LAN, LIN, and LNC Courses

Courses Common to All Languages

LAN 305 Introduction to Bilingual/Bicultural Education (3) Introduction to the history, philosophy, current status, and future directions of bilingual/bicultural education. Survey of materials, techniques, instructional processes, and instructional patterns. Overview of testing, placement, and pupil evaluation. PREREQ: Intermediate level proficiency in a second language and LIN 250 or equivalent.

LAN 312 "What is Empathy? Scientific and Cultural Understandings" (3) What is Empathy? In this interdisciplinary course, we shall compare and contrast cultural and scientific understandings of empathy from various eras, cultures and fields. We also shall analyze responses to the question "Can empathy be learned?" from various fields such as drama, poetry, prose and film and study artistic works from different cultures, eras and perspectives. No prerequisite courses are required. The course is taught in English." Gen Ed Attribute: Interdisciplinary Requirement.

LAN 327 Introduction to Linguistics for Language Majors (3) An introduction to applied linguistics structured to meet the needs of language majors and future world language teachers. Examples are drawn from the language(s) expertise of the students. Typically offered in Spring.

LAN 382 Teaching English Language Learners (ELL’s) PK-12 (3) A study of issues and the application of techniques, strategies, and materials for meeting the needs of English Language Learners (ELL’s) in inclusive classrooms. Emphases include sociocultural issues in education contexts, TESOL through the content area, linguistics, second language acquisition, the integration and application of the PA English Language Proficiency Standards PK-12 (ELPS), and current trends in second language teaching, learning, and assessment. Includes a field component. Crosslisted as ENG 382. Gen Ed Attribute: Diversity Requirement. Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

LAN 390. How Are Languages Learned?. 3 Credits.
This course covers the basic principles of second language acquisition (SLA), an important area of study within the larger field of applied linguistics. Students will explore current theories of how people learn a second or foreign language, critically evaluate the theories and incorporate their own experiences with second language learning. Students will be expected to read, analyze, and respond to research that presents current views on second language acquisition. The field of SLA is inherently interdisciplinary and draws on research shaped by the prominent academic disciplines of psychology, sociology, education, and linguistics. Thus, a variety of views of SLA will be discussed in the class.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

LAN 401 Teaching of Modern Languages: K-12 (3) Problems, methods, and materials of second language acquisition and teaching across levels. Observation and participation in K-12 classrooms. PREREQ: LIN/ENG 230 or LAN 327 and EDS 306, completion of target language courses through the advanced level. Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

LAN 403 Second Languages in the Elementary School (3) Techniques and materials used in teaching second languages in the elementary school. Practice in the application of these techniques and observation of language classes. PREREQ: Completion of the minor in the chosen language.

LAN 411 Topical Seminar (3) Specialized studies in language and the teaching of languages. This course may be taken again for credit.

LAN 425 Internship in Modern Languages (3-12) A structured and supervised experience for students wishing to enhance their language study directly in the workplace. Credits earned are based on time spent on the job. For approval, students must apply to the department chair or language section coordinator.

LIN 211 Language Communities in the United States and Canada (3) Exploration and analysis of how aspects of language usage (dialect, "accent," bilingualism) relate to language-based discrimination in the U.S. and Canada generally. Emphasis is on bias, discrimination, and profiling based on race, class, gender, religious affiliation, and ethnicity. Examples will be drawn from mainstream media, including popular film and television. Diverse communities course

LIN 230 (also ENG 230) Introduction to Linguistics (3) Basic concepts of language description, classification, change, reconstruction, dialectology, and sociolinguistics. Prerequisite for all other linguistics courses.

LIN 250 Psycholinguistics (3) Introduction to the study of relationships between language, generative models, communication theory, and learning theory. Major emphasis on natural language development and bilingualism.

LIN 411 Seminar in Linguistics (3) Specialized studies in linguistics. Topics announced annually. PREREQ: LAN 237 or LIN 230, or at least junior standing. This course may be taken again for credit.

LNC 368 Comparative Cultural Studies (3) This course examines the dynamic processes by which our direct interaction with local and non-local cultural products– language modality, textual interpretation, performative modes and other representational systems –influences how we as participants see and understand diversity and our role in it. Taught in English. Typically offered in Fall.