World Languages and Literatures
Department Overview
The study of languages has become essential to the education of global citizens as the world grows more and more internationally connected, and as nations become increasingly diverse. The ability to communicate effectively with people from different parts of the world not only enhances our capacity to think outside the boundaries of our native culture, but is also a practical skill that can be applied to any career or line of work.
The Department of World Languages and Literatures offers a comprehensive selection of courses in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, as well as courses in the Self-instructional Language Program in Arabic, Hebrew, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian. The department seeks to develop students’ ability to understand, speak, and write the languages of their choice, and to read with appreciation literary and cultural texts in those languages. By discussing written and visual texts, students both enhance their linguistic ability and refine their understanding of cultural traditions and perspectives. Global citizenship goes beyond language proficiency, and for that reason the department’s upper-level courses are designed to deepen the student’s familiarity with the cultures associated with the languages they study.
The department supports academic and extracurricular programs on campus, in the local community, and abroad to enhance understanding of world languages and cultures. Department faculty participate in the college’s interdisciplinary programs such as Asian Studies, International Affairs, Latin American and Latinx Studies, Gender Studies, and Intergroup Relations.
The department is the primary resource for the college’s language requirement. Any three- or four-credit course taken at the appropriate level in a world language (i.e., not in translation) fulfills the language requirement. Additionally, the requirement can be met by taking two two-credit self-instructional courses in the same language.
The mission of the Department of World Languages and Literatures is to develop in our students a cultural competency and language ability that enable them to confidently engage with other cultures and participate fully as global citizens, with knowledge that is transferable to any field they pursue.
World Languages and Literature Writing in the Major Requirement
Students majoring in French, German, and Spanish will demonstrate an advanced level of proficiency in writing. World Languages and Literatures majors will develop the ability to write in the target language in a range of genres including writing for academic, social, and professional contexts in such forms as letters, reports, and research papers for purposes of description, narration, and analysis. WLL majors will demonstrate in writing the ability to perform a close reading of a literary or cultural text including explication of relevant rhetorical features, structural elements, and historical and cultural references. Through writing assignments students learn how to develop a thesis, provide textual evidence, present logical arguments, and employ appropriate theoretical lenses.
Interdepartmental Major
In conjunction with the relevant departments, the Department of World Languages and Literatures offers majors in
- Business-French, Business-German, Business-Spanish;
- Government-French, Government-German, and Government-Spanish.
See Interdepartmental Majors.
Classical Languages
Instruction in classical Greek and Latin is offered through the advanced level. For the course listings and requirements for the classics major and minor, see Classics.
Self-Instructional Languages
Instruction in Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian is offered on an independent study basis. The student works with textbooks and tapes and meets with a native tutor for two hours a week of oral practice. A final examination is given by an outside examiner approved by the National Association of Self-Instructional Language Programs from a neighboring university. Students interested in pursuing these courses should consult with Professor Lander in the Department of World Languages and Literatures before spring registration for the following academic year.
Language Resource Center
The LRC provides linguistic and cultural resources for the languages offered in the Department of World Languages and Literatures. The center offers welcoming spaces for formal and informal learning with resources that include a technology classroom, a versatile seminar/meeting room, a viewing lounge with informal meeting space, and spaces to accommodate individual or small-group study. LRC language assistants offer tutoring on a drop-in basis for language students. All spaces in the center are well equipped to promote the integration of technology in the learning and teaching of foreign languages and cultures and to encourage interaction among faculty, students, and staff.
French Area Studies Program
Students may elect a program designed to incorporate several aspects of French culture in order to develop in-depth knowledge of the country and civilization. Each student will work out an individual nine-course program totaling not less than 30 credit hours, as approved by the department:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 12 | |
WLF 213 | ||
WLF 214 | ||
WLF 216 | ||
WLF 219 | ||
WLF 221 | ||
WLF 223 | ||
WLF 224 | ||
| Select three courses on French topics from other departments | 12 | |
| WLF 374 | Thesis | 3 |
| or WLF 376 | Senior Seminar in French | |
| Select two 300-level courses | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Students in this program may elect a concentration in a particular period or a particular topic, for example:
- France in the nineteenth century
- the status of women
- the role of money
- the tradition of revolution in France
German for Business Certification
The department encourages qualified students of economics and business to take the Zertifikat Deutsch für den Beruf (ZDfB). This examination, jointly developed by the Goethe Institute and the Deutscher Volkshochschulverband, attests to students’ knowledge of business German and their ability to express themselves orally and in writing. The department administers the ZDfB examination annually.
Programs Abroad
The department encourages qualified students to participate in Skidmore’s programs in France, or Madrid, and to take advantage of approved programs in China, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Latin America.
Chair of the Department of World Languages and Literatures: Maria Lander
Professors: Mao Chen; The Courtney and Steven Ross Chair in Interdisciplinary Studies, María Fernanda Lander, Óscar Pérez, Viviana Rangil, Shirley Smith
Associate Professors: Grace Burton, Mary Kate Donovan, Masako Inamoto, Adrienne Zuerner
Assistant Professors: Aureile Matheron, Cate Talley, Juliane Wuensch
Visiting Assistant Professors: Alexandra Brown, Michael Swellander
Senior Teaching Professors: Diana Barnes, Beatriz Loyola, Masami Tamagawa
Teaching Professor: Barbara Garbin
Senior Lecturers: Timothy Freiermuth
Study-Abroad Lecturer: Susan Sánchez Casal, Director, Skidmore in Spain
Self-Instructional Language Instructors: 1Joshua Barmen, 1Montasser Elsawi, 1Katya Kats, 1Eunmi Kim, 1Shiri Zorn
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Part-time
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French B.A.
Students majoring in French fulfill the departmental requirements by completing a minimum of nine courses totaling not less than 30 credit hours, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WLF 208 | Communicating in French II | 4 |
| WLF 210 | Reading in French | 4 |
| WLF 376 | Senior Seminar in French | 3 |
| Select four courses1, one of which could be WLL2 | 12-16 | |
| Select two additional French courses at the 300 level | 6-8 | |
| Total Hours | 29-35 | |
- 1
Above WLF 203 Intensive Intermediate French
- 2
If taught by French faculty and/or with a substantial French or francophone component and taken in conjunction with WLF 271A or WLF 271B
Writing Requirement in the French Major
Students will fulfill the writing requirement in the French major by successfully completing:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WLF 208 | Communicating in French II | 4 |
| WLF 210 | Reading in French | 4 |
| WLF 376 | Senior Seminar in French | 3 |
Interdepartmental Majors
In conjunction with other departments, the Management and Business Department offers interdepartmental majors in business-French, business-German, business-Spanish, and business-Political Science. See Interdepartmental Majors.
German B.A.
Students majoring in German fulfill the departmental requirements by completing a minimum of 30 credit hours above WLG 102 Elementary German II, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WLG 208 | German Conversation and Composition | 4 |
| WLG 215 | Introduction to German Literature | 4 |
| WLG 376 | Seminar | 4 |
| Select additional credit hours1 to achieve the required minimum of 30 credit hours in the major 2 | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Above WLG 102 Elementary German II
- 2
-
One course on a topic related to German culture may be taken in English with chair’s approval.
Writing Requirement in the German Major
Students will fulfill the writing requirement in the German major by successfully completing:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WLG 208 | German Conversation and Composition | 4 |
| WLG 215 | Introduction to German Literature | 4 |
| WLG 376 | Seminar | 4 |
World Languages and Literature Writing in the Major Requirement
Students majoring in French, German, and Spanish will demonstrate an advanced level of proficiency in writing (“Advanced Plus” on the ACTFL scale). World Languages and Literatures majors will develop the ability to write in the target language in a range of genres including writing for academic, social, and professional contexts in such forms as letters, reports, and research papers for purposes of description, narration, and analysis. WLL majors will demonstrate in writing the ability to perform a close reading of a literary or cultural text including explication of relevant rhetorical features, structural elements, and historical and cultural references. Through writing assignments students learn how to develop a thesis, provide textual evidence, present logical arguments, and employ appropriate theoretical lenses.
Spanish B.A.
Students majoring in Spanish fulfill the departmental requirements by completing a minimum of nine courses totaling not less than 30 credit hours, only one in translation, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WLS 208 | Communicating in Spanish II | 4 |
| or WLS 221 | Spanish for Heritage Speakers | |
| WLS 211 | Survey of Spanish Literature | 4 |
| WLS 212 | Spanish-American Literature and Culture | 4 |
| WLS 376 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Select five additional courses1, at least two of which must be taken at the 300-level 2,3 | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Above WLS 203 Intermediate Spanish
- 2
WLL 263A-D counts if taught by Spanish faculty and taken in conjunction with WLS 271 Spanish Language and Literature Discussion or WLS 272 Spanish Language and Literature Discussion.
- 3
Only one Languages Across the Curriculum course (WLS 220 Language Across the Curriculum or WLS 340 Advanced Languages Across the Curriculum) will count towards the major and cannot be repeated for credit towards the major.
Writing Requirement in the Spanish Major
Students will fulfill the writing requirement in the Spanish major by successfully completing:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WLS 208 | Communicating in Spanish II | 4 |
| or WLS 221 | Spanish for Heritage Speakers | |
| WLS 211 | Survey of Spanish Literature | 4 |
| WLS 212 | Spanish-American Literature and Culture | 4 |
| WLS 376 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
World Languages and Literatures Writing in the Major Requirement
Students majoring in French, German, and Spanish will demonstrate an advanced level of proficiency in writing. World Languages and Literatures majors will develop the ability to write in the target language in a range of genres including writing for academic, social, and professional contexts in such forms as letters, reports, and research papers for purposes of description, narration, and analysis. WLL majors will demonstrate in writing the ability to perform a close reading of a literary or cultural text including explication of relevant rhetorical features, structural elements, and historical and cultural references. Through writing assignments students learn how to develop a thesis, provide textual evidence, present logical arguments, and employ appropriate theoretical lenses.
Chinese Minor
The minor program consists of a minimum of five courses above WLC 101 Elementary Chinese I totaling not less than 18 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses 1 | ||
| WLC 210 | Introduction to Chinese Culture and Literature | 4 |
| Select at least one 300-level WLC course | 2 | |
| Select three additional WLC courses 2 | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- 1
At least three of the courses must be taken at Skidmore (effective Class of 2019; however, other class years may choose to follow this version of the minor.)
- 2
One course may be a designated WLL course.
French Minor
The minor program consists of a minimum of five courses totaling not less than 18 credit hours, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses 1 | ||
| WLF 208 | Communicating in French II | 4 |
| WLF 210 | Reading in French | 4 |
| Select one 300-level course | 4 | |
| Select two electives2 in French language, literature, or civilization (one course may be designated WLL3) | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- 1
At least three courses must be taken at Skidmore.
- 2
Beyond WLF 203 Intensive Intermediate French
- 3
If taught by French faculty and/or with a substantial French or francophone component and taken in conjunction with WLF 271A or WLF 271B
German Minor
The minor program consists of a minimum of five courses totaling not less than 18 credit hours, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses 1 | ||
| WLG 208 | German Conversation and Composition | 4 |
| WLG 215 | Introduction to German Literature | 4 |
| Select three other courses2 in German language, literature, or civilization (one course may be designated WL) | 9-12 | |
| Total Hours | 17-20 | |
- 1
At least three of the courses must be taken at Skidmore.
- 2
Beyond WLG 102 Elementary German II
Italian Minor
The Italian minor program consists of a minimum of five courses at or above the 203-level totaling a minimum of 18 credit hours, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses 1 | ||
| WLI 203 | Intermediate Italian (or above) | 4 |
| WLI 208 | Italian Conversation and Composition (or equivalent) | 4 |
| Select at least three additional courses above WLI 203; one course may be designated WLL (in English). | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
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At least three of the courses must be taken at Skidmore.
Please note that a student with no previous knowledge of the language who chooses to pursue a minor in Italian should begin their study of the language at Skidmore before the junior year.
See World Languages and Literatures.
Japanese Minor
The minor program consists of a minimum of five courses above WLJ 101 Elementary Japanese I totaling not less than 18 credit hours, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses 1 | ||
| WLJ 210 | Introduction to Japanese Culture and Literature | 4 |
| Select at least one 300-level WLJ course (2 credits or more) | 2 | |
| Select three additional courses; one course may be a designated WLL course | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- 1
At least three of the courses must be taken at Skidmore.
(Effective Class of 2019; however, other class years may choose to follow this version of the minor.)
Spanish Minor
The minor program consists of a minimum of five courses above WLS 203 Intermediate Spanish totaling not less than 18 credit hours, none in translation, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses 1 | ||
| WLS 208 | Communicating in Spanish II | 4 |
| WLS 211 | Survey of Spanish Literature | 4 |
| WLS 212 | Spanish-American Literature and Culture | 4 |
| Select two additional courses 2 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- 1
At least three of the courses must be taken at Skidmore.
- 2
Above WLS 203 Intermediate Spanish
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Chinese Honors
Qualifications for student membership shall be as follows:
- Must be a full-time student who has successfully completed five semesters of Chinese language courses at the college level, All five semesters of courses must be language study taken for a grade (as opposed to S/U). Up to two language courses taken abroad may count with departmental approval.
- Must have enrolled in the sixth semester of the Chinese course;
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 in Chinese language courses and have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all college-level courses taken;
- Must be a Chinese minor;
- Must demonstrate strong evidences of engagement and commitment to Chinese language and culture related in school or community activities, and;
- Must preserve an excellent record of behavior in and out of school.
French Honors
To be eligible for departmental honors, a student must write a thesis in the foreign language and pass an oral defense of the thesis, complete the following courses with a grade of A- or better, and have at least a 3.5 average in the major.
Required Honors Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WLG 374 | Thesis (in German) | 3 |
| WLS 374 | Thesis (in Spanish) | 3 |
| WLF 373 | Preparation for Senior Thesis (in French) | 3 |
| WLF 374 | Thesis (in French) | 3 |
Outstanding students of French are also eligible for nomination to the Nu Iota chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society. Outstanding students of Spanish are eligible for nomination to Sigma Delta Pi, the national Spanish honor society.
German Honors
To be eligible for departmental honors, a student must write a thesis in the foreign language and pass an oral defense of the thesis, complete courses with a grade of A- or better, and have at least a 3.5 average in the major. Outstanding students of French are also eligible for nomination to the Nu Iota chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society. Outstanding students of Spanish are eligible for nomination to Sigma Delta Pi, the national Spanish honor society. Outstanding students of German are eligible for nomination to Delta Phi Alpha, the national German honor society.
Required Honors Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WLG 374 | Thesis (in German) | 3 |
| WLS 374 | Thesis (in Spanish) | 3 |
| WLF 373 | Preparation for Senior Thesis (in French) | 3 |
| WLF 374 | Thesis (in French) | 3 |
Japanese Honors
Qualifications for student membership shall be as follows:
- Completion of five semester courses of Japanese language study. All five semester courses must be language study taken for a grade (as opposed to S/U). Up to two language courses taken abroad may count with departmental approval.
- A minimum GPA of 3.5 in Japanese language courses; and
- A minimum overall GPA of 3.0.
- A student must be a Japanese minor.
Spanish Honors
To be eligible for departmental honors, a student must write a thesis in the foreign language and pass an oral defense of the thesis, complete courses with a grade of A- or better, and have at least a 3.5 average in the major. Outstanding students of French are also eligible for nomination to the Nu Iota chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society. Outstanding students of Spanish are eligible for nomination to Sigma Delta Pi, the national Spanish honor society.
Required Honors Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WLG 374 | Thesis (in German) | 3 |
| WLS 374 | Thesis (in Spanish) | 3 |
| WLF 373 | Preparation for Senior Thesis (in French) | 3 |
| WLF 374 | Thesis (in French) | 3 |
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Course Listing
Courses offered in English are designated WLL.
Chinese
WLC 101 - Elementary Chinese I
Credits: 4
An introduction to spoken and written Chinese emphasizing cultural perspectives. Linguistic emphasis is on basic grammar, vocabulary, and the development of reading, conversation, and writing skills while learning about the culture of China.
Note(s): Four hours of class, one hour of drill or tutorial. Presupposes no previous study of Chinese. Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLC 102 - Elementary Chinese II
Credits: 4
Continuation of WLC 101. Further development of basic grammar, reading, speaking, and writing skills with a focus on vocabulary building and paragraph construction.
Prerequisites: WLC 101 or permission of the instructor.
Note(s): Three hours of class, one hour of drill or tutorial. Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLC 203 - Intermediate Chinese
Credits: 4
Continuation of WLC 102. Further development of basic grammar, reading, speaking, and writing skills with a focus on building vocabulary and writing paragraphs short passages.
Prerequisites: WLC 102 or permission of the department.
Note(s): Three hours of class, one hour of lab. Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLC 204 - Business Chinese
Credits: 3
Intermediate Chinese language and culture with an emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, writing, and translating in the context of business. Designed for students who are interested in doing business with the Chinese-speaking community and in further improving their Chinese language proficiency. Students will develop cultural competence in the contexts of actual business situations, and will learn commonly used commercial terms, phrases, sentence patterns, and cultural background.
Prerequisites: WLC 203 or permission of the department.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLC 206 - Chinese Language and Culture
Credits: 4
Development of Chinese skills at the advanced intermediate level. Extensive practice in idioms. Development of vocabulary and reading skills necessary for communication at native speed. Texts include contemporary news materials, film, Internet sources, literature, and music.
Prerequisites: WLC 203 or permission of the department.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLC 208 - Advanced Chinese Conversation and Composition
Credits: 3
Intensive practice in daily use of Chinese in a cultural context. Review of grammar, idioms, vocabulary, and writing skills.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLC 210 - Introduction to Chinese Culture and Literature
Credits: 4
An introduction to the development of Chinese culture and literature with emphasis on the nineteenth century to the present. Students will read and discuss cultural and literary texts including a variety of topics, such as language structure and characters, customs, myths and legends, holidays, social phenomena, religion, as well as population policies.
Prerequisites: WLC 208.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLC 220 - Language across the Curriculum: Chinese
Credits: 1
A course designed for students who want to use their foreign language skills in any course taught in English at the college.
Prerequisites: WLC 203 or permission of the department.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language requirement or Language Study requirement or count toward the Chinese minor. Can be repeated for credit. Must be taken S/U.
WLC 271 - Chinese Language and Literature Discussion
Credits: 1
A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.
Prerequisites: WLC 208 or permission of the department.
Note(s): Can be repeated for credit. Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives requirement.
WLC 272 - Chinese Language and Literature Discussion
Credits: 1
A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.
Prerequisites: WLC 208 or permission of the department. (Can be repeated for credit.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives requirement.
WLC 302 - Modern China
Credits: 3
Study of Chinese at the advanced level with further emphasis on developing literacy skills in reading and writing and cultural literacy, through a variety of texts from the humanities, social sciences, business, and mass media. Students will continue to enhance communication skills in listening and speaking. Assignments include class projects, in-class oral presentations, skits, and written compositions. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to discuss various topics related to the ones in the textbook and to write multi-paragraph compositions.
Note(s): Classes are conducted in Chinese. Students taking this course are expected to commit substantial time outside of class to fulfilling the course requirements. Course must enroll at least five students to be offered. Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLC 340 - Advanced Languages across the Curriculum
Credits: 2
Application and development of Chinese language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language requirement or Language Study requirement. Can be repeated for credit.
WLC 363 - Special Studies in Chinese
Credits: 4
Advanced literary or critical study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic. Texts may include literature, newspaper articles, television dramas, films, poetry, painting, and music.
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspective requirements.
WLC 371 - Independent Study
Credits: 1-4
Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.
French
WLF 101 - Elementary French 1
Credits: 4
An introduction to spoken and written French emphasizing cultural perspectives. Linguistic emphasis is on basic grammar, vocabulary, and the development of reading, conversation, and writing skills while learning about the cultures of France and the Francophone world.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor.
Note(s): Presupposes no previous study of French. Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLF 102 - Elementary French II
Credits: 4
Continuation of WLF 101. Further development of basic grammar, reading, conversation, and writing skills while focusing on cultural materials from France and the Francophone World.
Prerequisites: WLF 101 or placement exam.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLF 203 - Intensive Intermediate French
Credits: 4
Continuing intensive study of the structures of the French language. Extensive practice in conversation and writing. Vocabulary building through the reading of appropriate texts in the literature and culture.
Prerequisites: WLF 102 or placement exam.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLF 206 - Communicating in French I
Credits: 4
Study and practice of interpersonal communication skills to develop fluency in French speaking, writing, reading, and listening, with some emphasis on oral skills. Students will deploy new vocabulary across various registers, learn complex grammatical structures, and improve their pronunciation. Students will also engage with authentic fictional and non-fictional material from French and Francophone literary and visual cultures. They will participate in class discussions and writing assignments designed to help them achieve a high-intermediate level in French.
Prerequisites: WLF 203 or placement exam.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLF 208 - Communicating in French II
Credits: 4
Advanced study and practice of interpersonal communication skills to consolidate fluency in French speaking, writing, reading, and listening, with some emphasis on written skills. Students will deploy new vocabulary across various registers, learn complex grammatical structures, and improve their pronunciation. Students will also engage with authentic fictional and non-fictional material from French and Francophone literary and visual cultures. They will participate in class discussions and writing assignments designed to help them solidify a high-intermediate level in French communication.
Prerequisites: WLF 206 or placement exam.
Note(s): This course is required for the major and minor. Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLF 210 - Reading in French
Credits: 4
Reading and discussion of literary texts in the major genres: poetry, theater, and prose through close textual analysis. This course emphasizes the development of the analytical skills involved in doing a close reading and the critical skill needed for writing explications de texte. Regular papers required.
Prerequisites: WLF 208 or placement exam.
Note(s): This course is required for the major and minor in French. Fulfills Language study and Humanistic Inquiry requirements.
WLF 220 - Language Across the Curriculum
Credits: 1
A course designed for students who want to use their French language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college.
Prerequisites: WLF 206 .
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Only one Language Across the Curriculum course WLF 220 or WLF 340 will count toward the French major or minor. A student may repeat LAC, but it will not count as a credit toward the French major or minor. LAC does not replace any of the 9 courses for the French major or 5 courses for the French minor.
WLF 245 - French for Professions
Credits: 3
An intermediate study and practical application of French for professional purposes. While engaging authentic professional texts, both written and aural, students will assimilate and apply the specialized vocabulary, register and communicative strategies necessary to navigate a range of basic professional scenarios across the French-speaking world. Students will demonstrate the following essential professional communicative skills: establish contacts; present one's organization; sell a product or service; negotiate terms; produce a marketing campaign; undertake professional travel; apply and interview for a position; organize and lead a meeting; and resolve disagreements. Students will discuss the (inter)cultural norms and practices relevant to French-speaking professional settings. This course prepares students for the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry's exam for the Diplôme de français professionnel at the A2 level. Course taught in French.
Prerequisites: WLF 208 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study and Global Cultural Perspectives.
WLF 263 - Special Topics In French
Credits: 3
Literary or cultural study at an introductory to intermediate level of an author, a genre, a period, or a topic. Topics will vary from semester to semester.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLF 271 - French Language and Literature Discussion
Credits: 1
A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.
Prerequisites: WLF 210.
Note(s): Can be repeated for credit. Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives requirement.
WLF 304 - Advanced Conversation and Composition
Credits: 3
Development of oral and written skills to increase active vocabulary, fluency, and the use of authentic French structures through reading and discussion of issues in contemporary French society. Topics include immigration, unemployment, gender distinctions, changing family patterns, education, and political parties in the ""hexagon."" Some attention to the influence of the European community on French life.
Prerequisites: WLF 210.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLF 306 - Translation and Stylistics
Credits: 3
A translation course for the study of the structure of the French language through comparative examination of vocabulary, grammar, and cultural influences. The course provides extensive practice of the traditional exercise of thème et version (translations back and forth of texts from a variety of disciplines) to develop an awareness of the idiomatic distinctions of French and English, the variety of written styles and what constitutes one's own prose expression.
Prerequisites: WLF 210.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Language Study requirements.
WLF 316 - French Poetry
Credits: 3
Study of fundamentals and development of the French poetic form through close textual analysis of representative poets and major movements.
Prerequisites: WLF 210.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Language Study requirements.
WLF 317 - French Narrative Prose
Credits: 3
Exploration of major themes and techniques of narrative fiction as it has developed in French-speaking cultures.
Prerequisites: WLF 210.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Language Study requirements.
WLF 318 - French Dramatic Literature
Credits: 3
Study of dramatic techniques and themes through careful examination of representative texts and attention to the role of the theater in French culture.
Prerequisites: WLF 210.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Language Study requirement.
WLF 324 - Revolution & Inequality in the French Atlantic World
Credits: 3
An exploration of post-revolutionary francophone literature from France, Haiti, and the United States. The 19th century was ushered in by a series of revolutions that sought to reorganize the world along more just lines and enact democratic principles of liberty and equality. In this class, students will read writers who were inspired by the ambitions of these revolutions but also grappled with their broken promises, particularly in the form of ongoing social, racial, and gender inequality. Students will explore how storytelling in many genres allowed these writers to shed light on their societies’ contradictions, garner sympathy for those who suffered, and rally people to continue to advocate for justice.
Prerequisites: WLF 210.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Language Study requirements.
WLF 325 - The Making of Modern France: From the Ancien Régime to the French Revolution
Credits: 3
A consideration of major social, artistic, and intellectual developments from the creation of the Académie Française [French Academy] to the French Revolution, with emphasis given to a wide range of topics including the discovery of "new" worlds and peoples, scientific innovation, political and religious conflict, art and architecture, aesthetic ideals, and the Enlightenment. Students will study plays, essays, letters, and political and religious tracts by writers and artists grappling with a world in flux, giving rise to democratic forms of thought, and ushering in the French Revolution. Students will read works by such authors as Molière, La Fontaine, Descartes, Pascal, Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau.
Prerequisites: WLF 210.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Language Study requirements.
WLF 326 - Francophone African Literatures
Credits: 4
A study of African literatures written in French from the mid-twentieth century to today. Exploring poetry, novel excerpts, novellas, and manifestos, along with key theoretical writings, students will engage with texts which have helped represent, understand, and shape Francophone African identities. Exploring both canonical figures and emerging writers from Northern and Sub-Saharan Francophone Africa, and the French-speaking Indian Ocean, students will deploy and develop close-reading skills to analyze contemporary Francophone African fictions.
Prerequisites: WLF 210 Reading in French.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives and Humanistic Inquiry requirements.
WLF 328 - Francophone Visual Cultures
Credits: 4
An examination of French and Francophone visual arts from the 19th century to the present day. You will delve into how Francophone artists from Africa and its diaspora have shaped Francophone visual identities in the 1960s and 70s and early 21st-century globalization. Studying works in Francophone cinema, sculpture, photography, graphic novels, installation art, and digital creations, you will build a comprehensive understanding of Francophone visual cultures. Taught in French, the course bridges visual content with literature. This course will be of interest to students seeking to broaden their understanding of contemporary Francophone visual cultures and with creative interests.
Prerequisites: WLF 210: Reading in French.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives and Humanistic Inquiry requirements.
WLF 329 - Current Events: Contemporary Spoken French via the Web
Credits: 3
Study of contemporary French language via online media emphasizing current events and fast-paced spoken French. Using live news, streaming TV, and film excerpts, students practice listening to French in context, learn idiomatic expressions, and expand active vocabulary. Weekly writing and analysis of online content is a regular feature of class. Specific listening challenges will be reviewed with the goal of increasing comprehension of native speech. Course taught in French.
Prerequisites: WLF 208.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLF 340 - Advanced Languages Across the Curriculum
Credits: 2
Students apply and develop their French language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss, and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Prerequisites: WLF 208.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the language study general curriculum requirement. Only one Language Across the Curriculum course WLF 220 or WLF 340 will count toward the French major or minor. A student may repeat LAC, but it will not count as credit toward the major or minor. LAC does not replace any of the 9 major or 5 minor courses.
WLF 363 - Special Studies in French
Credits: 3
Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic.
Prerequisites: WLF 210.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLF 364 - Special Studies Seminar in French
Credits: 4
Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic, with advanced language skills workshop.
Prerequisites: WLF 210 or permission of the instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLF 371 - Independent Study in French
Credits: 1-4
Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.
WLF 373 - Preparation for Senior Thesis
Credits: 3
Required for all second-semester junior or first-semester senior French majors who intend to write a thesis (WLF 374). Under the direction of a thesis advisor, the student reads extensively in primary and secondary sources related to the proposed thesis topic, develops research skills, and brings the thesis topic into focus by writing an outline and a series of brief papers that contribute to the thesis.
WLF 374 - Thesis
Credits: 3
An extended research project culminating in a paper based on readings and extensive individual conferences.
Prerequisites: WLF 376, senior standing, permission of instructor, and 3.500 GPA in the major.
Note(s): Required of all majors who wish to be considered for departmental honors.
WLF 376 - Senior Seminar in French
Credits: 4
Detailed study of an author, a period, or topic relevant to understanding the literature and culture of French-speaking countries around the globe. This capstone course is designed to enhance students’ research, written, and oral communication skills in French and to expand their understanding of theories and methodologies relevant to contemporary scholarship. Students will pursue a major research project that combines their interest(s) and the theme(s) of the seminar course. This culminating project will allow students to integrate the knowledge and skills acquired over the course of their studies and to think creatively about their research topic in relation to French studies more broadly.
Prerequisites: Senior status and French major.
Note(s): Fulfills Senior Coda requirement.
German
WLG 101 - Elementary German I
Credits: 4
An introduction to spoken and written German emphasizing cultural perspectives. Linguistic emphasis is on basic grammar, vocabulary, and the development of reading, conversation, and writing skills while learning about the culture of German-speaking countries.
Note(s): Four hours of class, one hour of drill or tutorial. Presupposes no previous study of German. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLG 102 - Elementary German II
Credits: 4
Continuation of WLG 101. Further development of basic grammar, reading, conversation, and writing skills while focusing on cultural materials from German-speaking countries.
Prerequisites: WLG 101.
Note(s): Three hours of class, one hour of drill or tutorial. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLG 103 - Intensive Elementary German
Credits: 4
Intensive review of introductory reading, speaking, oral comprehension, and grammatical structures of the language for those with some experience in the fundamentals but who still need to acquire the competency expected at the completion of WLG102.
Prerequisites: one year of high-school German or permission of department.
Note(s): Four hours of class, one hour of lab. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLG 111 - Beginning Business German
Credits: 4
An introduction to German language and culture in the context of business. Students learn the elementary German language skills needed to understand and perform basic business transactions, read texts related to business, write a resume and rudimentary business correspondence, and understand the culture of business in the German-speaking world. Prepares students to continue the study of German at the level of WLG 203.
Note(s): Four hours of class, one hour of drill or tutorial. Presupposes no previous study of German. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLG 203 - Intermediate German
Credits: 3
Continuing study of the structures of the German language. Extensive practice in conversation and writing. Vocabulary building through the reading of appropriate texts in the literature and culture.
Note(s): Three hours of class. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLG 206 - German Language and Culture
Credits: 3
Development of German skills at the advanced intermediate level. Extensive practice in idioms. Development of vocabulary and reading skills necessary for communication at native speed. Texts include contemporary news materials, film, Internet sources, literature, and music.
Prerequisites: WLG 203 or permission of the department.
Note(s): Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLG 208 - German Conversation and Composition
Credits: 4
Intensive practice in daily use of German in a cultural context. Review of idioms, vocabulary, and writing skills.
Prerequisites: WLG 203 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): This course is required for the major in German. Offered in alternate years. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLG 215 - Introduction to German Literature
Credits: 4
An introduction to the development of German literature from the Age of Enlightenment to the present focusing on major authors (Lessing, Goethe, Schiller, Hoffmann, Kafka, Brecht, Wolf) and literary movements.
Prerequisites: WLG 203 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): This course is required for the major in German. Offered in alternate years. Fulfills Foreign Language OR Humanities requirement; fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Language Study requirements.
WLG 216 - Contemporary German Culture
Credits: 4
An exploration of life, art, and politics in Germany since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Topics include German reunification, political parties and current debates, the problematic relationship between Ossis and Wessis, multiculturalism, the Berlin art scene, film, visual arts, and music.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanities requirement; fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLG 218 - Creative Writing in German
Credits: 3
An introduction to creative writing in German. Emphasis is placed on the creative use of German to develop vocabulary, improve individual style, and compose short, sophisticated literary texts. Using exemplary German literature as models, students analyze and practice writing in various genres, such as the fairy tale, short story, poetry, and drama. Peer editing and revision will be a regular feature of all writing assignments with attention to content, grammatical accuracy, stylistics, and generic conventions. Selected structures will be reviewed with the purpose of honing grammatical, stylistic, and idiomatic usage of German.
Note(s): Fulfills Arts requirement; fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Artistic Inquiry requirements.
WLG 220 - Language Across the Curriculum
Credits: 1
A course designed for students who want to use their foreign language skills in any course taught in English at the college.
Prerequisites: WLG 203.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Counts toward the German major or minor. Can be repeated for credit. Must be taken S/U.
WLG 243 - German Fairy Tales
Credits: 3
An exploration of traditional Fairy Tales from different perspectives with the help of a variety of modern adaptations, including films, songs, poems, and TV shows. The course combines literature and theory with language learning and performance. Students will be able to practice and improve their German language skills as well as have an outlet for their imagination through creative projects.
Prerequisites: WLG 206 or permission from the instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study and Humanistic Inquiry requirements.
WLG 263 - Special Topics In German
Credits: 3
Literary or cultural study at an introductory to intermediate level of an author, a genre, a period, or a topic. Topics will vary from semester to semester.
Prerequisites: WLG 208 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLG 271 - German Language and Literature Discussion
Credits: 1
A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.
Prerequisites: WLG 208 or permission of the department.
Note(s): May be repeated for credit.
WLG 272 - German Language and Literature Discussion
Credits: 1
A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.
Prerequisites: WLG 208 or permission of the department.
Note(s): May be repeated for credit.
WLG 301 - German for the Professions
Credits: 3
The course focuses on enhancing German language skills for professional purposes and introduces German businesses in a variety of fields. Students learn how to apply for jobs and internships in German-speaking countries, as well as important intercultural skills to navigate professional settings.
Note(s): Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLG 304 - Advanced German Composition and Conversation
Credits: 4
Intensive practice of oral and written German to increase active vocabulary and fluency in German and to develop further and refine writing skills.
Prerequisites: WLG 208 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Three hours of class. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLG 340 - Advanced Languages across the Curriculum
Credits: 2
Students apply and develop their German language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss, and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Prerequisites: WLG 206.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the foreign language distribution requirement in foreign languages and literatures. May be repeated for credit.
WLG 341 - The Age of Goethe
Credits: 4
A study of the major works of Goethe, Schiller, and Lessing to show how they reflect major intellectual ideas of their time. Particular attention will be given to the transition from the so-called Classical to the Romantic period: the critique of the Classical by Romantic authors, the elevation of music as the highest form of artistic expression, the origins of psychology and "modernism" in the subjective irrationalism of the Romantics. An examination of the artistic, intellectual, and cultural trends of the period 1749-1832 through the study of the works of Goethe, Schiller, and their contemporaries.
Prerequisites: WLG 215 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanities OR Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLG 343 - German Narrative Prose
Credits: 3
A critical study of the novel, novella, short story, fairy tale, and other forms of narrative prose in the context of German intellectual, political, and social history. Prose texts include works by major German, Swiss, and Austrian authors (Goethe, Schiller, Tieck, Kleist, Hoffmann, Droste-Hülshoff, Fontaine, Kafka, Dürrenmatt, Böll, Grass, Wolf).
Prerequisites: WLG 215.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanities OR Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLG 356 - Theater in the German Speaking World
Credits: 3
Theater and its cultural impact in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Topics include social drama, operatic spectacles, epic theater, cabaret, post-war and contemporary experimental theater and performance art. Works from such dramatists as Büchner, Wagner, Brecht, Weiss, Handke, and Müller will be examined.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanities OR Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLG 357 - German Literature of the Twentieth Century
Credits: 4
A critical study of German poetry, drama, and prose in the twentieth century with emphasis on major artistic and sociopolitical movements. Readings vary from year to year but usually include works by Mann, Brecht, Sachs, Hesse, Böll, Grass, Bachmann, and Wolf.
Prerequisites: WLG 215 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanities OR Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLG 363 - Special Studies in German
Credits: 3
Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic.
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLG 371 - Independent Study in German
Credits: 1-4
Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.
WLG 374 - Thesis
Credits: 3
An extended research project culminating in a paper based on readings and extensive individual conferences.
Prerequisites: WLG 376, senior standing, permission of instructor, and 3.500 GPA in the major.
Note(s): Required of all majors who wish to be considered for departmental honors.
WLG 376 - Seminar
Credits: 4
The study of an author, a period, or a theme prominent in the literature and culture of Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. German majors will examine fundamental questions in the field of German studies and enhance their understanding of key theories and methodologies relevant to contemporary scholarship. Frequent oral reports and activities to reflect on their intellectual growth over the course of their studies. Close attention to creative, original analysis and the development, organization, and writing of an extensive research paper.
Prerequisites: German major and senior status.
Note(s): Fulfills Senior Experience Coda requirement.
Italian
WLI 101 - Elementary Italian I
Credits: 4
An introduction to spoken and written Italian emphasizing cultural perspectives. Linguistic emphasis is on basic grammar, vocabulary, and the development of reading, conversation, and writing skills while learning about the culture of Italy.
Note(s): Four hours of class, one additional hour of drill or tutorial. Presupposes no previous study of Italian. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLI 102 - Elementary Italian II
Credits: 3
Continuation of WLI 101. Further development of basic grammar, reading, conversation, and writing skills while focusing on cultural materials.
Prerequisites: WLI 101.
Note(s): Three hours of class, one additional hour of drill or tutorial. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLI 203 - Intermediate Italian
Credits: 4
Continuing study of the structures of the Italian language. Extensive practice in conversation and writing. Vocabulary building through the reading of appropriate texts in the literature and culture.
Prerequisites: WLI 102 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Three hours of class, one hour of lab.Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLI 206 - Italian Language and Culture
Credits: 3
Development of Italian skills at the advanced intermediate level. Extensive practice in idioms. Development of vocabulary and reading skills necessary for communication at native speed. Texts include contemporary news materials, film, Internet sources, literature, and music.
Prerequisites: WLI 203 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLI 208 - Italian Conversation and Composition
Credits: 4
Intensive practice in daily use of Italian in a cultural context. Review of idioms, vocabulary, and writing skills.
Prerequisites: WLI 203 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLI 220 - Language Across the Curriculum
Credits: 1
A course designed for students who want to use their foreign language skills in any course taught in English at the college.
Prerequisites: WLI 203.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Do not count toward the Italian minor. Can be repeated for credit. Must be taken S/U.
WLI 263 - Special Topics in Italian
Credits: 3
Literary or cultural study at an introductory to intermediate level of an author, a genre, a period, or a topic. Content will vary from semester to semester.
Prerequisites: WLI 208 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanities requirement; fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLI 271 - Italian Language and Literature Discussion
Credits: 1
A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.
Prerequisites: WLI 208 or permission of the department.
Note(s): Can be repeated for credit.
WLI 300 - 300 Level Elective
Credits: 3
WLI 304 - Advanced Conversation and Composition
Credits: 3
Intensive practice of oral and written Italian to increase active vocabulary and fluency in spoken Italian and to develop and refine writing skills.
Note(s): Three hours of class, one hour of discussion. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLI 310 - Il Rinascimento Italiano
Credits: 3
Investigates Italian literature and culture from the Duecento to the late Cinquecento . We will examine in particular the development of the vernacular through a systematic study of the most representative literary works of the Italian literary tradition, which gave rise to the innovative literary, artistic, and philosophical ideas of the Italian Renaissance. Although the primary focus for this course is the study of literature, we will also examine the culture of the Renaissance as presented not only in the literary works but also in the major works of painting, sculpture, architecture, and music of the epoch. Readings will include selections from Dante, Petrarca, Boccaccio, the Humanists, Pico della Mirandola, Castiglione, Ariosto, Michelangelo, Lorenzo de' Medici, Veronica Franco, Machiavelli, and others.
Prerequisites: WLI 208 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanities requirement OR Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLI 340 - Advanced Languages Across the Curriculum
Credits: 2
Application and development of Italian language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss, and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Prerequisites: WLI 208 or above.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the foreign language distribution requirement in foreign languages and literatures. Can be repeated for credit.
WLI 363 - Special Studies in Italian
Credits: 3
Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic.
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
WLI 371 - Independent Study in Italian
Credits: 1-4
Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.
Japanese
WLJ 101 - Elementary Japanese I
Credits: 4
An introduction to spoken and written Japanese emphasizing cultural perspectives. Linguistic emphasis is on basic grammar, vocabulary, and the development of reading, conversation, and writing skills while learning about the culture of Japan.
Note(s): Four hours of class, one hour of drill or tutorial. Presupposes no previous study of Japanese. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLJ 102 - Elementary Japanese II
Credits: 4
Prerequisites: WLJ 101 or permission of the instructor.
Note(s): Three hours of class, one hour of drill or tutorial. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLJ 203 - Intermediate Japanese
Credits: 4
Continuing study of the structures of the Japanese language. Extensive practice in conversation and writing. Vocabulary building through the reading of appropriate texts in the literature and culture.
Prerequisites: WLJ 102 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Three hours of class, one hour of lab. Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLJ 206 - Japanese Language and Culture
Credits: 4
Development of Japanese skills at the advanced intermediate level. Extensive practice in idioms. Development of vocabulary and reading skills necessary for communication at native speed. Texts include contemporary news materials, film, Internet sources, literature, and music.
Prerequisites: WLJ 203 or permission of the department.
Note(s): Fulfills non-Western Cultures and Foreign Language requirements; fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives, and Language Study requirements.
WLJ 207 - Advanced Intermediate Japanese I
Credits: 3
Systematic study of advanced intermediate Japanese linguistic structures. Reading of selected texts concerning Japanese culture/society. Discussion in Japanese based on the reading. Intensive practice in writing short essays.
Prerequisites: WLJ 203 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives and Language Study requirements.
WLJ 208 - Advanced Intermediate Japanese II
Credits: 3
Continuation of WLJ 207. Further study of grammar, idioms, and vocabulary. Reading of authentic materials such as newspapers/magazine articles. Aural-oral exercises and intensive practice in writing short essays.
Prerequisites: WLJ 207 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Foreign Language requirement; fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives and Language Study requirements.
WLJ 210 - Introduction to Japanese Culture and Literature
Credits: 4
An introduction to the development of Japanese literature from the Heian Period (794-1185) to the present focusing on major authors and literary movements. Film and graphic novels are utilized as well. Relevant cultural and historical contexts will also be introduced.
Prerequisites: WLJ 206.
Note(s): Fulfills Non-Western requirement and Foreign Language requirement requirements; fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives and Language Study requirements.
WLJ 220 - Language across the Curriculum
Credits: 1
A course designed for students who want to use their foreign language skills in any course taught in English at the college.
Prerequisites: WLJ 203.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the foreign language distribution requirement or count toward the minor. Can be repeated for credit. Must be taken S/U.
WLJ 271 - Japanese Language and Literature Discussion
Credits: 1
A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.
Prerequisites: WLJ 208 or permission of the department.
Note(s): Can be repeated for credit.
WLJ 272 - Japanese Language and Literature Discussion
Credits: 1
A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.
Prerequisites: WLJ 208 or permission of the department.
Note(s): Can be repeated for credit.
WLJ 311 - Contemporary Japan
Credits: 3
Study of Japanese language with an emphasis on socio-cultural issues of contemporary Japanese society while continuing to develop language skills at the advanced level. Students will use authentic materials, including newspaper articles, internet Web sites, films, and videos to enhance their cultural literacy.
Note(s): Classes conducted in Japanese. Fulfills non-Western Cultures and Humanities requirements; fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLJ 340 - Advanced Languages Across the Curriculum
Credits: 2
Application and development of Japanese language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Prerequisites: WLJ 206 or above.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Can be repeated for credit.
WLJ 363 - Special Studies in Japanese
Credits: 3
Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic.
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLJ 371 - Independent Study
Credits: 1-4
Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.
Spanish Courses
WLS 101 - Elementary Spanish I
Credits: 4
An introduction to spoken and written Spanish emphasizing cultural perspectives. Linguistic emphasis is on basic grammar, vocabulary, and the development of reading, conversation, and writing skills while learning about the cultures of Spain and Spanish America.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor.
Note(s): Four hours of class per week. Presupposes no previous study of Spanish. Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLS 102 - Elementary Spanish II
Credits: 3
Continuation of WLS 101. Further development of basic grammar, reading, conversation, and writing skills while focusing on cultural materials from Spain and Spanish America.
Prerequisites: Open only to students who have completed WLS 101 or have taken the language placement test and placed in this level.
Note(s): Three hours of class per week. Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLS 103 - Alternative Second Semester Spanish
Credits: 3
An introduction and review of elementary spoken and written Spanish emphasizing cultural perspectives. Linguistic emphasis is on grammar, vocabulary, and the development of reading, conversation, and writing skills while learning about the cultures of Spain and Spanish America.
Prerequisites: Open to students who have completed WLS 101. For students who have completed one or two years of pre-college Spanish, and who have not placed in WLS 203 or above.
Note(s): Three hours of class. Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLS 203 - Intermediate Spanish
Credits: 4
Continuing intensive study of the structures of the Spanish language. Extensive practice in conversation and writing. Vocabulary building through the reading of appropriate texts in the literature and culture.
Prerequisites: WLS 103.
Note(s): Four hours of class. Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLS 206 - Communicating in Spanish I
Credits: 4
Study and practice of interpersonal communication in Spanish. Students learn additional vocabulary, integrate new grammar structures, refine and strengthen already-acquired skills, learn idiomatic phrases, and increase speaking fluency. Students also learn basic compositional strategies, using connecting words properly and incorporating a more judicious choice of vocabulary.
Prerequisites: WLS 203.
WLS 208 - Communicating in Spanish II
Credits: 4
Advanced study and practice of communicating in Spanish. Students will build advanced skills to understand, interpret, analyze, and present information and ideas in Spanish, with a particular focus on writing. Students review grammar, idioms, and vocabulary, and engage in intensive practice in writing short essays.
Prerequisites: WLS 206 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLS 211 - Survey of Spanish Literature
Credits: 4
An overview of Spanish literature and culture from the early modern period to the present. The course introduces major literary and cultural movements in Spain within their social and historical contexts and examines the role of cultural production in Spain’s changing social and political landscape. The primary objectives of this course include developing skills in literary and visual analysis and formulating arguments with effective textual evidence in Spanish.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Language Study requirements.
WLS 212 - Spanish-American Literature and Culture
Credits: 4
An overview of Spanish-American literature and other cultural expressions from pre-independence to the present. The course introduces main literary genres, movements, and authors as well as the study of cultural practices in the region through music, visual art, journalism, and other forms of media. The course's main objectives are to increase students' ability to read critically, appreciate and analyze literary Spanish, and understand the cultural diversity of Spanish-America.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives and Language Study requirements.
WLS 220 - Language Across the Curriculum
Credits: 1
A course designed for students who want to use their foreign languages skills in any course taught in English at the college.
Prerequisites: WLS 206.
WLS 221 - Spanish for Heritage Speakers
Credits: 4
Heritage speakers of Spanish improve their normative use of the language, focusing on common grammatical errors and instances of English interference. The major focus of this course is writing in Spanish; therefore, students review grammar, idioms, and vocabulary through writing-intensive activities. Students also develop linguistic accuracy in conversational Spanish through practice in real-life situations.
WLS 263 - Special Topics in Spanish
Credits: 3
Literary or cultural study at an introductory or intermediate level of an author, genre, period, or topic. Course varies from year to year depending on instructor teaching.
Prerequisites: WLS 208. May be repeated for credit.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry.
WLS 271 - Spanish Language and Literature Discussion
Credits: 1
A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.
Prerequisites: WLS 208 or permission of the department.
Note(s): Can be repeated for credit. Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives requirement.
WLS 272 - Spanish Language and Literature Discussion
Credits: 1
A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.
Prerequisites: WLS 208 or permission of the department. Can be repeated for credit.
Note(s): Fulfills global cultural perspective.
WLS 304 - Advanced Conversation and Composition
Credits: 4
Intensive practice of oral and written Spanish to increase active vocabulary and fluency in spoken Spanish and to develop further and refine writing skills.
Prerequisites: WLS 208 or permission of instructor.
Note(s): Four hours of class. Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLS 313 - Literature of the Golden Age
Credits: 3
A study of the novel, drama, and poetry, centering on the picaresque novel, Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, Calderón de la Barca, Góngora, and Quevedo.
Prerequisites: WLS 211. (Offered every third year.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLS 317 - Spanish Literature of the Twentieth Century
Credits: 3
A study of the drama, novel, and poetry of the Generation of '98, as well as selected novels and dramas since the Civil War.
Prerequisites: WLS 211. (Offered every third year.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLS 319 - Contemporary Spanish-American Fiction
Credits: 3
A study of specific topics in Spanish-American fictional prose. Approaches may include a focus on an author, a literary movement, a specific historical period, or literary representations of social or political issues.
Prerequisites: WLS 212.
Note(s): Offered every third year. Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLS 323 - Spanish in the Media
Credits: 4
A study of the Spanish-speaking world within its contemporary cultural context, especially as manifested in the media (newspapers, magazines, radio, television). This course is designed to give students a more complex understanding of Hispanic cultures. We will study such topics as political, social, and economic trends in the Spanish-speaking world, the relationship between language and society, and dialect as an expression of culture.
Prerequisites: WLS 208.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives requirement
WLS 325 - Advanced Studies: Environmental Perspectives
Credits: 3
Focused study of a single dimension of the relationship between culture and the environment in the Spanish-speaking world. The theoretical approaches, forms, social and cultural perspectives, periods, and geographies will vary each semester.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLS 327 - Health Humanities
Credits: 3
An exploration of essential concepts in health humanities that pays particular attention to how the field has evolved, and continues to do so, in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain. Through novels, short stories, and films, students will examine topics such as the representation of disease and illness in the media, the possibilities of thinking about the body as a discursive space, and the social and scientific construction of disability, aging, gender, race, sexuality, and sexual identity.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives and Humanistic Inquiry requirements.
WLS 328 - Advanced Studies: Speculative Fiction
Credits: 3
A study of a selected aspect of speculative fiction in the Spanish-speaking world. Offerings can focus on genres such as science fiction, fantasy, and horror, across different time periods, geographies, and forms.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLS 330 - Spanish-American Thought
Credits: 3
Students examine the construction of cultural identity as proposed by Spanish-American intellectuals in essays about ethnicity, nationality, and politics. The texts may address topics and concepts such as nation building, "cosmic race," "mestizaje," transculturation, cultural hybridity, civilization/barbarism, and cultural imperialism.
Prerequisites: WLS 212.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLS 331 - Tales of the Wondrous Lands: The Hispanic Transatlantic World
Credits: 3
An exploration of the Hispanic world from Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the birth of independent nations in the Americas. Students will examine the complexities and contradictions of more than 300 years of artistic masterpieces, ambitious scientific expeditions, and regular exchanges that covered the immense area from Spain, through the Americas, to the Philippines. The material studied includes first-hand accounts of events that would have long-lasting repercussions, like the Conquest, but also more contemporary art, fiction, and films that reexamine the legacy of an era that shaped the Spanish-speaking countries as we know them.
Prerequisites: WLS 212. (Offered in alternate years.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLS 334 - Cervantes
Credits: 3
A study of the prose, drama, and poetry of Miguel de Cervantes in the light of the social and intellectual currents of early seventeenth-century Spain. Particular attention will be paid to Don Quijote.
Prerequisites: WLS 211.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLS 340 - Advanced Languages Across the Curriculum
Credits: 2
Students apply and develop their Spanish language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Prerequisites: WLS 208.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the language study general curriculum requirement. Only one Languages Across the Curriculum course will count towards the Spanish major and cannot be repeated for credit towards the major.
WLS 341 - Advanced Spanish Grammar Workshop
Credits: 1
Students will concentrate on increasing their linguistic accuracy by focusing on some of the most difficult grammatical structures for non-native speakers. Designed for students who are enrolled in 200- and 300-level literature and culture and civilization courses who continue to need focused attention on linguistic accuracy.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language requirement.
WLS 351 - Studies in Spanish for Specific Purposes
Credits: 3
A study of Spanish that connects cultural competence with practical skills for professional usage. Offerings focus on areas such as science, health, journalism, business, arts, (law, social work), translation, and interpretation, among others.
Prerequisites: WLS 208. (Fulfills Language Study requirement).
WLS 363 - Special Studies in Spanish
Credits: 3
Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic.
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Language Study requirements.
WLS 364 - Special Studies in Spanish with Writing Workshop
Credits: 4
Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic. This course includes a Writing Workshop.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives and Language Study requirements.
WLS 371 - Independent Study in Spanish
Credits: 1-4
Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.
WLS 374 - Thesis
Credits: 3
An extended research project culminating in a paper based on readings and extensive individual conferences.
Prerequisites: WLS 376, senior standing, permission of instructor, and 3.5 GPA in the major.
Note(s): Required of all majors who wish to be considered for departmental honors.
WLS 376 - Senior Seminar
Credits: 4
A detailed study of an author, period, or theme pertinent to the understanding of Spanish and Spanish-American literature and culture. In this capstone course, Spanish majors will conduct in-depth research on a topic of their choosing associated with the course, leading to a final research project that can take various formats (essay, presentation, poster, video-essay, creative writing, etc.). Through this project, students will demonstrate an understanding of their topic and its relationship to the field of Hispanic Studies, relevant issues in the Spanish-speaking world, and the broader concept of a liberal arts education. The final project for this course is designed to highlight students’ creativity and integrate theoretical approaches and concepts from previous coursework with students’ individual research topics by requiring that they produce an original and rigorous analysis of cultural production.
Note(s): Only open to Spanish majors. Global Cultural Perspectives and Senior Experience Coda requirements.
Literature and Language Courses taught in English (These courses are open to all students. Knowledge of a foreign language is not a prerequisite, with the exception of WLL 399.)
WLL 233 - Multilingual America
Credits: 3
An interdisciplinary exploration of language as a dimension of community, identity, and power in the United States. Explores the history of English and linguistic diversity in the U.S., with particular emphasis on contemporary multilingual communities. Draws on applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, and raciolinguistics to interpret contemporary representations of multilingual and multicultural American experiences created by people within the communities represented, considering the interplay of language with race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, regional identity, etc. Students will conduct ethnographic interviews to better understand the intersections of language, identity, and power in their own communities. The significance of English and of multilingualism in the globalized economy will also be discussed. The course will culminate with students using what they have learned to create a published review of a film or TV show, sharing with a broad public their critical reflections on the politics of how language is represented in contemporary American media.
Prerequisites: SSP 100.
Note(s): Fulfills Bridge Experience and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLL 237 - Becoming "Asian": Asian American Cultural Representations and Identities
Credits: 3
An exploration of the identity formation and ongoing experiences of Asian Americans in American society. Students will examine how Asian Americans have been racialized, gendered, and sexualized in American culture both historically and contemporaneously, and what these cultural representations reveal about issues of identity, belonging, class, and citizenship in American society and the globalized world. Students will read stories written by Japanese/American writers on a variety of topics including immigration, labor, family, community, sexuality, militarism, globalization, and social movements while examining them through an intersectional lens.
Prerequisites: SSP 100.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives and Bridge Experience requirements.
WLL 238 - Out of Home/Place: Chinese-American Experiences and Writing in Diaspora
Credits: 4
An introduction to literary and cinematic texts by Chinese-American diaspora writers in North America from the nineteenth century to the present. The course will help students understand transnational and transcultural themes and issues in the Chinese-American milieu through literature and films. By focusing on the role of English as a chosen literary language, the course will allow students to discover the history of immigration, linguistic choices and possibilities, and the form of narrative. Students will leave the class with a better understanding of power and justice in the Chinese-American context. We will examine cultural formation and the construction of global identities through cultural narratives as lived experiences. Students will be interviewing Chinese-Americans and creating short podcasts and documentaries using the materials in their interviews. Those student projects will be shared in the Saratoga Springs community and as exhibitions at the Tang Museum.
Prerequisites: SSP 100.
Note(s): Fulfills Bridge Experience and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLL 239 - Japanese Popular Culture
Credits: 4
This introductory course on Japanese society and culture explores Japanese popular culture as a way of understanding the changing character of media, cultural industries, fan communities, and contemporary societal issues. Topics include Japanese popular music, karaoke, popular arts, manga (Japanese comics), sports, anime (Japanese animation), television programs, street fashion and fashion designers, among others. Emphasis will be given to contemporary popular culture and theories of gender, sexuality, race, class, nationalism, and the workings of power in global cultural industries.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLL 241 - Pre-Modern Japanese Literature in Translation
Credits: 3
Students will read and discuss poetry, prose, and performance works of the Nara (710-794) to Edo (1615-1867) periods. They will trace the development of Japanese culture and literature from early history to modern times. Students will examine the broad themes of pre-Modern Japanese literature in historical, cultural, religious, and sociopolitical contexts.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspective.
WLL 242 - Modern Japanese Literature in Translation
Credits: 3
A critical survey of modern Japanese prose literature in English translation beginning with the Meiji period and continuing to the present. Students will study the interaction of traditional Japanese sensibilities with Western literary ideas and techniques as represented in major literary movements in Japan. Works will be discussed in terms of their cultural, historical, and literary contexts.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLL 243 - The World of Japanese Animation
Credits: 4
An introduction to the world of Japanese animation (anime), one of the most important cultural products in contemporary Japan. Students will study prevailing themes and genres of anime, in their cultural and historical contexts and from a variety of perspectives. The course also focuses on anime in relation to popular culture and the role of anime fan culture.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspective.
WLL 244 - Viewing China: Visual Cultural and Transnational Cinema
Credits: 4
An examination of masterworks of Chinese film and visual culture viewed within their cultural context and in light of both Chinese and Western literary traditions. Students will consider ways in which Chinese film has represented national identity, national trauma, and national history, and how globalization has given birth to a new transnational Chinese cinema. The course will address cinema as narrative, and in relation to visual art, music, psychology, and cultural history. Course includes a film screening and discussion session each week. It does not require knowledge of East Asian languages.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspectives requirements.
WLL 245 - China and the West: The Myth of the Other
Credits: 3
Introduces and examines the experience of "the other" from both Chinese and Western standpoints. The image of the other has always been historically shaped to represent values that are considered different from one's own. In this course, we will look at China as an idealized utopia in the eyes of some eighteenth-century Europeans, or as a land of ignorance as described in some early modern literature and cultural texts. In discussing such issues as Orientalism vs. Occidentalism and cultural relativism vs. universalism, we will examine the polemics of cultural difference in ethical terms.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspective.
WLL 246 - Fictional and Factual: History and the Novel in China
Credits: 3
Examines several Chinese works of literature in terms of their special narrative modes, considering how each reveals the changing history of modern China and exploring how each makes its unique contribution to Chinese literature. Issues discussed include history in literature, history outside literature, literary histories, factual and fictional as literary categories, and the historical novel. Throughout the course, we will ask, Why is the novel a particularly valid source for the study of Chinese history?
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspective.
WLL 247 - Japanese Woman: Gender, Gender Relations, and Sexuality in Contemporary Japan
Credits: 3
An exploration of gender, gender relation, and sexuality in contemporary Japan. Topics include history, family, work, education, language, religion, politics, homosexuality, sex work, and popular culture.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspective.
WLL 249 - Image of the Enemy in German Film 1919-1945
Credits: 4
Students will examine the changing image of the enemy in German cinema from 1919 to 1945. From its silent beginnings through the invention of sound, German cinema abounds in archetypal figures of unearthly destruction and social deviants from an equally hostile present. Nazi propaganda films adopted both realistic and mythic traditions to construct an image of the enemy threatening the survival of the Third Reich, and they became a powerful weapon in disseminating fascist ideology. Viewing film as a symbolic language which inscribes cultural identity, we will explore anti-Semitism, xenophobia, jingoism, misogyny, and fascism as well as changes in the public perception of the enemy that contributed to World War II and the Holocaust.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry.
WLL 250 - An Outline of German Civilization: The Eighteenth Century to the Present
Credits: 3
An exploration of German life, culture, and politics from the eighteenth century to the present. The course focuses on Germany's quest for national unity, emphasizing the relationship between Germany's political development and its cultural life. Course materials include historical readings, political essays, musical compositions, art works, films, and literary texts. Offered in alternate years.
Note(s): Fulfills humanities requirement; fulfills humanistic inquiry.
WLL 251 - Contemporary German Cinema
Credits: 4
A study of German cinema from the turn of the millennium until today as a vehicle to understand recent developments in the German culture. Students will examine how films engage with significant issues in contemporary German culture and society while viewing motion pictures as both daydreams of society and instruments of social change. Topics in this course will include the pleasures and pitfalls of urban life in the Berlin Republic, the complications of modern love and sexuality, the violence of Germany's past (Third Reich, GDR, leftwing terrorism), the desire for utopian solutions to social and economic inequities, and the problems of a multicultural, multiethnic society.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLL 252 - Italian Cinema: From Fiction to Film
Credits: 4
An examination of the literary and sociopolitical trends of Italian culture as portrayed by the media of literature and film. The course will focus on the literary works of Boccaccio, Machiavelli, Moravia, De Filippo, Bassani, and the cinematographic adaptations of those works by such directors as Pasolini, Lattuada, Visconti, and De Sica. The course also specifically examines the role in Italian cinema of such director-authors as Fellini and Wertmuller and the importance of Italian cinematic Neorealism in the films of Rossellini, De Sica, and Visconti.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLL 253 - Italian Civilization in Translation
Credits: 3
Study of the development of Italian civilization with emphasis on the historical, artistic, philosophical, literary, musical, and sociopolitical background. Fall semester: late Medieval period to the Baroque.
Spring semester: seventeenth century to the present.
Note(s): Fulfills humanities requirement.
WLL 255 - Introduction to Film Theory and Criticism
Credits: 4
A survey of major developments in film theory and methods of analyzing film from the invention of cinema to today. Working with the notion that cinema is an art form, a commodity, and a form of communication, we examine how historical, commercial, and aesthetic contexts influence film production and reception. Students read key texts in classical and contemporary film theory and criticism to develop an understanding of a film's narrative, visual structure, and place within established theoretical traditions. Subjects to be considered include formalism, realism, auteur theory, feminism, spectatorship, genre and star analysis, narratology, queer theory, cultural studies, post-colonialism, and critical race theory.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry.
WLL 256 - Twenty-First Century Italian Movies
Credits: 4
An exploration of twenty-first century themes in Italian films. The narrative of Italian film in recent decades follows the development of social, cultural, political, and economic issues. Students view films which explore a series of thematic clusters: social change and urban challenge, work scene and workplace, politics and the media, immigration and integration, cultural revolution and terrorism, and organized crime. Critical materials contextualize the films and provide tools for interpretation and discussion. Students will explore different writing styles: analytical (considering both the visual text of the films and the prose of secondary sources), descriptive (in relation to historical analyses of the periods depicted), and creative (writing or re-writing a movie scene). The final project, a brief iMovie relating to Italy and a theme from the course, puts discussion into practice. In English.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry.
WLL 257 - Modern Chinese Literature in Translation
Credits: 3
A critical survey of twentieth-century Chinese literature up to the present. Readings include short stories, novels, poetry, music, painting, and drama. Special emphasis is placed on Chinese thought and culture compared to the Western tradition.
WLL 259 - Chinese Civilization II: Culture and Literature of Late Imperial China
Credits: 3
A survey of Chinese civilization from the Shang dynasty to the present with emphasis on the historical, artistic, philosophical, literary, musical, sociopolitical background. Tenth century to the present.
Note(s): WLL 258 and WLL 259 need not be taken in sequence. Global Cultural Perspectives requirement.
WLL 263 - Topics in Foreign Literature and Culture
Credits: 1-4
Literary or cultural study of an author, a genre, a period, or a topic. Topics will vary from semester to semester.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanities requirement if 3-4 credits; fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives requirement.
WLL 264 - Maritime Asia: Diasporic Migrations and Cultural Encounters
Credits: 4
An exploration of the mobility of individuals and groups across maritime Asia with a focus on the travels of migrants in different times. Special attention given to the changing dynamics between "center" and "periphery" through interdisciplinary lenses. By looking at texts in geography, literature and trans-national culture in the past and more recently, we will study the multi-lingual, multiethnic encounters and interactions in maritime Asia and beyond. The course fulfills both the "global cultural perspectives" requirement and the requirement in "humanistic inquiry and practice" in the new Gen Ed Curriculum
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspective.
WLL 267 - Modern Japanese Culture and Society
Credits: 3
A survey of modern Japanese culture and society from 1945 to the present. Students will analyze Japan's modernization and internationalization, paying attention to the interplay between traditional cultural values and modern society. Topics include class, work, education, gender, family, minority groups, religion, and politics. Visual media will be incorporated to illustrate contemporary Japanese society and culture.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspective.
WLL 269 - Cultural China: Trends and Themes
Credits: 3
A course surveying twentieth-century Chinese literature, film, and popular culture, introducing some important cultural and intellectual issues of contemporary China. Students will consider the impact of cultural changes in Chinese society, their causes, and their representations in fiction, poetry, popular literature, film, and music. Students will gain a critical understanding of the intricate relationship between self and society, social change and alienation, family and gender relationships, nationalism and orientalism, revolution and memory, media and propaganda, and love and violence in China.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspective.
WLL 271 - Directed Reading in WLL
Credits: 1
Discussion group for close reading and consideration of literary or theoretical texts, translations or research projects of interest to students in any section of the department of World Languages and Literatures. The course enables students from different language areas to study together on topics of common interest in the field. Can be repeated for credit.
WLL 272 - Directed Reading in WLL
Credits: 1
Discussion group for close reading and consideration of literary or theoretical texts, translations or research projects of interest to students in any section of the department of World Languages and Literatures. The course enables students from different language areas to study together on topics of common interest in the field. Can be repeated for credit.
WLL 273 - Dante's Divine Comedy
Credits: 3
An examination of Dante's Divine Comedy from an interdisciplinary perspective, including literature, history, politics, philosophy, and theology. Course topics will include concerns of the medieval world such as allegory, love, justice, secular and spiritual authority, images of women, education, and the relationship between philosophy and religion. Supplementary readings will provide a context for the medieval world, its life and literature, and will also demonstrate how Dante's text reflects the Zeitgeist of the Middle Ages. The course will also take into account Dante's Divine Comedy in relation to the visual arts by viewing several illustrations from Botticelli and Renaissance illustrators to Gustave Dore, and selected modern and contemporary paintings inspired by Dante's poem.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry.
WLL 275 - The Study Abroad Experience
Credits: 1
Preparation for the study abroad experience through development of knowledge and skills to promote translingual and transcultural competence. Students will gain a deeper awareness of the concept of culture and acquire strategies for language and culture learning. Students will examine their own cultural identity and learning style as a point of departure for developing skills to maximize linguistic and cultural competence while abroad. This course is intended for students studying abroad where foreign languages are used.
WLL 300 - Lit and Civ 300 Elec (In Eng)
Credits: 3
WLL 305 - East Asian Cinema: History, Genres, and Waves
Credits: 4
An examination of the history, genres, and trends of East Asian cinemas. Students will examine influential cinematic texts from the silent era to the present, including films produced in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Special attention is given to issues such as historical representation, various waves, local/transnational production and reception, postmodernism, and globalization of East Asian films.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry and Global Cultural Perspective.
WLL 321 - Women In France Since The Revolution
Credits: 3
Analysis of women writers and female stereotypes since the French Revolution as seen primarily through novels and plays of such writers as de Staël, Sand, Flaubert, Stendhal, Colette, Claudel, de Beauvoir, Duras, and Sarraute. Historical, sociological and artistic documents will also be examined for what they reveal of the changing consciousness of women in France. Offered every third year.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry.
WLL 322 - The French Film
Credits: 3
Study of some of the key features of the cinema of France, beginning with an historical overview of the development of the idiom, from the silent films of the Surrealists and René Clair, to the Golden Age of sound in the thirties and concluding with the New Wave and its posterity. The course will also study film as a language and use it as a means for exploring cultural identity. Students will view a selection of films by Clair, Dali/Bunuel, Vigo, Renoir, Carne, Duvivier, Truffaut, Godard, Eustache, Tanner, and Rohmer, among others, and read criticism by directors, critics, and theorists.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry.
WLL 323 - France in the Sixties
Credits: 3
An exploration of the cultural history of France in the 1960s. This was a decade of radical political, social, and cultural change in France, as in the U.S. and elsewhere: it was a time of post-war prosperity and development but also a period of intense struggle and contestation. The emergence of youth culture and consumer culture was shadowed by social conflict at home and decolonial war abroad. Students will consider a variety of cultural representations that draw out these tensions, including novels, essays, films, songs, and print media. Topics will include: American-style consumerism and resistance to it; the changing roles of women; decolonization and the Algerian War; and the student and worker uprising of May 1968. Students will have the opportunity to delve deeper into a historical phenomenon of their choosing through independent research.
Prerequisites: EN 105.
Note(s): Fulfills Humanistic Inquiry requirement.
WLL 324 - Nature in French and Francophone Literatures and Cultures
Credits: 3
An exploration of nature in Francophone literatures and cultures. Students will discuss how literary and visual cultures from and about French-speaking spaces have conceptualized nature in its relationship with human beings. This course will be of particular interest to students interested in/working on questions of environmental sciences.
Prerequisites: EN 105.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives and Humanistic Inquiry requirements
WLL 326 - Suspected Whiteness: The Transatlantic Construction of Race in Spain
Credits: 3
A relatively small country in southern Europe, Spain offers a surprisingly nuanced context in which to study questions of race and ethnicity. This course enters into critical dialogue with films, theater, social media, and other types of performance that represent the construction of race at different history moments in Spain. We will look at texts that shore up hegemonic discourses of Spanish whiteness as well as texts that intervene in this discussion and consider to what degree they do so effectively. By reading Spanish texts in this course asks students to consider how learning about the Spanish context invites them to reflect on their own subject positions. The culminating project for this course will be a public-facing video essay that articulate issues relating race and ethnicity in Spain for a U.S. audience.
Prerequisites: SSP 100.
Note(s): Fulfills Bridge Experience, Global Cultural Perspectives, and Humanistic Inquiry requirements.
WLL 363 - Topics in Foreign Literature and Culture
Credits: 1-4
A detailed interdisciplinary exploration of an author, a genre, a period, or a topic. Topics will vary from semester to semester.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives requirement.
WLL 371 - Independent Study: Language and Literature
Credits: 1-4
Individual study projects under the guidance of department.
WLL 376 - Seminar (In English)
Credits: 1-4
A detailed exploration of a theme reflected in the cultures of Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish-speaking civilizations. Frequent oral reports in English by members of the class. Close attention to development, organization, and writing of an extensive paper. May be repeated for credit)
WLL 399 - Professional Internship in World Languages
Credits: 1-4
Professional experience at an advanced level for juniors and seniors with substantial academic and cocurricular experience in the major field. With faculty sponsorship and departmental approval, students may extend their educational experience into such areas as the communications fields, the media, pedagogy, and translation. Primarily but not exclusively for students participating in Skidmore's Junior Year Abroad programs.
Prerequisites: Advanced standing in the language appropriate to the internship.
Self-Instructional
WLX 101A - Self-Instruction: Beginning Arabic I
Credits: 2
(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken be taken for a letter grade.)
WLX 101H - Self-Instruction: Beginning Hebrew I
Credits: 2
(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken be taken for a letter grade.)
WLX 101I - Self-Instruction Beginning Hindi I
Credits: 2
(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.)
WLX 101K - Self-Instruction: Beginning Korean I
Credits: 2
(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken be taken for a letter grade.)
WLX 101P - Self-Instruction: Beginning Portuguese I
Credits: 2
(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken be taken for a letter grade.)
WLX 101R - Self-Instruction: Beginning Russian I
Credits: 2
(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken be taken for a letter grade.)
WLX 101S - Self-Instructed Beginning American Sign Language I
Credits: 2
Introduction to the fundamentals of American Sign Language (ASL) used by the Deaf Community, including basic vocabulary, syntax, and fingerspelling. The course focuses on communicative competence. In this course, the students will gain awareness and increase their understanding of various aspects of Deaf culture. This course exposes students to a significant subculture in both the U.S. and world communities.
WLX 102A - Self-Instruction: Beginning Arabic II
Credits: 2
Self-Instruction: Beginning Arabic II-
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement.
WLX 102H - Self-Instruction Beginning Hebrew II
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.)
WLX 102I - Self-Instruction: Beginning Hindi II
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.)
WLX 102K - Self-Instruction Beginning Korean II
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.)
WLX 102P - Self-Instruction Beginning Portuguese II
Credits: 2
(F
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.
WLX 102R - Self-Instruction Beginning Russian II
Credits: 2
(
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.
WLX 102S - Self-Instructed Beginning American Sign Language II
Credits: 2
This course is the second in a series of courses designed to develop the skills and knowledge needed to communicate in American Sign Language. ASL 102 is an introductory level course that develops a novice range of communication skills with the ability to expand discourse based on prior knowledge. This course emphasizes the cultural behaviors and practices distinct to those that approach the world from a visual perspective. Topics include: contemporary events and issues that impact the D/deaf community; linguistic minority groups; and language features.
Prerequisites: WLX 101S.
Note(s): Fulfills Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.
WLX 201A - Self-Instruction Intermediate Arabic I
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.)
WLX 201H - Self-Instruction Intermediate Hebrew I
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)
WLX 201I - Self-Inst Int Hindi I
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)
WLX 201K - Self-Instruction Intermediate Korean I
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)
WLX 201P - Self-Instruction Intermediate Portuguese I
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)
WLX 201R - Self-Instruction Intermediate Russian I
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)
WLX 202A - Self-Instruction Intermediate Arabic II
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)
WLX 202H - Self-Instruction Intermediate Hebrew II
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)
WLX 202I - Self-Inst Int Hindi II
Credits: 2
WLX 202K - Self-Instruction Intermediate Korean II
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)
WLX 202P - Self-Instruction Intermediate Portuguese II
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)
WLX 202R - Self-Instruction Intermediate Russian II
Credits: 2
(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)
WLX 220A - Language across the Curriculum: Arabic
Credits: 1
Students apply and develop their Arabic language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss, and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Can be repeated for credit. Must be taken S/U.
WLX 220H - Language across the Curriculum: Hebrew
Credits: 1
Students apply and develop their Hebrew language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss, and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Can be repeated for credit. Must be taken S/U.
WLX 220I - Language across the Curriculum: Hindi
Credits: 1
Students apply and develop their Hindi language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss, and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Can be repeated for credit. Must be taken S/U.
WLX 220K - Language across the Curriculum: Korean
Credits: 1
Students apply and develop their Korean language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss, and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Can be repeated for credit. Must be taken S/U.
WLX 220P - Language across the Curriculum: Portuguese
Credits: 1
Students apply and develop their Portuguese language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss, and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Can be repeated for credit. Must be taken S/U.
WLX 220R - Language across the Curriculum: Russian
Credits: 1
Students apply and develop their Russian language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college. Students will read, report, discuss, and write about sophisticated materials in the disciplines, and learn how to translate them to and from English.
Note(s): Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Can be repeated for credit. Must be taken S/U.
Students should refer to the guidelines below for placement into language courses according to the Web-based placement exam and the SAT II language exams. Students with a minimum of one year of prior language study are excluded from taking a 101 course. Students with a score of 3 or higher on an AP test should enroll in courses above the 203 level, usually a composition or conversation course. Students with scores on an AP test of 4 or 5 may receive general elective credit toward graduation.
Students can take the Web-based placement exam at any time. Entering students will receive information on accessing the exam in a summer mailing and can also contact the department for information. For placement into languages other than French, German, Italian, and Spanish, contact the appropriate faculty in the Departments of World Languages and Literatures or Classics.
WebCAPE Placement Exams for German and Italian
| Test | Placement |
|---|---|
| 0-339 | German 102 or 103, Italian 102 |
| 340-390 | German, and Italian |
| 391 and above | German, and Italian courses above the 203 level |
WebCAPE Placement Exams for FRENCH
| Test | Placement |
|---|---|
| No experience in French | Students who want to enroll in WLF 101 must contact the instructor |
| 1-250 | WLF 102 |
| 251-375 | WLF 203 |
| 376-460 | WLF 206 |
| 461-570 | WLF 208 |
| More than 571 | Contact Prof. Talley |
WebCAPE Placement Exams for Spanish
| Test | Placement |
|---|---|
| No experience in Spanish | Students who want to enroll in WLS 101 must contact the instructor |
| 0-339 | WLS 102 |
| 340-390 | WLS 203 |
| 391-460 | WLS 206 |
| 461-570 | WLS 208 |
| More than 570 | Contact Prof. Lander or Prof. Rangil |