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  MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES DEPARTMENT

Modern Languages and Literatures Department

Division of Humanities

Professor James W. Hunt, EdD, Acting Chair-Spanish

Associate Professor Glenda Warren Carl, PhD (French, Latin), Chair-Chinese, French, German

Professor Suzanne Chamier, PhD (French)

Professor Sonia Riquelme, PhD (Spanish)

Associate Professor Erika Berroth, PhD (German)

Assistant Professor Laura Senio Blair, PhD (Spanish)

Assistant Professor William Christensen, PhD (Spanish, Language Learning Center)

Assistant Professor Gabriela Díaz de Gallegos, PhD (Spanish)

Assistant Professor Aaron Prevots, PhD (French)

Assistant Professor Carl Robertson, PhD (Chinese)

Assistant Professor Catherine Ross, PhD (Spanish)

Assistant Professor David Tabb Stewart, PhD (Hebrew–Department of Religion and Philosophy)

Visiting Assistant Professor Theodore Jobe, PhD (Spanish)

Visiting Instructor Abigail Dings, MA (Spanish)

Assistant Professor Cherie Mitschke, PhD (French) (part-time)

Instructor Magdalena Borja Babbitt, MS (Spanish) (part-time)

Instructor Johanna Damon, MA (German) (part-time)

Instructor Joseph O’Neil, MA (German) (part-time)

Instructor Joni Ragle, MEd (Spanish) (part-time)

Southwestern University offers major and minor programs in French, German, and Spanish and a minor program in Chinese. The French, German, and Spanish majors require a minimum of 30 semester hours, of which at least 18 must be upper level. The minor in the above languages requires a minimum of 18 semester hours, of which at least 12 must be upper level.

Courses taught in all the modern languages at Southwestern University integrate reading, writing, speaking, listening, and cultural understanding. Students of all modern languages undertake the shared tasks of oral work coupled with listening comprehension and reading in the context of culture. The shared pedagogy for language acquisition thus goes hand-in-hand with the cultural immersion. This linguistic and cultural fluency also reinforces the common goal of all modern languages of facilitating study abroad. Some of the host countries associated with study abroad for the modern languages taught at Southwestern are: France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, and China. Depending on the student’s chosen language and the level of fluency in that language, a student may choose from diverse programs in a number of countries.

Students are prepared for a variety of academic, business, and professional careers. Special attention is given to the central importance of modern language study in this age of global awareness and economic interdependence. As we become increasingly international in outlook and are faced with the need to intensify our efforts to communicate and interact with other cultures, language majors find themselves in a strong position to make significant contributions in a variety of fields. Furthermore the study of modern languages provides a solid liberal arts foundation for any professional career.

Majors are advised to pursue language courses until their proficiency assures successful work in the literary field. They are expected to acquire a general knowledge of the literature and civilization of the chosen language. All language majors are strongly urged to include plans for study abroad either during their junior year or through summer courses offered or approved by Southwestern University.

Students planning to do graduate work in languages are advised to have a strong background in analysis and interpretation of literature. Those planning to certify as language teachers must have a thorough background in the structure of the target language.

The capstone experience for majors consists of either a seminar or a study project stemming from a semester abroad or from an upper level course taken during the senior year. The program is intended to cover broad aspects of the discipline and culminates in an oral presentation.

All entering students are to take a placement exam prior to the start of their first semester in order to establish actual placement. Please note that credit hours are not granted for placement. Students may also pursue a language other than that studied in high school, beginning at the 014 level, regardless of placement in their high school language. Because language study is sequential, students are required to take the basic courses in order (014, 024, 113, and 123) and to earn a grade of C- or better in each course of the sequence prior to enrolling in the next course in the sequence. These courses may not be taken concurrently.

International students born abroad may satisfy the bachelor’s degree foreign language requirement with a score of at least 570 (paper) or 230 (computer) on the TOEFL exam.

Students who major or minor in French, German, or Spanish, and who have placed out of the foreign language requirement as entering first-year students, may take a departmental exam for credit. Students may earn up to six semester hours of lower level credit upon successful completion of the exam, the course credit corresponding to 113-123. Credit will be awarded upon completion of all other major or minor requirements. Child Study and Language Development majors who have placed out of the language requirement and intend to certify in a language may also take this exam (see “Credit By Examination”).

The Language Learning Center at Southwestern offers students wide-band access to the latest in multimedia courseware within the Center’s subnetwork and to native language materials from all over the globe. Students engage in a wide variety of language related activities in the Center. These include accessing web-based digital lab manuals for introductory language courses, writing papers, developing multimedia presentations for culture classes, and accessing print, audio and video media through Internet, cable and satellite connections. Functioning as a vehicle for the delivery of local instructional materials and as a portal onto a vast world of native language and cultural content, the Center is an invaluable resource for students of language, culture and international affairs.

Minor in Chinese: 18 semester hours, including Chinese 22-313, 323; 12 additional hours of Chinese, six hours of which must be above the introductory level.

Major in French: 30 semester hours, including French 11-313, 333, 353, 933 (Capstone); 18 additional hours of French, six hours of which must be above the introductory level.

Minor in French: 18 semester hours, including French 11-313, 353; 12 additional hours of French, six hours of which must be above the introductory level.

Major in German: 30 semester hours, including German 12-333, 343, 353, 513, 933 (Capstone); 15 additional hours of German, three hours of which must be above the introductory level.

Minor in German: 18 semester hours, including German 12-333, 343; twelve additional hours of German, six hours of which must be above the introductory level.

Major in Spanish: 30 semester hours, including Spanish 15-333, 343; 413 or 423; 933 (Capstone); six semester hours of upper-level Spanish literature; 12 additional hours of Spanish.

Minor in Spanish: 18 semester hours, including Spanish 15-333, 343; 12 additional hours of Spanish, six hours of which must be above the introductory level.

See the Education Department for information regarding teacher certification in French and Spanish.

Other Languages (FLN)

21-144, 154OTHER LANGUAGES. Studies of languages other than those offered by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures on a regular basis. Credit may only be earned with special, prior approval of the Department and may not otherwise be used to fulfill the University language requirement.

21-001, 002, 003, 004 SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
21-301, 302, 303, 304 SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
21-941, 942, 943, 944 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP.
21-951, 952, 953, 954 INDEPENDENT STUDY.

Chinese (CHI)

22-014, 024BEGINNING CHINESE I & II. A two-semester introductory course presenting the pronunciation system, fundamental grammatical structures, characters, basic vocabulary and emphasis on student participation. Includes computer-based materials.
22-113, 123CHINESE III & IV. A two-semester course emphasizing interactive skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing), authentic materials and topics concerning contemporary society. Prerequisite: Chinese 22-024 or equivalent.
22-313CHINESE FICTION: READING & CONVERSATION. Conversation and reading course making use of texts and topics from modern and ancient works of Chinese fiction that engage literary methods and social questions raised in the texts. Discussion and composition in Chinese. Prerequisite: Chinese 22-123 or equivalent.
22-323CHINESE POETRY AND WRITING. Study of Chinese poetry from antiquity to modern verse as a means of acquiring cultural and linguistic ability. Discussion and composition on related topics, in Chinese. Weekly discussion and practice on writing of characters. Prerequisite: Chinese 22-123 or equivalent.
†22-363TOPICS IN CHINESE CULTURE, LITERATURE & FILM. Taught in English. May be repeated with change in topic. May apply toward the upper-level minor requirement. (POK-Other Cultures and Civilizations)

22-001, 002, 003, 004 SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
22-301, 302, 303, 304 SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
22-941, 942, 943, 944 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP.
22-951, 952, 953, 954 INDEPENDENT STUDY. May be repeated with change in content.

French (FRE)

All courses are taught in French.

11-014, 024 FRENCH I & II. A two-semester course. A creative approach to the study of the language, emphasizing student participation and self-expression.
11-113FRENCH III. Reading, writing, and conversation. Prerequisite: French 11-024 or equivalent.
11-123FRENCH IV. A continuation of French III. Prerequisite: French 11-113 or equivalent.
11-132, 142 FRENCH CONVERSATION I & II. Prerequisite: French 11-014 or permission of instructor.
11-212ADVANCED FRENCH CONVERSATION. Prerequisite: French 11-123 or equivalent.
11-313READING FRENCH: LITERATURE AND FILM. A course introducing the critical appreciation of a wide variety of texts (poetry, fiction, essays, film). Prerequisite: French 11-123 or equivalent.
11-333ORAL AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION. Intensive work in grammar, composition, and conversation based on selected readings. Prerequisite: French 11-123 or equivalent.
†11-353CONTEMPORARY FRENCH CULTURE. Content will vary to emphasize aspects of French and/or francophone culture. Prerequisite: French 11-123 or equivalent. (POK-American and Western Cultural Heritage)
†11-453WOMEN WRITERS IN FRENCH. A study of significant works by women writers in French. Consideration is given to the cultural contexts in which these writers worked and the cultural forces that shaped their writing. Selections will vary from year to year but will include texts from France and the Francophone world. Prerequisite: French 11-313, 333, or 353. Also Feminist Studies 04-453. (POK-Aesthetic Experience: Lecture)
11-503STUDIES IN FRENCH LITERATURE I. Study of selected texts from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, as related to French social, cultural, and literary history. Prerequisite: French 11-313, 333, or 353.
11-513STUDIES IN FRENCH LITERATURE II. Study of selected texts from the modern period, as related to French social, cultural, and literary history. Prerequisite: French 11-313, 333, or 353.
11-603TOPICS IN LITERATURE. Concentration on single authors, movements or themes with the specific topic for that semester listed in the course schedule. Offerings include Literature & Culture of the Antilles, Writing Place(s): Litterature & lieux; Paris in Literature & Film. May be repeated with change in topic. Prerequisite: French 11-313, 333, or 353.
11-613TEXTS/CONTEXTS. Advanced close reading of texts as they relate to multiple fields of study. Specific topic for a given semester to be listed in the course schedule. May be repeated with a change in content. Prerequisite: French 11-313, 333, or 353.

11-001, 002, 003, 004 SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
11-301, 302, 303, 304 SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
11-933 SEMINAR. Fulfills the requirement for a capstone experience.
11-941, 942, 943, 944ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP.
11-951, 952, 953, 954INDEPENDENT STUDY. May be repeated with change in content.
11-983 HONORS. By invitation only.

German (GER)

All courses are taught in German.

12-014, 024GERMAN I & II. Beginning German is a two-semester course which builds the foundation for developing proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing in German. Developing cultural literacy and the ability to create with language are integral parts of the learning goals. Students successfully completing German I and II will be able to use German creatively, to understand and produce text (from personal correspondence to routine public tasks), and to communicate effectively beyond immediate person-centered areas of interest, incorporating broader cultural knowledge. Students will become familiar with authentic materials including audiovisual resources and will develop information literacy on a variety of issues related to German by using resources on the World Wide Web.
12-113GERMAN III. Intermediate German combines a comprehensive review and fine-tuning of grammar with readings in literature and culture. Learner-centered activities, projects, and discussions develop oral and written proficiency. Students successfully completing German III will have a good understanding of contemporary life in the German-speaking world, will narrate and describe orally and in writing, and will begin to formulate and support opinions. Partner and group work enhances conversational and negotiating skills. Prerequisite: German 12-024 or equivalent.
12-123GERMAN IV. Continuation of German III. Students will move from description and narration to formulation of argument and/or hypothesis, evaluation and analysis. Oral presentations and projects on cultural topics are completed individually and in small groups. Students successfully completing German IV will have the tools to read and comprehend sophisticated texts in German related to their areas of interest or expertise. Beyond a general understanding of contemporary life in the German-speaking world, students will develop in-depth knowledge about major current social, political and cultural issues. Prerequisite: German 12-113 or equivalent.
12-132GERMAN CONVERSATION. A two-credit course designed to support the development of oral proficiency in the beginning and intermediate sequence. Students will talk about themselves and others, refer to activities and events (narrating in present and past tenses), and discuss occupations, pastimes, and the world around them. Authentic materials and audio-visuals will invite comparisons between German and other cultures, build a foundation of cultural literacy, and invite students to become familiar with the German-speaking world. May be repeated, but credit is given only once. Prerequisite: German 12-024 or permission of instructor.
12-222ADVANCED GERMAN CONVERSATION. A two-credit course designed to support development of oral proficiency at intermediate and advanced levels. Articulating comparisons, contrasts, causality, imagination, and speculation is facilitated in the context of exploring and discussing a wide variety of authentic materials. Students also work on increasing complexity, variety, length, and accuracy of description and narration. May be repeated, but credit is given only once. Prerequisite: German 12-113 or permission of instructor.
12-313READING GERMAN: TEXT IN CONTEXT. Introduction to the critical appreciation of a wide variety of texts. Personal stories (e.g. diary), public stories (e.g. journalistic writing), literary stories (poetry, novellas, short stories) and stories told in music and visual images form the textual basis for critical engagement. Formal speaking and writing tasks support the development of linguistic accuracy. Research projects on a variety of texts encourage the development of sensitivity to different contexts of production, publication, and reception. Prerequisite: German 12-123 or equivalent.
12-333ORAL AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION. Intensive work on grammar, composition, and conversation based on readings from a variety of genres, including film. Designed to support the development of advanced proficiency, this course invites students to improve their ability to narrate, compare and contrast, to establish causal relationships, and to speculate in speaking and writing, as well as to develop their creative voice in German. Small group exercises help students express their ideas and opinions about the readings. Idiomatic expressions useful in real-life speaking contexts are organized around common communicative functions, and partner exercises provide active practice in mastering grammar and vocabulary. Prerequisite: German 12-123 or equivalent.
12-343INTRODUCTION TO GERMAN LITERATURE AND FILM, 20TH CENTURY. Intensive writing and discussions on selected literary texts and films. Major female and male authors like Kafka, Brecht, Boll, Hesse, Wolf, Bachmann, Aichinger, and Frischmuth offer a variety of short prose forms – short story, surrealist story, parable, anecdote, novella, fairy tale, experimental texts – from turn-of-the-century romantic tales to sketches of street life during the 1989 velvet revolution. Contemporary films advance discussions and invite comparisons. Students will implement the critical and argumentative skills developed at the intermediate level, crafting increasingly complex analyses both individually and in small groups. Students are encouraged to develop their own poetic voice in creative writing assignments. Prerequisite: German 12-123 at a minimum. German 12-333 highly recommended.
†12-353CONTEMPORARY GERMAN CULTURE. Designed to help students develop a thorough understanding of contemporary German history (1945-present) and culturally relevant issues, this learner-centered course invites students to make connections with other areas of expertise. Content will vary to cover current aspects of culture in the German-speaking world, as well as social and political contexts, e.g. the fall of the Wall, unification and its aftermath, the new Germans, German-American relations, challenges and opportunities of European integration and multiculturalism, reforms in the German education system, etc. Students will practice skills that will enable them to conduct increasingly independent research, and will work on comprehending a variety of authentic materials (film, radio, news, video, web-based information, native speaker conversation, etc.) Students practice self-expression across a variety of culturally significant topics, and will produce oral and written presentations of various lengths and formats. Prerequisite: German 12-123 or equivalent. German 12-333 highly recommended. (POK-American and Western Cultural Heritage)
12-453WOMEN WRITERS IN GERMAN. Based on readings and discussions on a variety of texts by German women writers from saints and healers of the Middle Ages to contemporary transnational and trans-lingual writers, this course explores issues of gender, race, class, sexuality, religion, age, and nation over time and place, highlighting the importance of feminist studies and gender studies to the disciplines of Germanistik and German Studies. Students are encouraged to contribute their expertise on knowledge construction in different disciplinary areas and across languages and cultures. This course invites students to move beyond merely understanding the content of texts to textual analysis and aesthetic appreciation. As increasingly independent and self-reflective language learners, students will begin to develop a repertoire of skills that will serve them in summarizing, interpreting, critiquing, presenting, and substantiating an opinion and argument both orally and in writing. Prerequisite: German 12-313, 333 or 353. Also Feminist Studies 04-443.
12-503STUDIES IN GERMAN LITERATURE I. Study of selected texts from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, as related to German social, cultural, and literary history. Authors and texts may include magic spells, the Nibelungenlied, poetry of courtly love, Martin Luther and the reformation, Kant, and Lessing. At the advanced level, emphasis and value is placed on students’ responsibility for their own learning, and on identifying and pursuing specific individual learning goals. Depending on individual preparation, students continue to work toward a productive balance between accuracy, fluency, and complexity of language use, both orally and in writing. Prerequisite: German 12-313, 333 or 353.
12-513STUDIES IN GERMAN LITERATURE II. Study of selected texts from the modern period, as related to German social, cultural, and literary history. Text selections represent a productive balance between tradition and innovation. At the advanced level, emphasis and value is placed on students’ responsibility for their own learning, and on identifying and pursuing specific individual learning goals. Depending on individual preparation, students continue to work toward a productive balance between accuracy, fluency, and complexity of language use, both orally and in writing. Prerequisite: German 12-313, 333 or 353.
12-613TEXTS/CONTEXTS. Advanced close readings of texts as they relate to multiple fields of study. Specific topics for a given semester are listed in the course schedule. Topics may include Self and Other in German Literature and Culture, Genius and Madness in German Literature and Film, The Figure of the Artist in German Literature and Film, Memory and Identity, Catastrophe in German Literature and Film, and Translingual Writing in German. Intellectual exploration of materials related to the topics is connected with developing multiple literacies. Students continue to enlarge their repertoire of strategies for processing meaning, and practice increasingly sophisticated modes of expression both orally and in writing. May be repeated with a change in content. Prerequisite: German 12-313, 333, or 353.

12-001, 002, 003, 004 SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
12-301, 302, 303, 304 SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
12-933 SEMINAR. This course fulfills the capstone requirement in German. As an integrative experience, the capstone challenges students to demonstrate their ability to interrelate knowledge, insights, and perspectives gained in their German program and their undergraduate experience. Students will work on individual projects while participating substantially in discussions and peer review. Faculty and students will be mentors through the extended process of writing a research paper, from selecting a topic, formulating an outline, researching resources, to bibliography preparation, preparation of several drafts, editing, and final submission of a polished paper in German. In a formal oral presentation, students will introduce their projects to the German-speaking public.
12-941, 942, 943, 944 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP.
12-951, 952, 953, 954 INDEPENDENT STUDY. May be repeated with change of content.
12-983 HONORS. By invitation only.

Spanish (SPA)

All courses are taught in Spanish.

15-014, 024 SPANISH I & II. A two-semester course. Introduction to the language, with emphasis on understanding, speaking, and reading. Use of interactive, computer-based materials is a regular part of the class work.
15-113SPANISH III. Continued practice in the oral-aural skills, with increasing emphasis on reading and writing. Studies and grammar review supplemented with readings and computer-based materials, including the use of the internet. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-024 or equivalent.
15-123SPANISH IV. A continuation of Spanish III. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-113 or equivalent.
15-132SPANISH CONVERSATION. Discussion of topics in Spanish. This course is offered in the fall.
15-212 ADVANCED SPANISH CONVERSATION. Discussions of relevant cultural and social issues in Spanish, with increased emphasis on sophistication of expression during the second semester. Can be taken concurrently with Spanish 15-123.
15-213INTERMEDIATE ORAL AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION. A course designed to further develop students’ spoken and written Spanish. Readings, compositions, and class discussions emphasize more difficult points of grammar and new idiomatic expressions. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-123 or permission of instructor.
15-233LITERATURE, FILM AND PERFORMANCE IN SPANISH. A course studying theatre, film, and poetry reading in performance, with the content varying from year to year.
15-333COMPOSITION IN CULTURAL CONTEXT. A third-year course designed to enhance students’ reading, writing, and speaking skills. Course materials include short literary texts and other written, recorded, and visual materials. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-123 or permission of instructor.
†15-343VISIONS AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE HISPANIC WORLD. Exploration of Peninsular Spanish and Latin American cultures incorporating a variety of materials and approaches, such as geography, history, architecture, literature, music, art, and religion. Involves use of Internet resources. Taught in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-123 or permission of instructor. (POK-American and Western Cultural Heritage)
15-413SURVEY OF PENINSULAR LITERATURE (PRE-20TH CENTURY). Interpretation and analysis of pre-20th century representative texts from Spain, emphasizing Medieval and Golden Age literature. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-333 or permission of instructor.
15-423SURVEY OF LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE (PRE-20TH CENTURY). Interpretation and analysis of pre-20th century representative texts from Spanish America, focusing on both the Colonial and Post-Colonial periods. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-333 or permission of instructor.
15-513CONTEMPORARY LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE. Interpretation and analysis of Twentieth Century representative texts from Latin America. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-333 or permission of instructor.
15-523CONTEMPORARY PENINSULAR LITERATURE. Major figures and literary movements of the Twentieth Century in Spain will be studied. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-333 or permission of instructor.
15-623TOPICS IN HISPANIC LITERATURE. Interpretation and analysis of selected works by Spanish and/or Latin American authors. Contents may vary. Course may be repeated when content varies. Prerequisites: Spanish 15-333 and 413 or 423, or permission of instructor.

15-001, 002, 003, 004 SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
15-301, 302, 303, 304SELECTED TOPICS. May be repeated with change in topic.
15-933 RESEARCH SEMINAR FOR SENIORS. Fulfills the requirements for a capstone experience in Spanish. Prerequisites: SPA15-333, 343, either 413 or 423, and one from 513, 523 or 623.
15-941, 942, 943, 944 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP.
15-951, 952, 953, 954 INDEPENDENT STUDY. May be repeated with changed content.
15-983 HONORS. By invitation only.