Last updated: June 30, 2005 @ 09:16AM

Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Chair
Alexandre L. A. Amprimoz

Professors Emeriti
Leonard Rosmarin, Herbert Schutz

Professors
Alexandre L. A. Amprimoz (French), Sandra L. Beckett (French), Leslie A. Boldt-Irons (French), Dennis F. Essar (French), Corrado J. A. Federici (Italian), Jane M. Koustas (French)

Associate Professors
Irene M. F. Blayer (Spanish), Barry W. K. Joe (German)

Assistant Professors
Cristina Santos (Spanish), Ernesto J. Virgulti (Italian)

General Information

Administrative Assistant
Alison J. Rothwell

905-688-5550, extension 3312
Mackenzie Chown A240
http://www.brocku.ca/modernlanguages

The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers a variety of courses and degree programs in French, Italian and Spanish as well as comparative and interdisciplinary courses in Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MLLC). The Department also offers courses in Arabic, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese and Russian.

The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers four-year programs of study leading to a BA Honours in French and Spanish, a three-year BA Pass in French, Italian and Spanish degree programs, and a concurrent five-year BA(Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior) degree in French. In addition the Department offers Minor programs in French, German, Italian and Spanish.

French, Italian and Spanish
Please consult the relevant entries for a listing of courses and program requirements.

The Department aims to provide students with a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of language (spoken and written), literature and culture. In addition to the courses taught in the language of each program, the Department provides a number of interdisciplinary courses combining subject matter selected from each of the language programs taught in English that are acceptable for credit toward a degree in any of the languages.

Students are encouraged to participate in one or more of the study programs in Québec, France, Italy, Spain and Latin America.

Canadian Year in Freiburg
In co-operation with Acadia University, the University of British Columbia and Trent University, the German section of the Department offers students who have completed GERM 1F90 or its equivalent the opportunity to spend a year abroad at the University of Freiburg. The Canadian resident director will offer an immersion program in the German language and courses in German literature, but students may select courses in any area of study offered by the University of Freiburg. While in Freiburg, students normally assume a full, five-credit load in their disciplines of choice. Among these courses a maximum of three credits may be in German. Two additional credits must be in courses offered by the University of Freiburg, such as: English, another language, history, science.

Program Notes
  1. Unless otherwise noted in the course description, courses numbered 2(alpha)00 and above are taught in the language while courses numbered 1F90 and below are taught in the language to the extent possible.
  2. GERM 1F00, 1F90 and 2F90 constitute a sequence. Once credit has been obtained in one of these courses, students are not allowed to take for credit a course in the language with a lower number in the sequence. Students may not take two courses at different levels in the sequence during the same term. This regulation also applies to courses taken at other institutions.
  3. The Department reserves the right to refuse admission to and/or credit for any of its language courses to a student who has, in the view of the Department, a level of competence unsuited to that course.
  4. Minor program may include no more than one-half GERM credit given in English.
  5. In all 15 credit degree programs, at least seven credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above, three of which must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above.

Pass Program

German

Year 2
Year 2 is now closed

Year 3
·   Three credits from GERM MLLC 3P91, 3P92, 3P93, 3P94, 3P95
·   two elective credits (see program note 5)

Combined Major Program

German

Year 2
Year 2 is now closed

Year 3
·   Two GERM or MLLC credits numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
·   two credits from the co-major discipline
·   one elective credit

Minor in German

Students in other disciplines may obtain a Minor in German within their degree program by completing the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:
·   GERM 1F90 and 2F90
·   one GERM credit (see program note 4)
·   one GERM literature and/or culture credit numbered 2(alpha)00 or above (see program note 4)

Course Descriptions

Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable term timetable for details.

# Indicates a cross listed course
* Indicates primary offering of a cross listed course

Prerequisites and Restrictions

Students must check to ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.

ARABIC
ARAB 1F00
Introductory Classical Arabic
Grammatical structures and vocabulary of classical Arabic. Development of the four basic language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening).
Lectures, lab/seminar, 4 hours per week.
Note: open to students with no background in the language.


GERMAN
GERM 1F00
Language (Introductory)
Basic skills: conversational patterns, reading ability emphasizing the spoken language using films, tapes and recordings.
Lectures, language/computer lab, 4 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in GERM 1P01 and GERM 1P02.

GERM 1F90
Language (Intermediate I)
Intermediate level. Conversational and written language skills. Introduction to 20th-century German literature using language / computer laboratory, films, tapes and recordings.
Lectures, language/computer lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite: GERM 1F00 (1P01 and 1P02) Ontario grade 12 or OAC German or permission of the instructor.

GERM 1P93
Culture and Civilization of Central Europe: From the Prehistoric to the Carolingian Period
(also offered as CLAS 1P93)
Cultural development of central Europe from the earliest stone and pottery cultures, through the Bronze and Iron Ages, the Celts and Romans and the first Germanic kingdoms. Beliefs and practices, artistic style and architecture. Slides are used to illustrate the cultural evidence.
Lectures, 3 hours per week.
Note: given in English.

GERM 2F90
Language (Intermediate II)
Intensive study of present-day German language and culture designed to improve communication skills.
Lectures, language lab, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: GERM 1F90 or permission of the instructor.

GERM 2F92
Language and Literature of the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Intensive study of short literary and socio-cultural texts designed to expand both active and passive vocabularies, comprehension, oral and written skills.
Lectures, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: GERM 1F90 or permission of the instructor.

GERM 2P80
Tutorial I
Study in an area of language or literature of mutual interest to the student and the instructor.
Tutorial, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: permission of the instructor.
Note: a written proposal must be approved by the Chair.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in GERM 4P16.

GERM 2P94
German Culture and Civilization: The Carolingians to the Present
Survey of German culture and civilization. Topics may include art, architecture, cultural objects, literature and film.
Lectures, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: GERM 1P93 or permission of the instructor.
Note: given in English. Students doing a Minor in German are required to read literature in the original and to submit essays in German.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in GERM 1P94.

GERM 3F99
Advanced Language Study
Fluency at an advanced level in speaking, writing and comprehension through tapes, films, written and oral projects, discussions and advanced interpreting and translating.
Lectures, language lab, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: GERM 2F90 or permission of the instructor.

GERM 3P80
Tutorial II
Advanced study in an area of language or literature of mutual interest to the student and the instructor.
Tutorial, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: permission of the instructor.
Note: a written proposal must be approved by the Chair.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in GERM 4P17.


JAPANESE
JAPA 1F00
Introductory Japanese
Acquisition of language skills, such as writing (Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji), reading, listening, and speaking as well as some knowledge of Japanese culture.
Lectures, 3 hours per week; language lab, 1 hour per week.
Note: for students with no background in the Japanese language.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in JAPA 1P00 and 1P01.

JAPA 1F80
Intermediate Japanese
Further development of Japanese grammar, writing, reading and communication skills emphasizing socio-cultural situations.
Lectures, 3 hours per week; language lab, 1 hour per week.
Prerequisite: JAPA 1F00 (1P00 and 1P01) or permission of the instructor.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in JAPA 1P80 and 1P81.


MANDARIN CHINESE
MAND 1P00
Mandarin Chinese I
Elementary Mandarin focussing on conversational, listening, basic grammatical structures and understanding of relevant customs. Introduction to Pinyin.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Note: open to students with limited or no background in the language.

MAND 1P01
Mandarin Chinese II
Conversational Mandarin emphasizing vocabulary building, grammatical structures, customs and cultural knowledge. Introduction of Chinese characters.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite: MAND 1P00 or permission of the instructor.

MAND 1P80
Mandarin Chinese III
Basic written and oral skills for everyday needs emphasizing practical communication and reading of Chinese characters.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite: MAND 1P01 or permission of the instructor.

MAND 1P81
Mandarin Chinese IV
Written and oral skills, further development of vocabulary and grammatical structures focusing on writing Chinese characters for practical text development.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite: MAND 1P80 or permission of the instructor.


MODERN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES AND CULTURES
MLLC 1P90
Introduction to Romance Linguistics
The science of language focussing on linguistic structures of Romance languages (phonetics, morpho-lexicology, syntax, semantics) and illustrated by examples from various Romance languages (French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese).
Lectures, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: one of Grade 12 credits in French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, FREN 1P03, ITAL 1F00, 1F01, PORT 1F00, SPAN 1F00.
Note: Given in English. Major credit will not be granted to French, Italian or Spanish majors.

MLLC 2P94
Comparative Romance Linguistics
(also offered as LING 2P94)
Romance languages; their structures, related concepts, differences and mutual influences.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Note: given in English. May be counted as part of a major program in French, Italian or Spanish.

MLLC 3P94
Translation Studies
Historical and contemporary perspectives on translation theory and practice. Topics may include the role of the translator, comparative/contrastive analysis, intercultural equivalence and interference, problems in literary and technical translations.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: one of FREN 2F00, GERM 2F90, ITAL 2F00, SPAN 2P20 and 2P21 (2F10) or permission of the instructor.
Note: given in English. May be counted as part of a major program in French, German, Italian or Spanish.

MLLC 3P95
The Contemporary Picture Book
Selection of contemporary children's picture books from around the world. Dialogue between text and image. Theory of the picture book.
Lectures, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: one of FREN 2F03, GERM 2F90, ITAL 2F00, SPAN 2P20 and 2P21 (2F10) or permission of the instructor.
Note: given in English. May be counted as part of a major program in French, Italian or Spanish.

MLLC 3P99
Modern Narratives
(also offered as GBLS 3P99)
French, German, Italian and Hispanic 20th-century narrative writing. May include avant-garde, surrealist, existentialist, modernist and postmodernist issues.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: one of FREN 2F03, GERM 2F90, ITAL 2F00, SPAN 2P20 and 2P21 (2F10) or permission of the instructor.
Note: given in English. May be counted as part of a major program in French, Italian or Spanish.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned credit in MLLC 3P93.

MLLC 3Q90
Foreign Languages and Information Technology
Teaching methodologies and learning styles; evaluation of digital technologies; on-line, specialized software and internet resources in second language acquisition (French, German, Italian and Spanish).
Lectures 3 hours per week.
Prerequisites: two FREN, GERM, ITAL, MLLC or SPAN credits numbered 2(alpha)00 or above or permission of the instructor.
Note: given in English. May be counted as part of a major program in French, German, Italian or Spanish.

MLLC 4P01
History of Romance Languages
Formation and evolution of the Romance languages from their origins to the present. Factors affecting language change: internal history (sounds and inflection) and external forces (politics, society, thought).
Lectures, 3 hours per week.
Note: given in English. May be counted as part of a major program in French, Italian and Spanish.


PORTUGUESE
PORT 1F00
Introductory Portuguese
Listening, reading, writing and speaking emphasizing a communicative approach to learning a language.
Lectures, tutorial, 4 hours per week.
Note: for students with little or no background in Portuguese.

PORT 1F90
Intermediate Portuguese
Review of Portuguese grammar emphasizing written and oral practice. Introduction to Portuguese and Brazilian literary and cultural readings, as well as to topics of current interest.
Lectures, tutorial, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite: PORT 1F00 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

PORT 1P95
Conquest and Colonization
(also offered as SPAN 1P95)
Creation of a new culture founded on Amerindian, Iberian and African traditions; visual arts, architecture, literature and music; disparity between cultural identity and economic and political identity, utopian ideals, alienation through imitation, rediscovery of autochthonous cultural models.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Note: given in English.

PORT 2P10
Latin American Culture
(also offered as SPAN 2P10 and INTL 2P10)
Survey of contemporary social history; the Latin American nations through text and images. Topics include cultural hybridization and identity.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Note: given in English. Spanish majors complete written assignments and exams in Spanish.

PORT 2P11
Iberian Culture
(also offered as SPAN 2P11)
Social, political and cultural history of Portugal and Spain through historical and literary texts, film and other visual arts.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Note: given in English. Spanish majors complete written assignments and exams in Spanish.

PORT 2P82
Latin American and Iberian Film
(also offered as FILM 2P82 and SPAN 2P82)
Spanish and Latin American representations of identity crises involving issues of nationality, ethnicity, gender and politics. Pastiche, parody and camp aesthetics, and the envisioning of new possibilities of solidarity leading to social transformations.
Lectures, seminars 3 hours per week, plus weekly film lab.
Note: Spanish and Portuguese language films with English subtitles. Given in English. Spanish majors complete written assignments and exams in Spanish.

PORT 3P94
Iberian Narrative
(also offered as SPAN 3P94)
Themes and narrative techniques that characterize the works of major 20th-century authors as well as contemporary Spanish and Portuguese authors.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: SPAN 2P20 and 2P21 (2F10) or permission of the instructor.

PORT 4P10
Readings in Medieval Iberian Narrative
(also offered as SPAN 4P10)
Development of narrative traditions through the early 15th century and their historical contexts.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisites: SPAN 2P20 and 2P21 (2F10) or permission of the instructor.


RUSSIAN
RUSS 1F00
Introductory Russian
Development of the basic skills in language