Introduction to Reading Hispanic Literature

Last Updated: Sun, 01/11/2026
Course prefix:
SPAN
Course number:
3050
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

Through close reading of major literary works by Spanish and Latin American authors, this course fosters intercultural competency and critical understanding of the Hispanic world. By examining how literature reflects and challenges the diverse experiences of Spanish-speaking societies --including Latino/a communities in the United States-- students will gain insight into the cultural perspectives, values, and histories that shape contemporary life across the Spanish-speaking world.

Course learning outcomes:
  • Develop reading skills and strategies through the comprehension and interpretation of literary works in Spanish.
  • Identify and discuss cultural variations across the Spanish-speaking world as represented in literature, in relation to their historical, geographical, and social contexts.
  • Compare and contrast Hispanic cultural practices, products, and perspectives with those of the students’ own cultures.
  • Critically reflect on the relationship among language, culture, and ideology.
  • Collaboratively design a creative project that integrates literary analysis with a social issue connected to students’ professional and/or personal interests.
Required course materials:

Literatura y arte, 11th ed. by Lynn Sandstedt / Ralph Kite. ISBN: 9781133956815.

A used copy from Amazon, eBay, AbeBooks, etc. is fine.

Grading policy:
  • Preparation and Homework 10%
  • In-Class Participation 25%
  • Oral Presentation 15%
  • Literary Debates 20%
  • Final Project 30%
Attendance policy:

Class attendance is mandatory and will be tracked through Canvas. Students are allowed up to three (3) unexcused absences. After that, one point will be deducted from the final grade for each additional unexcused absence. Exceptions to this policy will be made only in cases of official Georgia Tech events, illness, or personal emergencies. Students must submit appropriate documentation to the Office of the Dean of Students within one week of the absence. Arriving late or leaving early will count as one-third of an absence (3 tardies or early departures = 1 unexcused absence).

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals. 

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question: 

  • How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works? 

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

  • Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts. 

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies: 

  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Information Literacy
  • Intercultural Competence
Instructor First Name:
Antonio
Instructor Last Name:
Cardentey
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
34799
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
Modern Languages

Understand Arab Culture

Last Updated: Mon, 12/29/2025
Course prefix:
ARBC
Course number:
1501
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This course focuses on understanding elements of the Arab culture. The course will focus on topics like Arab values, women and men, religion, language, and many other topics. You are encouraged to give examples from your own experience interacting with Arabs or your own culture. You are highly encouraged not to try to understand Arab values and traditions through your own cultural lens, but instead in the context of the target culture. This helps you make sense of certain values and traditions that might seem strange or foreign to you. We might discuss some controversial topics, and you might not agree with each other on specific points. However, we need to be able to listen to each other and respect our different opinions. You should approach this course as a learning journey where we all learn from each other. 

Course learning outcomes:

 

  1. Understanding the cultural significance of the countries of the Arab world.
  2. Gaining informational literacy about the principal ethnicities, minority groups, and religions of the Arab world.
  3. Analyzing films and visual arts, literature, traditional music, important writers and singers, and contemporary pop music of the Arab world.
  4. Developing intercultural competence about the history of Islam, and the importance of classical Arabic and the Qur’an to Muslims of the world.
  5. Understanding the ethical implications of and developing ethical reasoning skills regarding modern Arab history, particularly the 2011 uprisings known as the Arab Spring, followed by the tragic civil war in Syria.
  6. Analyzing current issues and challenges facing Arab culture and society, such as economic development, political instability, and human rights.
  7. Enhancing cross-cultural communication and understanding skills, including the ability to appreciate and respect the perspectives and values of other cultures.
Required course materials:

An Introduction to Arab Culture by Bassam Frangieh (Cognella Inc, San Diego, CA). When you order the book from Cognella, you will immediately receive access to a PDF of the first 30% of the book. I may also post occasional videos and other readings on Canvas.

 

Five documentaries – on Canvas

Grading policy:

Discussion Posts             40%

Quizzes                            40%

Final Project                    20%

 

Grading Scale:

Your final grade will be assigned as a letter grade according to the following scale:

A          90-100%

B          80-89%

C          70-79%

D          60-69%

F          0-59%

Attendance policy:

Students who are absent because of participation in approved Institute activities (such as field trips, professional conferences, and athletic events) will be permitted to make up the work missed during their absences. Approval of such activities will be granted by the Student Academic and Financial Affairs Committee of the Academic Senate, and statements of the approved absence may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. For more information, check out http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/rules/4/

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Humanities area. Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals. This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:


- How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical
works?
 

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:


- Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.

 

Course content, activities, and exercises in this course should help students develop the
following Career-Ready Competencies:


- Ethical Reasoning
- Information Literacy
- Intercultural Competence

Instructor First Name:
natalie
Instructor Last Name:
khazaal
Section:
OL1
CRN (you may add up to five):
34692
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
Modern Languages

Intro Cross-Cult Studies

Last Updated: Mon, 12/29/2025
Course prefix:
ML
Course number:
2500
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

In this course we will study the representation of Soccer National Teams (Uruguay, Brazil,  Argentina, and Spain), as well as World Cup's Global Heroes (Pele, Maradona, Messi, Vini Jr., and others) in sport documentary films available in Netflix. We will examine how the quest of the heroes of these films relates to national and global dilemmas, such as class, race, gender dynamics, politics, social challenges, economic development, mental health, migration, etc. 

CALENDAR SPRING 2026

 

UNIT 1: SOCCER, NATION(ALISM), AND GLOBALIZATION

 

Week 1

 

1/13 (T) Introduction to class

 

1/15 (TH) Origins of Fútbol in Latin America: The First World Cup in Uruguay

 

  • Movie: Becoming Champions (Episode 1) Uruguay: Half David, Half Goliath. 50 mins. (Netflix, 2019)
  • Reading: “Sport, film, and national culture” by Sean Crosson
  • Reading: “The Uruguayan Football Museum” by Scott Crawford

 

Week 2

 

1/20 (T) Origins of Fútbol in Latin America: The First World Cup in Uruguay

 

  • Reading: selections from Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano
  • Class discussion: How has soccer become an important part of Uruguay’s national culture? How do sport films help us explore the links between soccer and nation in Latin America? 

 

1/22 (TH) Brazil: King of Football

 

  • Movie: Becoming Champions (Episode 4) Brazil: King of Football. 49 mins. (Netflix, 2019)
  • Reading: Selections from The Sport Film by Bruce Babington

 

Week 3

 

1/27 (T) Brazil: King of Football

 

  • Reading: selections from Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano
  • Class discussion: How does soccer produce meaning in Brazilian national culture? How do sport films represent victory and defeat and the sport spectacle? 

 

1/29 (TH) Argentina and the Political History of a Football Nation 

 

  • Movie: Becoming Champions (Episode 6) Argentina: The Hand of Faith? 62 mins. (Netflix, 2019)
  • Reading: “Why Win a World Cup? Thirty-six Years of Football and Nation(alisms) in Argentina” by Pablo Alabarces, Juan Branz, and José Garriga Zucal

 

Week 4

 

2/3 (T) Argentina and the Political History of a Football Nation

 

  • Reading: selections from Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano
  • Class discussion: How can the political history of a country influence the meanings of the Football Nation? How do sport films explore political history and its meanings inside and outside the soccer field?

 

2/5 (TH) FIFA’s Power and Corruption: Havelange and the Globalization of Football

 

  • Movie: FIFA Uncovered (Episode 1). 56 mins. (Netflix, 2022)
  • Reading: “Joao Havelange: A Businessman for World Soccer” by Philippe Vonnard and Nicola Sbetti
  • Reading: “The ‘invention’ of FIFA’s history: Joao Havelange’s election to FIFA’s presidency as a historic event” by Luiz Guilherme Burlamaqui

 

Week 5

 

2/10 (T) FIFA’s Power and Corruption: Havelange and the Globalization of Football

 

  • Reading: selections from Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano
  • Class discussion: Who was Havelange, a hero or a villain in the history of FIFA? What was the influence of Havelange in the Globalization of Football? What strategies do sport history documentaries use to represent complex and intertwined processes such as the commercialization and globalization of football? How do sport history documentaries generate drama by exploring stories of power and corruption? 

 

2/12 (TH) The Two Escobars in Medellín: the Local, National and Global Dimensions of Narco-soccer

 

  • Movie: The Two Escobars. (ESPN/Netflix 2010)
  • Reading: Selection of news about Pablo Escobar’s links to soccer
  • Reading: “The Rise and Fall of Narco-Soccer” by Sarah Krupp
  • Reading: “Escobar’s Global Branding” by Aldona Pobutsky
  • Reading: “Knowing Sports: The Logic of Contemporary Sport Documentary” by Joshua Malitsky

 

Week 6

 

2/17 (T) The Two Escobars in Medellín: the Local, National and Global Dimensions of Narco-soccer

 

  • Reading: selections from Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano
  • Class discussion: Who was Pablo Escobar? What does he symbolize in Colombian Soccer? Who was Andrés Escobar? What does he symbolize in Colombian Soccer?  How can you describe the networks of Narco-Soccer? What was the impact of the Medellín narco-wars in Colombian soccer locally, nationally and globally? 

 

2/19 (TH) Complete and Submit Essay 1

 

UNIT 2: NATIONAL AND TRANSNATIONAL SOCCER HEROES

 

Week 7

 

2/24 (T) Presenting the Final Project: Writing a pitch for a show based on the World Cup 2026 in Atlanta

 

  • Reading: “The StationSoccer Social Innovation” by Alberto Fuentes and Linda Duong

 

2/26 (TH) Pelé and the Dilemmas of a National Icon

 

  • Movie: Pelé. 108 mins. (Netflix 2021)
  • Reading: “Chap 2: When it Was Good to Be Brazilian: Tropical Modernity Affirmed, 1958-1970,” from The Country of Football: Soccer and the Making of Modern Brazil by Roger Kittleson
  • Reading: “Playing the Hard Line: Football Under the Dictatorship, 1964-1986” from Futebol Nation: The Story of Brazil Through Soccer by David Goldblatt
  • Reading; Selections from Pelé (reviews of film)

 

Week 8

 

3/3 (T) Pelé and the Dilemmas of a National Icon

 

  • Reading: selections from Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano

 

3/5 (TH) Maradona: Rise, Fall, and Redemption

 

  • Movie: Diego Maradona. 130 mins. (HBO 2019)
  • Reading: “Introduction: The Cultural Significance of Maradona” by Pablo Brecia and Mariano Paz
  • Reading: “Maradona and Cinema: Biopic, Documentary, Art Film” by Mariano Paz
  • Reading: “Asif Kapadia” by Kathy A. McDonald

 

Week 9

 

3/10 (T) Maradona: Rise, Fall, and Redemption

 

  • Reading: selections from Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano

 

3/12 (TH) Vini Jr. and the Persistence of Racism in Sports and Society

 

  • Movie: Vini Jr. 106 mins. (Netflix, 2025)
  • Reading: “An Overview of Human Rights Violations Against Racial Discrimination: Case Study of Racism Against Vinicius Jr.” by Yordan Gunawan, Kevin Syahru, Ichwan Rizki
  • Reading: “Vini Jr. Law” by CN Noticias Financieras

 

 

Week 10

 

3/17 (T) Vini Jr. and the Persistence of Racism

 

  • Reading: selections from Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano

 

3/19 (TH) Complete and Submit Essay 2

 

 

Week 11

 

3/24: Spring Break

 

3/26: Spring Break

 

UNIT 3: SOCCER CHAMPS AND THE TEAM AS COLLECTIVE HERO

 

Week 12

 

3/3 (T) Working on Final Project: The Pitch

 

4/2 (TH) World Cup 2022: Masculinity and National Identity 

 

  • Movie: Captains of the World (Episode 2): Where is Messi? (44 mins.), (Episode 5) Mindgames (56 mins.) and (Episode 6) The Greatest (42 mins.) (Netflix, 2023)
  • Reading: “Figurations of South American Masculinities in the Global North: Diego Armando Maradona and Lionel Messi” by Alejandro Gasel
  • Reading: “Lionel Messi as a Global Icon” by Nahuel Iván Faedo and Montse Corrius

 

Week 13

 

4/7 (T) Men Soccer World Cup 2022: Masculinity and National Identity 

 

4/9 (TH) Women Soccer World Cup 2023: Gender Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and National Identity

 

  • Movie: It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football. 95 mins. (Netflix, 2024)
  • Reading: “#SeAcabó: how a mass-mediated ‘social drama’ made visible and confronted (subjective and objective) violence in women’s football in Spain” by Itoiz Rodrigo-Jusue et. al.
  • Reading: Select any reading from below
    • “Introduction” by Catherine Fowler and Sabrina Moro
    • “Women’s football sexism and media representation” Eleanor Crabill
    • “Productive rage in the viralization of #SeAcabó” by Diana Fernandez Romero and Sonia Nuñez Puente
    • “Feminist Digital Activism in Spain” by Sonia Nuñez Puente
    • “The problem is the system” by Barbara Zecchi
    • “Understanding the non-consensual kiss as abusive” by Catherine Fowler

 

Week 14

 

4/14 (T) Women Soccer World Cup 2023: Gender Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and National Identity

 

4/18 (TH) Students complete and submit video comment on Soccer and Gender. Students visit StationSoccer and work on final pitches

 

Week 15

 

4/21 (T) Teams work on final pitches with the professor

 

4/23 (TH) Teams revise final pitches independently

 

Week 16

 

4/28 (T): Final review of pitches with the professor

Course learning outcomes:
  • Apply ideas associated with sport documentaries (narrative arcs, the quest of the hero, winning and losing, physical spectacle) to the analysis of sport documentaries focusing on soccer
  • Analyze through readings and writing the impact of soccer in Latin American history, geography, politics and economics, as well as the impact of Latin American soccer in national, local and global networks
  • Investigate and analyze the representation of ethnic, racial, class, regional and gender identities in sport documentaries focusing on soccer
  • Work in a global context grounded upon a theoretically informed and comparative understanding of languages, media, cultures, and technologies
Required course materials:

MOVIES:

All movies, except Maradona, are available in Netflix (subscription streaming service). Students are responsible for getting access to the films via this subscription platform. The film Maradona is available for streaming using the GT Library services. The film is also available via the HBO-MAX streaming service.  

 

 

READINGS:

All readings for the class are available in pdf at the course Canvas site. 

Grading policy:

EVALUATION:

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION                                                                          15 POINTS

ESSAY 1 (500-800 WORDS)                                                                                               24 POINTS

ESSAY 2 (500-800 WORDS)                                                                                               24 POINTS

VIDEO COMMENT (2-3 MINUTES)                                                                               16 POINTS      

FINAL PROJECT (2-3 MINUTES ORAL OR VIDEO PITCH)                         21 POINTS

 

TOTAL:                                                                                                                                                100 POINTS

 

No late assignments will be accepted, unless the professor have granted the student with extra time to complete the assignment due to special accommodations, medical emergencies or other excused absences. 

Attendance policy:
  • Unexcused absences are not welcome and will affect your final grade.
  • Attendance and participation are equivalent to 15 points of the grade. Every time you come to class, you will accumulate 1 point for your final grade. And every time you have an unexcused absence, you will lose 1 point. See the evaluation section in the syllabus.
  • To have an absence excused, you need to (1) get my approval beforehand or (2) bring in a note documenting a medical or comparable emergency the class directly following your absence.
  • Example of excused absences: medical emergency; official GT activities, professional activities or religious activities (please inform professor before)
  • Two tardies of more than 5 minutes equate to an absence.
  • Not having the assignment ready in class equates to an absence.
Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

Arts, Humanities & Ethics (Humanities)

The Learning Outcomes for the Arts, Humanities & Ethics Core IMPACTS area:

Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts in English or other languages or of works in the visual/performing arts.

Instructor First Name:
Juan
Instructor Last Name:
Rodriguez
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
33164
34952
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
Modern Languages

Francophone Cinema

Last Updated: Sun, 12/28/2025
Course prefix:
FREN
Course number:
4105/8803
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This course will explore representations of Francophone regions of the world from Africa to the Caribbean thru films. Fall 2025 focus will be on discovering Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Canada thru film. Special attention to current issues and contemporary societies. All films freely available on CANVAS. NO TEXTBOOK TO BUY/RENT, COURSE MATERIALS ON CANVAS AND/OR ONLINE. This course counts for the French major and the new African studies minor. Credit Hrs: 3. Taught in French. Attributes: Humanities Requirement.

Course learning outcomes:

This course will introduce students to world cinema in French from Africa, etc. Students will:

develop their analysis skills related to film and Francophone cultures; 

analyze documents and content related to Francophone countries with special focus on Africa; 

improve their oral and written communication skills at the intermediate level and beyond; 

and understand the importance of images and other representations for Francophone societies with special focus on Africa.   

Required course materials:

NO REQUIRED BOOK, Web-based material.

Course packet: movies and selected documents and links on each unit studied on the syllabus and/or CANVAS 

Grading policy:

Weekly Postings on Canvas [20% of final grade];

2 Mini-Presentations in class based on your 2 essays [20% of final grade, 10% each].2 Essays (40% of final grade, 20% each);

Active participation (20% of final grade)

 

A: 90-100 / Superior performance.

B: 80-89 / Above-average, high-quality performance.

C: 70-79 / Average performance.

D: 60-69 / Below-average performance. Needs substantive work.

F: 0-59 / Unacceptable performance.

Attendance policy:

Attendance essential and part of the grade (one point taken off final grade for each unexcused absence after 2 absences; more than 10 minutes late: half an absence). Only a GT letter can excuse an absence. Please make a constant effort to practice your French and present your point of view/ideas to class. Please be on time for class too.

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Humanities area. 

-Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.  

-This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question: 

  • How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, & philosophical works?  

-Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome: 

  • Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.  

-Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies: 

  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Information Literacy
  • Intercultural Competence  
Instructor First Name:
Jean
Instructor Last Name:
Ippolito
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
34714
34715
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
Modern Languages

Introduction to Africa

Last Updated: Sun, 12/28/2025
Course prefix:
ARBC/FREN/SWAH/WOLO
Course number:
3420
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This interdisciplinary course will use a variety of approaches to study significant aspects of contemporary Africa’s societies, cultures, and representations. No required book or textbook, all learning materials available online. Taught in English.

Course learning outcomes:

This course will introduce students to Africa. Students will:

  • develop their analysis skills related to Africa’s current issues;
  • examine documents and content related to Africa;
  • will discuss aspects of ARBC/FREN/PORT/SWAH/WOLO cultures and impacts across the African continent; and
  • evaluate the importance of Africa today.
Required course materials:

NO REQUIRED BOOK: Web-based material.

Course packet: selected documents and links on each unit studied on the syllabus and/or CANVAS 

Grading policy:

Weekly Postings on Canvas [20% of final grade];

2 Mini-Presentations in class based on your 2 essays [20% of final grade, 10% each].

2 Essays (40% of final grade, 20% each);

Active participation (20% of final grade)

 

A: 90-100 / Superior performance.

B: 80-89 / Above-average, high-quality performance.

C: 70-79 / Average performance.

D: 60-69 / Below-average performance. Needs substantive work.

F: 0-59 / Unacceptable performance.

Attendance policy:

Attendance essential and part of the grade (one point taken off final grade for each unexcused absence after 2 absences; more than 10 minutes late: half an absence). Only a GT letter can excuse an absence. Please make a constant effort to present your point of view/ideas to class. Please be on time too.

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Humanities area. 

-Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.  

-This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question: 

  • How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, & philosophical works?  

-Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome: 

  • Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.  

-Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies: 

  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Information Literacy
  • Intercultural Competence  
Instructor First Name:
Jean
Instructor Last Name:
Ippolito
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
33016
33017
33018
33019
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
Modern Languages

Chin Society& Culture II

Last Updated: Fri, 12/26/2025
Course prefix:
CHIN
Course number:
3022
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This in-person, intermediate-advanced course is for students who have taken two or three years of Chinese language to enhance their language proficiency and cultural awareness in contemporary China. Students will develop their Chinese language skills in interpersonal, interpretive, intercultural, and presentational communications. Students will expand their cultural proficiency and analytical skills by discussing a series of topics in contemporary Chinese society, including divorce, gaining weight and losing weight, the standard of living, senior living, transportation, digital communication, and studying abroad. 

Course learning outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to 1) engage in conversations and discussions in Chinese on different social and cultural topics; 2) analyze related topics from their historical, cultural, and social backgrounds in Chinese and in English; 3) analyze and present data collected from interviews; 4) compare cultural practices and perspectives between students’ own cultures and Chinese culture both in Chinese and in English. 

Required course materials:

Chih-P’ing Chou, Joanne Chiang, Jianna Eagar. A New China: An Intermediate Reader of Modern Chinese. Revised Edition. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2011. 

Grading policy:
  • Attendance and Participation 10% 
  • Two in-class oral presentations 10%
  • Preview quizzes 10% 
  • In-class Quizzes 10% 
  • Review quizzes 20% 
  • Tests 15% 
  • Final Skit Performance/Presentation/Movie Project 10%
  • Final Exam 15% 
Attendance policy:
  • You are expected to attend all classes and be punctual.
  • If you miss more than three classes for no excused reason, your course grade will be lowered by 2% for each class you miss from the 4th absence on.
  • Before each class, you should memorize new vocabulary and preview the lesson text. 
  • In every class, you should have your textbook at hand, answer the instructor’s questions, listen to your peers’ answers, and actively participate in drill practices and class activities. You are encouraged to ask questions in class. 
Academic honesty/integrity statement:
  • Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.
  • An AI cannot earn course credits. AI contributions must be attributed and true. AI use should be open and documented. AI here refers to AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Translations, and so on. These three principles apply to external help such as tutors, friends, and virtual assistants.  
Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Humanities area.   

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.    

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:   

  • How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?    

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:   

  • Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.    

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:   

  • Ethical Reasoning   
  • Information Literacy   
  • Intercultural Competence    
Instructor First Name:
Hongchen
Instructor Last Name:
Wu
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
34695
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
Modern Languages

Intro to Linguistics

Last Updated: Fri, 12/26/2025
Course prefix:
LING
Course number:
2100
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This is an introductory course in linguistics (which also fulfills an Institute-wide humanities requirement). 

Course learning outcomes:

Students will be able to.... 

  • Describe key, motivating facts in the main subfields of theoretical linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics/pragmatics, sociolinguistics, language typology, acquisition.
  • Appreciate linguistic diversity, analyze cross-linguistic data, and reflect meta-linguistically on one’s own language(s).
  • Communicate clearly on technical topics: use precise vocabulary to make implicit knowledge of language explicit; state claims clearly with examples and supporting evidence; and contextualize ideas within a bigger picture.
    • [valuable for many career paths]
  • Combine and appreciate the value of both ‘scientific’ and ‘humanistic’ perspectives (on language and ideally in general).
  • Contribute to and benefit from a vibrant socio-intellectual community. Recognize that many questions remain open; feel empowered and welcome as potential junior researchers.
Required course materials:

Language Files, by the Ohio State University Department of Linguistics, 11th edition or later

Grading policy:
  • 35% Tests
  • 20% Homework
  • 15% Portfolios
  • 15% Quizzes
  • 10% Attendance and Participation
  • 5% Academic Engagement and End-of-semester reflection essay
  • TOTAL: 100%
Attendance policy:
  • Attend class physically and mentally.
  • Contribute to the socio-intellectual community.
  • Before each class, you should read the required materials.
  • In every class, you should be prepared to answer the instructor’s questions, listen to your peers’ questions/answers, and actively participate in class activities. You are encouraged to ask questions in class.
  • After each class, you should review the content covered in the class and complete homework. If you have trouble completing assignments, make an appointment with me.
  • (Some examples of ) Ways to participate:
  • Post questions on the Canvas discussion board
  • Share links or resources on the Canvas discussion board
  • Answer your peers’ questions on the Canvas discussion board
  • Come to office hours (group or individual) and ask questions on linguistics
  • Form a study group with your peers and submit your study report
  • Ask questions during lectures or discussion section
  • Volunteer answers to peer questions during a lecture or discussion section 
Academic honesty/integrity statement:
  • Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.
  • An Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot pass a course. AI contributions must be attributed and true. AI use should be open and documented. AI here refers to AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and so on. These three principles apply to external help such as but not limited to tutors, friends, and virtual assistants.  
Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Humanities area.   

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.    

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:   

  • How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?    

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:   

  • Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.    

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:   

  • Ethical Reasoning   
  • Information Literacy   
  • Intercultural Competence    
Instructor First Name:
Hongchen
Instructor Last Name:
Wu
Section:
B
CRN (you may add up to five):
33068
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
Modern Languages

Intermediate Chinese II

Last Updated: Tue, 12/16/2025
Course prefix:
CHIN
Course number:
2002
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

CHIN 2002, Intermediate Chinese II, aims to build oral and written communication skills in Chinese at the intermediate level and improve cultural awareness and literacy of the Chinese-speaking world. CHIN 2002 contributes to students’ education in the humanities by teaching both the Chinese language and the humanistic cultures of the Chinese-speaking world.  CHIN 2002 focuses on listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Chinese and an introduction to literature and within a cultural context.

Course learning outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1.    Use Chinese to communicate with peers and the instructor both orally and in writing in order to create a shared community experience.
2.    Employ strategies to comprehend texts written by and for Chinese speakers (written, aural, and video) in depth.
3.    Employ strategies to express ideas orally and in writing related to familiar topics in presentational contexts in depth.
4.    Employ strategies to express your ideas in interpersonal contexts in culturally appropriate ways in depth.
5.    Demonstrate an understanding of their languages and cultures in relation to the practices, products, and perspectives of the culture(s) of Chinese-speaking countries.
6.    Develop intercultural awareness through the study of the similarities and differences among and the relationships between language and culture systems. 
7.    Be prepared to continue developing your Chinese language skills and cultural understanding at the CHIN 3000 level.
 

Required course materials:
  • Course Text:  Integrated Chinese, Level 3, Textbook. 4th Edition. Yao, Tao-chung & Yuehua Liu, et. al. Boston: Cheng & Tsui Co., 2017.
  • Information on how to purchase the Integrated Chinese, Level 3, Textbook is available on our Canvas site.
  • All course materials (discussions, assignments, grades, etc.) will be hosted in Canvas. 
Grading policy:

Attendance               10%
Participation             5%
Assignments            20%
Group Project            5%
Final Project              15%
Oral Exam                   15%
Tests                            20%
Final Exam                  10%
 

Attendance policy:

Attendance (10%)
Regular attendance is crucial for success in language class, as it ensures consistent learning and participation. Students are expected to attend all scheduled class meetings punctually and participate actively in the drills, conversational practices, discussions, and other class activities. 
Each absence afterward will cause ONE point to be taken from your final grade. Students have insufficient attendance (lower than 1/3) and, without any documentation provided before Week Seven, cannot take the Oral Exam or Final Project.  A student with full attendance during the semester will receive ONE point of the total score.
 

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Humanities area.

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals. 

 This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:

  • How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works? 

 Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

  • Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts. 

 Course content, activities, and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:

  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Information Literacy
  • Intercultural Competence 
Instructor First Name:
Yi-Hsien Stephanie
Instructor Last Name:
Ho
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
21745
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
Modern Languages

Intro to Linguistics

Last Updated: Wed, 12/17/2025
Course prefix:
LING
Course number:
2100
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This is an introductory course in linguistics (which also fulfills an Institute-wide humanities requirement).

Course learning outcomes:

Students will be able to.... 

  • Describe key, motivating facts in the main subfields of theoretical linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics/pragmatics, sociolinguistics, language typology, acquisition. 
  • Appreciate linguistic diversity, analyze cross-linguistic data, and reflect meta-linguistically on one’s own language(s). 
  • Communicate clearly on technical topics: use precise vocabulary to make implicit knowledge of language explicit; state claims clearly with examples and supporting evidence; and contextualize ideas within a bigger picture.
    • [valuable for many career paths]
  • Combine and appreciate the value of both ‘scientific’ and ‘humanistic’ perspectives (on language and ideally in general).
  • Contribute to and benefit from a vibrant socio-intellectual community. Recognize that many questions remain open; feel empowered and welcome as potential junior researchers.
Required course materials:

Language Files textbook.

Grading policy:

35% Exams (3 exams, pencil-and-paper/multiple choice)

20% Homework (5 total; auto-graded Canvas quizzes with short written portion; Canvas takes off 10% per day late)

15% Portfolios (2 total; one group presentation, one solo video project)

15% Quizzes (10 total)

10% Attendance (calculated from records of quizzes and responses to peers' group presentations)

5% Academic Engagement (2 total; attend a talk or participate in a study and submit a 150-word reflection)

TOTAL: 100%

Attendance policy:

Attendance (calculated from records of quizzes and responses to peers' group presentations) counts for 10% of your grade.

Institute-approved absences are excused.

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

You may not present an LLM’s work as your own. You must disclose how you used any LLM tool. 

If you use an LLM to simulate the appearance of thinking or knowledge inside your own brain, you have cheated academically, and you have also cheated yourself out of an opportunity to learn (just as you would be cheating the rules and cheating yourself if you biked a 10k instead of running it).

You must complete all quizzes and homeworks without assistance from anyone else.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Humanities area. Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.  

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question: 

  • How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?    

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome: 

  • Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.    

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies: 

  • Ethical reasoning
  • Information literacy  
  • Intercultural competence  
Instructor First Name:
Lelia
Instructor Last Name:
Glass
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
25531
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
Modern Languages

Intercultural Seminar

Last Updated: Wed, 12/17/2025
Course prefix:
SPAN
Course number:
4500 / 6500
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

Integrates cross-cultural research and reflection into discussion of current issues in the Hispanic world. Intended for students who have had some study abroad experience in a Spanish-speaking country. Conducted in Spanish.

Course learning outcomes:

The primary goals of this course are as follows: 

 
•    To understand the concept of culture and intercultural communication
•    To understand the different dimensions of cultural analysis
•    To recognize stereotype and hyper-generalization in (one’s own and others’) cross-cultural comparison
•    To construct supported and particularistic cultural descriptions
•    To demonstrate critical thinking in the analysis of cultural case studies
•    To develop the use of the target language and cultural knowledge necessary for a professional future 
 

Required course materials:

Suggested Reading: Neuliep, James. “Intercultural Communication. A Contextual Approach.” Sage. 

Grading policy:
  • Revisions of Essay 1 (50%) and Essay 2 (50%) — 20%
  • In-class presentation on a cultural dimension reading — 15%
  • Analysis project of a cultural comparison method — 15%
  • Film analysis — 15%
  • Active participation in forums and class discussions — 15%
  • Video with PowerPoint and narration explaining the seven cultural dimensions studied and one additional dimension — 20%
Attendance policy:

Attendance to class is mandatory and essential. Two absences without a formal excuse will result in a 5-point deduction of the final grade. Any additional absence will result in an additional 3-point deduction of the final grade. Students should arrive on time; two tardy arrivals will be counted as an absence from the course. If a student misses class, it is his/her responsibility to stay updated on the contents and homework of the course. Official absences are allowed following the Institute guidelines: “Students who are absent because of participation in approved Institute activities (such as field trips, professional conferences, and athletic events) will be permitted to make up the work missed during their absences. Approval of such activities will be granted by the Student Academic and Financial Affairs Committee of the Academic Senate, and statements of the approved absence may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.”

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Arts, Humanities & Ethics area.

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:

  • How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic and philosophical works?

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

  • Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:

  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Information Literacy
  • Intercultural Competence
Instructor First Name:
Paul
Instructor Last Name:
Alonso
Section:
OL1
CRN (you may add up to five):
27904
34751
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
Modern Languages
Subscribe to Modern Languages