COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
SPRING 2007
Chinese 112F: Elementary Chinese II
(5 credits)
Mickel, Stanley
Prerequisite: Chinese 111 or placement.
Continuation of 111. Gaining further skill in using putonghua with every day conversational topics will be important. We will also learn to read and write more of the characters used to represent those concepts. Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
Chinese 130A/C: Literature of Contemporary Chinese Women Writers and Film
(4 credits)
Chan, Shelley Wing
Taught in English, no prerequisites.
Chinese women writers have not only formed their own voice, but also often led the way in the literary development of the post-Mao period. On the one hand, they have moved on from the topic of emancipation on a rather superficial level to the examination of their self-consciousness and the discovery of their body. On the other hand, the issue of gender and power continues to be the focus of feminine discourse. From Shen Rong’s concern for women intellectuals to Chi Li’s writing about the anxiety of everyday life, from Wang Anyi’s nostalgia to Xu Kun’s playfulness, from Zhang Jie’s Platonic love to Wei Hui’s postcolonial decadence, the sphere of women’s writing has witnessed a rapid regeneration and vitalization. This course will be a general introduction to women’s writings in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as cultural norms for Chinese women. It will enable the participants to experience the heteroglossia, and comprehend the complexities of feminine subjectivity through reading works by famous and sometimes controversial women writers and watching films about the life of Chinese women. At the same time, it will provide a cultural background from the Confucian patriarchy to the Maoist “equality” between men and women for a better understanding of the gender issue. The stories to be discussed in this course provide a kaleidoscopic window into the vast, complex and rapidly changing society in which Chinese women live. The readings will be buttressed by films. Textual analysis and discussion not only train students’ appreciation of literature, but also enhance their cultural understanding and increase their cultural sensibility.
This course focuses on literature, mainly fiction, by women writers from Mainland China after the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). All readings are in English and all films have English subtitles.
Chinese 212: Intermediate Chinese II
(4 credits)
Chan, Shelley Wing
Prerequisite: Chinese 211
Continuation of 211. We will continue the lessons in A New China and, towards the end of the semester, prepare to move into a textbook that will prepare us for reading original modern prose texts. Of course, all of this will be done while speaking Chinese.
Chinese 230S: Language in Society
(4 credits)
Imai, Terumi
Taught in English, no prerequisites.
This course will look at language as it creates and responds to its cultural and social environments. Our main focus will be on the variation in one language, which results from different social statuses and purposes. We will seek to explain as well as describe such facts. Why do regional varieties of U.S. English continue to exist after all these years of mass media influence? Why does one variety of a language gain and maintain such great prestige (the so-called standard variety)? Why are we prejudiced against some varieties of language, and what reasons do we offer for those prejudices? Why do men and women speak differently? Is English a sexist language? If so, what linguistics facts support such an interpretation? These are some of the questions we will be asking in this course. We will focus on the language variation in English but will also red some articles on Japanese language variation to see if these variation patterns hold among different languages.
Chinese 312: Directed Readings in Chinese Newspapers
(4 credits)
Chan, Shelley Wing
Prerequisite: Chinese 311 or permission of instructor
Intensive study of pieces representative of Chinese literature. The focus is primarily on modern prose and fiction. Discussions will be in putonghua.
Chinese 490: Independent Study
Tutorials for the student who has excelled in previous study of putonghua. Thematic content chosen according to student's intellectual interests. Conducted entirely in putonghua.
French 112F: Intermediate French
(5 credits)
Wierenga, Leanne
Prerequisite: French 111 or placement.
Grammar review, composition, oral practice, and reading. Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
French 201F: Advanced Intermediate French
(4 credits)
Wilkerson, Timothy
Prerequisite: French 112 or placement
Study of French in the context of the liberal arts. Readings in French literature, culture and history; composition, oral practice; thorough and systematic review of French grammar. For students with three or more years of high school French.
French 210: Expression orale
(4 credits)
Wilkerson, Timothy
Prerequisite: French 201 or placement level French 202+.
This course makes extensive use of French cinema and radio broadcasts from throughout the Francophone world to help students acquire vocabulary, improve listening-comprehension skills, deepen their understanding of French-language cultures, and to become more sophisticated speakers of French. Required for all French majors and minors.
French 230S: Language in Society
(4 credits)
Imai, Terumi
Taught in English, no prerequisites.
This course will look at language as it creates and responds to its cultural and social environments. Our main focus will be on the variation in one language, which results from different social statuses and purposes. We will seek to explain as well as describe such facts. Why do regional varieties of U.S. English continue to exist after all these years of mass media influence? Why does one variety of a language gain and maintain such great prestige (the so-called standard variety)? Why are we prejudiced against some varieties of language, and what reasons do we offer for those prejudices? Why do men and women speak differently? Is English a sexist language? If so, what linguistics facts support such an interpretation? These are some of the questions we will be asking in this course. We will focus on the language variation in English but will also red some articles on Japanese language variation to see if these variation patterns hold among different languages.
French 390R 1W: Modern Critical Thought
(4 credits)
Wilkerson, Timothy
No prerequisites.
Introduction to contemporary theory, including deconstruction, discourse theory, feminist and postcolonial theory, and theories of gender. Writing intensive.
French 450/1W: Senior Seminar
(4 credits)
Wierenga, Leanne
Prerequisite: One 300 level French class.
The senior seminar will focus on the theme of the fantastic in literature. We will read works which exemplify this theme, including works by Mme D’Aulnoy, Diderot (Les Bijoux indiscrets), Balzac (La Peau de chagrin), Nodier (Les contes fantastiques) and Huysmans, Alain-Fournier (le Grand Meaulnes), Ionesco (Rhinceros), and Fred Vargas (L’Homme a l’envers). Students will be required to write either an extended study of one of the authors we read, or four shorter papers on a variety of topics. Tehre will be an exam (which will serve as the departmental comprehensive exam) at the end of March. Writing intensive.
French 490: Independent Study
French 491: Internship
German 111: Elementary German
(5 credits)
Barry, David
Fundamentals of grammar, pronunciation, oral practice, and laboratory work. Also a basic introduction to German culture. Open to only the beginner, except by permission of instructor. Ninety minutes of independent lab time per week required.
German 112F: Intermediate German
(5 credits)
Barry, David
Prerequisite: German 111 or placement.
Explication of grammar, continued oral practice, reading of literary and/or cultural texts, and related explication of grammar. Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
German 112F: Intermediate German
(5 credits)
Bennett, Timothy
Prerequisite: German 111 or placement.
Explication of grammar, continued oral practice, reading of literary and/or cultural texts, and related explication of grammar. Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
German 140A: German Crooks and the Quest for Human Justice
(4 credits)
Barry, David
Taught in English; no prerequisites.
From the plays and novellas of the “Prussian meteor” Heinrich von Kleist to the novels and short stories of Franz Kafka, German literature is replete with figures obsessed by questions of human justice. In this course, which is designed to introduce students to some of literary Germany’s finest achievements, we examine a selection of such figures. All reading, writing, and discussion are in English. Requirements include several short essays, informal oral presentations, occasional quizzes, a midterm and a final exam. Successful completion of the course meets the “A” learning goal in Fine, Performing, and Literary Arts. Not writing intensive. No prerequisites.
German 215 1W: Culture & Composition
(4 credits)
Bennett, Timothy
Prerequisite: German 112, German competency, or permission of instructor.
Stylistic analysis and grammar review. Using writing as a mode of exploration, the student analyzes texts and films to investigate issues characterizing German history and culture. Writing intensive.
German 230S: Language in Society
(4 credits)
Imai, Terumi
Taught in English, no prerequisites.
This course will look at language as it creates and responds to its cultural and social environments. Our main focus will be on the variation in one language, which results from different social statuses and purposes. We will seek to explain as well as describe such facts. Why do regional varieties of U.S. English continue to exist after all these years of mass media influence? Why does one variety of a language gain and maintain such great prestige (the so-called standard variety)? Why are we prejudiced against some varieties of language, and what reasons do we offer for those prejudices? Why do men and women speak differently? Is English a sexist language? If so, what linguistics facts support such an interpretation? These are some of the questions we will be asking in this course. We will focus on the language variation in English but will also red some articles on Japanese language variation to see if these variation patterns hold among different languages.
German 330: The Art of Translation
(4 credits)
Bennett, Timothy
Prerequisite: German 215
Advanced grammar review, discussion of the theory and practice of translation, and much practical work translating both from German to English and English to German.
German 390R 1W: Modern Critical Thought
(4 credits)
Wilkerson, Timothy
No prerequisites.
Introduction to modern developments in critical thought, such as theories of the sign and production of meaning as they pertain to literary analysis. Writing intensive.
German 490: Independent Study
German 491: Internship
Japanese 112F: Beginning Japanese II
(5 credits)
Christiansen, Amy
Prerequisite: Japanese 111 or placement
The course continues to introduce the basic Japanese communication skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will increase understanding of the Japanese cultural perspective, and gain insight into the nature of language study. Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
Japanese 212: Intermediate Japanese II
(4 credits)
Imai, Terumi
Prerequisite: Japanese 211 or placement.
The course continues to introduce the fundamental Japanese communication skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will begin to utilize the language to establish contacts with people beyond the walls of Wittenberg, and increase understanding of the Japanese cultural perspective.
Japanese 230S: Language in Society
(4 credits)
Imai, Terumi
Taught in English, no prerequisites
This course will look at language as it creates and responds to its cultural and social environments. Our main focus will be on the variation in one language, which results from different social statuses and purposes. We will seek to explain as well as describe such facts. Why do regional varieties of U.S. English continue to exist after all these years of mass media influence? Why does one variety of a language gain and maintain such great prestige (the so-called standard variety)? Why are we prejudiced against some varieties of language, and what reasons do we offer for those prejudices? Why do men and women speak differently? Is English a sexist language? If so, what linguistics facts support such an interpretation? These are some of the questions we will be asking in this course. We will focus on the language variation in English but will also red some articles on Japanese language variation to see if these variation patterns hold among different languages.
Japanese 312: Cultural Communication in Japanese II
(4 credits)
Imai, Terumi
Prerequisite: 311 or placement.
The course broadens knowledge of skills fundamental to communication in Japanese: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will utilize the language to make connections with communities beyond the walls of Wittenberg. They will deepen their understanding of the concept of culture and the inextricable relationship between language and culture as they deepen their understanding of the Japanese cultural perspective.
Japanese 490: Independent Study
Russian 112F: Elementary Russian II
(5 credits)
Zaharkov, Lila
Prerequisite: Russian 111 or placement.
Continuation of 111, practice with conversation and grammatical patterns. Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
Russian 230: Reading Russian and the Web
(2 credits)
Zaharkov, Lila
Prerequisite: Russian 112 or 106.
This course gives you the skills to approach a text. In the first part of the course, students will work in class developing proficiency skills for reading a text using common materials and the web. The second part of the course allows the students to choose what texts they would like to “specialize in” according to their interests or major.
Russian 230S: Language in Society
(4 credits)
Imai, Terumi
Taught in English, no prerequisites
This course will look at language as it creates and responds to its cultural and social environments. Our main focus will be on the variation in one language, which results from different social statuses and purposes. We will seek to explain as well as describe such facts. Why do regional varieties of U.S. English continue to exist after all these years of mass media influence? Why does one variety of a language gain and maintain such great prestige (the so-called standard variety)? Why are we prejudiced against some varieties of language, and what reasons do we offer for those prejudices? Why do men and women speak differently? Is English a sexist language? If so, what linguistics facts support such an interpretation? These are some of the questions we will be asking in this course. We will focus on the language variation in English but will also red some articles on Japanese language variation to see if these variation patterns hold among different languages.
Russian 310 1W: Advanced Conversation & Composition
(4 credits)
Zaharkov, Lila
Prerequisites: Russian 210
This course continues with the text from Russian 210 with more emphasis on role-playing in preparation for study abroad. Required for study abroad programs. Writing intensive.
Russian 490: Independent Study
Spanish 111: Beginning Spanish I
(5 credits)
Franklin, Lillian
Emphasis on basic-level grammar, oral practice. Students will spend approximately ninety minutes per week on independent-learning projects in addition to regular class time and regular homework assignments.
Spanish 112F: Beginning Spanish II
(5 credits)
Apodaca-Valdez, Manuel
Prerequisite: Spanish 111 or placement.
Grammar, composition, oral practice, and reading. Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
Spanish 112F: Beginning Spanish II
(5 credits)
Rosas-Mayen, Norma
Prerequisite: Spanish 111 or placement.
Grammar, composition, oral practice, and reading. Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
Spanish 112F: Beginning Spanish II
(5 credits)
Cantrell, John
Prerequisite: Spanish 111 or placement.
Grammar, composition, oral practice, and reading. Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
Spanish 130A: Latin American Cultural Studies
(4 credits)
Apodaca-Valdez, Manuel
Taught in English, no prerequisites.
Living in a multicultural society with an increasing Spanish population from all over Latin America is a challenge for our future society. Spanish 130 will provide students with a strong background in both Latin American and Spanish-American cultures.
Some of the most relevant topics of this course include: Latin American culture as spectacle/commodity (football, movies, pop music), cultural hegemony and opposition (mestizaje, Afro-Latin American experiences, Amerindian social movements), and Chicano and Caribbean pop culture in the United States.
A selection of reading material in English by various scholars from Latin America and the United States, plus three movies in Spanish with English subtitles will be analyzed in class throughout the semester.
Spanish 150F: Intermediate Spanish
(5 credits)
Hoff, Ruth
Prerequisite: Spanish 112 or placement.
This is an intermediate level course that will review, introduce, and expand upon vocabulary and structures commonly dealt with in introductory courses. Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
Spanish 215: Studies in Spanish Language
(4 credits)
McIntyre, Christine
Prerequisite: Spanish 112, 150 or placement examination.
Spanish 215 is an advanced-intermediate course designed for the student who has studied Spanish beyond the elementary and intermediate levels. Although students need not have mastery of all types of communicative functions, they are ready to transition to a higher level. This course combines the goals of both proficiency and content-based instruction. Students will focus on skill development (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and the information in the readings. Assessment instruments will have a communicative component, but learners must also demonstrate content knowledge.
Spanish 216: Conversation and Contemporary Issues
(4 credits)
Franklin, Lillian
Prerequisite: Spanish 215
This course is designed to develop skills in the spoken language. Course focuses on contemporary issues of the Hispanic world, reviews the more complex aspects of Spanish grammar, and expands vocabulary for conversation.
Spanish 217 1W: The Craft of Writing
(4 credits)
McIntyre, Christine
Prerequisite: Spanish 215 or 216 or permission of instructor.
Spanish 217 is designed to develop written proficiency at the 200 level. Emphasis is placed on composition as communication, the role of reading in the process of writing, and the function of grammar in context. Writing intensive.
Spanish 230S: Language in Society
(4 credits)
Imai, Terumi
Taught in English, no prerequisites
This course will look at language as it creates and responds to its cultural and social environments. Our main focus will be on the variation in one language, which results from different social statuses and purposes. We will seek to explain as well as describe such facts. Why do regional varieties of U.S. English continue to exist after all these years of mass media influence? Why does one variety of a language gain and maintain such great prestige (the so-called standard variety)? Why are we prejudiced against some varieties of language, and what reasons do we offer for those prejudices? Why do men and women speak differently? Is English a sexist language? If so, what linguistics facts support such an interpretation? These are some of the questions we will be asking in this course. We will focus on the language variation in English but will also red some articles on Japanese language variation to see if these variation patterns hold among different languages.
Spanish 301A 1W: Introduction to Hispanic Literature I
(4 credits)
Franklin, Lillian
Prerequisite: Spanish 215 or 217
Provides an introduction to the major periods and movements through which Hispanic literature has evolved, from its beginnings to the 19th century. Designed to provide the student with the opportunity to acquire technical vocabulary of the Hispanic literary critic. Includes discussions of the artistic implications of literature and presentation of the four basic genres: narrative, poetry, drama and essay. Writing intensive.
Spanish 390R 1W: Modern Critical Thought
(4 credits)
Wilkerson, Timothy
No prerequisites.
Introduction to contemporary theory, including deconstruction, discourse theory, feminist and postcolonial theory, and theories of gender. Writing intensive.
Spanish 427/1W: The Silver Screen
(4 credits)
Hoff, Ruth
Prerequisite: One 300 level Spanish class
This course will familiarize students with the history of film in the Hispanic world. Students will view works by prominent directors from Spain and the Americas, as well as explore issues and trends in Hispanic Films. Writing intensive.
Spanish 450 1W: Senior Seminar
(4 credits)
McIntyre, Christine
Prerequisites: Spanish 301 or 302 and one 400-level Spanish course.
In-depth study of a literary movement, problem, author, or genre. Topic to be chosen by instructor. Required of each Spanish major. Writing intensive.
Spanish 490: Independent Study
Spanish 491: Internship
