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 course, students will develop communication skills by
reading works primarily in literature, critical theory, and
history and by studying the cinematography and artistic
expression of this region. They will further develop their
communication skills through class discussions and written
assignments, all of which are in French. By delving into the
questions posed in the course relating to post-colonialism, la
créolisation, le métissage, and identities as changeable as the
water surrounding the islands, students will develop skills of
critical analysis. These questions are complex and there is not
unanimity among intellectuals of the region on charting the
course of change. The course begins with a study of the history
and geography of these islands, situating these islands as part
of the “New World,” yet with lingering cultural, linguistic and
political bonds with France. The focus then moves to Aimé
Césaire and his essentialist quest for identity via Africa and
the past, then proceeds to a study of la créolisation, as first
proposed by Glissant. The second half of the course focuses on
contem-porary social issues, represented in literature, art and
cinema.
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 9:10 – 10:00am
CRN 3281
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 3282
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
1:10 – 2:00pm
German Conversation and Composition:
CRN 3283
Global Studies
Perry Myers
Prerequisite: German 202 or equivalent.
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. 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 350: MWF 11:10 - 12noon
German Women Writers from Past to Present
CRN 3284
Gender Studies
Catherine Grimm
This course will offer an overview of the rich and
wide-ranging literature written by women in German speaking
countries from the Middle Ages to the present. We will read
works of different genres (poetry, novellas, letters, fairy
tales, and journal entries) and we will watch movies that were
written and directed by women. Questions which we will discuss
will include: do women write differently than men? Do they
choose different topics and if so why? What is the relationship
of gender to creativity? In what sense is gender constructed and
or prescribed by society and how do such constructs change over
time? Which female German authors are considered canonical (and
which are not) and why? Why do women chose to write? How has the
historical situation of women influenced how and what they
write? Students will gain a new perspective on German literature
in general and the specific situation of German women writers in
particular.
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 3285
Global Studies
Takami Mohri
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
12:10 - 1:00pm
CRN 3286
Global Studies
Takami Mohri
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.
JAPANESE 202: Intermediate Japanese, continued MWF
2:10 - 3:00pm
CRN 3287
Global Studies
Takami Mohri
This course is an interdisciplinary communicative Japanese
language class aiming at the improvement of four basic skills:
speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will learn
more kanji or Chinese letters to enhance their reading and
writing skills. This course will introduce a variety of speech
patterns: formal, informal and honorific expressions. Students
will learn appropriate time, place, and occasions as to use
these expressions. This course will be the integration of
language learning with discussions on different values and
beliefs as well as tangible culture, such as Japanese “anime,”
and “manga.”
_____________________________________________________________
SPANISH
SPANISH 102: Elementary Spanish, continued
Section I MWF 9:10 – 10:00am
CRN 3289
Global Studies
Kalen Oswald
Section II MWF 12:10 – 1:00pm
CRN 3290
Global Studies
Kalen Oswald
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 3291
Global Studies
Rebecca Whitehead-Schwarz
Section II MWF 12:10–1:00pm
CRN 3292
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 3293
Global Studies
Rebecca Whitehead-Schwarz
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 303: MWF 2:10 - 3:00pm
Spanish for the Professions
CRN 3294
Kalen Oswald
Designed for students who are interested in studying Spanish
in the context of activities related to the professional world.
This course will focus on domestic and international issues
related to business and commerce, education, and social and
service work and includes topics related to cultural
considerations, generalized and specific professional concerns,
correspond-ence, and translation. Spanish 303 emphasizes the
specialized vocabulary of the professional world and requires a
working knowledge of Spanish grammar. Conducted in Spanish.
Expected level of proficiency: Spanish 301 (highly
recommended) or permission of instructor.
SPANISH 350: MWF 1:10
- 2:00pm
Women in Hispanic Literature
CRN 3295
Gender Studies
Rebecca Whitehead-Schwarz
This course will allow students to become acquainted with the
wide-ranging field of Hispanic Women Writers and will deal
exclusively with canonical and non-canonical Latin American
Women Writers. By studying narrative, drama, poetry, and film
composed by Latin American Women, the students will reflect on
issues of gender, culture, and history beyond the framework of
an Anglo-American context. 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. An overarching theme of the
course will be the relationship of woman and nation, including
the concepts of Republican motherhood and female sexual
transgression. The course will include works by Sor Juana Inés
de la Cruz, Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, Delmira Agustini,
Gabriela Mistral, Alfonsina Storni, Clorinda Matto de Turner,
Claribel Alegría, Alejandra Pizarnik, Rosario Castellanos, Luisa
Valenzuela, Elena Poniatowska, Sabina Berman, and Lucrecia
Martel. Students in the course will also learn to apply various
theories and concepts derived from the fields of feminism,
psychoanalysis, and cultural, film, and performance studies.
Expected level of proficiency: Spanish 315 or permission of
the instructor.
SPANISH 362: MWF
10:10 - 11:00am
Hispanic Literature And Cultures in the United States
CRN 3296
Ethnicity Studies
Julia Medina
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 TBA
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.
