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Modern Languages and Literatures > Course Descriptions

Arabic Chinese Foreign Civilizations French German Italian Japanese Linguistics Literature Spanish

ARBC 110 Beginning Arabic I
Students will learn to read, write and understand Modern Standard Literary Arabic, and to use the language in basic conversation, including exchanging courtesies, meeting people, asking questions and providing information.

ARBC 112 Beginning Arabic II
Students will continue to learn to read, write and speak basic Modern Standard Literary Arabic in a variety of cultural situations. Prerequisite: Arabic 110.

ARBC 210 Intermediate Arabic
Students will advance their knowledge of reading, writing and speaking basic Modern Literary Arabic as well as their understanding of the use of language in cultural context. Prerequisite: Arabic 112.

ARBC 212 Advanced Intermediate Arabic
Students will continue to advance their knowledge of reading, writing and speaking basic Modern Literary Arabic as well as their understanding of the use of language in cultural context. Prerequisite: Arabic 210.

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CHIN 110 Beginning Chinese I
This course is an introduction to the forms of spoken Chinese. Most of the fundamental structures are covered in Chinese 110 and 112, together with writing practice. 112 is a continuation of 110. Lab work is an integral part of the sequence.

CHIN 112 Beginning Chinese II
This course is an introduction to the forms of spoken Chinese. Most of the fundamental structures are covered in Chinese 110 and 112, together with writing practice. 112 is a continuation of 110. Lab work is an integral part of the sequence.

CHIN 210 Intermediate Chinese
This course will continue the fundamentals of Chinese conversation begun in the first-year series, Chinese 110 and 112, and continue work on reading and writing the language. Extensive oral practice and conversation exercises are stressed.  Classes will be supplemented with laboratory exercises and daily written work. There are regular quizzes, a midterm, and a final exam, all with a written and an oral component.

CHIN 212 Advanced Intermediate Chinese
This is the second course in intermediate Chinese. It focuses on further developments of the four language skills to support sustained oral and written performance at the intermediate level to prepare students for third year Chinese study.  The focus will be on oral expression with expanding vocabulary, enhancing understanding of grammar, and introducing more complex structures and texts.  Approximately 300 new characters and 100 grammar points will be covered in the course.

CHIN 250 Chinese Literature in Translation: Love in Chinese Fiction and Drama
An exploration of major themes and ideals in the Chinese humanistic tradition through an intensive focus on Chinese concepts of love.  The approach will be literary, cultural and historical.  After beginning our course with a discussion of the idea of qing, or emotion, in the Chinese canonical Book of Poetry, Chinese ideas of emotion, love and ritual propriety in later Chinese literature will be explored. Major poetic, historical, dramatic and fictional texts of the tradition, including Sima Qian’s Records of the Historian, Tang Xianzu’s Peony Pavilion, Pu Songling’s Strange Tales from Make-do Studio and Cao Xueqin’s Story of the Stone will be considered.  (Cross-listed as Asian Studies 250 and Theater 280. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

CHIN 252 Chinese Literature and Civilization:  Golden Age of Chinese Drama
A course designed to provide students with both a broad background in the Chinese theater and a strong familiarity with the conventions of the Chinese drama as an art form.  Topics to be covered include: the rise of the actor; the development of Chinese stages; the history of the Chinese theater; ritual and theater; traditions of play and jest and theater; storytelling and theater; typologies of drama; the reception of Chinese drama in the West by dramatists such as Voltaire and Bertolt Brecht.  Major works of the period, such as Guan Hanqing’s “Snow in Midsummer,” Ji Junxiang’s “Orphan of China,” Wang Shifu’s "Story of the Western Wing" and Li Qianfu’s “Chalk Circle” will be studied. (Cross-listed as Asia Studies 252 and Theater 282. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

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FRCV 333 Exploring French Culture through Film
This course examines contemporary French cultural perceptions through a variety of cinematic examples taken from French films. Cultural analysis will include discussions of French history, literature, politics, geography, and music. In addition, the topic of “remaking culture” through film is addressed, as the current wave of cinematic remakes invites cross-cultural comparisons between the United States and France. The course will examine major French directors and their cinematic portrayals of the French, as well as documentaries and filmed interviews, and will analyze the “authenticity” of the portrait they produce of French society. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. (Cross-listed as French 333. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FRCV 334 Exploring French Literature through Film
This course will examine French literary works, both historical and contemporary, through a variety of cinematic examples taken from French films. This course will compare the expression of theme, character, and plot structure in written literature (plays and narratives) and in corresponding cinematic adaptations. The course will also address whether the author’s literary style is reflected in or displaced by the cinematic style of French “auteurs” (film directors) studied. The question of translation across genres (literature to film), across language and culture (example of American remakes), and across history (a historical period depicted in a modern cinematic era) will also be discussed. This course is taught in English. (Cross-listed as French 334. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement. )

FRCV 410 Chile in the Twentieth Century
(Santiago, Chile) This course, offered in Spanish at the Universidad Diego Portales for participants in the Lake Forest College program, will explore the principal themes of Chilean development during the twentieth century in three settings: (1) Chile from the end of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century; (2) Chile from 1950 to 1973; (3) current problems and perspectives. Topics to be covered include history, literature, economics, the move from rural to urban society, crisis in Chilean democracy and the military government (1973–88), consolidation of democracy in Chile from a Southern Cone perspective, and the role of women in Chilean society and politics. (Cross-listed as Spanish 410. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

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FREN 110 Beginning French I
French 110 is designed to develop the student’s ability to aurally comprehend, speak, read, and write basic controlled patterns of the French language. French 112 is a continuation of 110 and culminates in readings, class discussions, and free composition to provide facility with the spoken and written language and insight into its structure. Prerequisite for French 112: placement recommendation or a grade of C or better in French 110.

FREN 112 Beginning French II
French 110 is designed to develop the student’s ability to aurally comprehend, speak, read, and write basic controlled patterns of the French language. French 112 is a continuation of 110 and culminates in readings, class discussions, and free composition to provide facility with the spoken and written language and insight into its structure. Prerequisite for French 112: placement recommendation or a grade of C or better in French 110.

FREN 210 Intermediate French: Cultural Emphasis
A course designed to afford the student a systematic review of all the basic elements of French grammar, implemented with culture-based readings and exercises, with a view to preparing the student for more sophisticated courses in language, literature, and culture. Classroom work supplemented by laboratory exercises. Prerequisite: French 112 or the equivalent of one year of college French and placement recommendation.

FREN 212 Advanced Intermediate French: Literary Emphasis
A course designed to initiate the student to critical reading and thematic discussion of selected works of French fiction and expository prose. This course includes a strong emphasis on writing; a review of grammar topics, vocabulary building, and the organization and presentation of ideas in written form in French will be emphasized through a variety of writing assignments related to the literature studied. Prerequisite: French 210 or placement recommendation.

FREN 220 Conversation and Composition
Oral work for the student already possessing a working knowledge of French grammar. This course is designed to improve the linguistic competence of the student on several levels: practical necessities, social situations, and exchange of ideas. Sketches, exposés, dialogues, and discussions will constitute the bulk of classroom activities.

FREN 265 French Literature in Translation: Camus: Philosopher of the Absurd
A study of Camus’s philosophy of the absurd as presented in his writings from the individualistic revolt of The Stranger to the collective revolt expressed in The Plague. Camus’s view of the conscience of modern humanity in The Fall also will be addressed. The evolution of Camus’s style will be studied in the six short stories presented in Exile and the Kingdom. (Cross-listed as Literature in Translation 265. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 300 Introduction to Reading Literature in French
This course is designed to prepare students for serious reading and analysis of literary texts in French. It is an introduction to the concepts of literary criticism and explication de texte and will familiarize the student with the vocabulary of literary analysis. The texts are chosen from the three major literary genres: poetry, prose, and drama. All lectures, discussions, and assignments are in French. Prerequisite: French 212. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 301 Medieval to Romantic
A topical survey of major French writers and literary movements from the medieval to the Romantic period. Readings may be chosen to focus attention on a particular theme or problem linking different periods and styles. Among the authors studied: Villon, Rabelais, Montaigne, Pascal, Descartes, Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau. Prerequisite: French 212. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 302 Modern Period
A study of the literary movements and figures that have characterized the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, an age of individualism, industrialism, and the Great Wars, with a special emphasis on particular themes or problems. Prerequisite: French 212. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 305 Introduction to French Culture
Study of the language through an introduction to French culture. The course aims at familiarizing students with the history, current trends, and mentality of the French while enriching their understanding of the language. Prerequisite: French 212. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 308  Contemporary France
Prerequisite:  FREN212 or equivalent. (Cross-listed as Islamic World Studies 308. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 310 Topics in Linguistics: Phonetics
This course will cover such topics as phonetics, morphology, syntax, lexicology, and semantics. It introduces these systems in their application to the French language. Prerequisite: French 212 or 220. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 311 Grammar, Syntax, and Style
Preparation for graded writing exercises and free composition through study of sentence structure. Complete review of grammar. Translation and study of excerpts of different writing styles from accomplished French encourages development of appropriateness in choice of words and sense of style. Prerequisite: French 212. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 312 Oral Proficiency
Oral and written work for students who have already reached an intermediate level of competency in oral and written expression. This course will deal with familiar and formal French. Vocabulary and idioms are taught in a conversational context. Students familiarize themselves with the expressive gestures used by the French and the colloquial expressions that accompany them. Prerequisite: French 212. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 315 Technical and Literary Translation
An introduction to the theories and practice of translation from French to English and English to French. Students familiarize themselves with vocabulary used in newspaper and magazine articles on current topics of interest (politics, the economy, etc.), in advertising, in cartoons, and in selected poetry and prose. The arts of interpreting and dubbing or subtitling will also be explored. Prerequisite: French 311 or permission of the instructor. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 317 Creative Writing and Translation
This course aims to develop the student’s written fluency in French, through the synergy of using two complementary approaches to writing, ie. exercises in translation (primarily French-English) and creative writing exercises in French. The course literature, written by various francophone authors, will include narratives, poems, letters, dramatic scenes, and news articles. Translation of these varied literary genres will hone the student’s use of grammar and syntax, as well as understanding of stylistic and literary devices in cultural context. Creative exercises will be linked to literary and stylistic elements of texts studied, and framed in one or more cultural contexts. Original writing will also be inspired by the use of visual media (e.g. film, images), for a variety of short writing assignments to include poetry, prose and dramatic dialogue. The students’ oral expression in French will be enhanced by analytic discussion of the readings and visuals, short interpretation exercises (the oral equivalent of translation), presentation and discussion of original creative material. An original text will be chosen for submission to Collage literary magazine.  (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 320 French for International Affairs
This course offers a basic grasp of business and commercial French vocabulary and concepts, while providing an understanding of cultural differences and similarities in the business arena. In addition to practical exercises in business creation, job interviewing and advertising in French, students gain a basic grasp of political and economic issues in contemporary France, giving students the background to discuss French news and current events intelligently. Particularly recommended for students thinking of careers in business, economics, politics or international relations. Prerequisite: FREN212 (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity requirement.)

FREN 330 The French-Speaking World
This course will familiarize students with the history, politics and contemporary culture of various areas of the French-speaking world (such as in Canada, Africa, the Middle East and Western Europe). Topics will vary, and may include discussion of immigration, women’s issues, political conflict, changing social and national identity. The course will draw from film, literature, critical materials and contemporary news sources.  Prerequisite: French 212 or 220. (Cross-listed as Islamic World Studies 330. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity requirement.)

FREN 333 Exploring French Culture  through Film
This course examines contemporary French cultural perceptions through a variety of cinematic examples taken from French films. Cultural analysis will include discussions of French history, literature, politics, geography, and music. In addition, the topic of “remaking culture” through film is addressed, as the current wave of cinematic remakes invites cross-cultural comparisons between the United States and France. The course will examine major French directors and their cinematic portrayals of the French, as well as documentaries and filmed interviews, and will analyze the “authenticity” of the portrait they produce of French society. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. (Cross-listed as Foreign Civilization 333. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 334 Exploring French Literature through Film
This course will examine French literary works, both historical and contemporary, through a variety of cinematic examples taken from French films. This course will compare the expression of theme, character, and plot structure in written literature (plays and narratives) and in corresponding cinematic adaptations. The course will also address whether the author’s literary style is reflected in or displaced by the cinematic style of French “auteurs” (film directors) studied. The question of translation across genres (literature to film), across language and culture (example of American remakes), and across history (a historical period depicted in a modern cinematic era) will also be discussed. This course is taught in English. (Cross-listed as Foreign Civilization 334. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement. )

FREN 340 Advanced French for International Affairs
(Paris, France) An intensive conversation,  composition, and vocabulary-building course. Offered in Paris for students participating in our international internship program. After the first four weeks, the course will concentrate on problems of communication students encounter on the job. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 350 French Theater
A close reading and discussion of several plays designed to give a clear sense of the development and richness of French theater. Emphasis is placed on literary history, aesthetics, and special questions in dramatic theory. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: French 212. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 370 French Poetry
An analysis of works representative of crucial moments in the history of French poetry. The essentials of French versification are stressed, as well as the distinctive character of the various forms within the genre. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: One 300-level course in French. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement. May be taken by French majors to meet GEC Senior Studies Requirement).

FREN 390 Internship
On-site training in spoken and written French at businesses or other organizations in Paris, France, or in Chicago. Students have been assigned to such organizations as the French government tourist office, The Alliance Française, and the Services Culturels Français in Chicago. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FRCV 400 Seminar on French Society and Culture
(Paris, France) This course will combine classroom study with visits to cultural, political, educational, and economic institutions. It is organized along thematic lines to deal with such topics as the French political tradition, education in modern France, the French economy in the European Economic Community, religion in France, and the Parisian metropolis. (Offered only in Paris. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 410 Creative Composition  and Stylistics
Analysis of style in selected French writers. Stylistic analysis of translations. Intensive work in creative original composition of prose, poetry, and drama. Prerequisite: French 311, 315, or consent of the instructor. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 415 Dialects and Dialectology- Provençal, Québécois, Créole  (Offered Less Frequently)
An introduction to the study of dialects and dialectology. Starting with a knowledge of standard French, students will learn how to read dialectal texts and study phonological, lexical, and syntactic variations. Prerequisite: Linguistics 101. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 430 French Authors  (Offered Less Frequently)
The work of selected French writers, studied  in depth. Prerequisite: One 300-level course in French. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 460 French Narrative
Reading and discussion with a view to increasing appreciation of several related novels, works of shorter fiction, or essays. The works are selected for their value as turning points in the understanding of the art of prose fiction and as examples of a particular stage in the development of that art. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: One 300-level course in French. (May be taken by French majors to meet GEC Senior Studies Requirement.)

FREN 490 Internship
On-site training in spoken and written French at businesses or other organizations in Paris, France, or in Chicago. Students have been assigned to such organizations as the French government tourist office, The Alliance Française, and the Services Culturels Français in Chicago. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

FREN 494 Senior Thesis
The thesis allows students to do in-depth research and to develop an original thesis on a topic in French literature, literatures of the French-speaking world, French civilization, or linguistics. (Offered as required.)

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GERM 110 Beginning German I
Intensive training in the aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing of German, combined with an introduction to the culture  of the German-speaking countries. The two-semester sequence provides a basic active command of the patterns and essential vocabulary for conversation and writing, while developing the student’s ability to read text passages with accurate comprehension. Prerequisite for German 112: placement recommendation or  a grade of C or better in German 110.

GERM 112 Beginning German II
Intensive training in the aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing of German, combined with an introduction to the culture  of the German-speaking countries. The two-semester sequence provides a basic active command of the patterns and essential vocabulary for conversation and writing, while developing the student’s ability to read text passages with accurate comprehension. Prerequisite for German 112: placement recommendation or  a grade of C or better in German 110.

GERM 210 Intermediate German
Practice in reading contemporary fiction and expository prose to develop reading ease and accurate comprehension beyond the elementary level. Classroom discussions and guided compositions, review of grammar topics, lab exercises. Prerequisite: German 112 or the equivalent  of one year of college German and placement  recommendation.

GERM 212 Advanced Intermediate German
Additional practice in reading contemporary fiction and expository prose. Classroom discussions, further review of grammar topics as needed. Prerequisite: German 210 or the equivalent.

GERM 311 Advanced Grammar and Translation
Study of grammatical structures as preparation for writing in a sophisticated style. Methods and techniques of translation and practice in translating from English into German and from German into English. Prerequisite: German 212 or 220 or consent of the instructor. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

GERM 312 Oral Proficiency
Intensive practice in directed and free conversation on various subjects that reflect the interests of the participants. Concentrated study of idioms, everyday spoken German, and selected grammatical patterns and paradigms needed for oral proficiency. Discussions, debates, dialogues, and sketches constitute essential parts of the course; equally diverse supporting materials will be drawn from newspapers, magazines, and films. Prerequisite: German 220 or equivalent or consent of the instructor. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

GERM 315 Technical Translation
An introduction to the theories of translation. Students familiarize themselves with the vocabulary of technical texts dealing with business, law, politics, art, literary criticism, mathematics, and philosophy. Prerequisite: German 212 or equivalent. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

GERM 320 German for International Affairs
An introduction to the specialized vocabulary and styles that are peculiar to the conversational and written German of international affairs. Vocabulary building, practice in conversation, and acquisition of expressions and idioms  necessary to handle oneself competently in everyday transcultural contacts. Particularly recommended to students whose career goals are economics, business, politics, and international relations. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

GERM 333 Modern German Film
A study of German film from its inception to the close of the 20th century, from the perspectives of political and cultural history as well as specifically cinematic aesthetics. The course will deal with films (subtitled in English) by such noted filmmakers as Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Werner Herzog, and Wim Wenders. Readings, lectures, and discussions in English. No previous film course is required. Those majoring in German may take the course for credit in German by writing papers in German. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

GERM 390  Monuments of German Culture
The course undertakes an examination of the enduring and influential touchstones of German culture from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Materials will be taken from the fields of literature, history, art, philosophy, music and film. Texts will include the Nibelungenlied (epic poetry and film); religious works of Luther and Dürer; poetry, Faust and The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe; the music of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Mahler; Romanticisms in poetry, short stories and the operas of Weber and Wagner, and 19th century philosophers such as Hegel, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche; novellas and the novel Buddenbrooks by Mann; stories by Kafka, Mother Courage and The Life of Galileo Galilei by Brecht, and Hesse’s novels Narziss and Goldmund and Steppenwolf; and Expressionist painting, film and architecture.

GERM 395 Advanced Topics
The course will provide students with an opportunity to work on their written and spoken German skills, with a review of German grammar as applied to discussion of current events, literary texts, opera and theater, on-line resources in many fields, and film. Students will also learn new vocabulary in context and present topics of interest to the class in German. The topics in any given semester will be adapted to student interest and needs.

GERM 400 Special Studies
One author, theme, movement, or group of works in German literature studied in depth. (Offered as required. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

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ITAL 110 Beginning Italian I
Italian 110 and 112 are intended to develop  listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills on an introductory Italian level as well as expose students to Italian culture. The two-semester sequence also provides them with the opportunity to perfect their pronunciation by laboratory work and to build vocabulary by the use of readings. Successful completion of the sequence provides a solid foundation for further study of the language or a basis for its use in other fields. Prerequisite for Italian 112: Italian 110 or  permission of the instructor.

ITAL 112 Beginning Italian II
Italian 110 and 112 are intended to develop  listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills on an introductory Italian level as well as expose students to Italian culture. The two-semester sequence also provides them with the opportunity to perfect their pronunciation by laboratory work and to build vocabulary by the use of readings. Successful completion of the sequence provides a solid foundation for further study of the language or a basis for its use in other fields. Prerequisite for Italian 112: Italian 110 or permission of the instructor.

ITAL 120 Parliamo Italiano: Italian Conversation
Designed for students with minimal (one year) or no previous knowledge of Italian. In this intensive three-week course, we will strive to maximize your oral proficiency using a “full immersion” approach, including drills of model sentences and word patterns. We will focus on the acquisition of basic verbal communication skills (i.e., oral fluency, correct pronunciation, listening comprehension) and on cultural aspects that will promote understanding and appreciation of Italian culture. (Taught only in the summer).

ITAL 210 Intermediate Italian
Italian 210 provides a review and additional practice of the four basic skills begun in first-year Italian, viz. reading, writing, listening, and speaking with lab exercises. In addition, it will include extratextual readings such as poetry and prose (including newspapers and magazines). There will also be particular emphasis on conversation and composition. Prerequisite: Italian 112 or equivalent.

ITAL 212 Intermediate Italian II
Italian 212 resumes the review of the four basic skills begun in Italian 110 and 112 and continued in 210, viz. reading, writing, listening and speaking.  The reading will include articles in Italian from the Internet and other expository writing as well as poetry.  Special emphasis will be placed on speaking and writing.  The viewing of videos in Italian will also constitute part of the course content.  Prerequisite:  Italian 210 or placement recommendation.

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JAPN 110 Beginning Japanese I
An introduction to the form of spoken Japanese along with Japanese customs and culture.

Most of the fundamental structures are covered in Japanese 110 and 112, together with writing practice in the hiragana and the katakana syllabaries. 112 is a continuation of 110. Lab work is an integral part of the sequence.

JAPN 112 Beginning Japanese II
An introduction to the form of spoken Japanese along with Japanese customs and culture.

Most of the fundamental structures are covered in Japanese 110 and 112, together with writing practice in the hiragana and the katakana syllabaries and some basic kanji. 112 is a continuation of 110. Lab work is an integral part of the sequence.  Prerequisite:  Japanese 110 or consent of the instructor.

JAPN 210 Intermediate Japanese
This course will continue the fundamentals of Japanese conversation begun in the first-year series, Japanese 110 and 112, and continue work on reading and writing the language. Extensive oral practice and conversation exercises are stressed. Classes will be supplemented with work in the language laboratory and daily written work. Prerequisite: Japanese 112 or consent of instructor.

JAPN 212 Advanced Intermediate Japanese
A continuation of the Japanese language fundamentals begun in Japanese 110, 112, and 210. Extensive practice in oral expression and increasingly stronger emphasis on reading and writing, with an extensive use of audio and video materials. Prerequisite: Japanese 210 or consent of the instructor.

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LING 101 Descriptive Linguistics
Principles and techniques of descriptive  linguistics as seen through different schools of linguistics, from structuralism to modern transformational and stratificational theories. Taught in English.

LING 109 Common Ancestry: The Evolution of Europe's Languages
Once upon a time almost all of the languages of Modern Europe—English, German, French, Greek, Russian, etc.—were a single language family. How did they come to be so different today? Factors such as historical events and social change have played a considerable role, but it is the very nature of language itself to change. We will look at some basic principles of linguistics, consider in broad outline the history of Europe, and call on the experiences of New World immigrants to examine and help illustrate how languages evolve. No knowledge of any foreign language is necessary.

LING 201 Linguistics and Literature
A consideration of the major linguistic theories and their implications and relations to literary criticism. Special emphasis on applications to literary criticism of transformational grammar, stratificational grammar, and tagmemics. Discussion and critical appraisal of the value of such approaches to literary analysis. Taught in English.

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LITR 209 Brazilian Literature in Translation
(Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 209 and Spanish 339. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

LITR 210 Don Quijote and Imperial Spain
This course will study Cervantes’s comic  masterpiece in English translation. Focus will be on Cervantes’s art, on analytical perspectives, and on historical background. Comparisons will be made with reinterpretations of Don Quijote, such as films and drawings. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

LITR 265 French Literature in Translation: Camus: Philosopher of the Absurd
(Cross-listed as French 265. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

LITR 275 Greek Greats
(Cross-listed as Classical Studies 275. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity requirement.)

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SPAN 110 Beginning Spanish I
Spanish 110 is designed to develop the student’s ability to listen to, speak, read, and write basic controlled patterns of the Spanish language. Spanish 112 is a continuation of 110 and culminates in graduated readings, class discussions, and free composition to provide facility with the spoken and written language and insight into its structure and the mores of Spanish-speaking cultures. Lab work is an integral part of the series. Prerequisite for Spanish 112: placement recommendation or a grade of C or better in Spanish 110.

SPAN 112 Beginning Spanish II
Spanish 110 is designed to develop the student’s ability to listen to, speak, read, and write basic controlled patterns of the Spanish language. Spanish 112 is a continuation of 110 and culminates in graduated readings, class discussions, and free composition to provide facility with the spoken and written language and insight into its structure and the mores of Spanish-speaking cultures. Lab work is an integral part of the series. Prerequisite for Spanish 112: placement recommendation or a grade of C or better in Spanish 110.

SPAN 201  The Mexican-American Border
(Cross-listed as Business 280, Economics 280, International Relations 280, and Latin American Studies 280. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 210 Intermediate Spanish
Practice in reading contemporary fiction, expository prose, drama, and poetry. Classroom discussions, guided and free compositions, review of grammar, lab exercises. Prerequisite: Spanish 112 or placement at the 210 level.

SPAN 212 Advanced Intermediate Spanish
Practice in reading contemporary fiction and expository prose, drama, and poetry to develop reading ease and accurate comprehension beyond the elementary and intermediate levels. Classroom discussion and guided compositions, review of grammar topics, and vocabulary building. Prerequisite: Spanish 210 or placement at the 212 level.

SPAN 220 Conversation and Composition
A course designed to afford the student who has completed the intermediate sequence or the exceptional student who wishes to advance at a more rapid pace with additional and intensive practice in conversational and writing skills. The students will be exposed to the contemporary language as it appears in a variety of mediums, from colloquial slang to formal, academic usage, in both written and oral discussions, essays, and creative projects. Prerequisite: completion of the 210/212 sequence or placement on the 212 level or higher, with permission of the instructor.

SPAN 300 Introduction to Reading Literature in Spanish
The purpose of this course is to prepare the student for serious reading and analysis of literary texts in Spanish. The course will be an introduction to the concepts of literary criticism and the vocabulary of literary analysis. The course will introduce students to various methodologies, including close reading of texts and sociological and psychological approaches. Texts will be chosen from the three major literary genres: poetry, prose fiction, and drama. It is strongly recommended that students take either Spanish 300 or 305 before going on to literature or culture courses in the 300–400 range. Prerequisite: Spanish 212 or 220. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

304  Cocina, cultura y literature
Cocina, cultura y literature (Cuisine, Culture and Literature) is an immersion type course in which students read fiction and poetry about food.  They research and debate ethical and social issues, such as genetic modification of plants, food distribution, hunger, malnutrition, obesity, and anorexia.  The students will be responsible for preparing authentic dishes and explaining their cultural significance to the class.  Excursions might include visits to a local Hispanic market, a Spanish-speaking soup kitchen, ethnic restaurants, or homes of native Spanish speakers.  Prerequisite:  Spanish 212.  (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 304.  Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 305 The Civilization of Spain
This course is an introduction to the history, art, music, literature, and customs of Spain. Course conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 300 or placement recommendation. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 305. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 306 Introduction to Latin  American Culture
This course will be taught in Spanish. It is designed to provide an introductory overview of Latin America’s development focusing on its cultural manifestations through time. Films, music, and art will supplement readings for a better understanding of the cultural heterogeneity of Latin America, its past, and its present reality. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 306. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 308  Spain Today
The course will focus on popular culture (theatre, music, film, journalism) with a study of the events of the past which led to social and political change in Spain.  Spain has been a democracy since 1977 and a member of the European Union since 1986 (the year in which the country voted to join NATO) and has created strong economic, social and cultural ties with Latin America.  Through essays and fiction students will examine Spain’s move from an isolated dictatorship to a country with a vibrant economy, a leadership role in social justice.  With democracy and economic progress Spain faces the problems of a burgeoning illegal immigrant population and the divisive forces of separatism in many of its autonomous regions.  Prerequisite: SPAN 212 or 220. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 310 Creative Writing in Spanish
Intensive work in creative original compositions of prose, poetry, and drama. Analysis of style in selected Hispanic writers. Prerequisite: a Spanish course from the 300 or 400 level or permission of the instructor. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 311 Advanced Grammar
This course reviews grammar, orthography, syntax, and style through graded compositions, free compositions, grammar exercises, and translation. Students will study various types  of expository writing to see the grammatical constructions in context and develop a wider vocabulary and a sense of style. Prerequisite: Spanish 212 or placement exam. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 312 Oral Proficiency
Intensive practice and free conversation and composition on a wide range of topics reflecting the needs and interests of the participants. Concentrated study of vocabulary, idioms, and selected grammar patterns and paradigms needed for oral proficiency. Activities include drills,  discussions based on readings, debates, dialogues, and sketches. Supporting materials will be drawn from Latin American and Peninsular short  stories, films, magazines, and newspapers. Prerequisite: Spanish 212, 220, or placement exam. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 313  Spanish for Heritage Speakers
This course is specifically oriented towards heritage speakers of the language – this is, those for whom Spanish is the predominant spoken language in the home. Students who enter this class will not necessarily have had a formal education in the language, but they must be native speakers of it. The course will introduce, reiterate and fortify the student’s grammatical and compositional skills while refining his/her oral expression. The class will be conducted exclusively in Spanish, and in addition to the requisite participation, there will be a considerable number of writing, literary analysis and reinforcement assignments throughout the semester the students will also research the various dialects of Latin American, Peninsular as well as U.S. Spanish.

SPAN 314 Spanish Phonetics
This course introduces the fundamentals of phonetic and phonological theory and describes the Spanish sound system. It also includes extensive oral practice with the aim of improving pronunciation, fluency, and communicative skills. Prerequisite: SPAN 212. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity requirement.)

SPAN 315 Translation
An introduction to the theory and practice of translation. Students will familiarize themselves with the vocabulary of texts dealing with politics, art, literary criticism, and philosophy. Texts will be translated from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish. Please note: This is not a Spanish conversation course. Classes are conducted in Spanish and English. Prerequisite: Spanish 212, 220, or placement recommendation. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement. )

SPAN 317 Portuguese for Spanish Speakers
Utilizing Spanish as the base language, the course will focus on the Portuguese of Brazil, Latin America’s largest and most populous country. The course will provide a foundation in the basic skills of reading, writing, understanding, and speaking Portuguese and will include many aspects of Brazilian culture: music, films, magazines, current events, and literature. Prerequisite: a 300-level Spanish course. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 317. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 319 Continuing Portuguese
The course will continue the study of the Portuguese of Brazil, begun in Spanish 317, Spanish for Portuguese Speakers. The course will strengthen the basic skills of reading, writing, understanding, and speaking Portuguese and will include many aspects of Brazilian culture: music, films, magazines, current events, and literature. Prerequisite: Spanish 317 or other immersion experience in Portuguese.  (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 319. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 320 Spanish for International Affairs
An introduction to the specialized vocabulary, styles, and concepts that characterize conversational and written Spanish for international affairs. Attention is focused on familiarizing the student with current issues in business, banking, law, microeconomics, medicine, politics, and human rights. Vocabulary building, conversation practice, listening comprehension, and acquisition of idioms necessary for transcultural contacts are also stressed. Readings are drawn from magazines, newspapers, and journals, with special emphasis on materials from the Internet. Particularly recommended to students who are considering careers in economics, business, politics, and international relations. Prerequisite: Spanish 212, 220, or placement recommendation. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 320. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 321 Business Spanish
This course prepares students to understand, follow and discuss common business operations in Spanish. It includes concurrent emphasis on business terminology, conversational practice, readings and discussions of business topics and acquisition of expressions and idioms necessary for doing business in Spain or Latin America. Particularly recommended for students who are thinking of careers in economics, business, politics, and international relations. Prerequisite: SPAN 212. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity requirement.)

SPAN 325 Latino Cultures in the U.S.
This course is taught in Spanish. It is designed to familiarize students with the cultural phenomena produced in the United States by the presence of two major Hispanic groups: Mexican Americans (20.6 million) and Puerto Ricans (3.4 million). The course will examine the historical, political, and cultural development of the Mexican American/Chicano and the Puerto Rican/Boricua Hispanic heritage. The main objective is to provide the students with an overall social and literary understanding and to recognize the cultural contribution made by these two important Hispanic groups. Topics such as neo-colonialism, popular culture, national identity, gender representation in art and literature, religious syncretism, and economic impact on the workforce will be explored. Literary texts by outstanding Chicano and Boricua authors will be included. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 325. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 330 Survey of Peninsular Literature
A panoramic view of Spanish literature with special emphasis on distinctive features of significant literary movements and periods. Lectures on the history of literature. Readings and discussion on selections from representative literary texts. Prerequisite: Spanish 212, 220, or placement recommendation. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 333 Film and History in Spain and Latin America
Taught in English. The course examines the ways in which the media and popular culture shape the public perception of significant events and political movements in Spain and Latin America. Possible topics are suggested by polemical issues that have also been the subject of a large body of film and fiction, such as the Spanish Civil War, the legacy of Perón, and Castro and Cuba. The basic format will be lecture/discussion. Readings will include fiction, speeches, and periodical press of the time as well as historical studies. Assignments will include short essays, oral presentations, and a final research paper. The course will be taught in English, but those speaking Spanish may use materials in that language for their papers and presentations. The course offers students the chance to form a critical perspective on popular communications media. (Counts toward the Spanish major and minor. Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 333. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 334  Cine Español
An interdisciplinary study of Spanish film, from multiple perspectives: artistic, historical, political, and socio-economic. This course will highlight the artistic achievements of Spanish filmmakers from several periods, including Luis Buñuel, Carlos Saura, and Pedro Almodóvar. Readings will include essays on film history, the language of cinema, movie reviews, and interviews with directors. The course will scrutinize the links among cultural phenomena, socio-political events, and the art of filmmaking. Films will be treated as complex aesthetic objects whose language does not merely photograph socio-historical reality but transfigures it. The course will also consider Spain in its broadest Iberian sense and will include films in Catalan, Galician, and Portuguese. Classes will be based mainly on discussion interspersed with occasional lectures. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 335 Survey of Latin American Literature
The development of Latin American letters from the nineteenth-century movements of independence to the contemporary period. Readings will include novels, short stories, poetry, plays, and essays. Prerequisite: Spanish 212, 220, or placement recommendation. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 335. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 336 Latin American Film
Taught in English. An interdisciplinary study of Latin American film, from multiple perspectives: artistic, historical, political, and socio-economic. This course will highlight the artistic achievements of Latin American filmmakers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. We will use selected readings from original works for films that are based on fiction. A number of films have been Academy Award nominees or winners. Further readings will include a history of Latin American cinema, movie reviews, and interviews with directors. The course will scrutinize the links among cultural phenomena, socio-political events, and the art of filmmaking. Films will be treated as complex aesthetic objects whose language does not merely photograph socio-historical reality but transfigures it. Classes will be based mainly on discussion interspersed with occasional lectures. The course will be conducted in English, but students may choose to read texts and/or write papers in Spanish or Portuguese. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 336. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 337 The Latin American World
Taught in English. A study of native peoples of the American Indian civilizations from multiple perspectives: historical, political, sociological, and literary. Course materials include readings and lectures on a wide variety of topics, discussions, films, videos, slides, and music. Students with a knowledge of Spanish and/or Portuguese may work with bilingual materials. May count toward the Spanish major. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 302. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 338  Cine Latinoamericano
An interdisciplinary study of Latin American film, from multiple perspectives: artistic, historical, political, and socio-economic. This course will highlight the artistic achievements of Latin American filmmakers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. We will use selected readings from original works for films that are based on fiction. A number of films have been Academy Award nominees or winners. Further readings will include a history of Latin American cinema, movie reviews, and interviews with directors. The course will scrutinize the links among cultural phenomena, socio-political events, and the art of filmmaking. Films will be treated as complex aesthetic objects whose language does not merely photograph socio-historical reality but transfigures it. Classes will be based mainly on discussion interspersed with occasional lectures. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 338. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 339 Brazilian Literature in Translation
Taught in English. A study of selected Brazilian authors from various literary movements and periods. Special consideration will be given to the historical and cultural contexts in which their works were written. Comparisons will be made with the literature of other Latin American countries. Students with a knowledge of Portuguese may work with bilingual materials. An extra hour will be arranged for students interested in practicing their Portuguese. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 209 and Literature in Translation 209. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 340 Advanced Spanish for International Affairs
(Santiago, Chile) This course is designed to complement the students’ internship assignments in Chilean national and multinational firms and corporations, government agencies, and cultural institutions. Intensive vocabulary building, composition, conversation practice, and acquisition of expressions and idioms necessary to handle the day-to-day internship assignments. Classroom instruction augmented by practical on-site application. Course is offered only in Santiago, Chile, by faculty at the Universidad Diego Portales, especially for participants in the Lake Forest College program. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 345 Latino Identities in Chicago 
In this course offering, the student will conduct a cross-disciplinary investigation of the vibrantly complex Chicago Latino community. In doing so, he/she will come to understand both the community’s unifying characteristics as well as its internal plurality. Moreover, through various sub-disciplines (immigration, assimilation, race relations, cultural expression, and language), the student will examine ways in which Chicago Latinos distinguish themselves from Latinos at large.

In order to authenticate the learning experience, the course will be structured around Chicago (and suburban-Chicago) Latino neighborhoods themselves, including Pilsen, Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Blue Island, Highwood and Waukegan. Each neighborhood will be approached as both representative of a greater Latino culture and the Chicago Latino experience. Ultimately, the student will also learn to distinguish among the cultural traits characteristic to each area of the city.

Lastly, various teaching methods will be used to arouse interest in and deepen comprehension of the subject matter. The student will conduct personal interviews of members of different Latino communities (Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican); observe and compare various modes of cultural expression of those communities (literature, music, dance, visual art, cuisine, worship); read literary samples as well as testimonials; and examine the linguistic characteristics unique to each. Above all, the student will enlarge his/her perspective of the prominent socio-cultural role Latinos have held and maintain in Chicago.  Prerequisite:  Spanish 311 or equivalency.  (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 350 Modern Latin American Narrative in Translation
During the twentieth century, the narrative fiction of Latin America exploded onto the international literary scene. This course focuses on the precursors of the so-called “boom” writers (Jorge Luis Borges, Graciliano Ramos) and the boom’s major writers (Julio Cortázar, Gabriel García Márquez, Juan Rulfo, Carlos Fuentes, Jorge Amado), as well as its more recent figures (Isabel Allende, Clarice Lispector, Laura Esquivel, Manuel Puig), who take us into the twenty-first century. The course includes film adaptations of Latin American fiction. Special consideration is given to the aesthetic and historical contexts of these authors and their works. Students with a knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese may work with bilingual materials if they so choose. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 350. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 360 Peninsular Narrative
Reading, analysis, and discussion of selected narrative works of Peninsular Spanish authors; historical and aesthetic considerations of the texts will be stressed. The course is designed to impart to the student a sense of the development of Spanish prose fiction and of recurring and characteristic themes. The student will become acquainted with outstanding authors and works of the Golden Age and the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Prerequisite: Spanish 212, 220, or placement exam. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 365 Latin American Narrative
The study of representative naturalist, neo-realist, and magic-realist writers. The student will read novels and short stories by outstanding writers such as Gallegos, Borges, Fuentes, García Márquez, and Vargas Llosa. Prose works will be considered in a socio-historical context. Prerequisite: Spanish 212, 220, or placement exam. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 365. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 367 Latin America: A Creative Approach
Taught in English, this course is based on Latin American topics, viewed from interdisciplinary perspectives and involving various historical periods and regions. Examples are the voyage of Columbus, Sor Juana and colonial Mexico, independence movements in South America, Brazil and the abolition of slavery, and the painting of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Student work is mostly creative, nontraditional; original poems and stories, short videos, newscasts of historical events, mock trials. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 367. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 370 Hispanic Poetry
The study of masterworks of Latin American and Peninsular poetry. The student will read, analyze, and compare poems from several periods: Medieval, Golden Age, Romantic, Symbolist, Modernist, Surrealist, and Contemporary. Prerequisite: Spanish 212, 220, or placement recommendation. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 370. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 380 Fiction, Film, and Society in Latin America
This course is an interdisciplinary study of Latin American societies, focusing on literary and cinematic production from multiple perspectives: artistic, historical, political, and socio-economic. The seminar will highlight the magisterial artistic achievements of Latin American novelists and the film adaptations of their novels. It will scrutinize the links between socio-political events and artistic production. Seminar materials will include readings, lectures, discussions, film, and video. The seminar will be conducted in English but students may choose to read texts and/or write papers in Spanish or Portuguese. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 380. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 390 Internship
On-site training in spoken and written Spanish at businesses or other organizations in Santiago, Chile, and in Chicago. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 400 Special Studies: Women's Voices in Latin America
An author, thinker, movement, or group of works studied in depth. All work in Spanish. This course will examine the role of women in Hispanic culture. Important figures such as La Malinche, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, and Eva Perón as well as the fiction, poetry, and films of Rosario Castellanos, Clarice Lispector, Gabriela Mistral, Isabel Allende, Rigoberta Menchú, María Luisa Bember, and Alicia Steimberg will be studied. Prerequisite: a 300-level Spanish course. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 400 and Women’s and Gender Studies 400. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 410 Chile in the Twentieth Century
(Santiago, Chile) This course, offered in Spanish at the Universidad Diego Portales for participants in the Lake Forest College program, will explore the principal themes of Chilean development during the twentieth century in three settings: (1) Chile from the end of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century; (2) Chile from 1950 to 1973; (3) current problems and perspectives. Topics to be covered include: history, literature, economics, the move from rural to urban society, crisis in Chilean democracy and the military government (1973–88), consolidation of democracy in Chile from a Southern Cone perspective, and the role of women in Chilean society and politics. (Cross-listed as Foreign Civilization 410. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 420 Peninsular Culture and Civilization
Intensive study of selected topics on the history, politics, and culture of Peninsular Spanish civilization. Attention will be focused on the development and evolution of Spanish civilization within the greater European context as well as on particular political and social issues in contemporary Spain. Supporting materials will be drawn from a variety of sources: readings in history, politics, and sociology; the visual arts; music; and literature. Prerequisite: a 300-level Spanish course. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 425 Latin American Culture and Civilization
A study of Latin American societies from multiple perspectives: historical, political, economic, and artistic. Course materials will include readings and lectures on a wide variety of topics, discussions, films, video, slides, and music. Prerequisite: a 300-level Spanish course. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 425. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 480 Senior Seminar: Literature and History in the Hispanic World
The seminar will examine the interrelationships of major literary works and key historical moments in the history of Spain and Latin America. Examples are Don Quijote and the Imperial Age, the stories of García Márquez and “La Violencia” in Colombia, the fiction of Fuentes and the Mexican Revolution. May be taken by juniors for senior seminar credit; may be taken by sophomores, but not for senior seminar credit. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 480. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 490 Internship
On-site training in spoken and written Spanish at businesses or other organizations in Santiago, Chile, and in Chicago. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

SPAN 494 Senior Thesis
Given for students who wish to graduate with honors. The thesis allows students to do in-depth research and to develop an original thesis on a topic in Hispanic literature or civilization. (Offered as required.)