Modern Foreign Languages

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Courses in modern foreign languages provide students with the cross-cultural understanding and communication skills expected of world citizens. Proficiency in speaking and writing is emphasized in all language skill classes and is a prerequisite for continuation in any sequence of courses.

Upper division courses, while refining language skills, introduce students to the literature and civilizations of the respective linguistic groups. Modern language courses are an excellent preparation, but not a substitute, for foreign study. Students who elect a major or minor in modern languages are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one term of study in a culture where their target language is dominant. On a rotating basis, the Department offers off-campus programs in France, Mexico, and Germany.

Note: For students entering the Foreign Language program with proven proficiency in the target language, a maximum of 10 credits may be waived toward the major or minor requirements.

Modern Languages Major in Spanish

Consists of 32 credits, to include 16 credits at the upper-division level and:

  • MFL 233.1 Spanish Language & Civilization II

Students must complete six credits of immersion, above the elementary level, in an approved off-campus study program or defend an independent research project supervised by an inter-institutional jury. For students who intend to teach, MFL 444.1 and 445.1 are required.

Business, Language & Culture Major

This major combines the strengths of two departments - Modern Foreign Languages and Business. The foreign language sequences develop the communication skills and cross-cultural understanding expected of world citizens. The business program enables Albertson students to extend excellence in the liberal arts into a range of business careers. By melding these two sets of goals through their coursework, students in Business, Language, and Culture prepare competencies in foreign language and American business practices that allow them to apply their analytical and organization skills in multi-national and multi-cultural environments.

Through focus on French, German, or Spanish, and the cultures that use these languages, students will become trained observers able to adjust to highly diverse cultural situations. They will also reach competency levels in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing their chosen language, which will enable them to communicate directly with counterparts or clients in the target culture. Spanish, the second European language choice worldwide after English, is spoken throughout the Americas as well as in Spain. French is one of the three basic languages of Africa, as well as being an official language of France, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg and Switzerland. German, spoken in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, is the lingua-franca of the Central European and Baltic states, and is widely used in Turkey.

Students of language and culture create a wide field of application for their major by studying economics, accounting and business. By extending their linguistic and cultural expertise into fields beyond more traditional literature and civilization studies, they become cultural ambassadors in the workplace. Business, Language and Culture majors who enter an international administration or an international commercial enterprise--or an American one with international connections--will understand how language and custom shape both the way we think and the way we conduct everyday affairs.

Business, Language, and Culture students will fulfill the following business requirements, and they will meet the modern foreign language proficiency equivalent in French, German, or Spanish as set out below. They will complete upper-division Literature & Society or Topics courses in the same language on campus or abroad.

The Capstone Experience for Business, Language, and Culture fuses students' competencies and theoretical skills from both fields. They may elect either an international internship or an immersion experience project as a demonstration of their abilities in their combined discipline.

Modern Foreign Language Requirement (French, German, or Spanish). Minimum of twenty credits:
  1. Language proficiency equivalent of:
    • MFL 2XX Language & Civilization I
    • MFL 2XX Language & Civilization II
    • MFL 3XX Advanced Composition
    • MFL 3XX Advanced Conversation & Phonetics
  2. Any combination of the following to equal six credits:
    • MFL 3XX/4XX Literature courses
    • MFL3XX/4XX Literature & Society courses
    • MFL 399 Topics courses
    • MFL 3XX/4XX Study Abroad Coursework - only current option for German
  3. MFL/BUS 497 International Internship/Immersion Experience Project - two credits
Business Requirements. Minimum of 22 credits:
  1. Core Courses
    • POE 263 Introduction to Political Economy or POE 271 Introduction to Microeconomics and POE 272 Introduction to Macroeconomics
    • BUS 221 Financial Accounting
    • BUS 222 Managerial Accounting
    • BUS 391 Legal Environment of Business
  2. At least two courses chosen from the following:
    • BUS 200 Small Business Management
    • BUS 330 Principles of Finance
    • BUS 340 International Business
    • BUS 357 Organization Behavior
    • BUS 360 Marketing
  3. One of the following, unless three courses are selected from list #2 above (0-3 credits):
    • MAT 211 Introduction to Statistics
    • BUS 201 Introduction to Management Information Systems
    • LSP 396 Junior Leadership Seminar
    • Any appropriate upper-division course from the Humanities or Social Science divisions that supports global awareness, to be chosen in consultation with the advisor.
Modern Languages Minor in French, German, or Spanish

Consists of 20 credits* in one of the above languages, six of which must be in the upper-division. Students entering at the 300-level may be required to take Composition and Conversation. One term of foreign study is strongly recommended. For students who intend to teach, MFL 444.1 and 445.1 are required.

Latin American Studies Minor

For a description of this interdisciplinary minor, see the Latin American Studies section of the catalog.

Bilingual Education Minor

Consists of 20 credits including at least six credits of upper-division Spanish coursework, MFL/EDS 444.1, 445.1, 446, 447; three credits of a course focused on the Latino culture; and one unit field experience in a bilingual education setting approved by an advisor in the MFL Department.

Teaching English as a Second Language Minor

Consists of at least four credits of a Modern Foreign Language, MFL/EDS 444.1, 445.1, 446, and 447; three credits of a cultural diversity, cross-cultural, or multicultural course; and one unit field experience in an ESL setting approved by an advisor in the MFL Department.

Teaching Certification in a Modern Foreign Language

Consists of: a minor in the language, to equal at least 20 credits of foreign language study; MFL444.1 and MFL/EDS 445.1.

English as a Second Language (MFL)

LOWER DIVISION
MFL-101-102 English As a Second Language 3.0 cr. each

Fall, spring. A course for nonnative speakers to develop further proficiency in speaking, understanding, reading and writing English. Includes phonetics, idioms, lexical expansion, and grammar review. Readings and discussions are focused on aspects of contemporary American culture. Not to be taken concurrently with any course in the English Department. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

MFL-200 Advanced English Language Development 2.0 cr.

Fall. Prereq.: MFL 102 or permission. A rigorous course in English as a Second Language at an advanced level. All four skill areas of reading, writing, speaking, and aural comprehension receive equal focus. This course is designed to promote nonnative speaker proficiency in the cognitive academic language needed to perform in context reduced, linguistically demanding situations. It is appropriate for international students who wish to refine American English skills needed for upper-division course work as well as for students anticipating entrance into graduate school or English demanding career paths.

MFL-204 Phonetics for English As a Second Lang 1.0 cr.

Winter. Prereq.: MFL 101 or 201 or permission. A systematic review of the phonetic system of English. The International Phonetic Alphabet will be used for prescriptive and corrective training in oral English at multiple levels of diction. May be repeated once for credit.

French (MFL)

LOWER DIVISION
MFL-111-112 Elementary French I & II 3.0 cr. lecture, 1.0 cr. laboratory

Fall, spring. MFL 111 is a prerequisite for MFL 112. Semester-sequenced beginning courses in speaking, understanding, reading and writing French, focused on cultural understanding and proficiency in communication.

MFL-111B Intensive Elementary French 3.0 cr.

Winter. Prereq.: Permission. A beginning course in speaking, understanding, reading and writing French, primarily designed for students with some prior knowledge of the language.

MFL 198 Basic French Communication Skills 1.0 cr.

Winter. Required for study tour participants who have had no prior French language training. A course developing basic and practical communication skills for travelers. Emphasis will be placed on rapid acquisition of French lexical credits and culturally appropriate practices. Taught in France.

MFL-211-212 French Language & Civilization I & II 3.0 cr. each

Fall, spring. Prereq.: MFL 112 or equivalent. MFL 211 is prerequisite for MFL 212. Using civilization, contemporary society and the cultural heritage for context, this course focuses on increasing fluency at the intermediate level while providing additional training in grammar.

MFL-215 French Civilization 2.0 to 3.0 cr.

Winter. Prereq.: permission. Readings, discussion, and guest lectures in English or French. Requires considerable individual exploration as well as group field trips. Taught in France. (IF 3 CREDITS, MEETS CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

UPPER DIVISION
MFL-309 Narrating New Visions of France 3.0 cr.

Winter. A study of texts reflecting the great economic and social changes occurring in modern France. Readings from historians Daniel Roche and/or Marc Angenot, sociologists Pierre Bourdieu and/or Thierry Paquot provide a critical framework for the study of novels, travelogues, plays and poems. Works may include Germinal, Pere Goriot, Une Soupe aux Herbes Sauvages, Le Spleen de Paris, La Ville Tentaculaire and Usine. Readings and discussions will be offered in both English and French. Taught in France. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

MFL-311 Advanced French Composition 3.0 cr.

Fall. Prereq.: MFL 212 or permission. Advanced practice in the modern forms of French writing appropriate for varied settings. Includes lexical development and syntax. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

MFL-312 Advanced French Conversation & Phonetics 3.0 cr.

Spring. Prereq.: MFL 212 or permission. A course devoted to the oral exposition of selected academic and cultural topics. The International Phonetic Alphabet will be used for prescriptive and corrective training in oral French at multiple levels of diction. Includes lexical development and syntax. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY).

MFL-314 French Literature & Society: Narrative and Film 3.0 cr.

Spring. Prereq.: MFL 311 or equivalent. A study of literary and cinematic narrative through representative French and Francophone works. (LITERATURE)

MFL-319 French Literature & Society: Poetry, Drama, and Song 3.0 cr.

Fall. Prereq.: MFL 311 or equivalent. A study of verse and drama through representative historical and contemporary works from France and the Francophone world. (LITERATURE)

German (MFL)

LOWER DIVISION
MFL-121-122 Elementary German I & II 3 credits lecture, 1 credit laboratory

Fall, spring. MFL 121 is a prerequisite for MFL 122. Semester-sequenced beginning courses in speaking, understanding, reading and writing German, focused on cultural understanding and proficiency in communication.

MFL-121B Intensive Elementary German 3.0 cr.

Winter. Prereq.: Permission. A beginning course in speaking, understanding, reading and writing German, primarily designed for students with some prior knowledge of the language.

MFL-197.1 German Culture & Basic German Communication 3.0 cr.

Winter. Prereq.: permission. Required for study tour participants who have had no prior German language training. A course developing basic and practical communication skills for travelers. Emphasis will be placed on rapid acquisition of German lexical units and culturally appropriate practices. Cultural readings and lectures in English. Taught in Germany. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

MFL-223-224.1 German Language & Civilization I & II 3.0 cr. each

Fall, spring. Prereq.: MFL 122 or equivalent. MFL 223 is prerequisite for MFL 224.1. Using civilization, contemporary society and the cultural heritage for context, this course focuses on increasing fluency at the intermediate level while providing additional training in grammar. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

MFL-297 Intermediate German Language & Civilization 3.0 cr.

Winter. Prereq.: permission. For students at or above intermediate-level German. Requires considerable research on geographical, historical, and cultural aspects of study locations in Europe prior to departure. Students will serve as cultural informants and interpreters for less proficient participants during the study tour. Field trips, readings, discussion, and guest lectures in German or English. Taught in Germany. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

UPPER DIVISION
MFL-321 Advanced German Composition 3.0 cr.

Fall. Prereq.: MFL 224.1 or permission. A course devoted to the written exposition of selected academic and cultural topics. Includes lexical development and syntax. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

MFL-322 Advanced German Conversation & Phonetics 3.0 cr.

Spring. Prereq.: MFL 321 or permission. A course devoted to the oral exposition of selected academic and cultural topics. The International Phonetic Alphabet will be used for prescriptive and corrective training in oral German at multiple levels of diction. Includes lexical development and syntax. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

Spanish (MFL)

LOWER DIVISION
MFL-131-132 Elementary Spanish I & II 3 credits lecture, 1 credit laboratory

Fall, spring. MFL 131 is a prerequisite for MFL 132. Semester-sequenced beginning courses in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing Spanish, focused on cultural understanding and proficiency in communication.

MFL-131B Intensive Elementary Spanish 3.0 cr.

Winter. Prereq.: Permission. A beginning course in speaking, understanding, reading and writing Spanish, primarily designed for students with some prior knowledge of the language.

MFL-232-233.1 Spanish Language& Civilization I & II 3 credits each

Fall, spring. Prereq.: MFL 132 or equivalent. MFL 232 is a prerequisite for MFL 233.1 Using civilization, - contemporary society, and the cultural heritage - for context, this course focuses on increasing fluency at the intermediate level while providing additional training in grammar and writing.

UPPER DIVISION
MFL-330.1 Advanced Spanish Composition 3.0 cr.

Fall. Prereq.: MFL 233.1 or permission. Advanced practice in the modern forms of Spanish writing appropriate for varied settings. Includes lexical development and syntax. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

MFL-331.1 Advanced Spanish Conversation& Phonetics 3.0 cr.

Spring. Prereq.: MFL 330.1 or permission. A course devoted to the oral exposition of selected academic and cultural topics. The International Phonetic Alphabet will be used for prescriptive and corrective training in oral Spanish at multiple levels of diction. Includes lexical development and syntax. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

MFL-333 Literature of Spanish-America 3.0 cr.

Fall. Alt years. Prereq.: MFL 330.1 and 331.1 or permission. A survey of major periods and genres through the works of representative Spanish-American authors. (LITERATURE)

MFL-334 Literature of Spain 3.0 cr.

Fall. Alt. years. Prereq.: MFL 330.1 and 331.1 or permission. A survey of major periods and genres through the works of representative Spanish authors. (LITERATURE)

MFL 399T.1 Latin American Women Writers 3.0 cr.

Winter 2003. Alt. years. This course focuses on a body of literary works from the colonial period through the 20th Century. Issues of identity, subjectivity and power and their connection to history, society and culture are at the core of class discussions. It also includes literature by Latinas in the U.S. (LITERATURE)

MFL 399T.2 Latin America Today 3.0 cr.

Winter. Alt. years. The focus of this course is the study of specific aspects of contemporary Latin American culture, including history, art, literature, music, politics and social issues. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

MFL-437 Spanish Literature & Society: Narrative & Film 3.0 cr.

Spring. Alt. years. Prereq.: MFL 333 or 334 or equivalent. A study of literary and cinematic narrative through representative works. Their relationships to Spanish and Spanish-American society and history will be emphasized. (LITERATURE)

MFL-438 Spanish Literature & Society: Poetry, Drama and Song 3.0 cr.

Spring. Alt. years. Prereq.: MFL 333 or 334 or equivalent. A study of verse and drama through representative historical and contemporary works from Spain and Spanish America. (LITERATURE)

MFL-493 Research in Spanish 1.0 to 3.0 cr.

Prereq.: Permission. A research project, arranged with an inter-institutional jury, culminating in a paper written in accordance with the jury's guidelines. (INDEPENDENT WORK)

Studies in Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

LOWER DIVISION
MFL-294 Independent Study 1.0 to 3.0 cr.

Independent study in ESL, French, German or Spanish for those students who may still require considerable assistance with communication in the target language. This course does not fulfill the general graduation requirement for independent work. See independent study guidelines.

MFL-299 Intermediate Readings in Modern Languages 1.0 to 3.0 cr.

Fall, winter, spring. Prereq.: permission. Special topics for intermediate students who want to improve their reading skills working in German, French, Spanish, or English as a Second Language. Students read fiction and non-fiction works. May be repeated for credit.

UPPER DIVISION
MFL-398 Practicum in FL/ESL/Bilingual Education 1.0 to 3.0 cr.

(Same as EDU 398) Fall, winter, spring. Prereq.: permission. This practicum extends pre-service teachers' cultural sensitivity, theoretical knowledge of second language acquisition, and skills in ESL and Bilingual methods through a professional experience with culturally/linguistically diverse students in a local school setting. The course is a collaborative venture among the college student, a bilingual or ESL teacher, and a college instructor. For each credit earned, participants spend 25 hours with elementary, middle school, or high school student(s) in local schools in addition to 20 hours involved in academic reading, writing, and seminar discussions. This field experience fulfills a requirement for the ESL and Bilingual Education endorsements for teacher certification in the state of Idaho. Students must complete an application packet prior to placement in a school. (IF 3 CREDITS, MEETS CULTURAL DIVERSITY REQUIREMENT)

MFL-399 Readings in Modern Languages 1.0 to 3.0 cr.

Fall, winter, spring. Prereq.: Permission. Independent readings and weekly conferences with a faculty supervisor. Appropriate for authors/ topics/literatures of special interest. May be repeated for credit. This course does not fulfill the general graduation requirement for independent work.

MFL-444.1 2nd Language Acquisition Theory & Practice 3.0 cr.

(Same as EDS 444.1) Fall. Alt. years. An analysis of second language acquisition theory and practice. The course includes review of textbooks, preparation of units of instruction, microteaching of lessons and class visitations.

MFL-445.1 Foreign Language, ESL& Bilingual Method 3.0 cr.

(Same as EDS 445.1) Spring. Alt. years. Prereq.: MFL 444.1 strongly recommended. The course reinforces and extends students' knowledge of second language acquisition theory and practice. Course content also includes cross-cultural awareness, an overview of legal mandates, and discussion of sociological issues pertaining to minority student education. Students will utilize ESL / Bilingual methods in lesson planning and microteaching, visit ESL and Bilingual classes, and conduct a mini-ethnographic study. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)

MFL-446 Linguistics for Language Teachers 3.0 cr.

(Same as ENG 446) Spring. Alt. years. Prereq.: Junior or senior standing. A study of the central concepts of linguistic theory. Includes the theoretical areas of pragmatics, semantics, syntax, morphology, and phonology; and the applied areas of language variation, first language acquisition, second language acquisition, written language, and the neurology of language. Students will acquire the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as an essential tool for disciplined examination of linguistic phenomena. Issues of sociolinguistics will be addressed as students wrestle with the relationship between language, thought, and culture, and the nature of the cognitive and brain systems that relate to language learning, language teaching, and language use.

MFL-447 Theoretical Foundations/Bilingual Ed/ESL 3.0 cr.

(Same as EDS 447) Fall. Alt. years. Prereq.: junior or senior standing. An analysis of the models and typologies of bilingual education and second / foreign language programs that aim to achieve bilingualism and biliteracy in a multicultural society. The course examines the sociocultural issues surrounding linguistic minority education from a historical perspective as well as from a contemporary and local perspective. The course explores the design, implementation, and adaptation of curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of the community in its demographic context.

MFL-494 Independent Study 1.0 to 3.0 cr.

Fall, spring. Prereq.: Permission. A special research project on a selected topic in literature or civilization. See independent study guidelines. (INDEPENDENT WORK)

MFL-497 Internship 1.0 to 3.0 cr.

Fall, winter, spring. Prereq.: MFL 212, or 223, or 233.1, or permission. Individually arranged and supervised service or research in a bilingual or target language environment. Internships will provide practical experience in the field of concentration. An extended analysis and periodic reports of the experience will be required. See internship guidelines. (INDEPENDENT WORK)