American Sign Language IV 4 s.h.
This is the fourth course in a four-semester sequence of courses, and is a continuation of ASL:2001, American Sign Language III. Students will continue to learn advanced grammatical construction and vocabulary. Goals for this course include improved conversational fluency as well as familiarity with American Deaf Culture. As a flipped learning course (labeled as hybrid by the registrar), students will meet synchronously two times per week in the classroom at the designated days and times to participate in interactive dialogues and signing activities. Outside of class (asynchronously), students will watch video lectures and complete lab activities and other coursework. In addition, this course requires attendance at ASL Events, which are held at various times throughout the semester. All class meetings and events are conducted in ASL, without the use of spoken English. Like all language classes, this course encourages students to interact daily in the target language, ASL. Grading will be based on exams, projects/presentations, papers, class attendance and participation, ASL event attendance, and culturally appropriate behavior. Exams test both expressive and receptive skills, including the use of appropriate vocabulary, grammar, facial expressions, and cultural knowledge about the Deaf Community. An average of 75% or better on expressive and receptive elements of the course is highly encouraged to move forward with ASL V or advanced ASL courses.
Intermediate French II 5 s.h.
Continuation of FREN:2001.
Intermediate German II 4 s.h.
Students gain intermediate proficiency in spoken and written German. They also increase their knowledge of and insights into the German speaking cultures of Central Europe and their historical background. Ample opportunity is provided to increase and sharpen communicative skills.
Our language-classes are student-centered. Students work with others in the class through role-playing and other activities to acquire and practice new vocabulary and structures. Some knowledge of the grammatical structures taught in the first two semesters is assumed but there is some grammar in each chapter. Correct structures are practiced through exercises, readings, and writings. Classes are conducted in German.
Our textbook combines engaging cultural topics with authentic readings and contextualized grammar in a unifying context. Each chapter revolves around a city or region in the German-speaking countries, taking you on a virtual exploration. We use the accompanying video component that contains footage of videoblogs from eleven cities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and serves as windows to their diverse societies and contemporary culture. These snapshots of everyday life connect interview clips with images of public spaces to move students into the scenarios and situations that reflect a developing German speaker's communicative needs.
Attendance and active participation are required. Steady homework, oral and written tests.
Why should you study Portuguese? Watch this video testimonial to learn more!
The objective of this course is to develop the students' ability to further understand, speak, read, and write Portuguese. It prepares students for upper-level courses. Grading is based on class participation, exams, oral presentations, compositions, and participation in the Teletandem project.
This course is a hybrid course in which language learning is enhanced through activities developed through ICON outside of class time. Class meets three times a week (M-W-F) and requires 6-8 hours per week of online work and class preparation.
Second-Year Russian II 4 s.h.
You came here to continue learning the fifth most widely spoken language in the world. As you probably already know, 278 million people speak Russian, 164 million of whom speak it as their first language. Russian has the largest number of native speakers in Europe, it is one of the official languages of the UN, and it is the 10th most widely spoken language in the U.S. The Defense Language Institute classifies Russian as a “Level III” language, meaning it has a very high degree of difficulty and requires 789 or more hours of immersive instruction to attain intermediate fluency (See “Russian Life” May/June 2009).
This course is focused on helping you achieve the basic skills for successful communication: pronunciation, vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. At the end of the second year, you will be able to pass the basic level of the TORFL, i.e., the “Russian as a Foreign Language,” exam. This test was designed as part of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and is obligatory for those wishing to study at a Russian university. This course also fulfills the University of Iowa’s foreign language requirement.
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Intermediate Spanish II 4 s.h.
Continuation of SPAN:1501.
SPAN:1502 is the second semester of Intermediate Spanish and it is the last semester of the World Language Requirement sequence. Upon successful completion of the course, students will have fulfilled the CLAS Core Foreign Language requirement and are eligible to take courses at the 2000 level. Since the course fulfills two semesters worth of study, be prepared to dedicate the necessary time to succeed in the course. It is a hybrid course, in which language learning is enhanced through technology outside of class. Class time is reserved for interaction in Spanish. This class uses a project-based approach. Therefore, you will be required to complete multiple group projects during the semester. Class meets three times a week (M-W-F) and requires additional 8-10 hours per week of online work and class preparation. If you have additional questions about this course, please send an email to the Spanish CLAS Core Office at: spanish-clascore@uiowa.edu Class size is limited to 20. Sections are taught under the supervision of the CLAS Core Director. Note that the number of years of high-school Spanish study may not equate to placement in a specific college-level semester. We strongly suggest that you take the Spanish Placement Test for successful placement (Foreign Language Placement Test) before enrolling in any CLAS Core Spanish course at https://newstudents.uiowa.edu/Spanish .
Registration Information Class will meet MWF for 3 s.h.. An additional 1 s.h. of course work will be completed online outside of class time through self-guided learning exercises.
SPAN:1501
Meet a community of fellow heritage Spanish speakers to discuss language and culture. Improve your overall writing and reading skills. Learn about other registers and varieties of Spanish. Enhance your career opportunities as a versatile bilingual candidate.
This course builds on the linguistic resources and sociocultural knowledge of intermediate heritage speakers of Spanish as they prepare for courses at the advanced level. Students will develop their oral and written expression through regular exposure to Spanish-language texts, films, digital media, music, and visual art. Students taking this course will suffice the GE world language requirement in one semester.