Languages and Cultures   

This course is designed to provide an opportunity to speak and listen to Spanish in a comfortable non-judgmental atmosphere. It is meant for those who already speak Spanish with some fluency but who don’t have all the opportunities to converse that they would like. Each week, students will be provided with materials to stimulate conversation on a particular theme, including poems, readings, song lyrics, and discussion questions. During each class, we’ll talk in a whole group and in breakout rooms. Themes include games and sports, the five senses, and more, but it will be all right to stray from the theme. Grammar and vocabulary questions that arise will be answered, but the class is about enjoying conversation in Spanish. Any learning that occurs arises from that. It will enhance our conversation if students spend some time with the materials posted on LearnerNotes before each class. Translations are provided for readings and song lyrics.

NOTE: This is not a grammar course or even a Spanish course per se. Rather it is a chance for those who already comprehend and speak Spanish with some fluency to listen to others, converse freely, and encounter readings and songs that reflect Hispanic culture. Those who have been in previous Conversaciones courses will find new themes, readings, and music.

This is a previously taught course with new content. This course aims at broadening a student’s vocabulary and understanding of the day-to-day German spoken today. The etymology of certain words will be discussed, and the rules of grammar will be explained on request. This term we will read the author’s diary describing his travels in six European countries in 2005, reading and discussing a short section at a time. The German text is emailed to students before the term starts.

NOTE: Students should have a basic knowledge of German. Because there is no clear definition of “basic knowledge,” the instructor invites students to attend the first class to find out if their knowledge is sufficient to profit from the course.

Here is your chance to improve your beginning Russian in a highly interactive, informal class that will cater to the needs of its participants. We will use a minimum of English, and repeat and contextualize Russian so that you can understand! Understanding what is being said and responding in Russian are the key goals. Grammar will be discussed only when needed, as our focus will be on speaking Russian. We will use email to provide notes for classes, vocabulary, as well as texts of poems and songs to experience in class. Unless Russian students materialize suddenly, this will be a small class, and it will certainly be low-pressure, supportive, and fun. NOTE: We don’t expect students with fluent Russian. Experience shows that some students struggle with pronunciation, some with the Cyrillic alphabet, and some with both. Please come to the first class to see how it suits you.

In these chaotic times, we hear about situations happening all over the world and may feel disconnected from the people and communities impacted. This course offers a first-hand look into how humanitarian work, while challenging, offers so many opportunities for joy in helping to bring about comfort for our most vulnerable populations. The instructor offers decades of experience working and volunteering all over the globe. Follow along with her through the sharing of personal experiences living with remote indigenous tribes in the rain forests of Madagascar (Peace Corps) to the front lines of Afghanistan (Doctors Without Borders) and into refugee camps of over a million inhabitants within Bangladesh and Lebanon. The instructor’s hope and objective of the course is a deeper understanding of the resilience of these populations, along with empathy and respect for their courage against extreme odds. Course content will include open discussion and ample time for questions during each session.

 

NOTE: Two sections of this course are being offered at the same day/time as a hybrid: one on Zoom and one in-person. Please register for and attend either the online or in-person section.

In these chaotic times, we hear about situations happening all over the world and may feel disconnected from the people and communities impacted. This course offers a first-hand look into how humanitarian work, while challenging, offers so many opportunities for joy in helping to bring about comfort for our most vulnerable populations. The instructor offers decades of experience working and volunteering all over the globe. Follow along with her through the sharing of personal experiences living with remote indigenous tribes in the rain forests of Madagascar (Peace Corps) to the front lines of Afghanistan (Doctors Without Borders) and into refugee camps of over a million inhabitants within Bangladesh and Lebanon. The instructor’s hope and objective of the course is a deeper understanding of the resilience of these populations, along with empathy and respect for their courage against extreme odds. Course content will include open discussion and ample time for questions during each session.

 

NOTE: Two sections of this course are being offered at the same day/time as a hybrid: one on Zoom and one in-person. Please register for and attend either the online or in-person section.

Listening to songs and studying the words and grammar points in them is a fun and effective way to improve your understanding and speaking in Spanish. We'll listen to and watch videos of about a dozen songs from a variety of regions, dialects, genres, and cultures of the vast Spanish-speaking world. We will read the lyrics and use translations to help figure out meanings. After listening, we'll discuss and zero in on specific vocabulary, expressions, and grammar points in the song. There may be some pencil and paper work inventing backstories or futures for the characters in the song or creating dialogs using key vocabulary and grammar. Students are encouraged (but not required!) to sing along or dance. Classes will be conducted mostly in Spanish, with liberal exceptions as needed. At least a strong beginner level of proficiency is suggested, but each student will benefit in their own way. No textbook is required. Songs will be available online.