Language & Culture   

This course is designed for students who have a basic knowledge (those with limited knowledge are also welcome) of Spanish and want to improve their conversational and grammar skills to the next level. The course includes fun interactive activities for practice. Conversation is encouraged in a relaxed and casual atmosphere so that students feel comfortable and confident in our class. Looking forward to sharing this beautiful language with you. ¡HASTA LUEGO!

This course is designed for students who have a fair knowledge of Spanish and want to improve not only their grammatical skills but especially their conversational skills. In the class, we will be reading, writing, and translating Spanish using interactive activities, which help the student feel more confident in speaking this beautiful language at a higher level. The aim is to encourage each student to participate fully and enjoy the experience of being bilingual. ¡ADIOS!

In this class we will begin with a written dialogue we will read together and expand into more spontaneous conversation after our warm-up dialogue. We will hone in on pronunciation and address questions about language in the first part of class, so that we can relax into something more natural to individual students in the latter half. Each class will include at least 15 minutes of "atelier" or workshop, where I will give one-on-one pronunciation coaching to every member of class. Class will feature food and beverage tastings from regional France, and some listening to French music.

This course introduces novice learners to the fundamental elements of Japanese language and culture. It examines how key language features function as vehicles for cultural expression and communication. Instruction emphasizes the use of Roman characters to develop foundational skills in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. Interactive conversational practice enhances listening and speaking aimed at functional proficiency. The course also integrates topics related to Japanese culture, history, and notable cultural and sightseeing destinations.

Italian for Travelers is an introduction to Italian language through the lens of culture. This beginner-friendly course is open to all levels of experience. Through an imagined journey to six Italian cities novice students will develop a working knowledge of basic Italian that sidesteps the need for complex grammar instruction. Along the way, they will personalize the material to suit their goals and interests, enjoy lively conversation, and pick up a lot of communication and study strategies. Returning or experienced students can review and strengthen that foundation while expanding their skills and adding new vocabulary. This course also includes supplemental materials for home study.

Suggested Reading: 

• Practice Makes Perfect: Italian (various topics)
• Any current phrase book (e.g. Berlitz, Lonely Planet)
• Any good Italian-English dictionary

 

What’s in a name? We will explore the importance of names in Jewish tradition from biblical times until today, including the name of God and even our own names. We will then delve into the power of words and language, in Jewish teaching, to both create and destroy. We will also examine the role of silence when words are limiting.

In 1633 the deeply religious townspeople of Oberammergau in Southern Germany prayed to their God to stop the bubonic plague that had entered their village. The plague had been ravaging Europe during the Thirty Years War (1618-48), killing an estimated two-thirds of the continent’s population. The townspeople promised to honor their God’s life, suffering, crucifixion, and ascension with a performance every ten years. God heard their prayers. The course addresses the geography, traditions, art, music, woodcarving, and historic sightseeing places of Bavaria, and evolution of the play. Charges of its alleged antisemitic text and its revision and the historical development of types of customs, orchestral music, and glorious chorus over time are analyzed in this intensive six-week class.