World Languages and Literatures

A course designed to improve French linguistic proficiency. Study of syntax and grammar; study of idioms; enrichment of vocabulary by means of translation and of structured conversation.

Reflections of the medieval spirit in epic poetry, courtly romances by Chrétien de Troyes, and romances of adventure.

Study of French culture and civilization, for a period of at least four weeks in France under the supervision of WLL department faculty.

Principal literary figures and movements of the French Renaissance from 1515 to 1598.

Exploration of contemporary France and Francophone speaking areas of the world, the relationship between France and the rest of the French-speaking world, as well as issues of immigration, family, language, and gender and sexuality.

Focuses on the major contributions of selected seventeenth-century “moralists”: Descartes, Pascal, La Fontaine, La Bruyère, La Rochefoucauld, as well as Molière.

Romanticism is approached as a new form of sensitivity with a new set of literary conventions, while the originality of every poet is also stressed. The major poetic works of Lamartine, Musset, Vigny, and Hugo are studied in depth.

Exploring issues of sexual deviancy in the French-speaking world, this could will examine representations of and reactions to difference in an effort to understand what makes a good sexual citizen.

Varying widely in style and emphasis, the authors studied all share a questioning of traditional values and an intense interest in the nature of literature and of language. Works studied may include the theater of Ionesco, Beckett, and Genet, as well as novels by Simon, Sarraute, Robbe-Grillet and Butor.

Topics vary.

Independent Study

The beginnings of Italian literature in the thirteenth century, including the Sicilian school and the Dolce Stil Nuovo.

Explores the cultural, historical, political, philosophical, theological, and linguistic perspectives that are at the heart of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Students analyze the ethical and moral principles in which Dante foregrounds his work and juxtapose them to contemporary society.

Explores the cultural, social, historical, artistic, political, and philosophical perspectives that shape the works of Pulci, Boiardo, Ariosto, Aretino, and Tasso.

Examines the once-censored scientific, political and religious texts (treatises, drama, epistles and dialogues) of the 17th century. Authors include Galileo, Bruno and Campanella.

Focuses on the literary, artistic and cultural trends of early 20th century Italy. Examines Italian political and social history from Unification to the birth of Fascism, as well as major authors and genres.

Special Topics (topics vary.)

Independent Study in Italian.

Analyzes the rich tradition of picaresque literature in the Hispanic world placing its most representative novels in their cultural, political, and social context on both sides of the Atlantic and from its origins to the present.

Studies the rich cinematic tradition of Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula as a social and political tool through the analysis of films produced Mexico, Argentina, Cuba, Spain, Chile, Brazil, and other countries.

Introduces students to the role of Don Quixote in the formation of the modern novel and theater. It will address and discuss the legacy of Don Quixote for the modern and postmodern concept of narrative and dramatic discourses.

Analyzing the relationship between film and literature in Latin America and its importance for the production of culture and the understanding of social issues in the region through the discussion of written texts and films.

Analyzing literary texts, documents, and other cultural articulations and artifacts produced as the result of the discovery, exploration, and early colonization of Latin America.

Analyzing literary texts, documents, and other cultural articulations and artifacts produced in Spanish America and Spain at the turn of the century during the period called modernismo.

Reading and analysis of literary and cultural texts from the Hispano-Arabic tradition in the Iberian Peninsula.

Reading and analysis of literary and cultural texts from the Hispano-Arabic tradition in the Iberian Peninsula.

What motivated twentieth century Hispanic literati to populate texts with ghosts and to portray a haunted Latin America? Providing analytical depth in literary and cultural studies through primary sources and theory, this class answers these questions.

Introduces students to the cultural studies of Spanish Golden Age Theater as a vehicle of political propaganda and moral education in early modern Spain.

Topics vary.

Independent Study in Spanish.

Theory and practice of language description with particular emphasis on the structural and transformational-generative approaches. Relation of linguistics to other fields, and application to native and foreign language teaching. Scheduled fall semesters.

The study of linguistic, cognitive, and social factors which influence the development of a second language. Applications to TESOL, bilingual education, and foreign language education. Scheduled spring semesters.

The course will help prospective and practicing teachers of ESL/EFL enhance their understanding of the grammar structures of English, expand their skills in linguistic analysis, and develop a pedagogical approach to teaching English grammar. Scheduled fall terms.

History and philosophy of TESOL, program descriptions, methodology, materials, research, and models for TESOL. Scheduled fall semesters.

Focused on developing teachers’ comprehension of and competency in the use of various methods, techniques, the creation and evaluation of materials. Emphasis placed on teachers’ growth and performance. Open only to matriculants of bilingual education/ TESOL programs or to those who have been given permission of the TESOL program coordinator. Scheduled spring semesters.

Supervised classroom experience for students and teachers in primary, secondary, community college, university or adult education environments.

History and philosophy of bilingual education, program descriptions, methodology, materials, research, and models for bilingual education. Scheduled fall semesters.

Literacy development theory and its application to the practices of teaching reading and writing to learners of English as a second language. Scheduled spring of odd years and summer of even years.

ESL teachers, bilingual education teachers, and content teachers learn how to modify mainstream course materials and instructional strategies so that English language learning students can engage in course content while simultaneously developing their new language. Scheduled spring of even years and summer of odd years.

Teacher candidates learn to select, create, administer, and interpret results of assessment instruments and other assessment strategies which measure the academic and language competencies of learners of English as a second language. Scheduled spring of odd years. Scheduled spring of odd years and summer of even years.

Examines theories, issues, policies, trends in the education of immigrants. Focus on adaptation, influence of demographic trends on schools and teacher preparation, the role of family and community in immigrant students’ educational experiences.

Thesis Seminar in TESOL.

Independent Study in TESOL.

Orients students to MA program in Romance Languages: methods of research, critical and theoretical investigations of literary and cultural productions, application of theoretical framework to literary/cultural analysis. Scheduled fall semesters.

Students gain insight into how culture is produced, interpreted and expressed within Franco, Hispanic and Italic traditions; investigate productions, including various registers, genres and forms of communication; express findings orally and in writing. Scheduled spring semesters.

Students select and research a topic, compile a preliminary bibliography and submit a proposal to the Graduate School. Part one of a 2 course sequence. Course taken for pass/fail only.

Students write, edit, review, and complete the thesis for submission to the Graduate School. Course taken for pass/fail only.

Students work with an adviser towards designing an applied project by selecting a topic, researching and refining their ideas, compiling a preliminary bibliography and submitting a proposal. Part one of a 2 course sequence. Course taken for pass/fail only.

Completion of Special Project initiated in WLL 592. Upon completion of WLL 593, students earn 6 credits, 3 for WLL 592 and 3 for WLL 593. Course taken as pass/fail only.

Required for all students who choose the comprehensive exam as a capstone option towards receiving a Master of Arts in Romance Languages. Students work individually with an adviser in a comprehensive exploration of the Master’s Reading List provided by the individual language concentration. Upon completion, students must take WLL 595 to complete their comprehensive exam option.  3 credits granted upon completion of WLL 595.

The course is required for all students who choose the comprehensive exam as a capstone option toward receiving a Masters of Arts in Romance Languages. Students work individually with an adviser in selecting and researching themes from the Master’s Reading List provided by the individual language section.

Independent Study in World Language and Literature.