Languages
Note: the courses on this page reflect Summer Term 2008 offerings.
Please check back on December 15 for a list of courses available during Summer Term 2009.
College of Arts and Sciences
The James Geddes Language Center includes two language laboratories, classrooms
especially equipped for language teaching, and extensive tape production and
processing facilities. The center is located on the fifth floor at 685 Commonwealth
Avenue. Orientation to operation and procedures is given during the first week
of classes.
ARABIC
CAS LY 111 Elementary Modern Arabic (Modern Arabic 1)
The essentials of standard Arabic, the idiom used in public communications throughout
the Arab world. Listening, speaking, reading, writing. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LY 112 Elementary Modern Arabic (Modern Arabic 2)
Prereq: CAS LY 111 or consent of the instructor. The essentials of standard
Arabic, the idiom used in public communications throughout the Arab world.
Listening, speaking, reading, writing. 4 cr.
Top
CHINESE
CAS LC 111 First-Semester Chinese
Essentials of structure, oral practice, introduction to the writing system.
4 cr.
Top
CAS LC 115 Introduction to China
While traveling in China, students have
the
opportunity to practice and improve their Chinese language skills.
They also experience first-hand the life, culture, history, art, cuisine,
industry, medicine and religion of China. The program fee covers all room
and board expenses associated with the trip. Airfare is not included in this
fee. Open to students who have completed at least one semester of college
Chinese. For more information, visit
our Summer
Study and Travel page or contact Summer Term at 617-353-0556.
1 cr.
LC 115 Course
Syllabus LC 115 Trip Itinerary
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CAS LC 123 First-Year Intensive Chinese
For beginners. Intensive course, equivalent to two semesters of first-year
college Chinese. Essentials of structure, oral practice, introduction to
the writing
system. Laboratory required. 8 cr.
Top
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
CAS LL 556 Studies in Literature and Culture
Prereq: two literature courses. Topic for Summer 2008: Inventing Spanish
America: Beyond 1492. Contrasts early accounts of the discovery and
colonization of Spanish America with texts of the 20th century. Course taught
in English. 4 cr.
Top
FRENCH
A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in
French was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University.
Information on the online placement test is available at www.bu.edu/rs/academics/placement-test-info.html.
The test can be taken at any time, but can only be taken once in a 12-month
period.
CAS LF 111 First-Semester French
For students who have never studied French. Main patterns of grammar, conversation
practice, written exercises, and directed compositions. Laboratory required.
4 cr.
Top
CAS LF 112 Second-Semester French
Prereq: CAS LF 111 or placement examination results. Continues the CAS LF 111 basic text; grammar, conversation, compositions, with
additional readings. Conducted in French. Lab required. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LF 211 Third-Semester French
Prereq: CAS LF 112 or placement examination results. Conducted in French. Reinforces
and extends skills in grammar and conversation. Literary readings, listening
to a dramatized novel in language laboratory, with discussions in class. Laboratory
required. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LF 212 Fourth-Semester French
Prereq: CAS LF 211 or placement examination results. Conducted in French. Continues
CAS LF 211 grammar review, conversation, and composition. Selections from contemporary
literature, listening to a dramatized novel in laboratory, with discussions
in class. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
Top
GERMAN
A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in German
was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University. The placement
test is given on the first day of each summer session.
CAS LG 111 First-Semester German
For beginners or according to placement examination results. Introduction to grammar,
vocabulary, and structure of German, emphasizing the four basic skills: speaking,
writing, listening, and reading. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LG 112 Second-Semester German
Prereq: CAS LG 111 or placement examination results. Continues study and practice
of the basic skills of speaking, writing, and reading German. Conversational
dialogues, reading of short texts, grammar sessions, compositions. Conducted
in German. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
Top
GREEK
CAS CL 161 Beginning Greek
A concise structural introduction to the ancient Greek language. Extensive
readings in classical texts and the New Testament. 4 cr.
Top
CAS CL 162 Intermediate Greek
Prereq: CAS CL 161 or equivalent. Review of grammar. Extensive readings
in classical texts and the New Testament. Emphasis on the acquisition of reading
skills. 4 cr.
Top
HEBREW
A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in Hebrew
was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University. The placement
test is given on the first day of each summer session.
CAS LH 111 First-Semester Hebrew
Introduction to modern Hebrew, including a balanced treatment of the basic
language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Laboratory required.
4 cr.
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ITALIAN
A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in Italian
was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University. The placement
test is given on the first day of each summer session.
CAS LI 111 First-Semester Italian
For beginners only, or placement examination results. Grammar, conversation
practice, written exercises, compositions. Conducted in Italian. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LI 112 Second-Semester Italian
Prereq: CAS LI 111 or placement examination results. Continues the CAS LI 111
basic text: grammar, conversation, compositions. Conducted in Italian. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LI 211 Third-Semester Italian
Prereq: CAS LI 112 or placement examination results. Intended for students with a satisfactory
background in elementary Italian, who require some review of basic structures,
verbs, and related essentials. Review, emphasis on composition skills, and conversation.
Reading and discussion of short stories, poetry, and plays. Conducted in Italian.
4 cr.
Top
CAS LI 212 Fourth-Semester Italian
Prereq: CAS LI 211 or placement examination results. For students who wish to build
active use of Italian in speaking, writing, and reading. Continuation of CAS
LI 211: review, development of reading skills through analysis of contemporary
texts, compositions, conversation. 4 cr.
Top
JAPANESE
CAS LJ 111 First-Semester Japanese
Introduction to spoken and written Japanese and to fundamentals of Japanese
grammar with oral drills and written exercises. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LJ 112 Second-Semester Japanese
Prereq: CAS LJ 111. Introduction to spoken and written Japanese and to fundamentals
of Japanese grammar with oral drills and written exercises. 4 cr.
Top
KOREAN
CAS LK 111 First-Semester Korean
Prereq: Placement examination results or for those
who have never studied Korean. Elementary grammar, conversation, reading, writing.
4 cr.
Top
LATIN
CAS CL 111 Beginning Latin
Beginners only. Introduction to basic forms and grammar of classical
Latin. 4 cr.
Top
CAS CL 112 Intermediate Latin
Prereq: CAS CL 111 or equivalent. Further study of Latin grammar,
acquisition of reading skills, vocabulary building. 4 cr.
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CAS CL 211 Readings in Latin Prose
Prereq: CAS CL 112 or CL 115 or equivalent. Emphasis on reading skills with selections drawn from the works
of Cicero, Petronius, Pliny, and/or Livy. Introduction to Latin prose
style. 4
cr.
Top
CAS CL 212 Introduction to Latin Poetry
Prereq: CAS CL 211 or equivalent. Intensive reading of selections from Catullus, Ovid, and/or Vergil.
4 cr.
Top
SPANISH
A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in
Spanish was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University.
Information on the online placement test is available at www.bu.edu/rs/academics/placement-test-info.html.
The test can be taken at any time, but can only be taken once in a 12-month
period.
1. Four-Skills Sequence:
Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking (LS 111, LS 112, LS 123, LS 211 and
LS 212)
CAS LS 111 First-Semester Spanish
Introduction to grammatical structures.
Emphasis on aural comprehension, speaking, and pronunciation. Introduction
to Hispanic culture. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LS 112 Second-Semester Spanish
Prereq: CAS LS 111 or placement examination results. Completes study of basic grammatical
structures. Emphasis on speaking and aural comprehension. Readings on contemporary
Hispanic culture. Writing assignments. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LS 123 First-Year Spanish
For beginners only. Extensive drill of basic phonological and structural patterns
of spoken Spanish. Practice in reading simple examples of written Spanish.
This course is the equivalent of one year of college Spanish. 8 cr.
New Opportunity: Students enrolled in CAS LS 123 during Summer 2 are eligible
to apply to live in a summer residence dedicated to speaking Spanish and understanding
the Spanish
culture. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact the Office
of Housing at 617-353-3511.
Top
CAS LS 211 Third-Semester Spanish
Prereq: CAS LS 112 or placement examination results. Review and practice
of the structures of Spanish. Use of spoken language in conversation. Further
reading in Hispanic
civilization. Writing exercises involving more complex grammatical and syntactical
patterns. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LS 212 Fourth-Semester Spanish
Prereq: CAS LS 211 or placement examination results. Further review of the structures
of Spanish. Intensive practice of spoken language. Different levels and styles
of Spanish through recorded materials. More advanced readings from Hispanic
culture. Frequent compositions. Laboratory required. 4 cr.
Top
2. Reading Sequence (LS 222)
CAS LS 222 Fourth-Semester Spanish for Reading
Prereq: CAS LS 221 or placement examination results. Completes intensive review of
grammatical structures. Emphasis on sophisticated sentence structures and the
contemporary idiom. Readings include historical texts, representative examples
of journalism, and a short novel. Viewing and discussion of films. Weekly written
translations leading to a final project. (Students intending to continue in
CAS LS 303 must take LS 212, not LS 222.) 4 cr.
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CAS LS 303 Composition and Conversation in Spanish I
Prereq: CAS LS 212 or placement examination results. Not open to students for
whom Spanish is a first language. Development of skills in spoken and written
language. Grammar review, vocabulary building, regular compositions. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LS 304 Composition and Conversation in Spanish II
Prereq: CAS LS 303 or placement examination results. Not open to students for
whom Spanish is a first language. Development of skills in spoken and written
language. Grammar review, vocabulary building, regular compositions. 4 cr.
Top
CAS LS 350 Introduction to Analysis of Hispanic Texts
Prereq: CAS LS 303 or placement examination results. Development of techniques
for reading and interpreting Hispanic literary texts; reading of lyric poetry,
drama, and fictional narrative. 4 cr.
Top
Comparative Literature
CAS LL 556 Studies in Literature and Culture
Prereq: two literature courses. Topic for Summer 2008: Inventing Spanish
America: Beyond 1492. Contrasts early accounts of the discovery and
colonization of Spanish America with texts of the 20th century. Course taught
in English. 4 cr.
Top
Also see CAS PO 376 - Politics and Democracy in Spain
