In this course students will develop abilities to function in
the French language and in Francophone cultures at the
elementary level. Students will learn about the relationship of
food to well-being and quality of life. They will learn about
the importance of travel and “personal time” in Francophone
cultures, the importance of family and home to one’s identity,
and about the importance of the emerging role of information
technologies and the Internet in the French-speaking world. They
will learn how to use the past tense, including the passé
compose and the imparfait, various irregular verbs, and how to
construct complex sentences. The text is Vis à vis, the same as
in French 101.
In this course you will learn how to communicate with a high
level of proficiency. You will learn important skills relating
to French media, the arts, the economy, and problem-solving
skills, as well as important intercultural differences between
the French-speaking people and Americans. You will continue to
become more fluent in French learning several verb tenses,
including the subjunctive, and precise use of pronouns, as well
as many other fundamental skills relating to how to structure
your ideas in French. At this level, you will become more
confident in your speaking and writing abilities, and more adept
at “sounding French” as you communicate in the language.
Tutorials with native speakers are integral to the course.
Conducted in French.
Development of communication skills in French relative to
grammar, syntax, appropriate registers, necessary vocabulary,
non-verbal cues and culturally-specific idiomatic usage, as well
as skills in French/English and English/French translation. Also
includes the processes of conversation development, thesis
formation and strategies for argumentation operating within
French cultural norms, especially relating to professional life
and the workplace. Conducted in French.
Expected level of proficiency: French 301 or equivalent.
In this class students will learn about our French speaking
neighbors to our north through a study of both the rich history,
with its links to Michigan and Louisiana (among other places),
as well as about the current social, political and cultural
issues that are important today. Students will read texts that
are historical, such as Le Québec et les Québecois: Un parcours
historique, the latest film from Québec and literary works by
such authors as Gabrielle Roy and Antonine Maillet. The role of
Québec in shaping what is now known as la francophonie, as well
as the relationship between French language to Québecois
identity will also be explored.
The Senior Seminar is designed to help graduating French
majors and minors prepare for life after Albion College.
Discussions in this seminar will focus on what students have
learned in their college studies and off-campus experiences,
what skills they have acquired and how these skills are
important professionally, how they should prepare to enter the
work force and how to communicate what they have learned
effectively to future employers or graduate programs. For those
entering the workforce directly, we will also discuss where they
might find jobs, how to prepare a résumé. etc. (.25 unit)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Experience in teaching French in the classroom or with
individual students under the supervision of an instructor.
Offered on a credit/no credit basis. (.5 unit)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
German
GERMAN 102: Elementary German, continued
MWF 10:10 – 11:00am
CRN 5290
Global Studies
Catherine Grimm
German 102 is the continuation of German 101. The course
focuses systematically on the development of all four basic
language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), and
aims to do this by taking advantage of the cognitive advantages
adult language learners have over children. This means focusing
on material that will engage learners' interest, creativity, and
sense of humor, as well as on the development of effective
language learning strategies. By the end of the semester,
students will have been exposed to all the essentials of German
grammar. Students will be able to cope with a variety of
conversational situations and written texts. In particular, they
will have the necessary "survival skills" for a visit to a
German-speaking country, as well as a foundation for doing
intellectual work in German.
GERMAN 202: Intermediate German, continued
MWF 1:10 – 2:00pm
CRN 5291
Global Studies
Catherine Grimm
The most important goal of this class is to improve your
ability to communicate effectively in German. We will also work
towards increasing your knowledge regarding different aspects of
German culture. The pace of the class will be upbeat and
dynamic: active participation is a key component. The topics
will generate lively discussion and deepen your understanding of
contemporary culture and the history of the German speaking
world. We will analyze different text genres such as poetry,
prose and drama as well as different forms of media: television,
radio, the internet and film. This mix of genres will give you
an idea of all that is available to you as you pursue your
studies of German. Our other important goal will be to review
and increase your knowledge of the main topics of German
grammar.
GERMAN 302: MWF 2:10 – 3:00pm
German Conversation and Composition:
Crimes and Misdemeanors in German Context
CRN 5292
Global Studies
Perry Myers
This course is intended to help you improve your analytical,
writing and speaking skills. The course will be built on a
selection of German crime/detective stories. Brief historical
content will be introduced for each story. Studying language and
content through a specific theme, genre type in historical
context (meaningful content- based input) will help students
build vocabulary and an increased comfort level with the
material for discussion and written assignments (meaningful
content-based output). In written assignments attention should
be given to the quality of the content, extending your
vocabulary range, and consistent grammar in context. For
in-class discussions more attention will be given to
communicating your intent rather than strict assessment of
grammar. In support of these goals we will cover select grammar
points in Wells. Nevertheless, this is an upper division course
and it is assumed that you have already acquired a solid
foundation in grammar. All readings, course content and
discussions will be in German.
GERMAN 314: Multiculturalism in Germany
MWF 11:10 - 12noon
CRN 5293
Ethnicity Studies
Perry Myers
This course aims to help students understand how German
society has become multiculturally constructed since World War
II. We will begin by studying how the Holocaust aftermath (Vergangenheitsbewältigung)
frames the sociocultural debates and issues in what has become a
multicultural society. We will study the role and treatment of
women of color, the large Turkish immigrant population, as well
as second-generation Turks, born and raised in Germany,
including the role of Islam and Islamic nationalism in modern
Germany, emphasizing here the sociopolitical ramifications.
Organized on the belief that intercultural understanding can
best be enhanced through a combination of meaningful
content-based input and student-based output, we will read and
view various genres (historical, fiction, essay, speeches,
poetry, film, TV news) dealing with the historical dimensions of
the Holocaust aftermath, foreign workers living in Germany,
ethnic diversity and stereotypes as well as contemporary debates
about these issues.
GERMAN 398: Practicum TBA
CRN
Staff
Practicum offers experience in teaching German in the
classroom or with individual students under the close
supervision of a regular instructor. Offered on a credit/no
credit basis. (.5 unit)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
__________________________________________________________________
JAPANESE
JAPANESE 101: Elementary Japanese MWF
10:10 - 11:00am
CRN 5301
Global Studies
Staff
Goals of the Course: This course is designed for students who
will study Japanese for the first time at the college level. In
this course, you will acquire skills in elementary-level
speaking, listening, reading, and writing of modern Japanese. In
addition, this course deepens your understanding and knowledge
of Japanese culture. Emphasis is on ability to communicate and
function in Japanese accurately and appropriately, both in
speech and writing. By the end of the semester, you will be able
to: 1) Read and Write hiragana and katakana characters. 2) Greet
in Japanese. 3) Talk about time and price as well as one’s
schedule such as what time to get up.
Learning Materials: (Textbook) Genki I: An Integrated Course
in Elementary Japanese Vol. I and (Workbook) Genki I: Workbook
JAPANESE 102: Elementary Japanese, continued MWF
9:10 - 10:00am
CRN 5302
Global Studies
Staff
This course is an interdisciplinary communicative Japanese
language class aiming at the improvement of four basic skills:
speaking, listening, reading, and writing. This course will
cover a range of topics and situations where students will carry
out conversation in a meaningful way. The aims of this course
are not only to enhance the linguistic abilities of students but
also to increase awareness of different cultural values in light
of their own. This course will integrate Japanese tangible
pop-culture, such as food, music, and art with the language
lesson in the most effective ways.
_____________________________________________________________
SPANISH
SPANISH 102: Elementary Spanish, continued
Section I MWF 9:10 – 10:00am
CRN 5294
Global Studies
Rebecca Whitehead-Schwarz
Section II MWF 12:10 – 1:00pm
CRN 5295
Global Studies
Rebecca Whitehead-Schwarz
This course is designed for students who completed Spanish
101 at Albion College OR who have some high school experience in
the language. The goal of Spanish 102 is to continue to develop
the four skills necessary to acquire a second language at a
basic level (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and to
learn crucial and interesting information about the cultures
that serve as context for the Spanish language. As a significant
part of this goal you will be provided the opportunity to study
different Hispanic countries and cultures through various
in-class and extra curricular activities (movies, fiestas,
lessons, concerts, interviews, etc.). Since this course will
count for Global Studies Category, the students should be
prepared and excited to learn the Spanish language in its global
context.
Prerequisite: Spanish 101, placement exam or recommendation
of the professor.
SPANISH 202: Intermediate Spanish, continued
Section I MWF 9:10 – 10:00am
CRN 5296
Global Studies
Kalen Oswald
Section II MWF 12:10–1:00pm
CRN 5297
Global Studies
Julia Medina
This course continues to review the language structure
learned in previous Spanish courses, with particular emphasis on
developing conversational skills. All assignments, quizzes and
exams are designed to stimulate discussion in Spanish. Much of
the second language input comes from authentic Hispanic sources
(literary texts, film, TV, newspaper and magazine articles,
etc.) that deal with social, political, geographical,
historical, artistic and otherwise cultural issues from the
Hispanic world. The constant use of Spanish in the classroom
will significantly improve fluency. Tutorials with teaching
assistants are integrated into the course.
Prerequisite: Spanish 201, placement exam or permission of
the instructor.
SPANISH 302:
MWF 11:10 – 12noon
Advanced Oral and Written Expression through Hispanic Cinema
CRN 5298
Global Studies
Julia Medina
Development of communication skills in Spanish relative to
grammar, syntax, appropriate registers, necessary vocabulary,
non-verbal cues and culturally specific idiomatic usage. Also
includes the processes of conversation development, thesis
formation and strategies for argumentation operating within
Hispanic cultural norms, as well as key contemporary issues of
importance to the Spanish-speaking world. This course is
designed to improve fluency through the viewing, analysis and
interpretation of Hispanic film. Conducted in Spanish.
Expected level of proficiency: Spanish 301 or permission of
instructor.
SPANISH 304: MWF 2:10 - 3:00pm
Workshop of Creative Writing in Spanish
CRN 5594
Artistic Creation & Analysis Mode
Kalen Oswald
This course endeavors to increase the students’ proficiency
in Spanish and ability to think creatively and critically
through the process of creative writing in the target language,
and through the activities related to that process. The
components of the course will address the need to increase each
student’s vocabulary, grammatical accuracy and understanding of
linguistic and generic structures, but in a much different
context than some traditional language classes. To be successful
in this course a student does not need to be a talented author,
nor does s/he already need to have a highly developed creative
imagination. In the course we will learn how to be creative, how
to effectively communicate in Spanish and how to have fun doing
it.
Spanish 304 introduces short stories, poetry and theatre
through the analysis and interpretation of interesting and
entertaining literary models. Then the students write their own
works (some of which might be read at the
Conference of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters
in Kalamazoo on March 7), poems (some of which will be recited
in the 6th Annual Hispanic Poetry Program in late March) and
short theatre pieces (one or two of which will be produced for
and premiered in a special year-end Spanish program at the end
of April). The class will also edit and publish a creative
writing anthology which includes all the projects produced
individually and collaboratively during the semester.
Again… ¡you do not need to be “good at” creative writing to
benefit enormously from this course! You need only a desire to
better learn Spanish, the openness to try new things, and the
ability to not take it personally if someone makes suggestions
to help you improve your work.
Expected level of proficiency: Spanish 301 or above.
SPANISH 360:
MWF 10:10 - 11:00am
Key Issues in Spanish Literature and Culture - Perspectives on
the Spanish
Civil War
CRN 5299
Kalen Oswald
The Spanish Civil War is perhaps the event that has most
greatly affected the history, politics, culture, arte and
society of 20th century Spain than any other incident. The
repercussions of this conflict have far reaching effects in
temporal and geographic terms. This course is called
“Perspectivas sobre la Guerra Civil española” because we will
analyze the war from multiple artistic, ideological and temporal
points of view. We will study the causes and results of the
civil war in addition to several cultural artifacts that deal
with the conflict.
Artistic Perspectives: We will analyze academic works,
journalism, movies, documentary films, narrative fiction,
poetry, theatre, graphic art, painting and music.
Ideological Perspectives: We will consider the point of view
of the Nationalists, exiled Republicans, Republicans who stayed
in (or returned to) Spain, the international brigades and
governments of other countries.
Temporal Perspectives: We will examine the work of people who
witnessed the war as adults, those who were children at the time
of the war and people who were born after the conflict was
officially over.
The students will acquire valuable knowledge about an
important historical period that in the United States is often
taught incorrectly, or even worse, ignored altogether.
Prerequisite: Spanish 305, or Spanish 314, or Spanish 315, or
permission from the professor.
SPANISH 402:
MWF 1:10 - 2:00pm
The Female Prostitute in the Hispanic World
CRN 5300
Gender Studies
Rebecca Whitehead-Schwarz
This course allows students to become acquainted with the
myriad representations of the female prostitute in Spanish and
Latin American literature and film. By studying canonical and
non-canonical poetry, narrative, film, and essay from the
medieval period to the present day, the students will reflect on
issues of gender, culture, and history beyond the framework of
an Anglo-American context. We will examine the social and
cultural construction of female sexual deviancy in works such as
La Celestina, Don Quijote, Los de abajo, El laberinto de la
soledad, Eréndira, La novia oscura, Princesas, Aventurera, and
En la puta vida. This course will also strengthen students’
reading and analytical abilities within the target language,
with special attention given to improving their oral and
discursive abilities in Spanish.
SPANISH 398: Practicum TBA
CRN
Staff
Practicum offers experience in teaching Spanish in the
classroom or with individual students under the close
supervision of a regular instructor. Offered on a credit/no
credit basis. (.5 unit)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
