Languages

Introductory language course. This course will develop students' basic communicative competence in the language and their understanding of its culture. Throughout the course, students develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills Pronunciation and some basic grammar will be taught. The bulk of in-class work will be devoted to developing oral and aural skills.

This course is a continuation of the elements of basic Spanish grammar covered in the introductory class, and progresses toward the development of simple conversational skills.

This is a beginning level course in Mandarin Chinese for students with none or little prior experience in the language. It aims at helping students to develop communicative competence in the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing the Chinese language. Pinyin (Chinese phonetic system) will be taught as a tool to learn the spoken language. Chinese culture, history and geography will be introduced as it relates to each lesson. The purpose of this course is to enable participating students, regardless of their major fields of study, to gain a fundamental understanding of Chinese life, customs, traditions and language. Additionally, students will also be introduced to the philosophical underpinnings of Chinese culture. Language training (Mandarin) will include daily immersion in the target language. Students will gain everday language skills as they become acquainted with the tenets of business and professional etiquette. These “must know” items will improve the learners’ knowledge of Chinese culture and business protocols and will enhance their professional efficacy in communication, transactions and business with Chinese counterparts both in America and in Asia. As Confucius once said, “If you enter a region, ask what its prohibitions are; if you visit a country, ask what its customs are; if you cross a family’s threshold, ask what its taboos are.”