CLASSICS

Courses in the Classics Program improve students’ facility in dealing with a number of disciplinary and interdisciplinary challenges.

Students will:

  • master the elements of Greek and Latin grammar;
  • read and comprehend Greek and Latin texts in their original languages;
  • use their knowledge of Greek and Latin to aid their study in other programs in the liberal arts, understand the historical foundations and interrelations of those studies, and bring them together into shared projects;.
  • discern a diverse range of value systems and complex points of view by familiarizing themselves with the idiosyncratic and seminal institutions of the Greeks and the syncretic culture of the Romans;
  • examine more closely Greek, Roman, and Early Christian traditions and understand how each tradition shaped the views and actions of the major figures in them; and
  • construct a critical and charitable approach to each of those traditions and gain a far-reaching perspective on the ways those cultures developed over time, grew, declined, clashed with each other, and adapted to the world around them.

FRENCH

French classes are structured sequentially to enable students to become increasingly capable listeners, competent speakers, proficient writers, and insightful readers of French.

Expression and Social Interaction:

Students . . .

  • master elements of grammar essential to effective communication in French;
  • communicate effectively in authentic French, both orally and in writing;
  • adapt the language appropriately to the generic and social character of their communication; and
    analyze and compare conflicting ideas and opinions to facilitate cooperation and collaboration.

Critical Reflection:

Students . . .

  • assess the cultural character of individual, social, and intellectual values;
  • appreciate insightfully how French culture has influenced other cultures, particularly that of the United States;
  • develop literary interpretations through analysis of language, conventions of genre, the influence of history, and the progress of ideas;
  • in their writing, challenge assumptions, anticipate consequences of divergent perspectives, explain different viewpoints on complex issues, evaluate the support available for each, and defend judgments; and
  • conduct independent research in French, both in writing and orally, in a senior-year ‘capstone’ project that is used by faculty in French to assess program success in reaching its objectives.

GERMAN

As the foundation for achieving the goals outlined in our mission statement, all German courses are designed to provide students with the content and skills needed to achieve:

Level-appropriate verbal, aural, and written linguistic competence as manifested in the ability to:

  • engage in conversation and debate of relevant personal, cultural, historical, and political topics;
  • write in a variety of genres; and
  • read a variety of genres.

Increasingly sophisticated cultural and critical competence as manifested in the ability to:

  • distinguish textual genres and articulate their value as aesthetic expressions of personal and collective experience;
  • analyze and interpret literary and non-literary texts within their historical and cultural context and through application of critical theory; and
  • apply critical skills and knowledge of the German-speaking world gained in our curriculum to engagement with, and understanding of, other cultural and societal traditions, perspectives, and conflicts.

HISPANIC STUDIES

Below is an outline of student learning outcomes at yearly milestones of our Hispanic Studies Program:

First Year:

  • students will read, write, speak, and understand Spanish at the Novice-high level; and
  • students will have an initial understanding and awareness of the diversity and complexity of the Hispanic world.

Second Year:

  • students will read, write, speak, and understand Spanish at the Intermediate-mid level; and
  • students will describe and identify major regions and cultural themes in the Hispanic world.

Third Year:

  • students will read, write, speak, and understand Spanish at the Advanced-low level.
  • students will contextualize and comprehend literary texts from all major genres, and apply appropriate literary terminology; and
  • students will also examine and analyze contemporary social and political issues in the Hispanic world within the context of their historical relevance.

Fourth Year:

  • students will read, write, speak, and understand Spanish at the Advanced-mid level; and
  • students will formulate a hypothesis, research and apply critical theory to literary texts, analyze and evaluate primary and secondary sources, and identify variety of linguistic systems in the Hispanic world.

*For all references to ACTFL national guidelines, see http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=4236.

Senior Capstone Outcomes:

The Senior Capstone for Hispanic Studies is an extensive research project that concludes in a written paper and formal presentation to an open audience, all in Spanish. Students will demonstrate their ability to:

  • read, write, speak, and understand Spanish at the Advanced-mid level;
  • formulate an original hypothesis to analyze and evaluate literary texts, then research and apply critical theory to support their hypothesis;
  • increase trans-linguistic competence by working simultaneously on Spanish and English texts;
    analyze and evaluate primary and secondary sources; and
  • utilize sufficient and appropriate resources, most of which are in Spanish.

NORWEGIAN

Upon completion of a major in Norwegian, the student will:

  • demonstrate proficiency in Norwegian language in all four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking;
  • build an informed fluency of Norwegian culture within the Nordic region in its historical and contemporary contexts;
  • analyze and interpret literary texts through sound application of literary theory;
  • compare and contrast literary genres and narrative strategies as aesthetic and critical voices of human experience;
  • integrate language, culture, and literature in advanced analysis and interpretation of fiction and/or non-fiction texts or discourses;
  • argue the role of texts as diverse expressions of human experience;
  • master advanced ability to write and speak with critical sophistication and elegance; and
  • apply skills and perspectives gained in the major to an engaged understanding of diverse cultural and societal perspectives.