The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) has defined a scale for the evaluation of the language proficiency of students. The ACTFL Proficiency scale has four levels: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Superior. The Department of Foreign Languages requires that students achieve a determined proficiency level, depending on the students' goals. In addition, instructors assume that students entering any class have acquired the entry-level proficiency indicated for that class. (These levels are indicated in parentheses following the description of each course on the following pages: N=Novice; NH=Novice High; IL=Intermediate Low; IM=Intermediate Mid; IH=Intermediate High; AL=Advanced Low.)
Students at this level have no experience in the language they are studying. They begin by learning the sound and spelling system and by memorizing words and phrases. During the course, they will progress to the point of being able to create simple sentences, to ask some questions, and to initiate, sustain and conclude simple social tasks more than half of the time.
At the Novice-High level students progress from the ability to respond simply with learned utterances to the ability to create language face-to-face, to ask and answer simple questions, and to create sentence-level constructions.
At the Intermediate-Low level students continue to build mastery of personal social-oriented informational tasks and move to a higher level by practicing informational tasks beyond the immediate and personal. Students will move from simple-sentence to more complex sentence-level discourse. They will practice narration, description and comparison, but mastery is not expected.
Students at this level build on an ability to perform informational tasks beyond immediate and personal needs while they continue to practice narration, description and comparison. In addition, students begin practice in supporting opinions and hypothesizing in the language. They move from complex sentence-level structures to paragraph-level discourse.
At this level students can function at the Advanced level most of the time. They still need practice narrating, describing and comparing, and Linking sentences together smoothly. In addition, they encounter more tasks that require them to support opinion and to hypothesize. Students progress from complex sentences to paragraphs to extended discourse.
Students at this level function at the Advanced level all or almost all of the time. Students have no difficulty with extended discourse, narration in all tenses and explanation. They are able to and use language both oral and written in complex and sophisticated ways.
Non-graded courses for entry-level students to augment foreign language instruction in stress-free activities such as reading children's literature, learning and performing skits, folk dancing, singing, cooking, etc. May be repeated for credit under different titles.
Introductory course assuming no significant previous experience with the language.
Continuation of 1010.
An introductory course integrating Humanities content with technology and information skills. Students will learn core information literacy skills and use the library and the Internet to understand, access and critically evaluate Humanities topics and information. Strong emphasis will be placed on active learning including student writing, group discussion, and oral presentations. Students will complete a research project on a Humanities topic and publish it on the World Wide Web. Students are expected to attend exhibits and performances outside of regularly scheduled class time. Completion of this course meets part D of the WSU Computer and Information Literacy requirement. Cross listed in ART, COMM, ENGL, LIBS, & THEA.
Specific vocabulary and speaking skills in one semester (e.g., nursing, law enforcement, medical, tourism, family language courses, etc.). May be repeated for credit under different titles.
Language and culture studies for students with no previous experience in the target language and culture. Most assignments are performed in English. Prior travel experience does not apply.
Language and culture studies for students with no previous experience in the target language and culture. Most assignments are performed in English. Prior travel experience does not apply.
Non-graded courses for second-year students to augment foreign language instruction in stress-free activities appropriate to the linguistic level of second-year students. May be repeated under different titles.
Students learn and apply strategies for acquiring a foreign language. The process of foreign language acquisition reflects how humans learn, think and communicate. This course assumes completion of first-year or equivalent experience.
Continuation of 2010. The learning and application of strategies for acquiring a foreign language. Students also learn how cultural products and practices reflect a culture's attitudes, values, ideas and meaning. The process of language acquisition and the seeking of cross-cultural understanding provide insights into the commonalities of how the human family learns, thinks and communicates.
Continuation of 2010 without General Education Humanities credit. Offered through examination only.
Studies in culture, history, geography, social customs, fine arts and civilization for students with no or very limited proficiency. This course will be taught in English. May be repeated for other non-English speaking cultures.
May be offered under any of the languages taught in the department. All Foreign Language HU2600 courses are taught in English and all texts are read in English translation in order to make some of the literature we normally would teach in a foreign language accessible to all students. These courses may introduce students to specific literary periods, literary themes or some prominent authors in specific areas of the world where languages other than English are spoken. May be repeated for credit under different titles.
Language and culture studies for students whose minimal proficiency is Novice High. Language assignments at the Novice or Intermediate-Low levels are performed in the target language. All other assignments are performed in English. Prior travel experience does not apply.
Language and culture studies for students whose minimal proficiency is at Novice High. Language assignments at the Novice or Intermediate-Low levels are performed in the target language. All other assignments are performed in English. Prior travel experience does not apply.
Consult the class schedule for the current offering under this number. The specific title and credit authorized will appear on the student transcript.
Students will receive an overview of community service and explore opportunities for service learning in the community. Five preparatory workshops (first week only) followed by 55 hours of approved community service.
This is a transition course to upper division. The course focuses on oral proficiency development. Students will learn a variety of techniques and strategies to increase their oral proficiency in a variety of social, educational and cultural settings. Native-speaking students or those who have acquired proficiency through residence in the target language community are not eligible to take this class. Prerequisite: Completion of or currently enrolled in FL HU2020.
Required of all majors and minors. Readings to develop conversation, composition and grammar skills. One sheltered section may be offered to students who have not had extensive in-country experience.
Required of all majors and minors. 3160 may be taken concurrently with other literature courses. One sheltered section may be offered to students who have not had extensive in-country experience.
For foreign language students in the third year who work on publishing the foreign literary journal. Includes selecting articles, editing and preparing journal layout.
Analysis of the sounds of language and word formation: practice of native like speech patterns. Required of all teaching majors and minors.
May be repeated under different titles.
Analysis and application of syntactic principles and discourse structure.
Studies in culture, history, geography, social customs, fine arts and civilization. May be repeated for other non-English-speaking cultures.
Studies in culture, history, geography, social customs, fine arts, and civilization. May be repeated for other non-English speaking cultures.
In-depth studies in culture, history, geography, social customs, fine arts and civilization. May be repeated for other non-English speaking cultures.
A survey of the authors and works of a particular period or place. May be repeated under different titles.
A survey of the authors and works of a particular period or place. May be repeated under different titles.
May be repeated under different titles. One literature course is required for regular and teaching majors. May be taken concurrently with 3160.
May be repeated under different titles. One literature course is required for regular and teaching majors. May be taken concurrently with 3160.
May be repeated under different titles. One literature course is required for regular and teaching majors. May be taken concurrently with 3160.
May be repeated under different titles. One literature course is required for regular and teaching majors. May be taken concurrently with 3160.
Business Language and Practices. Required of all commercial majors.
This course is content, vocabulary and culture-based. The course focuses on practical vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, professional terminology and cultural interactions on a variety of topics such as language for the medical professions, social workers, law enforcement or tourism.
This course is content, vocabulary and culture-based. The course focuses on practical vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, professional terminology and cultural interactions on a variety of topics, such as language for medical professions, social work, law enforcement or tourism.
Basic techniques and procedures used in bilingual translation of non-fiction texts. Written and oral translation of scientific and technical texts. Emphasis will be on the stylistic, syntactic, cultural, lexical, and terminological problems.
Language and culture studies for students whose language proficiency is Intermediate Low to Intermediate High. All Intermediate and Advanced tasks will be performed in the target language. All Superior tasks may be performed in English. Prior travel experience does not apply.
For foreign language students in the fourth year who work on publishing the foreign language literary journal. Includes selecting articles, editing and preparing journal layout.
An introduction to linguistic structures and semantic elements. The course provides useful information and practice in the language, its structures and usage. The sub-disciplines of linguistics, other than phonetics and phonology (covered in FL 3220), will be studied. These may include lexical analysis, semantics, morphology, syntax, linguistic change and dialectal variation.
Theories of Second Language Acquisition, particularly as they apply to the teaching of foreign languages. This course will also review various assessment techniques, the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning. Offered fall semester only.
Practical Methods, techniques and strategies in teaching foreign languages. Emphasis is on planning, teaching and assessment. Offered spring semester only. Prerequisites: FL 3220, FL 4340, the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and Writing Proficiency Test are required; the department standard is Advanced-Low. Students must complete FL 4400 and complete the Praxis II Content Knowledge Exam in French, German or Spanish prior to student teaching.
This course presents theoretical premises and research on foreign language acquisition. It uses the standards for foreign language learning as the organizing principle for instructional methods; students design classroom lessons, projects and assessments based upon standards. FL 4500 is designed for students who are working toward a foreign language teaching degree or for teachers not desiring post-graduate credit. FL 6500 is designed for teachers who are seeking to recertify or to become endorsed at the graduate level.
One literature course is required of regular and teaching majors. Prerequisite: 3160.
One literature course is required of regular and teaching majors. Prerequisite: 3160.
Detailed analysis of a particular body of literature. For students whose proficiency in the target language is at least Intermediate High. May be repeated under different titles. Prerequisite: 3160.
Advanced Business Language and Practices. Required of all commercial majors.
Advanced translation and practice in oral (simultaneous) interpreting of non-fiction texts. Emphasis will be on the stylistic, syntactic, cultural, lexical, and terminological problems.
Language and culture studies for students whose language proficiency is Advanced or Superior. All tasks are performed in the target language. Prior travel experience does not apply.
Consult the class schedule for the current offering under this number. The specific title and credit authorized will appear on the student transcript.
Required of all majors during their senior year. Students will assemble a
portfolio with a representation of their work in the foreign language. Speaking
skills will also be evaluated. Must be completed before graduation clearance.
Weber State University 2008-2009 Catalog