genre while lending a critical eye to the gendered, racial, and class-based stereotypes prevalent in crime and mystery stories. Students will work through a variety of texts-including short stories, novels, television, and news-culminating in solving their own mystery in a "Murder Mystery" hour at the end of the course.

FREN 316 Topics in Eighteenth Century Literature

A century of evolutions and revolutions, the eighteenth century in France saw the emergence of an "Enlightenment" literature, philosophy, and thinkers. Voltaire and Rousseau might be the most famous authors, but writers like Marmontel, Retif de la Bretonne, and Crebillon fils also participated in this intellectual effervescence. From love to manipulation, deceit and hypocrisy to morality and ethics, this course aims at developing an understanding of this century of ideas, focusing on various topics.

FREN 320 Written and Oral French

Advanced practice in written and oral expression.

GERM 321 German Film

GERM 322 Contemporary Conversations in German-Speaking Cultures

FREN 325 Topics in French Civilization

This course begins with a reflection on the concepts "nation" and "national identity" and then proceeds to identify and analyze the institutions and iconography that constitute the "deep structure" of France. How do the French remember the past? How have they "reconstructed" it? How do they view the world around them and their place in it? How do they view each other? As we attempt to find answers for these and other questions, it is necessary to look at those watershed events in French history that have over time transcended their reality and have been transformed into the myths that underlie and establish French identity.

GERM 325 , GERM 325E German Culture: Focus on Berlin

(In German or English) Exploration of contemporary German culture through focus on the nation's once and future capital. This is not a cultural history course but is instead designed to give students insight into the people and concerns "behind the headlines." Course materials include both fiction and non-fiction (political and economic) readings, interviews, slides, film, video and music.

SPAN 328 Monsters in Spanish Literature

This course examines the figure of the "monster" as a literary device in the literature and cinema of Spain. Specifically, the course analyzes preternatural entities, such as zombies, ghosts and demons, as well as humans allegedly associated with evil, such as women, criminals, and the "enemy." Fundamental questions of the course include: what makes a particular entity a monster, how have monsters been used to shape cultural values and a sense of identity during pivotal moments in Spanish history, and what can be learned about Spanish culture by examining the monsters it has produced. Films are rated R and contain graphic images.

FREN 330D Liars & Impostors

From the juvenile "liar, liar pants on fire" to the biblical verse: "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight", the act or the art of lying always appears to be stigmatized. But why lie? What makes a person a liar or an impostor? Are they the same? It is around these questions that philosophers and writers have gravitated and tried to decipher if lying could be justified or has to be punished systematically. Are there any real white lies? Are there any good lies? Does everybody lie? Commonly, French people are viewed to be direct and frank, but does French literature reflect this? How does French literature treat lies? Is it different from English literature? Does literature always lie?

FREN 330C French Food for Thought

"Let them eat cake," "bon appetit," are common expressions used in English to either refer to Marie-Antoinette's faux pas before the hungry revolutionary crowd asking for bread in front of the Versailles palace, or to traditionally tell somebody to enjoy their meal. More than mere food, French cuisine and dishes have become an art and an inspiration throughout the world. But how are food and cuisine at the core of French culture? How is food such a savoir-vivre for the French people? Brillat-Savarin said in the 18th century: "Tell me what you eat: I'll tell you who you are." How did/do French people eat? How did/does that define them? What is the place of food and cuisine in literature? This course aims at better understanding the representations and the symbolic aspects of food and cuisine in French literature as well as in its culture. Providing starters from the Middle-Ages, we will take our culinary discovery through the tasty 17th century to the spicy 18th century, adding a dash of table manners and theory in the 19th century to modern time diets and regimens, mixing a variety of formats and recipes.

GERM 330 or GERM 330E Afro-German Culture

This course will explore the history and culture of the African diaspora in Central Europe. For centuries, there has been a black population in German-speaking Europe, but only in the 1980s did that population begin to think of themselves as Afro-Germans or Black Germans. This class will explore the relationship between race, nationality and history in this context. This class may include topics such as the history of German colonialism, key Afro-German writers and filmmakers, Afro-Germans in the Nazi era and/or communist East Germany, the portrayal of black people in Europe and/or Africa in German-speaking cultures and more.

GERM 330E Afro-German Culture

SPAN 330 or SPAN 330E Great Themes of Spanish or Spanish American Literature

(In Spanish or English) A study of major topics in Hispanic studies. Some recent topics have been Spanish American literature of New York, bilingual indigenous literature in America, and anarchist culture in Spain. Course may be repeated for credit under different topics.

GERM 331 , GERM 331E German Fairy Tales inContext

In this course, students study the advent of the fairy tale genre in the context of the German literary tradition and against the background of the changing national consciousness of Germany around 1800. By analyzing the fairy tale, students will also address German cultural identities and values, ideas of nation building, and didacticism. We will also trace the appropriation and subversion of the fairy tale in later eras and the present. Other topics in this course might include: additional theoretical frameworks (i.e. feminism in fairy tales); queer identities; adolescent development; religion (i.e.: Christianity/paganism); and linguistic projects.

GERM 331E German Fairy Tales In Context

GERM 332 or GERM 332E Gender Studies in German Literature and Culture

(In German or English) How is gender constructed in the intellectual and literary history of German-speaking countries, and what are the interrelations between gender construction and the life of cultural or political institutions? Possible course topics include: literature as a gendered institution; sexuality and the state; education; gay/lesbian literature; gender and race.

GERM 332E Gender Studies Germ Lit & Cultre

SPAN 332 ,SPAN 332E The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939): History, Memory, and Cu

A study of the Spanish Civil War from a rich variety of written and visual texts representing the multiple sides of a nation torn by war, trauma, and radicalism. Stress is put not only on the historical information these texts provide but in how that information is shaped by cultural representations. We will look at how the main ideologies of the 20th century played out in this conflict: socialism, anarchism, communism (Stalinism and anti-Stalinism), feminism, liberal democracy, catholic traditionalism, fascism, and nationalism. The course also responds to the historical memory debate occurring in Spain since the late 90's: from blogs, public discussions and publications, to new laws and even grave exhumations.

GERM 335 Contemporary Europe, Migration andRefugees

In this course, students primarily explore the post-WWII European history, culture, and politics in the face of mass migration, refugee crises, displacement, and increasing nationalism and racism as they are transferred and shown in literature. Students first examine the historical contexts of migration and refugee crises to gain perspective for the later texts. An initial focus is on the literary representations of immigrants and refugees in different genres both by European and non-European authors. There is also a focus on the cinematic representations of immigrants and refugees both in documentary and feature films.

GERM 335E Migration and Refugees In Europe

MODL 335 Contemporary Europe, Migration andRefugees

In this course, students primarily explore the post-WWII European history, culture, and politics in the face of mass migration, refugee crises, displacement, and increasing nationalism and racism as they are transferred and shown in literature. Students first examine the historical contexts of migration and refugee crises to gain perspective for the later texts. An initial focus is on the literary representations of immigrants and refugees in different genres both by European and non-European authors. There is also a focus on the cinematic representations of immigrants and refugees both in documentary and feature films.

SPAN 336A Bilingual Indigenous Literatures inthe Americas

A study of experimental and hybrid literary texts written both in Spanish and Indigenous languages. This course examines emergent bilingual Indigenous literatures that reach beyond the traditional monolingual paradigm of literary studies, unveiling their authors' transcultural disposition and translingual practice in the process of creative writing. It also argues that bilingual Indigenous literatures in the Americas merit recognition amongst canonical Latin American literatures. There are two sections of this course, organized geographically: A) South America and B) Central America and Mexico. Students may take either section for 1.0 credit or register for both sections for 2.0 credits.

SPAN 336B Bilingual Indigenous Literatures in the Americas

A study of experimental and hybrid literary texts written both in Spanish and Indigenous languages. This course examines emergent bilingual Indigenous literatures that reach beyond the traditional monolingual paradigm of literary studies, unveiling their authors' transcultural disposition and translingual practice in the process of creative writing. It also argues that bilingual Indigenous literatures in the Americas merit recognition amongst canonical Latin American literatures. There are two sections of this course, organized geographically: A) South America and B) Central America and Mexico. Students may take either section for 1.0 credit or register for both sections for 2.0 credits.

GERM 337 , GERM 337E German Society and Film

(In German or English) Survey and analyses of German films within their social, political, and intellectual contexts. The course may present a broad survey from 1919 to the present, focus on an individual historical period, a director or group of directors, or on a theme in German film.

GERM 337E German Society and Film

SPAN 337 Hispanic American Fiction of Fantasy

This course will investigate the development of the Hispanic American short story of fantasy, addressing such literary themes as: the fantastic, magic realism, doubles, dreams, metaphysics, and notions of time. Course readings will include essays and stories by Jorge Luis Borges, his main precursors and followers, and critical articles. Taught in Spanish.

SPAN 339 Hispanic Writers in New York

This course examines the relevance of literary works written by Hispanic writers living in New York from 1880 to 2020 who discuss the impact of their displacement. It examines how Hispanics have helped shape the cultural identity of New York and how, simultaneously, the influence of this cosmopolitan city has transformed the work of its newcomers into a modern and international masterpiece. From the perspective of transatlantic and interdisciplinary studies, the class discussions promote dialogue beyond borders with dialogues on America and Europe, Spanish and English, literature and architecture, journalism, photography, fine arts, and travel, within the context of global, multicultural, and transnational communities.

SPAN 341 Knox & Peru Term

SPAN 349 Translation and Interpreting Practicum 0.5

This course is aimed at the advanced language learner who is ready to put translation and interpreting skills into practice in a real world setting. Students will participate in an internship or volunteer experience in which translation and/or interpreting are the main skill sets. Students will contribute 50 hours for .5 credit. Sample placements are: Al Otro Lado, Esperanza Center, Crisis Response Translation, the Dilley ProBono Project, Pro-BAR, among others. At the end of the experience, students will present at a form or panel, or write a reflection paper. May be repeated for up to 1 credit.

SPAN 355 Developing Story-Telling in the Spanish-Speaking World

A study of orality and literacy as complementary techniques that narrate the process of modernization within the Spanish-Speaking World. Special attention is given to the complex and intriguing development from story-telling to story-writing, and even to story-telling again. An analysis of selected colonial, modern, and contemporary stories from Spain and Latin America reveals that the metropolitan-dependence model embraced by many modern travelers and writers is an echo of the former storytelling experience of servants and messengers interacting with their masters prior to the 19th Century. Differences in cultural frameworks between Europe and America use of traditionally-delivered letters and baggage as a kind of "traveling metaphor" is also examined. Further analysis then traces how the colonial sender and receiver turn into elite readers within the modern literary network.

SPAN 377 Ethnicity and Marginality: Representing the Indigenous "Other" in Lati

FREN 399 Senior Project 1, 0.5

This is a seminar style course with a common framework whose content varies according to the interests of the instructor and students. Possible topics include a specific author, a literary movement, a genre, a major historical event. Students craft a comprehensive term project which is validated by a research paper.

GERM 399 Senior Project 1, 0.5

Seniors prepare a study of appropriate scope in conjunction with any 300-level course in which they participate as regular students during their senior year. Students should identify the course in which they choose to do their project no later than the third term of their junior year and submit a preliminary topic and bibliography. With departmental approval students may undertake a project as an independent study.

SPAN 399 Advanced Seminar

Survey of literary theories that help students generate analytical questions about a topic of their interest and build the theoretical framework for their senior research paper. Attention is given to how researchers in Hispanic Studies engage in the intellectual community by building on the work of other academics and positioning their own ideas against these prior studies in order to make their own unique contribution to the field. At the end of the course, students participate in a conference in which they give presentations of their research and take part in the Q and A sessions with the audience that follow.