Eastern University | Academics | Departments and Majors | Languages

Course Descriptions

FRENCH

FRE 101–102 Elementary French
Basic grammar, vocabulary and composition with drills in reading and conversation.

FRE 201, 202 Intermediate French
Review of grammar and vocabulary with opportunities for interaction in the target language. Short literary texts are included to build students’ vocabulary and reading skills. Prerequisite: Grade of B in 100-level course or 3+ years of high school French.

FRE 301, 302 Conversation and Composition
Focus on the oral use of the target language with regular student presentations, interviews and reports. The development of academic writing in the target language is stressed. Journalistic and literary readings included.

FRE 310 French Phonetics and Phonology
The course is designed to help students improve their pronunciation of French while acquiring the skill to eventually, as K-12 FL teachers, instruct their future students in the correct pronunciation of the French language.

FRE 405 Francophone Literature
A selection of literature in French from Africa, Canada, and the Caribbean in all genres will be studied. Taught in French. Minimum grades of B in FRE 301, 302. Offered in alternate years.

FRE 408 Advanced Grammar and Conversation
This course includes intense review of grammar, vocabulary, and idioms as well as intensive use of drills and exercises to develop competence and fluency in speaking and writing idiomatic French through conversation, debates and oral presentations. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of B in FRE 301, 302.

GERMAN

GER 101-102 Elementary German
Development of the four basic skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing and an introduction to German culture. This course favors a communicative approach in these four skills for language proficiency. Class attendance and the language lab are mandatory.

GER 201, 202 Intermediate German
This course is designed for those students who have taken three or more years of high school German or have previously taken German 102 at Eastern. Students will review the grammar of more complex structures and incorporate these structures in tasks the students must do in their interaction with others in the classroom. Short literary texts help to gain knowledge of historical, political and social issues of the German society.

GREEK

GRE 101–102 Biblical Greek
An introductory study of Biblical (Koine) Greek. Two semesters.

GRE 201 Intermediate Greek
Continuing study of Biblical (Koine) Greek. Two semesters. Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C in GRE 101-102.

GRE 301 Greek Exegesis
Reading, translation and exegesis of selected texts from the Greek New Testament. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in GRE 202 or permission of the instructor. Offered infrequently. This course counts as biblical studies electives for students who are earning a major in Biblical Studies on the Biblical Languages track.

HEBREW

HEB 101-102 Biblical Hebrew
An introductory study of the fundamentals of Hebrew vocabulary, morphology, and syntax. Texts from diverse time zones will be translated, including Genesis, Isaiah and Ruth.

HEB 201 Intermediate Hebrew
Continuing study of classical Hebrew including reading and grammar. Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C in HEB 101-102.

HEB 301 Hebrew Exegesis
Reading, translation and exegesis of selected texts from the Hebrew scriptures. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in HEB 202 or permission of the instructor. Offered infrequently. This course counts as biblical studies electives for students who are earning a major in Biblical Studies on the Biblical Languages track.

Linguistics

LAN 310 Introduction to Linguistics
Analysis and structure of language with emphasis on phonetics, morphology and syntax. Special attention given to the Indo-European languages which led to the formation of modern European languages. Offered every fall.

LAN 350 The Teaching of Modern Languages and English for Speakers of Other Languages
This course is designed to give students an introduction to the prominent theories and applied research in the field of second language acquisition that have informed the language teaching profession in recent years. At the same time, the course offers guidance and practice in the practical matters of teaching language courses at the K-12 level: proficiency-based instruction, lesson planning, textbook evaluation, testing, individual learning styles, materials design and use of new technologies in instruction.

LAN 495 Internship
A supervised internship in an off-campus organization, in the United States or abroad, that is language and missions focused. Student must provide his/her own transportation and report to an on-site supervisor. A plan of work must be submitted before internship is approved and appropriate documentation must be filed with student’s advisor.

SPANISH

SPA 101-102 Elementary Spanish
A true beginner's course series that focuses on listening comprehension and speaking, in addition to reading and writing skills through a variety of media and interaction-based activities. Students learn about the diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world and gain confidence in articulating simple and clear communication in the target language.

SPA 201 - 202 Intermediate Spanish
These two courses include both a comprehensive review of basic grammar and vocabulary and an exposure to more complex grammatical concepts and sophisticated expression. Students actively engage in conversation-based activities, analyze short literary texts and research and present on various aspects of Hispanic culture.

SPA 301 -302 Conversation and Composition
This course series focus on fine-tuning speaking and writing skills through conversation, reading, essays and the revision processs. Students conduct research, interviews and present in the target langauge.

SPA 310 Spanish Phonetics and Phonology
Spanish 310 is designed to deepen students' understanding of the patterns and linguistic phenomena that inform the Spanish language. Students embark on a journey that surveys the Hispanic history and culture that continue to shape the Spanish language. Students are introduced to the general phonetics and phonology of Spanish, the diverse lexicons, pronounciation and dialects within the Hispanic world.

SPA 401 Spanish Culture and Civilization
A cultural study of the Spanish Civilization from Pre-Roman and Roman Spain, the Germanic invasions, and the Moslem occupation through Spain’s glory and decline to the present place of Spain in the world.

SPA 402 Latin American Culture and Civilization
A wide and comprehensive study of the geography, ethnic groups, languages, traditions, history, economics, religion, literature and art of Latin America as a necessary background to examine the present status of the contemporary Latin American republics. Satisfies CAS cultural horizons requirement.

SPA 403, 404 Survey of Spanish Literature Botero Readings from the Medieval Epic to the present with attention to the major literary movements through reading selections from representative works.

SPA 408 Advanced Spanish Syntax This course includes an intense review of grammar, vocabulary, and idioms as well as intensive use of drills and exercises to develop competence and fluency in speaking and writing idiomatic Spanish through conversation, debates and oral presentations.

SPA 409 Colonial and 19th Century Spanish-American Literature
This course will cover some of the most notable indigenous and Spanish-American literary texts prior to the 20th century, beginning with pre-Columbian texts.

SPA 410 Modern Spanish-American Literature This course will survey the major developments in Spanish-American literature of the 20th century to the present. Authors studied include: Darío, Azuela, Rulfo, Borges, Cortáza, Garcia Márquez, Neruda, Ferré and Poniatowska.

SPA 415 Hispanic Life and Worldview This course provides an opportunity for the Spanish major to reflect on the importance of speaking a second language in their development as an individual and as a Christian, and to investigate values within the area of family dynamics, educational settings, individual identity, religious practices and commonly shared cultural beliefs of a particular Hispanic county while studying abroad.

SPA 420 Spanish Senior Thesis
An honors course open to seniors. A research paper and an oral presentation on a literary theme or cultural topic is required. Prerequisite: Permission of the department.

Chinese:

Lan 130 Special Topics: A beginner's course that focuses on listening comprehension and speaking, in
addition to reading and writing skills through a variety of media and interaction-based activities. Students
learn about the Chinese culture and gain confidence in articulating simple and clear communication in the
target language.

Arabic

Arabic 101: Development of the four basic skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing and an
introduction to Arabic culture. This course favors a communicative approach in these four skills for
language proficiency.