2018-2019 Undergraduate Calendar

Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

General Information

French Studies, Hispanic and Latin American Studies (Spanish and Portuguese) and Italian Studies

Prerequisites and Restrictions

Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Chair

Jean B. Ntakirutimana

Professors Emeriti

Sandra L. Beckett, Leslie A. Boldt, Dennis Essar, Corrado J. A. Federici, Leonard Rosmarin, Herbert Schutz

Professors

Irene M. F. Blayer, Jane M. Koustas

Associate Professors

Renée-Claude Breitenstein, Carmela Colella, Tamara El-Hoss, Jean B. Ntakirutimana, Catherine Parayre, Felipe Ruan, Cristina Santos, Ernesto J. Virgulti

Assistant Professor

Nigel Lezama

Lecturer

Diane Bielicki

Academic Adviser

Liz Hay

General Information

Administrative Assistant

Violetta Clitheroe

905-688-5550, extension 3312

Mackenzie Chown A240

brocku.ca/modernlanguages

The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers a variety of courses and degree programs in French Studies, Hispanic and Latin American Studies and Italian Studies. The Department also offers courses in Studies in Comparative Literatures and Cultures (SCLC) as well as language courses in Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian and Swahili.

The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers four-year programs of study leading to a BA Honours in French Studies, as well as a combined honours in Hispanic and Latin American Studies, Italian Studies, and Studies in Comparative Literatures and Cultures, three-year BA Pass degree program in French Studies, as well as a combined pass in Hispanic and Latin American Studies, a concurrent five-year BA(Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior) degree in French Studies and a Certificate in Spanish Language Proficiency. In addition the Department offers Minor programs in French Studies, German, Hispanic and Latin American Studies and Italian Studies.

French Studies, Hispanic and Latin American Studies (Spanish and Portuguese) and Italian Studies

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 in Studies in Comparative Literatures and Cultures (SCLC) 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, Portugal, Spain and Latin America.

German

Students are encouraged to participate in both work and study abroad programs to improve fluency and experience German culture first-hand.

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 2F00 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.	A minor program may include no more than one-half GERM credit given in English.
5.	In 20 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above. In 15 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above. In some circumstances, in order to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 15 or 20 credits may be taken.

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 2F00
	GERM credit (see program note 4)
	one GERM language 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 COURSE

ARAB 1F00

Introductory Classical Arabic

Arabic script; grammatical structures and vocabulary of classical Arabic. Development of the four basic language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening).

Lectures, tutorial, 4 hours per week.

Note: open to students with no background in the language.

GERMAN COURSES

GERM 1F00

Introductory Language

Development of basic skills in grammatical structures, reading of simple texts, oral comprehension and conversational fluency. Integration of cultural and social aspects. Films, recordings and on-line resources are used.

Lectures, language/computer lab, 4 hours per week.

Note: open to students with no background in the language.

GERM 1F90

Intermediate Language

Introduction of more complex grammar concepts, as well as conversational and written skills using 20th-century literary and media sources including films, recordings and on-line resources.

Lectures, language/computer lab, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): GERM 1F00, Ontario grade 12U German or permission of the instructor.

GERM 1P03

Introductory German for Exchange Students

Lectures, language/computer lab, 4 hours per week.

Restriction: permission of the instructor.

GERM 1P91

Intermediate German for Exchange Students

Introduction of more complex grammar concepts, as well as conversational and written skills using 20th-century literary and media sources including films, recordings and online resources.

Lectures, language/computer lab, 4 hours per week.

Restriction: permission of the instructor.

Note: additional vocabulary/phrases to better prepare Business student for their academic exchange will be provided.

*GERM 1P93

Culture and Civilization of Central Europe: From the Prehistoric to 350CE

(also offered as CLAS 1P93)

Cultural development of Central Europe from the earliest stone and pottery cultures, through the Bronze, Iron and Celtic Ages, ending with the Gallo-Roman period. Beliefs and practices, material objects, artistic developments, and architecture. Digitized images are used to illustrate the cultural evidence.

Lectures, tutorial, 4 hours per week.

Note: given in English.

GERM 2F00

Language, Literature and Culture

Intensive study of current German language usage, modern literature and contemporary culture. Designed to improve communication, comprehension and written skills.

Lectures, language lab, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): 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. Texts for language practice may be drawn from film, literature, or current news sources.

Tutorial, 3 hours per week.

Restriction: permission of the instructor.

Note: a written proposal must be approved by the Chair.

GERM 2P90

German Cinema

Major film directors and cultural trends in German cinema. Films studied may include those by Herzog, von Trotta, Hirschbiegel, Murnau, Verhoeven, Vilsmaier, von Donnersmarck, Akin and Tykwer.

Lectures, 3 hours per week; plus weekly film lab.

Prerequisite(s): GERM 1F90 or permission of the instructor.

GERM 2P92

Language and Literature of the 20th Century

Overview of short narrative texts from pre-World War I to post-World War II. Designed to expand critical reasoning and writing skills, both active and passive vocabularies, and comprehension.

Lectures, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): GERM 1F90 or permission of the instructor.

GERM 2P95

Language through Film and Literature of the 20th Century

Culture, history and politics of German-speaking regions through short prose texts and contemporary films. Emphasis on oral comprehension, and reading and writing skills as well as on critical reasoning.

Seminar, film lab, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): GERM 1F90 or permission of the instructor.

GERM 3F99

Advanced Language Study

Intensive grammar review and introduction to advanced topics; translation; practice in speaking, writing and comprehension through written and oral projects, discussions, recordings, films and on-line resources.

Lectures, lab, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): GERM 2F00 (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. Texts for language practice may be drawn from film, literature or current news sources.

Tutorial, 3 hours per week.

Restriction: permission of the instructor.

Note: a written proposal must be approved by the Chair.

JAPANESE COURSES

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, tutorial, 4 hours per week.

Note: open to students with no background in the Japanese language.

JAPA 1F80

Intermediate Japanese

Further development of Japanese grammar, writing, reading and communication skills emphasizing socio-cultural situations.

Lectures, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): JAPA 1F00 (1P00 and 1P01) or permission of the instructor.

MANDARIN CHINESE COURSES

MAND 1P00

Mandarin Chinese I

Elementary Mandarin focusing on conversation, listening, basic grammatical structures and understanding of relevant customs. Introduction to Pinyin.

Lectures, tutorial, 4 hours per week.

Note: open to students with limited or no background in the language. Not open to native speakers.

MAND 1P01

Mandarin Chinese II

Conversational Mandarin emphasizing vocabulary building, grammatical structures, customs and cultural knowledge. Introduction of Chinese characters.

Lectures, tutorial, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): MAND 1P00 or permission of the instructor.

Note: Not open to native speakers.

MAND 1P80

Mandarin Chinese III

Basic written and oral skills for everyday needs emphasizing practical communication and reading of Chinese characters.

Lectures, tutorial, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): 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, tutorial, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): MAND 1P80 or permission of the instructor.

RUSSIAN COURSE

RUSS 1F00

Introductory Russian

Development of the basic skills in language proficiency (reading, writing, speaking and comprehension).

Lectures, 4 hours per week.

SWAHILI COURSE

SWAH 1F00

Introductory Kiswahili

Fundamental conversation skills and basic grammatical structures of Kiswahili, focusing on the four basic language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Introduction to major aspects of contemporary Kiswahili culture.

Lectures, 3 hours per week.

Note: open to students with no background in the language.

Last updated: April 30, 2018 @ 08:41AM