Courses
Languages
Check back on December 15th for Summer 2010 courses.
Language: | Arabic | Chinese | Comparative Literature | French | German | Ancient Greek |
|
Hebrew | Italian | Japanese | Korean | Latin | Spanish |
College of Arts and Sciences
The James Geddes Language Center includes two language laboratories, classrooms especially equipped for language teaching, and extensive tape production and processing facilities. The center is located on the fifth floor at 685 Commonwealth Avenue. Orientation to operation and procedures is given during the first week of classes.
ARABIC
Elementary Modern Arabic (Modern Arabic 1)
CAS LY 111
The essentials of standard Arabic, the idiom used in public communications throughout
the Arab world. Listening, speaking, reading, writing. 4 cr.
Elementary Modern Arabic (Modern Arabic 2)
CAS LY 112
Prereq: CAS LY 111 or consent of the instructor. The essentials of standard
Arabic, the idiom used in public communications throughout the Arab world.
Listening, speaking, reading, writing. 4 cr.
CHINESE
First-Semester Chinese
CAS LC 111
Essentials of structure, oral practice, introduction to the writing system.
4 cr.
Introduction to China
CAS LC 115
This intensive study and travel course to China begins in Beijing on May 15th
and ends in Shanghai on May 28th. While traveling in China, students have
the
opportunity to practice and improve their Chinese language skills.
They also experience first-hand the life, culture, history, art, cuisine,
industry, medicine and religion of China. The program fee covers all room
and board expenses associated with the trip. Airfare is not included in this
fee. Open to students who have completed at least one semester of college
Chinese. For more information, contact Summer Term at 617-353-0556.
1 cr.
First-Year Intensive Chinese
CAS LC 123
For beginners. Intensive course, equivalent to two semesters of first-year
college Chinese. Essentials of structure, oral practice, introduction to
the writing
system. Laboratory required. 8 cr.
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
Studies in Literature and Culture
CAS LL 556
Prereq: two literature courses. Topic for Summer 2009: Inventing Spanish
America: Beyond 1492. Contrasts early accounts of the discovery and
colonization of Spanish America with texts of the twentieth century. Course taught
in English. 4 cr.
FRENCH
A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in French was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University. Information on the online placement test is available at www.bu.edu/rs/academics/placement-test-info.html. The test can be taken at any time, but can only be taken once in a 12-month period.
First-Semester French
CAS LF 111
For students who have never studied French. Main patterns of grammar, conversation
practice, written exercises, and directed compositions. Laboratory required.
(If CAS LF 121 or a more advanced college-level course has been completed, this course cannot be taken for credit.) 4 cr.
Second-Semester French
CAS LF 112
Prereq: CAS LF 111 or placement examination results. Continues the CAS LF 111 basic text; grammar, conversation, compositions, with
additional readings. Conducted in French. Lab required. (If CAS LF 122 or a more advanced college-level course has been completed, this course cannot be taken for credit.) 4 cr.
Third-Semester French
CAS LF 211
Prereq: CAS LF 112 or placement examination results. Conducted in French. Reinforces
and extends skills in grammar and conversation. Literary readings, listening
to a dramatized novel in language laboratory, with discussions in class. Laboratory
required. (If CAS LF 223 or a more advanced college-level course has been completed, this course cannot be taken for credit.) 4 cr.
Fourth-Semester French
CAS LF 212
Prereq: CAS LF 211 or placement examination results. Conducted in French. Continues
CAS LF 211 grammar review, conversation, and composition. Selections from contemporary
literature, listening to a dramatized novel in laboratory, with discussions
in class. Laboratory required. (If CAS LF 223 or a more advanced college-level course has been completed, this course cannot be taken for credit.) 4 cr.
GERMAN
A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in German was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University. The placement test is given on the first day of each summer session.
First-Semester German
CAS LG 111
For beginners or according to placement examination results. Introduction to grammar,
vocabulary, and structure of German, emphasizing the four basic skills: speaking,
writing, listening, and reading. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
Second-Semester German
CAS LG 112
Prereq: CAS LG 111 or placement examination results. Continues study and practice
of the basic skills of speaking, writing, and reading German. Conversational
dialogues, reading of short texts, grammar sessions, compositions. Conducted
in German. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
ANCIENT GREEK
Beginning Greek 1
CAS CL 161
Introduction to grammar, forms, and vocabulary of ancient Greek. 4 cr.
Beginning Greek 2
CAS CL 162
Prereq: CAS CL 161 or equivalent. Further study of ancient Greek grammar, forms, and vocabulary. 4 cr.
Intermediate Greek 1: Prose
CAS CL 261
Prereq: CAS CL 162 or equivalent. Reading of selections from Greek prose. Authors read may include Plato and Lysias, as well as selections from the New Testament. 4
cr.
Intermediate Greek 2: Poetry
CAS CL 262
Prereq: CAS CL 261 or equivalent. Reading of selections from the Iliad or Odyssey. 4 cr.
HEBREW
Fourth-Semester Hebrew
CAS LH 212
Stresses expanding conversation, grammar, and literary skills, enabling students to deal with most Hebrew material, ancient as well as contemporary. Conducted in Hebrew. Satisfactory completion of CAS LH 212 fulfills the CAS language requirement. 4 cr.
ITALIAN
A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in Italian was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University. The placement test is given on the first day of each summer session.
First-Semester Italian
CAS LI 111
For beginners only, or according to placement examination results. Grammar, conversation
practice, written exercises, compositions. Conducted in Italian. (If CAS LI 131 or a more advanced college-level course has been completed, this course cannot be taken for credit.) 4 cr.
Second-Semester Italian
CAS LI 112
Prereq: CAS LI 111 or placement examination results. Continues the CAS LI 111
basic text: grammar, conversation, compositions. Conducted in Italian. 4 cr.
Third-Semester Italian
CAS LI 211
Prereq: CAS LI 112 or placement examination results. Intended for students with a satisfactory background in elementary Italian, who require some review of basic structures, verbs, and related essentials. Review, emphasis on composition skills, and conversation. Reading and discussion of short stories, poetry, and plays. Conducted in Italian. 4 cr.
Fourth-Semester Italian
CAS LI 212
Prereq: CAS LI 211 or placement examination results. For students who wish to build
active use of Italian in speaking, writing, and reading. Continuation of CAS
LI 211: review, development of reading skills through analysis of contemporary
texts, compositions, conversation. 4 cr.
JAPANESE
First-Semester Japanese
CAS LJ 111
Introduction to spoken and written Japanese and to fundamentals of Japanese
grammar with oral drills and written exercises. 4 cr.
Second-Semester Japanese
CAS LJ 112
Prereq: CAS LJ 111. Introduction to spoken and written Japanese and to fundamentals
of Japanese grammar with oral drills and written exercises. 4 cr.
KOREAN
First-Semester Korean
CAS LK 111
Prereq: Placement examination results or for those
who have never studied Korean. Elementary grammar, conversation, reading, writing.
4 cr.
LATIN
Beginning Latin 1
CAS CL 111
Prereq: beginners only. Introduction to grammar, forms, and vocabulary of classical
Latin. 4 cr.
Beginning Latin 2
CAS CL 112
Prereq: CAS CL 111 or equivalent. Further study of Latin grammar, forms, and vocabulary. 4 cr.
Intermediate Latin 1: Prose
CAS CL 211
Prereq: CAS CL 112 or equivalent. Reading of selections from Latin prose. Authors read may include Caesar, Cicero, Livy, Petronius, and Pliny. 4
cr.
Intermediate Latin 2: Poetry
CAS CL 212
Prereq: CAS CL 211 or equivalent. Reading of selections from Latin poetry. Authors read may include Catullus, Ovid, and Vergil.
4 cr.
Latin Seminar
CAS CL 351/CL 520
Prereq: CAS CL 212 or equivalent. Intensive study of selected major
authors. Topics change each semester. May be repeated for credit. Summer 2009 topic: Latin Lyric poetry: Catullus and Horace (Odes).
4 cr.
SPANISH
A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in Spanish was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University. Information on the online placement test is available at www.bu.edu/rs/academics/placement-test-info.html. The test can be taken at any time, but can only be taken once in a 12-month period.
Essential Spanish for Health Care Professionals
CAS LS 110
Emphasis on the basic grammar and vocabulary used in medical settings where doctors, providers, and front-desk staff interact with Spanish-speaking clients and patients. Essential Spanish for greeting patients and families, establishing rapport, diagnosis, referrals to specialists, interviewing, imparting basic medical advice. No previous knowledge of Spanish is required. This course is the equivalent of CAS LS 111 and LS 121. 4 cr.
1. Four-Skills Sequence: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking (LS 111, LS 112, LS 211 and LS 212)
First-Semester Spanish
CAS LS 111
Introduction to grammatical structures.
Emphasis on aural comprehension, speaking, and pronunciation. Introduction
to Hispanic culture. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
Second-Semester Spanish
CAS LS 112
Prereq: CAS LS 111 or placement examination results. Completes study of basic grammatical
structures. Emphasis on speaking and aural comprehension. Readings on contemporary
Hispanic culture. Writing assignments. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
Third-Semester Spanish
CAS LS 211
Prereq: CAS LS 112 or placement examination results. Review and practice
of the structures of Spanish. Use of spoken language in conversation. Further
reading in Hispanic
civilization. Writing exercises involving more complex grammatical and syntactical
patterns. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
Fourth-Semester Spanish
CAS LS 212
Prereq: CAS LS 211 or placement examination results. Further review of the structures
of Spanish. Intensive practice of spoken language. Different levels and styles
of Spanish through recorded materials. More advanced readings from Hispanic
culture. Frequent compositions. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
2. Reading Sequence (LS 221 and LS 222)
Third-Semester Spanish for Reading
CAS LS 221
Prereq: CAS LS 112, LS 122, or placement examination results. Intensive review of grammatical
structures. Focus on idiomatic usage. Expansion of reading materials to theatre,
art criticism, more complex narratives, and short periodical articles. Viewing
and discussion of films. Weekly written translation assignments. (Students intending
to continue in CAS LS 303 must take LS 211, not LS 221.) 4 cr.
Summer 1 (May 19-June 25):
A1 Mon./Tues./Thurs. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Alison Carberry
Fourth-Semester Spanish for Reading
CAS LS 222
Prereq: CAS LS 221 or placement examination results. Completes intensive review of
grammatical structures. Emphasis on sophisticated sentence structures and the
contemporary idiom. Readings include historical texts, representative examples
of journalism, and a short novel. Viewing and discussion of films. Weekly written
translations leading to a final project. (Students intending to continue in
CAS LS 303 must take LS 212, not LS 222.) 4 cr.
Composition and Conversation in Spanish I
CAS LS 303
Prereq: CAS LS 212 or placement examination results. Not open to students for
whom Spanish is a first language. Development of skills in spoken and written
language. Grammar review, vocabulary building, regular compositions. (Students who have completed CAS LS 309 or a more advanced college-level language course may not receive credit for LS 303.) 4 cr.
Composition and Conversation in Spanish II
CAS LS 304
Prereq: CAS LS 303 or placement examination results. Not open to students for
whom Spanish is a first language. Development of skills in spoken and written
language. Grammar review, vocabulary building, regular compositions. (Students who have completed CAS LS 309 or a more advanced college-level language course may not receive credit for LS 304.) 4 cr.
Introduction to Analysis of Hispanic Texts
CAS LS 350
Prereq: CAS LS 303 or placement examination results. Development of techniques
for reading and interpreting Hispanic literary texts; reading of lyric poetry,
drama, and fictional narrative. 4 cr.
