World Languages and Literatures

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.

Continuation of WLC 101. Further development of basic grammar, reading, speaking, and writing skills with a focus on vocabulary building and paragraph construction.

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. 

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.

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.

Intensive practice in daily use of Chinese in a cultural context. Review of grammar, idioms, vocabulary, and writing skills.

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.

A course designed for students who want to use their foreign language skills in any course taught in English at the college.

A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.

A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.

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.

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.

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.

Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A course designed for students who want to use their French language skills in conjunction with any course taught in English at the college.

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.

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.

A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.

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.

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.

Study of fundamentals and development of the French poetic form through close textual analysis of representative poets and major movements.

Exploration of major themes and techniques of narrative fiction as it has developed in French-speaking cultures.

Study of dramatic techniques and themes through careful examination of representative texts and attention to the role of the theater in French culture.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic.

Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic, with advanced language skills workshop.

Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.

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.

An extended research project culminating in a paper based on readings and extensive individual conferences.

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.

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.

Continuation of WLG 101. Further development of basic grammar, reading, conversation, and writing skills while focusing on cultural materials from German-speaking countries.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Intensive practice in daily use of German in a cultural context. Review of idioms, vocabulary, and writing skills.

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.

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. 

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.

A course designed for students who want to use their foreign language skills in any course taught in English at the college.

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.

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.

A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.

A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.

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.

Intensive practice of oral and written German to increase active vocabulary and fluency in German and to develop further and refine writing skills.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic.

Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.

An extended research project culminating in a paper based on readings and extensive individual conferences.

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.

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.

Continuation of WLI 101. Further development of basic grammar, reading, conversation, and writing skills while focusing on cultural materials.

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.

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.

Intensive practice in daily use of Italian in a cultural context. Review of idioms, vocabulary, and writing skills.

A course designed for students who want to use their foreign language skills in any course taught in English at the college.

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.

A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.

Intensive practice of oral and written Italian to increase active vocabulary and fluency in spoken Italian and to develop and refine writing skills.

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.

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.

Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic.

Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.

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.

Continuation of WLJ 101.  Further development of basic grammar, reading, speaking, and writing skills with mastery of approximately 90 Kanji characters in addition to about 60 characters learned in WLJ 101.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A course designed for students who want to use their foreign language skills in any course taught in English at the college.

A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.

A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.

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.

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.

Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic.

Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.

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.

Continuation of WLS 101. Further development of basic grammar, reading, conversation, and writing skills while focusing on cultural materials from Spain and Spanish America.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A course designed for students who want to use their foreign languages skills in any course taught in English at the college.

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.

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.

A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.

A discussion group about an author, a period, a genre, a topic, a translation, or a research project in conjunction with another course.

Intensive practice of oral and written Spanish to increase active vocabulary and fluency in spoken Spanish and to develop further and refine writing skills.

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.

A study of the drama, novel, and poetry of the Generation of '98, as well as selected novels and dramas since the Civil War.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic.

Advanced literary or cultural study in an author, a genre, a period, or a topic. This course includes a Writing Workshop.

Individual study projects under the guidance of the department.

An extended research project culminating in a paper based on readings and extensive individual conferences.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Literary or cultural study of an author, a genre, a period, or a topic. Topics will vary from semester to semester.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A detailed interdisciplinary exploration of an author, a genre, a period, or a topic. Topics will vary from semester to semester. 

Individual study projects under the guidance of department.

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)

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.

(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken be taken for a letter grade.)

(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken be taken for a letter grade.)

(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.)

(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken be taken for a letter grade.)

(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken be taken for a letter grade.)

(Does not fulfill the Foreign Language or Language Study requirement. Must be taken be taken for a letter grade.)

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.

Self-Instruction: Beginning Arabic II-

(Fulfills Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.)

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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.

(Fulfills Language Study requirement. Must be taken for a letter grade.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)

(Fulfills Language Study requirement.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.