Language and Culture Program

Introduction to the basic structure and function of the modern Chinese language, covering the basic sound system, grammatical constructions, writing system, and basic vocabulary and expressions. Important cultural aspects of the language are discussed as well.

Continuing development of the fundamental aspects of the modern Chinese language as in CHI 101, with additional vocabulary/expressions and analysis of grammatical constructions.

Aims at further developing students’ Chinese language proficiency in the six aspects of listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and cultural understanding.

Continuation of CHI 201 while further enhancing students’ proficiency level in listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and cultural understanding. Necessary linguistic, cultural, and sociolinguistic orientation for Study Abroad studies is included.

This course is primarily geared for students who have completed CHI 202 and are preparing to study abroad in the following semester. Emphasis is on strengthening speaking skills, while promoting integration of those skills with listening, reading, and writing for a more effective study abroad outcome.

This course is geared towards students returning from a study abroad program in a Chinese-speaking area. Emphasis is on listening and speaking while all four language skills will be further improved through discussing serious as well as fun topics in a more sophisticated manner. This course will help students use these skills in real-life situations such as jobs, international volunteer opportunities, and graduate programs immediately after their graduation from SUA.

This course is designed for students who have a strong foundation in Chinese and seek to enhance their proficiency in both reading and writing. Advanced vocabulary, grammar structures, and formal writings will be emphasized and practiced. Students will engage with authentic Chinese texts, including literary works, essays, and contemporary media, while improving their skill to write coherently and convincingly in Chinese.

This course introduces classical Chinese poem and text to students. In writing Chinese, writers often quote classical Chinese poems and texts, which are more difficult than vernacular Chinese. This course helps students expand their knowledge and skills in reading and writing Chinese to a deeper and more culturally oriented level. Students can apply what they have acquired from this course to the more sophisticated writing in all fields such as literature, history, political sciences, economics and sociology, etc.

This course is designed to provide students with anin-depth understanding of the history of Chinese culture while improving their language skills.Designed for students with a high level of language proficiency, the course delves into key historical periods and cultural developments that have shaped Chinese society. Topics include classical literature, philosophy, art, religion, and social customs. Students will read and analyze original texts and literary works in Chinese while developing advanced reading, writing, and discussion skills.

This advanced course offers an immersive experience in Chinese language learning through the exploration of literature and film. Focusing on 20th and 21st-century works, students will engage with a variety of literary texts, including short stories, novels, poetry, and Chinese films that provide cultural, social, and historical insights. By analyzing these works, students will deepen their understanding of complex linguistic structures, idiomatic expressions, and cultural context. The course emphasizes critical reading, discussion, and interpretation to enhance language proficiency while cultivating a broader appreciation of Chinese storytelling traditions and contemporary cinematic art. This course is ideal for students looking to integrate language learning with cultural and literary studies, enriching theircommand ofthe Chineselanguage through deep engagement with its literature and film.

Introduction to literary or classical Chinese, focusing on reading comprehension, scholarly translation, and the carryover to the blending of classical and modern prose styles.

This course focuses on the exploration of contemporary issues in China through advanced Chinese language study. Tailored for students with advanced proficiency in Mandarin, the course examines current sociopolitical, economic, and cultural trends that are shaping modern China. Topics include urbanization, gender, environmental challenges, and economic development. Students will engage with a variety of authentic materials, including news articles, podcasts, and interviews. The course emphasizes critical thinking and advanced language skills, encouraging students toarticulate their perspectives on complex issues in both oral and written forms.

Introduction to the basic structure and function of modern French, covering the sound system, grammatical structures, basic vocabulary/expressions, and writing. Important cultural aspects of the language are also discussed.

Continuing development of the fundamental aspects of modern French as in FRN 101, with more emphasis on vocabulary/ expressions and grammatical structures.

Aims at further developing students’ French language proficiency in the six aspects of listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and cultural understanding.

Continuation of FRN 201, while further enhancing students’ proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and cultural understanding. Relevant linguistic, sociolinguistic, and cultural information to prepare students for Study Abroad programs is included.

This course is designed for students who are preparing to study abroad. It will enhance students’ oral fluency and comprehension in French while at the same time increase their own intercultural awareness. The target language of their study abroad, French, is used as a vehicle to promote and challenge students’ awareness of key concepts related to sociolinguistic and interculturality (e.g., essentialism, stereotyping, otherising). Each student will be invited to reflect on different types of intercultural encounters and how these encounters shaped or will shape them: real ones (from students’ own experiences meeting new people), mediated (through videos, narratives, readings), and improvised (through roles plays and improvisations).

This course is a one-semester advanced language course primarily designed to further develop listening and speaking skills and to increase writing ability, with particular attention to advanced syntax and to vocabulary expansion. Class will be conducted entirely in French.

Designed to bring students to an advanced level of proficiency in grammar and composition, the course puts the emphasis on experiencing and producing the language in context through a multi-media approach. An intensive review of grammar is integrated into the writing practice. A good knowledge of basic French grammar is a prerequisite (French 202 or equivalent is recommended). Conducted entirely in French, the course will study selected grammatical difficulties of the French verbal and nominal systems including colloquial usage. It will also guide the students through the different rhetorical modes of writing in French. Class will be conducted entirely in French.

Designed to examine the historical and cultural development of post-colonial francophone regions. The course surveys major historical events from the beginning of French colonization to the present day. Class will be conducted in French.

This is an advanced writing course designed to teach students how to write creatively in French. Students explore different kinds of narrative genres, styles, and rhetoric figures by reading excerpts of famous French authors. Students develop essential tools: critical reading and literary analysis; writing, revising and editing original material; greater appreciation of the interconnectedness between literary thematic content and aesthetics; and a practical understanding of the creative process. Using the tools acquired, students practice various forms of writing, culminating in their final project: writing a short story through collaborative or individual writing.

This course is intended for students interested in the translation process, how that process can both alter and preserve literary works, and how to most effectively and accurately transfer meaning and tone from one language to another. It is designed to introduce students to the basic principles and techniques of translation from English into French and French into English. Presentations and discussions on the theoretical and technical aspects of translation will be complemented by the systematic practice of translation of selected texts in both languages. This course helps students develop and refine mastery of the French language through a detailed study of its specific grammatical, lexical and stylistic aspects.

This course examines the interactions between written texts and their theatrical and/or filmic adaptations. Students expand their experience of literature and cinema, and reinforce their rhetorical skills while learning specific vocabularies pertaining to the literary, theatrical and filmic domains. Students critically and creatively reflect on the respective aesthetic qualities of these media. “Adaptation: Page, Stage and Screen” fulfills an essential interdisciplinary goal. Students: learn fundamental concepts of the written and filmic texts; understand how one discipline can supplement, impact and support another to create new meaning; recognize the complexities and ambiguities occurring when several academic disciplines encounter: what changes in the process of adapting a written play into its scenic version and then into a fiction film.

This course investigates key moments of the 20th and 21st centuries as they are visually and thematically represented in film. The aim of FRN 412 is to foster a greater appreciation for French and Francophone cinemas and a better understanding of the socio-intellectual context within which they developed. Though film analysis includes an examination of critical and theoretical approaches, prior film knowledge is not required. This is a course for students who are interested in the history and culture of the French-Speaking World, and furthering their study of the French language.

This course is a survey of literature from the Middle-Age to the 21st century introducing readings in representative authors, themes and periods from France and from other Francophone countries. Literature will provide a means of entry to the cultural and historical context of the different periods studied. Class will be conducted in French.

Introduction to the basic structure and function of the modern Japanese language, covering the basic sound system, grammatical constructions, writing system, and basic vocabulary/expressions. Important cultural aspects of the language are discussed as well.

Continuing development of the fundamental aspects of the modern Japanese language as in JPN 101 with more Kanji characters and grammatical constructions.

Aims at further developing students’ Japanese language proficiency in the six aspects of listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and cultural understanding.

Continuation of JPN 201 while further enhancing students’ proficiency level in listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and cultural understanding. Necessary linguistic, cultural, and mental preparations for Study Abroad studies are included.

This course is geared primarily for students who have completed JPN 202 and are preparing to study abroad in the following semester. Focuses on developing listening and speaking skills for conversations in various situations where the appropriate use of grammatical constructions and knowledge of language functions/sociolinguistics are required.

Aims at further developing listening and speaking skills while learning more advanced language functions and sociolinguistics.

Intends to develop reading and writing skills while strengthening the mastery of vocabulary, expressions, Kanji characters, and grammar. Main reading materials are short essay and expository readings. Writing activities include message, letter, and journal writing.

Aims at achieving more advanced-level reading and writing skills. Main reading materials are extended discourse of expository, journalistic, and literary readings. Writing focuses on expository and essay writing.

Introductory survey of Japanese culture in the ancient, medieval, and (pre-war) modern periods. Significant aspects of each period are discussed while shedding light on its culture (everyday life of the Japanese) and Culture (including thoughts, values, religions, aesthetics, political and economic circumstances). The main medium of instruction is Japanese.

Exploration of socio-cultural aspects of contemporary Japan through analysis and translation of literature and film. Thematic messages represented in the works are discussed in the scope of their social and cultural significance. The main medium of instruction is Japanese.

Introduction to practical aspects of Japanese linguistics, including comparisons to other languages. The main medium of instruction is Japanese.

Survey of modern Japanese culture and in-depth analysis of crucial issues in contemporary Japanese society and popular culture. The main medium of instruction is Japanese.

Introduction to the basic structure and function of modern Spanish, covering the basic sound system, grammatical structures, basic vocabulary/expressions, and writing. Important cultural aspects of the language are also discussed.

Continuing development of the fundamental aspects of modern Spanish as in SPA 101 with more emphasis on vocabulary/ expressions and grammatical structures.

Aims at further developing students’ Spanish language proficiency in the six aspects of listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and cultural understanding.

Continuation of SPA 201 while further enhancing students’ proficiency level in listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and cultural understanding. Relevant linguistic, sociolinguistic, and cultural information to prepare students for Study Abroad studies is included.

This course is designed to enhance students’ oral fluency and comprehension in Spanish while at the same time increasing their own intercultural awareness. In addition, it is specifically tailored to prepare students for their study abroad (SA) semester. As such, the main objective of the class is to use Spanish as a vehicle to promote their awareness of key concept related to interculturality (e.g., essentialism, stereotyping, otherising). In each class students will be invited to reflect on different types intercultural encounters and how these encounters shaped/will shape their upcoming SA experience: these encounters will be real ones (from students’ own experiences meeting new people) mediated (through videos, narratives, readings) and improvised (through roles plays and improvisations).

Designed to develop a high level of proficiency in spoken Spanish. Aims at further developing listening and speaking skills while learning more advanced language functions and lexicon. Discussions are based on current issues affecting our world. A wide variety of media resources will be used, such as newspapers, television, radio, and video.

Designed to develop reading and writing skills while strengthening the mastery of vocabulary, language usage, and grammar. Main reading materials consist of short essays, literary and expository writings. Writing activities include letter, journal, and expository writing.

A systematic study of the more complex structures and forms of Spanish grammar with emphasis on mood, tense, and voice. Grammatical analysis, vocabulary building, discussion, and written practice are integrated to provide a solid foundation for students wishing to do more advanced work in Spanish.

Designed to acquaint students with general trends of Spanish civilization and culture. Includes historical, economic, political, ideological, and artistic developments of Spain from prehistoric times to the present. Significant aspects of each period are discussed while shedding light on Spain’s everyday life culture and its values, aesthetics, political and economic circumstances.

Designed to examine the historical and cultural development of Latin American countries. Includes historical, economic, political, ideological, and artistic developments of Latin America from prehistoric times to the present. Significant aspects of each period are discussed while shedding light on Latin America’s everyday life culture and its values, aesthetics, political and economic circumstances.

This course casts a panoramic view on the literature production of Spain and Latin America, focusing on their historical, cultural and socio-political relationship. The course’s goal is to equip students with the practical abilities to analyze a literary text in Spanish as well as with a basic knowledge of the major historical trends and literary movements. Reading, literary analysis, and discussion of the canonical and most relevant works will be organized by genres (prose, poetry, theatre).

This sociolinguistic course expands understanding of the historical development of Spanish and awareness of the great sociocultural diversity within the Spanish-speaking world and its impact on the Spanish language. It surveys Spanish as a language which has undergone a series of transformations since its birth in the Iberian Peninsula, and as the offspring of Latin, in order to explain the diversity and regional variety that exists across the Spanish-speaking world today. In addition, this course revises traditional narratives and explores the notion of ‘Spanish’ as a collection of speaker-based language systems that have been shaped historically by many different forms of multilingual and multidialectal language settings.

Designed to explore differences/similarities between literary works and films from Latin American and Spain. It will explore and contrast the treatment of societal and cultural topics on both sides of the Atlantic.

Survey of contemporary issues portrayed in Latin American and/ or U.S. Latino literary production and popular culture. This course will include regional topics and/or written and audio-visual materials about popular culture and mass media.