Course Search Results

Speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.

This is the first Arabic course in the first year sequence. The course is designed to introduce students to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), the basics of the Egyptian dialect and culture of the Arabic-speaking world. The goal of this class is to familiarize students with the sounds and alphabet of the Arabic language, develop basic vocabulary that will make it possible toconduct simple conversations on casual topics, and introduce the reading and writing of very simple texts. Language acquisition skills will be taught using a communicative and student-centered approach. The course is a combination of lecture, discussion, exercises and communicative language activities. Finalgrades will be based on participation in course activities, homework assignments, quizzes, and a final exam.

Classes meet four days a week (Monday through Thursday) in the classroom, and on Fridays students will have to complete a lab assignment.

World Languages First Level Proficiency

Introductory conversational skills and basic American Sign Language grammar; introduction to the ASL cultural community through readings and videos. Taught in American Sign Language.

This is an introductory course in American Sign Language (ASL).  This is not a course in “Signed English”.  ASL is a distinct, natural language with rules of grammar and usage as different from English as any language.  A course in ASL is comparable to, and no less difficult or rigorous than, other world language courses.  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.  This is the first course in a four-semester sequence of courses.  An average of 75% or better on expressive and receptive elements of the course is highly encouraged to move forward with ASL II.

World Languages First Level Proficiency

Sound system of Mandarin Chinese, basic sentence patterns; aural understanding, speaking, reading, writing. Offered fall semesters. The purpose of this course is to lay groundwork for the study of modern Chinese. The course provides instruction in all four language skills of aurally understanding, speaking, reading, and writing. While the learning of sentence patterns is a major component of the course, efforts are made to help students handle simple tasks such as discussing daily routines, asking for and giving simple directions, shopping, talking on the phone, and reading and writing notes and letters. Activities designed for the course include both deductive and inductive lectures on grammatical constructions and cultural conventions as they relate to the language, and intensive drills on sounds and tones, vocabulary, sentence patterns, and traditional and simplified characters in meaningful contexts. Both pedagogically prepared texts and authentic materials including a wide variety of realia are used in this course. For the reading and writing tracks, emphasis is placed on the acquisition of character recurring components in order to systematically improve students' Chinese orthographic awareness. A daily grading system is employed. World Languages First Level Proficiency

Introduces students with no prior Hebrew experience to Biblical Hebrew, the language used to compose the bulk of the Hebrew Bible. Introduction to the Hebrew alphabet, vocabulary, and grammar, culminating with reading and comprehending passages from the Hebrew Bible.

This is the first semester of a two semester course which will cover the basics of Biblical Hebrew grammar and syntax and provide an introduction to the Biblical lexicon. There will be extensive grammatical exercises, both in class and at home, as well as frequent opportunities to apply grammatical and lexical knowledge to the Biblical text.

 

World Languages First Level Proficiency

Focus on reading ancient Greek and developing a deeper understanding of ancient Greek civilization.

An introduction to the Ancient Greek language. Students learn the fundamentals of Ancient Greek (morphology, syntax, and vocabulary), with the primary goal of acquiring the skills necessary to read Ancient Greek texts such as Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the lyric poetry of Sappho, Greek tragedy, the philosophy of Plato, and the New Testament. In the process, students deepen their knowledge of Ancient Greek civilization and improve their understanding of English grammar. This course is particularly well suited for students with interests in ancient history, literature, philosophy, and/or mythology. It is also useful for students planning to attend medical school (since modern medical terminology often derives from Ancient Greek roots), law school (since the course hones students' logic and critical-thinking skills), or seminary (since Ancient Greek is the language of the New Testament).

 

This course is a World Languages GE course.

World Languages First Level Proficiency

Focus on reading Latin and on Roman culture.

An introduction to the Latin language. Using Wheelock’s Latin (Chapters 1-20), students learn the fundamentals of the Latin language (forms, syntax, and vocabulary), while reading excerpts from ancient authors and studying the historical and cultural contexts in which these authors wrote. Although the ultimate goal is the ability to read texts in Latin, listening, speaking, and writing will play an integral part in the learning process. As you are studying Latin, you will also improve your English vocabulary and learn how language works.

Completion of Elementary Latin I and II will enable you to go on to second-year Latin (also called intermediate Latin). The two second-year courses, World of Cicero and Golden Age of Roman Poetry, may be taken in either order; both must be taken to complete the World Languages 4th-level Requirement.

Grades are based on daily assignments, weekly quizzes, and three exams. Support materials and a free tutoring service are available. An attendance requirement permits five absences before the final grade is lowered. The course is taught by a qualified graduate student supervised by a professor.

World Languages First Level Proficiency

Introduction to reading, writing, listening, and speaking; for students who have no knowledge of French. World Languages First Level Proficiency

Understanding and speaking "everyday German"; reading and writing skills; acquaintance with the German-speaking world through discussion, readings, videos.

A basic introduction to the German language and to the culture of German-speaking countries. In this course you will learn to communicate about everyday topics such as friends, family, hobbies, food, travel, and university life. You will also develop enhanced understanding of the geography, culture, politics, and history of the German speaking countries.

Elementary German I is designed for students very little or no previous study of German. Students who have studied German previously should take the German placement exam to receive a course recommendation.

World Languages First Level Proficiency

Beginning instruction in Italian for students with no prior experience in speaking, reading, or understanding Italian.

This course is open to all students; no previous language experience required. The course covers fundamentals of Italian language and culture, including reading, writing, comprehension, and speaking skills. Participation in class is essential to the development of conversational skills and reading ability. Daily written and oral assignments are required. 

Course meets Monday-Thursday, the 5th credit hour will be online work.

World Languages First Level Proficiency

Modern Japanese. Offered fall semesters. This is an introductory course in modern Japanese with emphasis on speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It focuses on developing skills in producing and comprehending modern Japanese. The goal of the course is to master fundamental linguistic forms and functions of Japanese. Evaluation is based on student performance in class, daily homework assignments, frequent quizzes, and exams. THis course is part of the possible sequences of courses approved for GE: World Languages. World Languages First Level Proficiency

Modern Korean; speaking, listening, reading, writing. Offered fall semesters.

This course is an introduction to the language and culture of Korea. The skills of speaking, understanding, reading, and writing are practiced. Drills on pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary are an integral part of the course. Emphasis is on providing students with a background in the structure of the language. Requirements include homework assignments, a midterm, frequent quizzes, and a final exam. 

World Languages First Level Proficiency

Basic language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing Russian; fundamentals of Russian grammar.

Rapid globalization has created a tremendous need for people all over the world to better understand and interface with different cultures in the course of their work and travels. Foreign language learning is no longer a privilege but a requirement in the new millennium. The knowledge of Russian will open new doors for your academic, professional, and personal development. Spoken by over 280 million people, Russian is in the top five most used languages in the world, one of six official languages of the UN, and a language of scientific and business literature and newly emerging business opportunities.

 

Through fun and engaging lessons, our experienced instructors will teach you the skills necessary for successful communication. From day one, you will be speaking, listening, reading, and writing in this beautiful language.

World Languages First Level Proficiency

Emphasis on oral and written skills. Taught in Spanish.

SPAN:1001 is the first semester of Elementary Spanish, and it is part of the World Language Requirement sequence. This class uses a project-based approach that facilitates language acquisition by having the students use and manipulate the language from day one. This class uses a free textbook that was designed here at the University of Iowa to meet the specific needs of our students.

Class meets three times a week (M-W-F) and requires additional 8-10 hours per week of online work and class preparation. Being that this is the beginning level of Spanish, no prior experience with Spanish is required to do well in this class.

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

 

Required Course Materials:

Semillas Elementary I (Free online access to the textbook will be provided on ICON)

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.

 

World Languages First Level Proficiency

Development of basic Swahili conversations; introduction to Kiswahili culture, grammar, and vocabulary necessary for communication; asking and responding to simple and short questions.

The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to Kiswahili grammar and vocabulary.  It will also provide training in basic wrtiting and conversational skills, including pronunciation.  

World Languages First Level Proficiency