Current Courses

Spring 2024

New! Voices in Music: French, Italian, and Korean (MUSIC 235T)

Voices in Music explores how language and culture impact the production and reception of music in language communities. Texts include compositions, lyrics, music videos, interviews, visual texts, and documentaries, allowing students to examine music from multiple perspectives in the language. Discussions will include ethnomusicology, representations of culture and identity, performance, and the music industry. 75 minutes per week in the target language. S/U.

  • Italian (MUSIC 235T/ Italian 235T)  (Laura Bilanceri)
  • Korean (MUSIC 235T/Korean 235T) (Jung-Min Mina Lee)
  • French (MUSIC 235T/French 235T) (Germain Choffart

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Voices in Music: Spanish (MUSIC 235T.01/SPAN 235T)

This spring, the Voices in Music Spanish course will be taught by Professor Sophia Enriquez, alongside her course on Selena. Students will work with the organization Fandango.

Back by popular demand!

Voices in Public Policy: Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish

PUBPOL 273T / RUSS 273T/ CHIN 273T/ SPAN 273T

Public policy is a system of regulatory measures, laws, courses of action, and funding priorities concerning a given topic disseminated by a governmental entity or its representatives. In this course, we explore public policy issues in French-speaking countries and regions around the world, looking closely at the cultural factors that influence political participation, economic behavior, social solidarity, and value formation and evolution, all of which are closely linked to how and why public policies are developed in different ways in different countries. Through an examination of key issues and debates, we will explore the role of public policy in developing, reinforcing, and shifting national cultures.

Language and culture are instrumental in helping us interpret the cultural systems and policies of target communities and populations, and they offer an important lens to unpack the socio-cultural dimensions that impact legislation, policy, and practice. To better understand the perspectives of the individuals and groups’ said policies are created to protect or uplift, we will expand our examination of policy texts beyond briefs to include a wide variety of materials produced in the target language, including interviews, infographics, blogs, documentaries, and op-eds. Expert guest speakers will enhance our understanding. Our topics will include linguistic policies, immigration and citizenship, activism and political participation, cultural policies, and more. S/U

All courses meet on Mondays from 1:25-2:40.

  • Mandarin Chinese – Yan Liu
  • Russian – Edna Andrews and Yana Lowry
  • Spanish – Juan Merlo Romero

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Fall 2023

Voices in the Environment: French, Chinese, German, Spanish (ENVIRON 272T)

Voices in the Environment explores how language and culture impact environmental beliefs, behaviors, and interventions. Through practical and theoretical discussions around case studies, visual texts, and interviews, we will examine “wicked problems”– global environmental challenges — from local perspectives. Guest speakers will help us explore the underlying reasons for different beliefs and behaviors, with the goal of creating appropriate interventions related to sustainability.

This course loosely follows the structure of ENVIRON 201. While students are encouraged to enroll in both courses, concurrent enrollment is not required. Tutorials are taught entirely in the target language. Prerequisite: 4 semesters-level of language study or equivalent. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

  • French (ENVIRON 269T-2/ FREN 272T-2) Mondays 1:45-3 (Sandra Valnes Quammen)
  • Spanish (ENVIRON 269T-1/ SPAN 2T2-1) Mondays 4:40-5:55 (Paula Sarmiento)

Spring 2023

Voices in Public Policy: French, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish

PUBPOL 273T / FREN 273T/ RUSS 273T/ CHIN 273T/ SPAN 273T

Public policy is a system of regulatory measures, laws, courses of action, and funding priorities concerning a given topic disseminated by a governmental entity or its representatives. In this course, we explore public policy issues in French-speaking countries and regions around the world, looking closely at the cultural factors that influence political participation, economic behavior, social solidarity, and value formation and evolution, all of which are closely linked to how and why public policies are developed in different ways in different countries. Through an examination of key issues and debates, we will explore the role of public policy in developing, reinforcing, and shifting national cultures.

Language and culture are instrumental in helping us interpret the cultural systems and policies of target communities and populations, and they offer an important lens to unpack the socio-cultural dimensions that impact legislation, policy, and practice. To better understand the perspectives of the individuals and groups said policies are created to protect or uplift, we will expand our examination of policy texts beyond briefs to include a wide variety of materials produced in the target language, including interviews, infographics, blogs, documentaries, and op-eds. Expert guest speakers will enhance our understanding. Our topics will include linguistic policies, immigration and citizenship, activism and political participation, cultural policies, and more. S/U

All courses meet on Mondays from 1:45-3:00.

  • French – Professor Deb Reisinger
  • Mandarin Chinese – Professor Yan Liu
  • Russian – Professor Edna Andrews
  • Spanish – Professor Melissa Simmermeyer

Voices in Music: Spanish

Voices in Music explores how language and culture impact the production and reception of music in Spanish-speaking communities. Texts include compositions, lyrics, music videos, interviews, visual texts, and documentaries, allowing students to examine music from multiple perspectives in Spanish. Discussions will include ethnomusicology, representations of culture and identity, performance, and the music industry. 75 minutes per week in Spanish. S/U.

This spring, the course will be taught in Spanish by professor and musician Luis Navarro, alongside Professor Sophia Enriquez’ course on Selena.

  • Spanish (MUSIC 235T/ Spanish 235T)  Mondays (Professor Luis Navarro)

 

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Spring 2022

Voices in GLOBAL HEALTH: Hindi

GLHLTH 270T/AMES 270T

Through practical and theoretical discussions around case studies, visual texts, and interviews in the target language, we examine healthcare issues from preventing and controlling COVID-19 and healthcare systems to traditional Indian medicine and environmental health. Guest speakers help us explore the underlying reasons for different beliefs and behaviors, with the goal of creating culturally appropriate interventions. Tutorials meet weekly for 75-minutes. Prerequisite: 3-4 semesters of language or equivalent – heritage and native speakers are welcome to enroll. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

  • Hindi (GLHLTH 270T/ Hindi 270T)  Tuesdays 5:15-6:30 (Professor Kusum Knapczyk)

*while you do not need to be enrolled in GLHLTH 101 to sign up for this course, you may find it rewarding to do so!*

*while you do not need to be enrolled in GLHLTH 101 to sign up for this course, you may find it rewarding to do so!*

Icon showing green city on top of a globeVoices in the Environment: French, Chinese, German, Spanish (ENVIRON 269T)

Voices in the Environment explores how language and culture impact environmental beliefs, behaviors, and interventions. Through practical and theoretical discussions around case studies, visual texts, and interviews, we will examine “wicked problems”– global environmental challenges — from local perspectives. Guest speakers will help us explore the underlying reasons for different beliefs and behaviors, with the goal of creating appropriate interventions related to sustainability.

This course loosely follows the structure of ENVIRON 201. While students are encouraged to enroll in both courses, concurrent enrollment is not required. Tutorials are taught entirely in the target language. Prerequisite: 4 semesters-level of language study or equivalent. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

  • French (ENVIRON 269T-2/ FREN 272T-2) Mondays 1:45-3 (Professor Sandra Valnes Quammen)
  • German (ENVIRON 269T-2/ GERM 272T-2) Mondays 1:45-3 (Professor Edana Kleinhans)
  • Mandarin (ENVIRON 269T-3/ AMES 272T-3) Mondays 1:45-3 (Professor Yan Liu)
  • Spanish (ENVIRON 269T-1/ SPAN 2T2-1) Mondays 1:45-3 (Professor Max Bernal Temores)

Voices in Public Policy in Spanish: Illegal voices, legal violence: Narratives and policies of migration in Mexico and the US

PUBPOL 273T/SPAN 273T

Through essays, videos, articles, film, and more, students will explore narratives that show the real human impacts of policies that deport and force people apart. Through these narratives, students will also examine how people directly impacted by these policies are fighting back.

  • Tuesday 1:45-3pm (Professor Liliana Paredes)

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Fall 2021

Girl standing in front of shoe adVoices in Marketing: Advertising in French, Mandarin, and Spanish

MMS 273T/FREN 275T/CHIN 275T/SPAN 275T

This discussion-based course trains students to analyze all forms of advertising in French, Mandarin, or Spanish. Classes explore the history and theories of advertising through these languages and cultures, as well as hands-on strategies for analyzing ads, with particular attention to issues such as translation, localization and ethics. Tutorials meet weekly for 75 minutes. Prereq: 204 or equivalent.

  • Advertising in French (FR 275T) Mondays 1:45-3. (Professor Deborah Reisinger)
  • Advertising in Mandarin (CHIN 275T) Monday 1:45-3 (Professor Carolyn Lee)
  • Advertising in Spanish (SPAN 275T) Monday 1:45-3. (Professor Joseph Mulligan)

 

SPRING 2021

Man wearing mask sticking his head out of construction gate under Mandarin signVoices in GLOBAL HEALTH: Mandarin

GLHLTH 270T/AMES 270T-5

Through practical and theoretical discussions around case studies, visual texts, and interviews in the target language, we examine healthcare issues from preventing and controlling COVID-19 and healthcare systems to traditional Chinese medicine and environmental health. Guest speakers help us explore the underlying reasons for different beliefs and behaviors, with the goal of creating culturally appropriate interventions. Tutorials meet weekly for 75-minutes. Prerequisite: 4 semesters of language or equivalent – heritage and native speakers are welcome to enroll. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

  • Mandarin (GLHLTH270T-1/ AMES 270T-5) Monday 1:45-3pm
  • Professor: Tianshu He

*while you do not need to be enrolled in GLHLTH 101 to sign up for this course, you may find it rewarding to do so!*

Collage of 4 photos: a student at a sound mixer, a radio station, a radio tower, and a man at a microphoneVoices in PUBLIC POLICY in Spanish

PUBPOL 273T/SPAN 273T

Students will study the development and regulation of community radio stations in Latin America and Latinx America, as well as the politics of radio production. The emergence and regulation of community radio stations has played a crucial role in the design of cultural policies that advocate for cultural diversity and citizen participation. Taking radio as a site of analysis, students will explore the impact of language and culture on public policy and practice. Through case studies, students will examine how radio intersects with issues of social justice, freedom of speech, and language politics, among others. Likewise, students will become familiar with radio as a site of cultural contestation mediated by the State, religion, politics, capitalism, cultural identities, notions of citizenship and participation, and agency. Case studies range from La Voz del Pueblo in rural California to rural radio in the Colombian Andes to Mapuche radio in Chile.

  • Tuesday 1:45-3pm
  • Professor: Silvia Serrano

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