SIGN 0100. American Sign Language I, II.

An immersive approach using authentic communication inside and outside of the classroom will be used to develop introductory communicative skills in American Sign Language. Authentic materials from diverse sources will provide an overview of the American Deaf community. Basic media literacy skills will be taught.
This is the first half of a year-long course whose first semester grade is normally a temporary one. Neither semester may be elected independently without special written permission. The final grade at the end of the course work in SIGN 0200 covers the entire year and is recorded as the final grade for both semesters.

SIGN 0200. American Sign Language I, II.

Introduces basic ASL conversation. Features core vocabulary, common signing phrases, non-manual components (facial expression, body postures), signing space, fingerspelling, numbers, loan signs, cultural protocols, rules of ASL grammar and structure. Deaf cultural behavior is introduced in the classroom and through readings, videotapes, and Deaf community events.
This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken SIGN 0100 to receive credit for this course. If SIGN 0100 was taken for credit then this course must be taken for credit; if taken as an audit, this course must also be taken as an audit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the academic department and the Committee on Academic Standing.

SIGN 0300. American Sign Language III.

This course will use an immersive approach incorporating authentic communication to develop intermediate communicative skills in American Sign Language. Through authentic materials from diverse sources, students will engage in classroom discussion and produce media to explore Deaf cultural topics related to family dynamics, language and literacy, and education. Prerequisite SIGN 0200 or placement interview. Additional 1 hour session held through Zoom every week to discuss cultural topics.

SIGN 0400. American Sign Language IV.

Intensive use of expressive and receptive skills in complex grammatical structures, advanced classifiers, dialogues, and storytelling techniques. Discussion of social factors that give rise to code-switching; regional and ethnic sign variations; social, political, and cultural evolution of U.S. Deaf community. Interaction with Deaf community in directed and non-directed activities. Prerequisite SIGN 0300 or placement interview. Additional 1 hour session held through Zoom every week to discuss cultural topics.

SIGN 0500. American Sign Language V.

This courses increases American Sign Language skills by introducing advanced vocabulary and grammar in various registers and settings, including informal and formal discussions, presentations, and storytelling. Through authentic materials from diverse sources, students will explore American Sign Language literature and oral traditions. Prerequisite SIGN 0400 or placement interview. Additional 1 hour session held through Zoom every week to discuss cultural topics.

SIGN 0900. Introduction to Deaf Studies.

Introduction to the Deaf Community and Deaf Culture. Discussion of similarities to, and differences from, mainstream hearing culture. Supplemental videotapes focus on aspects of the culture including Deaf education and history, autobiographical sketches, Deaf norms and values, and Deaf literature, art and folklore. Theoretical issues of culture and linguistics applied to Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and the variety of cultural perspectives of the Deaf community. Students also engage in a research project related to course content. Voice interpreter will be provided; all students are welcome; no previous knowledge of American Sign Language or Deaf Studies is needed.

SIGN 1910. Independent Study in Sign Language/Deaf Studies.

Independent study in an area of special interest to the student, with close guidance by a member of the faculty, and leading to a major paper/project. Required of candidates for honors, and recommended for third year students. Section numbers vary by instructor. Please check Banner for the correct section number and CRN to use when registering for this course. Prerequisite: SIGN 0500 or instructor permission.

ARAB 0100. First-Year Arabic.

Builds basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, introducing the Arabic language in its cultural environment. Four contact hours per week, with an emphasis on grammar and communication, plus written, audio, and video assignments outside of class. This is the first half of a two-semester sequence course whose first semester grade is normally a temporary one. Neither semester may be elected independently without special written permission. The final grade at the end of the course work in ARAB 0200 covers the entire year and is recorded as the final grade for both semesters. If course is full, please request an override.  Enrollment limited to 18.

ARAB 0110. Egyptian Arabic.

This course will introduce students to one of the major colloquial variants of contemporary Arabic. The native language of Egyptian citizens, used predominantly in everyday communication, has long since become widely understood throughout the Arab world, since popularized by the media and pop culture. The beginning oral proficiency that students will acquire in this course, by examining a range of sources, from textbooks to short stories, movies, social media posts and personal accounts by guest-speakers, and by practicing conversation in class, will facilitate their communication with native speakers of Arabic in a variety of informal situations. Prerequisite: ARAB 200. Enrollment limited to 18.

ARAB 0120. Intensive Summer Arabic.

This intensive summer course (Equal to ARAB 0100 and ARAB 0200) is an introductory course designed to build basic listening, speaking, writing, and reading skills in Arabic. MSA is the medium of formal oral and written communication used throughout the Arab world, and the course will mainly focus on this form of the language. This course will introduce essential colloquial vocabulary and grammar necessary for understanding and conducting simple acts of communication with native speakers.

ARAB 0200. First-Year Arabic.

Builds listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, at the low intermediate level of Arabic proficiency. Five contact hours per week, with an emphasis on grammar and communication, plus written, audio, and video assignments outside of class. This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken ARAB 0100 to receive credit for this course. If ARAB 0100 was taken for credit then this course must be taken for credit; if taken as an audit, this course must also be taken as an audit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the academic department and the Committee on Academic Standing. Enrollment limited to 18.

ARAB 0300. Second-Year Arabic.

Develops listening, speaking, reading and writing skills at the intermediate level of language proficiency through extensive use of various texts and multimedia. Promotes better understanding of Arabic cultural traditions. Five contact hours weekly, plus written, audio, and video assignments outside of class. Prerequisite: ARAB 0200. This is the first half of a year-long course. Neither semester may be elected independently without special written permission. The final grade at the end of the course work in ARAB 0400 covers the entire year and is recorded as the final grade for both semesters.

ARAB 0320. Intermediate Arabic.

This course (equal to ARAB 0300 and ARAB 0400) builds on the skills acquired in ARAB 0100 and ARAB 0200. In addition to al-Kitaab, Parts One and Two, coursework will incorporate poetry, prose, music, and films, to broaden your vocabulary, underpin complex grammatical norms, and increase your understanding of contemporary Arab culture. Colloquial usages are naturally integrated in conversation practice. This course will also introduce you to important figures and ideas associated with the cultural history and present of Arab societies. Elements of classical Arabic will be presented, preparing you to access the literary and cultural heritage of the Arab peoples.

ARAB 0400. Second-Year Arabic.

Develops listening, speaking, reading and writing skills at the intermediate level of language proficiency through extensive use of various texts and multimedia. Promotes better understanding of Arabic cultural traditions. Five contact hours weekly, plus written, audio, and video assignments outside of class. Prerequisite: ARAB 0300. This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken ARAB 0300 to receive credit for this course.

ARAB 0450A. Beginning Levantine Colloquial.

Parting from the solid foundation built in MSA during the first two years of Arabic studies, this course will accelerate students’ advancement toward language proficiency by introducing them to Levantine Colloquial, one of the major varieties of Arabic. In preparation for class meetings, we will view and read a variety of media from the Levant. Oral communication and understanding Levantine cultures and contemporary societies will be the focus of our meetings. At the end of the semester, students will gain confidence to function in an ample variety of social and cultural environments and access a wider range of media.

ARAB 0500. Third-Year Arabic.

This course offers comprehensive training in listening, speaking, reading, and writing at the advanced proficiency level. It will accelerate students’ advancement toward language and cultural proficiency by integrating the study of Modern Standard Arabic and Colloquial Arabic, the latter of which will be the main form of oral communication in class discussions. Thematic units will include selections from the classical and modern traditions of Arabic writing, contemporary film and media, and various art forms with the goal of broadening students’ understanding of Arab societies and their cultures. Through this integrated approach, students will gain confidence to function in an ample variety of social and cultural environments and access a wider range of media. Prereq: ARAB0400 or equivalent

ARAB 0600. Third-Year Arabic.

Offers comprehensive training in listening, speaking, reading, and writing with grammar review as needed. Broadens students' perspective of Arabic culture with selections from the classical and modern traditions of Arabic writing and various art forms. Four contact hours weekly. Prerequisite: ARAB 0500.

ARAB 0700. Advanced Arabic: Tales of the City.

The Arab city, current site of a major political upheaval, is the central theme of this integrated-skill language and culture course. Images of cities, as multifaceted as the people who inhabit them, animate cinema screens and daily news reports, inspire masters of writing, artists, and musicians, arouse political activism. By engaging the complex representation of the urban theme in contemporary discursive and art forms, this course will enhance students' understanding of the dynamics of urban politics and culture in the Middle East, while building a content-specific lexicon and advanced communicative ability. Prerequisite: ARAB 0600, or an equivalent. Enrollment limited to 12.

ARAB 0800. Advanced Arabic: Language & Culture through Cinema.

This integrated-skill language and culture course stresses oral interaction in class. We will view and discuss films from the Arab World as vehicles to understanding the cultural and linguistic diversity of Arabic-speaking countries. Our selection of films will focus on issues of economic inequality, family dynamics, and gender, as well as the effects of war and immigration on society. By engaging the complex representation of these themes in contemporary cinema, this course will enhance students' understanding of Middle Eastern culture, while building a content-specific lexicon and advanced communicative ability. Prerequisite: ARAB0600, or an equivalent. Enrollment limited to 12.

ARAB 0850. Advanced reading and composition in Arabic: Kalila wa-Dimna.

This course aims to introduce students with advanced proficiency in Arabic to Classical Arabic exemplified by the stories of Kalila wa-Dimna, one of the most popular medieval Arabic folk tales, told through a cast of personified animals. While written originally in Sanskrit in the fourth century CE, the Arabic translation of Ibn al-Muqaffa’—one of the most influential prose writers in the history of Arabic literature—is what made it a classic in Arabic. It also allowed it to travel to other parts of the globe through various translations based on Ibn al-Muqaffa’s.

Students will also have an opportunity to engage with a modern version of the stories, by Munther Younes, developing further their ability to read critically authentic Arabic texts of different historical periods, sharpening their analytical skills, and expanding their perspective of the language evolution through the ages. Advanced level in Arabic is required.

ARAB 0950. Advanced Reading and Composition: Arabic Fiction in the West.

This course explores themes of exile, nostalgia, and identity in works written in Arabic by Arab authors living in the West. The course aims to improve the students’ skills in critical reading and writing through studying and analyzing original texts in their linguistic, cultural and historical contexts. Students read short stories and novels in Arabic by writers including Houda Barakat, Hassouna Mosbahi and Abdul Hadi Saadoun. All readings and discussions in Arabic.

ARAB 1100. Love, Revolution and Nostalgia in Modern Arabic Poetry.

This course aims to introduce students to the most prominent Arabic poets of the 20th and 21st century. Students will strengthen their language skills while reading and discussing texts by major modern poets from the Middle East and North Africa, including Nizar Qabbani, Darwish and Adonis. Through the works of these poets, they will explore a range of themes from politics and oppression, to love and eroticism, personal freedom and women’s liberation.

Conducted in Modern Standard Arabic; designed for students with advanced language skills. Prerequisite: Four years of Arabic, or by instructor permission.

ARAB 1990. Special Topics in Arabic Language, Literature, and Culture.

Advanced level integrated skill course focusing on specific reading and writing topics derived from the traditions and arts of the Arabic language. Course prerequisites include advanced capacity in Arabic grammar and reading comprehension. Enrollment limited to 10.

ARAB 1990B. Advanced Egyptian Arabic: Displacement and Diaspora in a Modernizing Egypt.

This is a course offered to students with at least six semesters of language study experience. Students must be comfortable with the script, sounds, structure and grammar of the language. The course will familiarize students with one of the major colloquial variants of contemporary Arabic. Egyptian Arabic is the dialect of Egyptian citizens and is used predominantly in everyday communication. Students will acquire proficiency by examining content-based sources related to its theme of displacement. Sources will range from books and articles to video clips, social media posts and accounts by speakers and guests.

ARAB 2450. Exchange Scholar Program.

CATL 0100. Introduction to Catalan Language and Culture.

Students in this course will learn the basics of Catalan, a language spoken by 10 million people. Its culture is internationally renowned in many fields, like cinema, literature, music, theatre, gastronomy, sports, and architecture. This course is designed to provide students with little or no knowledge of the Catalan language with the communicative skills they need, especially oral and cultural, to develop and manage any communicative circumstance, if they need to travel or study abroad in Barcelona or in any Catalan region where the language is spoken.

CATL 0200. Catalan Language and Culture.

An intermediate course which introduces students to Catalan culture and allows them to review and extend their knowledge of all basic patterns (e.g. grammar, vocabulary, phonetics, socicultural norms) of the language. Students will develop their oral and written skills by describing, narrating, and presenting arguments. They will work with texts and audio-visual material that will provide them with a deeper understanding of Catalan literature, culture, and contemporary society. Classes will be conducted in Catalan. Therefore a basic knowledge of Catalan literature is a prerequisite or students may request the instructor's permission to take the course.

CATL 0300. Catalan Language and Culture.

This course continues to develop and strengthen students' proficiency in the Catalan language. The cultural component plays a central role in these classes, as a means to access diverse uses of the language within a cultural context. Varied cultural sources will be explored, such as Catalan cinema, music, artistic expressions, sociocultural elements and literature. These will play a role in enhancing the student’s confidence in their knowledge of the Catalan language and the context in which it is inserted. Students can expect to develop their language skills further, and to be active agents in their learning process.

CATL 1910. Independent Study in Catalan.

An open content course, which may be offered each semester. Offered as an Independent Study, this course will be adapted to students' needs that are not currently covered by our curricular offerings.

EINT 2100. Academic Discourse for Internationals.

This course develops the English skills of first-year international graduate students who are preparing to be teaching assistants. Students improve their listening comprehension and fluency in conversational interactions typical of academic settings. Areas of spoken English that are addressed include pronunciation, stress patterns, intonation, vocabulary, and structure. Instructor permission required.

EINT 2200. Academic Interactions.

This course develops the English language skills of first-year international graduate students who are preparing to be teaching assistants. Students improve their fluency and expression of complex ideas in a variety of linguistic situations typical of classroom interactions. Students also increase their control of vocabulary, pronunciation and listening comprehension when communicating with American undergraduates. Instructor permission required.

EINT 2300. Negotiating an American Classroom.

In this course, international graduate students increase their abilities to communicate accurately and fluently in English with American undergraduates. International students develop their ability to interact, in culturally appropriate ways, in a variety of teaching situations common to an institution of higher education, where they are responsible for expressing and explaining complex information and ideas in English. Instructor permission required.

EINT 2400. Speaking Professionally for Internationals.

This course develops the English communication skills of international graduate students with an emphasis on intelligibility of speech and clarity of expression in a variety of teaching and professional situations (e.g. presenting material, responding to questions, directing discussions). Students develop increased facility of English in extended discourse when they are the authority in a teaching or other professional context. Instructor permission required.

EINT 2500. Advanced Articulation Tutorial.

This course is an advanced pronunciation tutorial for international graduate students who have achieved a near-native speaker level of fluency in English, but who require greater precision of English articulations, pronunciation, fluency and/or expression. Instructor permission required.

HNDI 0100. Beginning Hindi or Urdu.

Introduces conversation, reading, and writing of modern standard Hindi and the Devanagari script. Those who already know Devanagari but have rusty conversation skills may join the class second semester; obtain instructor's permission during the first semester. Those who prefer to learn Urdu and the Persian script should contact the instructor.

HNDI 0200. Beginning Hindi or Urdu.

Introduces conversation, reading, and writing of modern standard Hindi and the Devanagari script. Those who already know Devanagari but have rusty conversation skills may join the class second semester; obtain instructor's permission during the first semester. Those who prefer to learn Urdu and the Persian script should contact the instructor. Prerequisite: HNDI 0100.

HNDI 0300. Intermediate Hindi-Urdu.

A continuation of HNDI 0100-0200, which is a prerequisite. Introduces the variation of the Arabic script used for Urdu. Prepares students to communicate in written and spoken language. Activities are conducted in Hindi/Urdu. Meets four hours weekly.

HNDI 0400. Intermediate Hindi-Urdu.

A continuation of HNDI 0100-0200. Introduces the variation of the Persian script used for Urdu. Prepares students to communicate in written and spoken language. Activities are conducted in Hindi/Urdu. Meets four hours weekly. Prerequisite: HNDI 0300.

HNDI 1080. Advanced Hindi-Urdu.

Each student follows an independent reading list determined in consultation with the instructor. The readings may include folk tales, journalistic prose, 20th-century literature, classical Urdu poetry of the 17th to 19th centuries, or subjects in nonfiction. The class meets together three hours weekly for discussion. Each student also spends one hour weekly with the instructor. Prerequisite: HNDI 0400.

LANG 0150S. Swahili I.

Students successfully completing this beginner's course in Swahili Language and Culture will be able to communicate in Swahili in a culturally-appropriate way. Students will practice skills in an integrated fashion in order to reach some proficiency in speaking, reading, listening, and writing. Course content includes language, culture, history and music. Heritage speakers may place into the course depending on their language level. Like English, Swahili is not a tonal language, and considered to be one of the easier African languages to learn. Whether you are interested in Swahili in order to study and work in Africa or to engage with Swahili speakers in other parts of the world, this beginners course will prepare you well!

LANG 0250S. Beginning Swahili II.

Students successfully completing the second semester of this beginner's course in Swahili Language and Culture will be able to communicate in Swahili in a culturally-appropriate way. Students will practice skills in an integrated fashion in order to reach an intermediate low level of proficiency in speaking, reading, listening, and writing. Course content includes language, culture, history, music and children's literature. Heritage speakers may place into the course depending on their language level. Like English, Swahili is not a tonal language, and considered to be one of the easier African languages to learn. Knowledge of Swahili will assist you in order to study and work in Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) and to be able to engage with Swahili speakers in other parts of the world.

LANG 0710. Protest and Dissidence in Iran.

The anti-authoritarian Woman, Life, Freedom movement arose as a reaction to protests, incarceration and death in Iran in the fall of 2022. In this first-year seminar, you will learn about Iran, a country of 87 million people bordered by Iraq and Afghanistan. We will discuss historical events such as the 1979 Iranian Revolution and how they still affect Iran’s relationship to the West. Through a broad selection of texts, film and art, we will explore topics that include corruption, authoritarianism, multiculturalism, race, social class, religion and gender relations in today’s Iranian culture and society. In English.

LANG 0750. Identity and Languages in Contemporary Africa.

When you think of contemporary Africa, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? IS it a megacity? Africa is the most rapidly urbanizing continent in the world. It is home to three of the world’s megacities (populations of 10 million). It is also home to one-third of the world’s languages and over 2000 languages are spoken in Africa. What is daily life within them like, and what kinds of linguistic, cultural, economic, and political roles do they play in our world? In this interdisciplinary class, we’ll look for answers to these questions in articles and mixed media, including Instagram posts, op-eds, TED Talks, YouTube music videos, sci-fi short stories, documentary photography, and more. What we’ll find might surprise you. Along the way, we’ll also do some critical reflection and self-examination: what shapes the ways we think about Africa and why?

LANG 0760. Language and Film Discourse in Africa.

Africa is home to one of the biggest film industries in the world, Nollywood. In this course, we will watch and analyze selected scenes in films. We will also examine the language used in films to express speech acts (that is, an utterance considered an action) such as advice, apologies, compliments, gratitude, greetings, refusals, requests, and sympathies. Moreover, we will analyze the linguistic, contextual, and social phenomena in African films made in African languages within the past five years. In addition, we will consider language, context, power relations, proverbs, political discourse, and medical discourse in the African film ecology.

LANG 0800. Theory and Practice of Intercultural Competence.

What is intercultural competence? What are its benefits in our globalized society? Through readings, discussions, videos and visuals students will learn the theory behind intercultural competence as well as practical aspects about gaining and honing the skills needed for IC. Students will experience how the implementation of IC enhances study, work and internships carried out both globally and domestically. Limited to 40 students. This course is open to all students. It is also the foundational course required of students participating in Brown’s Certificate of Intercultural Competence.

LANG 1000A. Living in Translation: Trans/national Mobilities and Multilingualism.

Current and historical voluntary, forced, and induced migrations demand we reflect on how we think about languages, as well as the persistent changes we make to language. Translation is one of the changes we encounter daily. This course discusses the ways that thinking in/of translation alters and facilitates our reading, writing, and interpretation. It considers multilingualism alongside the cannibal, a disruptor and figure of linguistic alterity. Our aim is to think about the authors’ and texts’ trans/national movements as we generate questions about mobilities, language, and decoloniality, as well as how they manifest in cultural productions. Materials include novels, short stories, essays, musical recordings, visual art, and film. Authors include Edwidge Danticat, Haruki Murakami, Emine Sevgi Özdamar, Binyavanga Wainaina, and Gloria Anzaldúa among others, with texts in transit between Brazil, Germany, Haiti, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Turkey, etc.

LANG 1200. Archipelagic Thinking with Global Literatures.

Islands and archipelagos have long been disparaged for their openness, blending, and fluidity. Around the globe today, this form of continental thinking continues to provoke nationalist policies and efforts to curb human migrations and refugee movements. This course reconsiders these ideas. In learning to think archipelagically, we will read and watch work by Edwidge Danticat, Rosario Ferré, Isaac Julien, Craig Santos Perez, Ai Weiwei and more. This will include discussing how practices of language, translation, and multilingualism are lived and theorized archipelagically.

LANG 1800. Capstone Seminar in Intercultural Competence.

This course serves as the final capstone course for the Certificate in Intercultural Competence. Students will connect the skills, attitudes and knowledge developed throughout the course work and experiential learning component of the Certificate to their future goals. Students will work on synthesizing all components of the Certificate through weekly discussions, simulations and case studies. Research topics and group discussions are designed to continue conversations that extend the work that began in the required foundation course LANG0800 The Theory and Practice of Intercultural Competence. Students will prepare a multi-modal presentation, and have the option of presenting a portfolio in a digital format, a podcast or a video, of the work they have completed along their journey towards intercultural competence. Students will participate in a public presentation session in order to share their work and engage the wider language-learning community on-campus.

LANG 1900. Independent Study in Languages.

This course will meet the needs of students who are not studying one of the languages offered by the CLS faculty. Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced integrated skill course focusing on specific reading and writing topics selected by the faculty advisor and the student. Enrollment limited to 10.

LANG 2450. Exchange Scholar Program.

LANG 2900. Seminar in Language Pedagogy and Second Language Acquisition.

This course prepares graduate students in modern languages to understand theories of language pedagogy and second language acquisition. Students will gain both practical knowledge to incorporate into everyday teaching as well as an understanding of which approaches to teaching might be more effective than others in various classroom contexts and why. Undergraduates may enroll with permission of the instructor.

LANG XLIST. Courses of Interest to Students pursuing the Certificate in Intercultural Competence.

NAHU 0100. Beginning Nahuatl.

Once the lingua franca of the Aztec Empire, Nahuatl is the most widely spoken indigenous language in Mexico and in North America as a whole, with 1.7 million speakers and 30 variants. As the vehicle of centuries-old knowledge transmitted orally, Nahuatl offers an entry point into the cultures and worldviews of various indigenous communities today, both in Mexico and its diaspora. This online course offers an introduction to Nahuatl (Huasteca variant) through an immersive methodology focused on developing your speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing, while fostering your cultural sensibility and competence. Ability to understand Spanish is desirable. Language of instruction is Nahuatl and Spanish.

NAHU 0200. Beginning Nahuatl II.

Once the lingua franca of the Aztec Empire, Nahuatl is the most widely spoken indigenous language in Mexico and in North America as a whole, with 1.7 million speakers and 30 variants. As the vehicle of centuries-old knowledge transmitted orally, Nahuatl offers an entry point into the cultures and worldviews of various indigenous communities today, both in Mexico and its diaspora. This online course offers an introduction to Nahuatl (Huasteca variant) through an immersive methodology focused on developing your speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing, while fostering your cultural sensibility and competence.

NAHU 0300. Intermediate Nahuatl.

Intermediate Nahuatl offers students the opportunity to learn new themes and cultural practices of the Nahua communities of Chicontepec after NAHU 0100 and NAHU 0200. The approach is geared towards developing communication skills at an intermediate level. These skills will also allow students to explore colonial documents written in classical Nahuatl. The teaching method employs a communicative and cultural approach designed to develop both language proficiency and cultural competence. This is achieved through activities related to specific functions, contexts, grammar, and vocabulary relevant to everyday life situations in an indigenous community. Sessions are highly participatory and interactive, and small group work is often used. The course is mostly taught in Nahuatl to encourage its use and practice in classes.

NAHU 0400. Nahuatl II.

Nahuatl II or intermediate offers students the opportunity to learn new themes and cultural practices of the Nahua communities of Chicontepec after NAHU 0100, NAHU 0200 and NAHU 0300. The approach is geared towards developing communication skills at an intermediate level. These skills will also allow students to explore colonial documents written in classical Nahuatl. The teaching method employs a communicative and cultural approach designed to develop both language proficiency and cultural competence. This is achieved through activities related to specific functions, contexts, grammar, and vocabulary relevant to everyday life situations in an indigenous community. Sessions are highly participatory and interactive, and small group work is often used. The Nahuatl II course is mostly taught in Nahuatl, to encourage its use and practice in classes.

NAHU 0500. Advanced Nahuatl.

Nahuatl III or advanced is a course that offers students the opportunity to learn new themes and cultural practices of the Nahua communities of Chicontepec after NAHU 0100, NAHU 0200, NAHU 0300 and NAHU 0400. The approach is geared towards developing communication skills at an advanced level. These skills will also allow students to explore colonial documents written in classical Nahuatl. The teaching method employs a communicative and cultural approach designed to develop both language proficiency and cultural competence. This is achieved through activities related to specific functions, contexts, grammar, and vocabulary relevant to everyday life situations in an indigenous community. Sessions are highly participatory and interactive, and small group work is often used. The Nahuatl III course is mostly taught in Nahuatl, to encourage its use and practice in classes.

NAHU 0600. Advanced Nahuatl II.

Advanced Nahuatl II offers students the opportunity to learn new themes and cultural practices of the Nahua communities of Chicontepec after NAHU 0100, NAHU 0200, NAHU 0300, NAHU 0400 and NAHU 0500. The approach is geared towards developing communication skills at an advanced level. These skills will also allow students to explore colonial documents written in classical Nahuatl. The teaching method employs a communicative and cultural approach designed to develop both language proficiency and cultural competence. This is achieved through activities related to specific functions, contexts, grammar, and vocabulary relevant to everyday life situations in an indigenous community. Sessions are highly participatory and interactive, and small group work is often used. The Advanced Nahuatl II course is mostly taught in Nahuatl to encourage its use and practice in classes.

PRSN 0100. Basic Persian.

Persian (Farsi) is a Middle Eastern language spoken by millions of people across Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. This fast-paced course for beginners stresses the acquisition of Persian alphabet and basic grammatical patterns, beginning levels of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Strong emphasis on the links between language and culture. One additional hour completed asynchronously by enrolled students.

PRSN 0105. Accelerated Persian.

Persian (also called Farsi, Dari, or Tajiki) is a thriving modern language spoken by over 110 million people across Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. This course is designed for beginners in Persian who are already familiar with the script from other Middle Eastern or South Asian languages (such as Arabic, Urdu, Ottoman Turkish, or Punjabi), or who have some basic proficiency in the language. It may also be suitable for heritage speakers – please consult the instructor. After this course, students will move directly to PRSN 0300 Intermediate Persian Language and Culture.

PRSN 0200. Basic Persian.

Fast-paced course for beginners. Course stresses acquisition of Persian alphabet and basic grammatical patterns, beginning levels of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Strong emphasis on the links between language and culture.
This is the second half of a year-long course. Students must have taken PRSN 0100 to receive credit for this course. If PRSN 0100 was taken for credit then this course must be taken for credit; if taken as an audit, this course must also be taken as an audit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the academic department and the Committee on Academic Standing.
One additional hour in consultation with instructor and enrolled students.

PRSN 0300. Intermediate Persian Language and Culture.

Expands students' proficiency in modern Persian language and culture; develops listening, speaking, reading and writing skills at the intermediate level through various texts and multimedia. Prerequisite: PRSN 0200. One additional hour in consultation with instructor and enrolled students.

PRSN 0400. Intermediate Persian Language and Culture.

Expands students' proficiency in modern Persian language and culture; develops listening, speaking, reading and writing skills at the intermediate level through various texts and multimedia. Prerequisite: PRSN 0300. One additional hour in consultation with instructor and enrolled students.

PRSN 0500. Advanced Persian Language and Culture I.

For students who have completed PRSN 0400 or have acquired language skills above the intermediate level through contact with Persian in other ways. The main goal of this course is to improve speaking, listening, reading and writing skills and promote exposure to the culture. It will enable students to expand their knowledge of the language by studying samples of modern and classical Persian literature in order to advance toward mastery of contemporary literature. The course will motivate students to communicate both in written and spoken Persian by utilizing the adequate grammatical order and correct vocabulary. Prerequisite: PRSN 0400.

PRSN 0600. Advanced Persian Language and Culture II.

Designed for students who have completed PRSN 0500 or have acquired language skills above the advanced level through other means. The main goal of the course is to improve speaking, listening, reading and writing skills and promote exposure to the language and culture through in depth study of samples of Persian literature, history, journals, newspapers, radio and TV material to advance toward mastery of contemporary literature. Students will be motivated to communicate both in written and spoken Persian by utilizing adequate grammatical order and vocabulary. Activities will include poetry reading, informal gatherings and translation from and into Persian. Prerequisite: PRSN 0500.

PRSN 0720. Modern Iran: Literature, Media & Pop Culture.

From the world-famous novels of Shahrnoush Parsipour to the subversive rap lyrics of Hichkas; from the Oscar-winning films of Asghar Farhadi to state-sponsored TV propaganda of the Islamic Republic – this course takes a wide-ranging approach to understanding contemporary Iranian culture and society. Through a broad selection of sources translated into English, students will familiarize themselves with recent historical events in Iran and become more acquainted with various aspects of Iranian culture. The chronological focus will be from the 1979 Iranian Revolution to the present and will be organized around a number of social and political themes, including corruption, authoritarianism, multiculturalism, race, social class, religion and gender relations. No proficiency in Persian (Farsi) is required to enroll; however a separate discussion will be offered for students with Persian proficiency. No prior knowledge of the Middle East needed to enroll.

PRSN 1100. Reading Persian for Research.

Through a broad range of historical and academic texts in Persian, students will prepare to read and interpret Persian with the help of a dictionary at a level sufficient for carrying out academic research. In this course, students will engage with great thinkers, jurists, poets, and chroniclers of the Persian-speaking world: from the bold, multivalent poems of Jahan Malek Khatun, to the philosophical insights of Ghazali, the Machiavellian stylings of Hossein Va’ez Kāshefi, and the surprisingly candid memoirs of Qajar princess Taj al-Saltaneh. As the course is focused on preparing students for graduate language exams and research, it will not be actively working on students’ speaking or listening skills in Persian. It is designed for students who have completed the Intermediate Persian language sequence at Brown, or who have attained a similar proficiency level elsewhere.

PRSN 1100A. Reading Persian for Research.

Through a broad range of historical and academic texts in Persian, students will prepare to read and interpret Persian with the help of a dictionary at a level sufficient for carrying out academic research. In this course, students will engage with great thinkers, jurists, poets, and chroniclers of the Persian-speaking world: from the bold, multivalent poems of Jahan Malek Khatun, to the philosophical insights of Ghazali, the Machiavellian stylings of Hossein Va’ez Kāshefi, and the surprisingly candid memoirs of Qajar princess Taj al-Saltaneh. As the course is focused on preparing students for graduate language exams and research, it will not be actively working on students’ speaking or listening skills in Persian. It is designed for students who have completed the Intermediate Persian language sequence at Brown, or who have attained a similar proficiency level elsewhere.

PRSN 1150. Persian Historical Texts & Codicology.

Through a broad range of historical texts in Persian, students will prepare to read and interpret Persian at a level sufficient for carrying out academic research (with the help of a dictionary). In this course, students will engage with historical chronicles, literary texts, philosophical treatises and other documents of historical interest from the Persian-speaking world. Where possible, students will also grapple with the original manuscript tradition for the texts in question, learning to decipher handwriting and the general standards for creating a critical edition of a premodern text. As the course is focused on preparing students for graduate language exams and research, it will not be actively working on students’ speaking or listening skills in Persian. It is designed for students who have completed the Intermediate Persian language sequence at Brown, or who have attained a similar proficiency level elsewhere.

PRSN 1200. Iranian Cinema: Before and After the Islamic Revolution.

This course provides an overview of Iranian Cinema in general and explores in detail Iranian cinema after the Iranian revolution. It explores the politics, history, techniques and the art of cinema of the past several decades in Iran. Classes consist of screenings, discussions and lectures. Conducted in English, open to all students. Enrollment limited to 25.

PRSN 2980. Reading and Research.

Work with individual students in connection with special readings, problems of research, or preparation of theses. Section numbers vary by instructor. Please check Banner for the correct section number and CRN to use when registering for this course.

TKSH 0100. Introduction to Turkish Language and Culture I.

This is a proficiency oriented introductory course to Turkish Language and Culture. It adopts and integrated skills approach and is designed for students with little or no prior knowledge of Turkish. The course combines an emphasis on the development of communicative competences with an understanding of language structures and grammar as well as insights into Modern Turkish society and culture. The aim is to introduce students to basic linguistic structures and develop the ability to comprehend and produce text, as well as to speak and understand speech, in a variety of contexts and registers. Graduate students should contact the instructor to register.

TKSH 0110. Intensive Elementary Turkish Language and Culture.

This intensive elementary Turkish course is designed for students who have no prior familiarity with Turkish. It introduces students to the grammar and vocabulary of the Turkish language via speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a special focus on speaking and listening. Students will also learn about Turkish-speaking cultures. They will be exposed to adapted Turkish audio-visual materials, situational survival phrases, and some authentic reading and audio-visual materials, and will be able to produce basic narratives and texts in the language. This course will be equivalent to one academic year of Turkish. Students will be able to continue to the 300 level Turkish course upon completion of this intensive Turkish course.

TKSH 0200. Introduction to Turkish.

This is the second semester of a proficiency oriented introductory course to Turkish Language and Culture. It adopts an integrated skills approach and is designed for students who have taken Turkish 0100 or have placed into the class after consultation with the instructor or a placement exam.The course combines an emphasis on the development of communicative competences with an understanding of language structures and grammar as well as insights into Modern Turkish society and culture.

TKSH 0300. Intermediate Turkish.

This course focuses on both communicative skills and the language structures of modern Turkish. Students will learn about Turkish society, culture, and traditions. Course materials include Turkish films, podcasts, radio programs, as well as authentic and adapted Turkish written texts. New students can place into the course depending on their language level. Class will be scheduled for three times a week synchronously in consultation with students and the instructor.  There will also be one hour of asynchronous instruction.

TKSH 0400. Intermediate Turkish II.

TKSH 0400 is designed for students who have taken TKSH 0300 and already studied Turkish language to develop proficiency at an advanced level. New students can place into it, after special arrangements with the instructor. The course places equal emphasis on further developing four skills (reading, listening, speaking, and writing) at an advance proficiency level as well as advanced compound and subordinate structures in grammar. It combines an emphasis on the development of communication skills with an understanding of the language and insights into Modern Turkish society and culture. There will be one additional hour TBD in consultation with the instructor and students.

TKSH 0500. Advanced Turkish I.

This course builds upon the linguistic and communicative points covered in TKSH 0400, and it is designed for students who are interested in Turkish language and culture. New students can place into it, after special arrangements with the instructor. The course is based on the development of four integrated skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will learn about modern Turkey, Turkish society and culture by reading, watching, and listening to authentic and adapted Turkish texts including articles, news pieces, short stories, poems, movie clips, and songs.

TKSH 0600. Advanced Turkish II Online.

This course builds upon the linguistic and communicative points covered in TKSH 0500, and it is designed for students who are interested in Turkish language and culture. New students can place into it, after special arrangements with the instructor. The course is based on the development of four integrated skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will learn about modern Turkey, its political and cultural issues by reading authentic Turkish articles and literary work, and watching and listening to authentic Turkish texts such as news, podcasts, video clips etc.

TKSH 0720A. Understanding Modern Turkey Through Film and Literature.

This course will introduce students to modern Turkey and offer a wide range of perspectives on the society and its culture. Each week, we will focus on a single theme such as: family and gender; social classes and their interaction with each other; Istanbul and its neighborhoods; Turkey’s role within Europe; ethnic identities and their recognition by Turkish society; Turkish media and entertainment; modernism and political Islam; important events in the very recent history of Turkey including the Hrant Dink assassination, terror attacks, and the 2016 coup d’état attempt; education and academic freedom; modern literature; specific cultural practices and rituals; foreigners’ perspectives on Turkish society; and modern Turkish sensory experiences including music and cuisine.

TKSH 0720B. Istanbul, Global Metropolis.

This course will introduce Istanbul as a global metropolis, by examining a wide range of issues and challenges facing the city and its people. Each week, we will focus on a single aspect such as: a brief historical outline of the city; the Istanbulites of the past and today; the power distribution between elites and underdogs; the struggles of the city’s minorities and refugees; the effects of urbanization and rapid economic development; the uniqueness and interconnection of Istanbul’s neighborhoods; cultures and their politicization; social movements and city squares as symbols of social resistance; architecture of the everyday and the city’s architectural masterpieces; the representation of Istanbul in cinema and Turkish TV Series; and imagining Istanbul in modern Turkish literature.

TKSH 1100. Introductory Ottoman Turkish I.

This course is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. This introductory course aims to develop learners’ Ottoman Turkish reading and understanding skills written in the Ottoman Turkish (Arabo-Persian) alphabet. Students will practice reading Ottoman Turkish starting with simple separate words, and they will gradually move to studying longer texts. Simultaneously, students will review the main grammatical features of Ottoman Turkish including simple Arabic and Persian grammatical elements in the texts. Students will also practice how to solve problems encountered in the texts with use of dictionaries. In this introductory course students will mainly study the printed Ottoman Turkish texts published after the Second Constitutional Era (1908), and then they will be introduced to the texts of the ‘New Ottoman Turkish’ era (1839-1908). Minimum B2 level of Turkish is required for this class. Please email me if you have any questions about your Turkish language level.

TKSH 1100A. Understanding Modern Turkey Through Film, Literature, and Media.

This course introduces students to modern Turkey and offers a wide range of perspectives on its society and culture. Themes include family and gender in Turkish society; Turkish social classes; Istanbul and its neighborhoods; Turkey’s role within Europe; ethnic identities and their recognition by Turkish society; Turkish media and entertainment; modernism and political Islam; important events in the very recent history of Turkey including the Hrant Dink assassination, terror attacks, and the 2016 coup d’état; education and academic freedom; modern literature; specific cultural practices and rituals; foreigners’ perspectives on Turkish society; and modern Turkish sensory experiences including music and cuisine.

YORU 0100. Introduction to Yoruba I.

Students successfully completing this beginner's course in Yoruba Language and Culture will have the facility to speak in proper tones and patterns and to understand Yoruba used in common everyday situations. Students will practice skills in an integrated fashion in order to reach some proficiency in speaking, reading, listening, and writing.  Course content includes Yoruba culture, literature, theater and music. Heritage speakers may place into the course depending on their language level.

YORU 0200. Introduction to Yoruba II.

Students successfully completing this beginner's course in Yoruba Language and Culture will have the facility to speak in proper tones and patterns and to understand Yoruba used in common everyday situations. Students will practice skills in an integrated fashion in order to reach some proficiency in speaking, reading, listening, and writing.  Course content includes Yoruba culture, literature, theater and music. Heritage speakers may place into the course depending on their language level.

YORU 0300. Intermediate Yoruba I.

Students will learn to speak, read and write Yorùbá at an intermediate level. Classroom time focuses on speaking; homework includes work with the textbook and vocabulary learning. Texts include a variety of materials from BBC including films and audio materials. Learners will also be introduced to some current affairs, social, artistic and cultural events and issues in Nigeria. Learners will work on a paper in Yorùbá about their exposure to the language and culture as a final project.

YORU 0400. Intermediate Yoruba II.

This intermediate course expands on the work done in YORU0300. Focus continues to be on speaking while also learning to write longer texts in Yorùbá with tones. Students will become more familiar with the tradition of Yorùbá proverbs. Themes of the course include aspects of African culture such as education, fashion, music, business, film, and politics.