Courses
WLC-190. Language Immersion. 3 Hours.
Language immersion affords a multidimensional approach to language learning that facilitates successful acquisition. By its very nature, immersion provides experiences in multiple linguistic contexts so that the student is exposed to more than just academic input in the target language. This course is designed for students that undertake the study language in both formal and informal environments. While the academic portion of this course is guided by the established curriculum, both the quality and quantity of the informal experience is determined by the student according to his/her individual needs and interests, leading to the integration of formal and informal contexts.
WLC-191. Language Immersion II. 3 Hours.
As a continuation of WLC-190, this second semester course is designed for students who wish to continue the study of language in both formal and informal environments. While the academic portion of this course is guided by the established curriculum, both the quality and quantity of the informal experience is determined by the student according to his/her individual needs and interests, leading to the integration of formal and informal contexts.
WLC-200A. Introduction To Arab Cultures. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to the wealth of literary, artistic, and musical cultures in the Arabic-speaking world. You will learn to describe, contextualize, and analyze representative cultural texts from literature (e.g., poems, short stories, folk tales and legends), fine arts (e.g., painting and photography), and popular culture (e.g., popular music, films, comics), and to evaluate how they reinforce, question or subvert normative constructions of gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality and nationalism specific to but not limited to the Arabic-speaking world. Taught in English. Sophomore standing or above.
WLC-200B. Introduction To Brazilian Culture. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to the wealth of literary, artistic, and musical cultures in Brazil. You will learn to describe, contextualize, and analyze representative cultural texts from literature (e.g., poems, short stories, folk tales and legends), fine arts (e.g., painting and photography), and popular culture (e.g., popular music, films, comics), and to evaluate how they reinforce, question or subvert normative constructions of gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality and nationalism specific to but not limited to Brazil. Taught in English. Sophomore standing or above.
WLC-200C. Introduction To Chinese Culture. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to the wealth of literary, artistic, and musical cultures in China. You will learn to describe, contextualize, and analyze representative cultural texts from literature (e.g., poems, short stories, folk tales and legends), fine arts (e.g., painting and photography), and popular culture (e.g., popular music, films, comics), and to evaluate how they reinforce, question or subvert normative constructions of gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality and nationalism specific to but not limited to China. Taught in English. Sophomore standing or above.
WLC-200E. Intermediate Studies In Foreign Language: Introduction To Korean Culture. 3 Hours.
WLC-200F. Introduction To French And Francophone Cultures. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to France and francophone cultures and to the French and francophone influences in Chicago and the Midwest. Students will learn to describe, contextualize, and analyze representative cultural texts from literature (i.e., poems, short stories, folk tales, and legends), fine arts (i.e., painting and photography), and popular culture (i.e., popular music, films, comics), and to evaluate how they reinforce, question or subvert normative constructions of gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality and nationalism in France and the international francophone community. Taught in English. Sophomore standing or above.
WLC-200I. Introduction To Italian Culture. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to the wealth of literary, artistic, and musical cultures in culture of Italy. You will learn to describe, contextualize, and analyze representative cultural texts from literature (i.e., poems, short stories, folk tales and legends), fine arts (i.e., painting and photography), and popular culture (i.e., popular music, films, comics), and to evaluate how they reinforce, question or subvert normative constructions of gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality and nationalism specific to but not limited to culture of the Italian peninsula. Taught in English. Sophomore standing or above.
WLC-200J. Introduction To Japanese Culture. 3 Hours.
This course introduces student to the wealth of literary, artistic, and musical cultures in Japan. You will learn to describe, contextualize, and analyze representative cultural texts from literature (e.g., poems, short stories, folk tales and legends), fine arts (e.g., painting and photography), and popular culture (e.g., popular music, films, comics), and to evaluate how these texts reinforce, question or subvert normative constructions of gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality and nationalism specific to but not limited to Japan. Knowledge of Japanese language is not required, but because the Japanese often integrate their culture and language, a discussion of some elements of the Japanese language will be part of the class. Taught in English. Sophomore standing or above.
WLC-200K. Kurdish Culture. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to various aspects of Kurdish society. The course incorporates a number of perspectives: anthropological, sociological and cultural studies. It provides an overview of Kurdish society with special attention given to questions of identity, history, important literary and cultural texts and figures, music and dance, food and folkways. Finally, contemporary challenges faced by various parts of Kurdish society will be explored in relation to statelessness and diaspora.
Prerequisite: ENGL-101 with a minimum grade of C.
WLC-200L. Introduction To Latin American Cultures. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to the wealth of literary, artisitc, and musical cultures in Latin America. Students will learn to describe, contextualize, and analyze representative cultural texts from literature (e.g., poems, short stories, folk tales and legends), fine arts (e.g., painting and photography), and popular culture (e.g., popular music, films, comics), and to evaluate how they reinforce, question or subvert normative constructions of gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality and nationalism specific to but not limited to Latin America. Taught in English.
WLC-200P. Introduction To Polish Culture. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to the wealth of literary, artistic, and musical cultures in Poland. Students will learn to describe, contextualize, and analyze representative cultural texts from literature (e.g., poems, short stories, folk tales and legends), fine arts (e.g., painting and photography), and popular culture (e.g., popular music, films, comics), and to evaluate how they reinforce, question or subvert normative constructions of gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality and nationalism specific to but not limited to Poland. Taught in English. Sophomore standing or above.
WLC-200S. Introduction To Assyrian Culture. 3 Hours.
This course will serve as an introduction to the literary, artistic, and musical traditions in the Assyrian culture. You will learn to describe, contextualize, and analyze representative cultural texts from literature, fine arts, and popular culture, and to evaluate how they reinforce, question or subvert normative constructions of gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality and nationalism specific to but not limited to Assyrian culture. Taught in English.
WLC-220. French Culture Through Film. 3 Hours.
Explores the successive historical, political, social and aesthetic climates of modern France and francophone countries through the study of film. Conducted in English.
WLC-220A. Arab Culture Through Film. 3 Hours.
This course uses cinema as a tool to think critically about key topics of modern Arab cultures, including ethnicity, nationalism, religion, and gender roles, among others. Students will learn to situate films in specific political and cultural contexts, and to discuss how aesthetic choices guide possible interpretations. Taught in English. Sophomore standing or above.
WLC-220T. Italian Culture Through Film. 3 Hours.
This course uses cinema as a tool to think critically about key topics of Italian culture, including national identity, religion, and gender roles, among others. Students will learn to situate films in specific historical and cultural contexts, and to discuss how aesthetic choices guide possible interpretations. Taught in English.
WLC-221J. Japanese Culture Through Film. 3 Hours.
This course uses cinema as a tool to think critically about key topics of Japanese culture, including nationalism, religion, and gender roles, among others. Students will learn to situate films in specific historical and cultural contexts, and to discuss how aesthetic choices guide possible interpretations. Taught in English. Sophomore standing or above.
WLC-302. Introduction To Teaching World Languages. 3 Hours.
The nature of language and language-learning processes; demonstration of specific organizational patterns and teching methods in keeping with these; the changing status of foreign language teaching; and the importance of language teaching in an interdependent world. Implications for foreign language teaching of recent developments in linguistics, pscychology, psycholinguistics, curriculum, teaching materials and technology. Emphasis on designing, presenting and evaluating specific classroom procedures in the linguistically oriented teaching of the communicative skills.
WLC-320. Feminisms In Islam. 3 Hours.
This course examines theories, political goals, strategies and activism(s) of the emerging global trend of Islamic feminism(s). Understood as part of a much broader trend in post-colonial and transitional feminisms, Islamic feminism is one of the responses to the hegemonic tendencies of which secular, Western, white, and middle-class focused feminism is often accused. This class analyzes Islam through a gendered lens and focuses on how Islamic feminists promote gender equality and social justice based on a feminist reading of Islam’s sacred texts. (Please note: this course is not a theology course).
WLC-333. Writing Intensive Program: Cross-Cultural Communication. 3 Hours.
In this course the student will be provided with multiple opportunities for writing in English about the study of world languages in both literary and linguistic contexts. The language professional will need to be prepared for writing various types of texts including: description, narration, exposition and argumentation. The broader focus of cross-cultural communication is explored in this course via the fundamentals of translation with a narrow focus on the cultural nuances embedded in the lexicon. A comparison of texts written in their original language and in their translated version will be one of the many components explored in the course.
Prerequisite: ENGL-101 with a minimum grade of C.
WLC-340. Latina/x Feminisms & Social Media. 3 Hours.
This course has two goals: first, students will become familiarized with a panorama of texts exemplifying the historical trajectory of Latina/x intersectional feminist thought in the United States. During the second half of the course, students will research social media activism and contextualize popular Latina/x social media activists and representation, with special emphasis on the disputes and ongoing developments in group identities and senses of self, as well as broad social and political questions relevant to Latina/o/xs, with an eye towards citizenship, consumerism, and immigration issues.
WLC-383S. Special Topics In Latina/o And Latin American Literary And Cultural Studies. 3 Hours.
Varying topics in the field of Latinx and Latin American literary and cultural studies.
WLC-384. Drugs, Intoxication And Addiction In The Americas. 3 Hours.
This course is an interdisciplinary approach to drugs, intoxication and addiction in the Americas. Students will challenge received knowledge on these topics by analyzing cultural products that portray drug trafficking, consumption and addiction and by engaging with critical theory that problematizes the role of drugs in our society and the social harms caused by prohibition. Special emphasis will be given to the ways that various systems of oppression, such as capitalism, racism, (neo)colonialism and patriarchy, intersect in the economy of drugs and how peripheral perspectives from the Global South can indicate more liberating perspectives on the relationship between humans and intoxicants.
Prerequisite: (100 - 399 or 100A - 399Z).