Course descriptions and requirements


Modern and classical languages and literatures (MCLL)

Rebecca Balon, Adjunct Professor of American Sign Language
Rebecca Buchan, Adjunct Professor of American Sign Language
Rafael Falcon, Professor of Spanish
Josh Garrett, Assistant Professor of American Sign Language Interpreting
Deb Gessinger, Assistant Professor of American Sign Language
Paul Keim, Professor of Bible & Religion and Foreign Language
Kathleen Massanari, Adjunct Professor of French
Dean Rhodes, Department Chair, Associate Professor of Spanish

Introduction

The MCLL department offers majors and minors in American Sign Language and in Spanish. Both majors have teacher education options. The mission of MCLL is to foster in our students intercultural openness with the ability to function effectively with people of other world views as well as to develop in our students the ability to communicate in a variety of language systems.

In addition to the majors and minors above, French, Arabic and German courses are also offered, as well as introductory language courses for SST groups: Khmer (Cambodia), Mandarin (China), and Swahili (Tanzania), typically offered the semester just prior to the Study Service Term. Visit the modern and classical languages and literature department Web site at www.goshen/edu/mcll and the American Sign Language Web site at www.goshen.edu/mcll/asl.

Major in American Sign Language

57-69 credit hours (Core and one concentration area)

Core courses (29 credit hours)

  • ASL 101-102, Elementary ASL I & II 8
  • ASL 104, North American Deaf Culture 3
  • ASL 106, Introduction to the Interpreting Profession 2
  • ASL 201-202, Intermediate ASL I & II 8
  • ASL 205, Advanced Fingerspelling and Numbers 2
  • ASL 305, Linguistics of ASL 3
  • ASL 408, Specialized Vocabulary 2
  • ASL 410, Senior Seminar 1

Concentration in ASL-English interpreting (28 credit hours)

  • ASL 301-302, Interpreting I & II 8
  • ASL 304, Certification Overview 1
  • ASL 306, Deaf American Literature 3
  • ASL 401, Interpreting III 4
  • ASL 407, Topics in Interpreting 2
  • ASL 409, Interpreting Internship 10

Concentration in ASL teacher certification (40 credit hours)

  • Secondary education courses (see education department pages) 30
  • Engl 310, Introduction to Linguistics 3
  • Engl 320, Methods of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 4
  • PJCS 210, Transforming Conflict and Violence 3
  • Two semesters immersion in ASL (ASL SST and/or Gallaudet University)

Planning guide

First year General education
Elementary American Sign Language I and II
North American Deaf Culture
Introduction to the Interpreting Profession
Second year General education
SST (recommended)
Intermediate American Sign Language I and II
Other courses in major
Recommended electives
Third year Courses in major
General education
Recommended electives
Fourth year Balance of general education
Balance of major courses
Interpreting Internship or Student teaching
Senior Integrating Seminar

Planning and advising notes

Students majoring in American Sign Language are required to earn a grade of C or above in each ASL course. Courses may be repeated only once to attempt a higher grade.

Recommended elective courses for ASL-English interpreting majors include: Comm 206, Communicating Across Cultures; Engl 310, Introduction to Linguistics; Engl 315, English Language Problems; Soc 200, Principles of Sociology; Soc 230, Cultural Anthropology; and Soc 334, Race, Class and Ethnic Relations.

For ASL teacher education majors, the course Educ 201 should be taken in May term of the first year or fall semester of the second year. The two-semester study immersion program is usually completed through a semester at Gallaudet University during the junior year and participation in the ASL language related SST semester.

Minor in American Sign Language

21 credit hours

  • ASL 101-102, Elementary ASL I & II 8
  • ASL 104, North American Deaf Culture 3
  • ASL 201-202, Intermediate ASL I & II 8
  • ASL 205, Advanced Fingerspelling and Numbers 2

Major in Spanish

37-40 credit hours

  • Spanish courses 202 level and higher (3 credit hours may be French or German) 21
  • MCLL 300, International Classics 3
  • MCLL 410, Senior Seminar 1
  • Related courses selected from the following: 12
    Art 341-343, Art History I, II & 20th Century
    Engl 201, World Literature in English
    Engl 310, Introduction to Linguistics
    Engl 320, Methods of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
    Hist 344, Latin American History
    PoSc 318, Latin American Politics
    Mus 301-302, History of Music I & II
    Thea 245, Aesthetics
    Thea 388, Themes in Drama
  • Junior year abroad (or approved alternate) NC
  • Internship (may be met by extended residence in Spanish-speaking country) 0-3

Planning guide

First year General education
Level 202 or higher
Second language (or second year)
Second year General education
Advanced language courses
Second language
SST (recommended)
Third year Junior Year Abroad (advanced language and related courses)
Fourth year Balance of general education
Balance of major and related courses
International Classics
Senior Integrating Seminar

Planning and advising notes

While most language majors begin to study another language in high school, it is possible to complete the major successfully if the student begins at Goshen College and participates in either a full junior year with Brethren Colleges Abroad (BCA) or a combination of one semester of BCA/SST or another approved program. (See international education pages.) While SST is not required to complete the major, it is highly recommended. Most required upper level related courses are taken on location through BCA.

Teacher education certification requirements

Teacher certification is available for grades 5-12 in two related areas. Courses needed in addition to the Spanish major core requirements are as follows:
Spanish education - Engl 310, Engl 320, at least 33 credit hours of Spanish language (up to 12 credit hours for level 101-201 may be earned by exam).
Bilingual/bicultural education – Comm 206, Engl 310, Engl 315, Engl 319, Engl 320, Engl 325, Educ 303, Educ 307, Educ 344, Educ 406

Also 30 credits of education courses, including a semester of student teaching. PJCS 210 must be taken for the PJCS/Phil general education requirement. The first education course, Educ 201, should be taken in May term of the first year or fall of the sophomore year. See the education department pages and the Teacher Education Handbook for more details about requirements.

Minor in Spanish

12 credit hours

  • Spanish courses 202 level and higher 12
  • One semester of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country (may be SST) NC

American Sign Language and Interpreting courses


ASL 101 Elementary American Sign Language I 4
An introduction to American Sign Language and the deaf community; focuses on frequently used signs, basic rules of grammar, nonmanual aspects of American Sign Language and some cultural features of the deaf community.

ASL 102 Elementary American Sign Lang II 4
Emphasizes further development of receptive and expressive skills, vocabulary building and grammatical structures. Introduction to language forms used in American Sign Language poetry and theater. Prerequisite: ASL 101 or consent of instructor.

ASL 103 Elementary American Sign Lang III 4
Emphasis on basic communication skills in the target language and culture. Normally offered only on SST. Pre-requisite ASL 102 or equivalent.

ASL 104 North American Deaf Culture 3
Explores the American deaf community, examining the educational, sociological and cultural features which shape this group of people. Prerequisite: none.

ASL 106 Intro to Interpreting Profession 2
Introduces students to the professional field of interpreting: code of ethics, employment opportunities, professional organizations, etc. Prerequisite: ASL 102 or consent of instructor.

ASL 201 Intermediate American Sign Lang I 4
Continues development of expressive and receptive language skills through student-led discussions and prepared reports on topics related to the deaf community. Prerequisite: ASL 102 or consent of instructor.

ASL 202 Intermediate American Sign Lang II 4
Develops further expressive and receptive language skills. Prerequisite: ASL 201 or consent of instructor.

ASL 203 Intermediate American Sign Lang III 4
Continuation of grammar practice with emphasis on ASL practice. Normally offered only on SST. Prerequisite:ASL 201 or equivalent.

ASL 205 Advanced Fingerspelling & Numbering 2
Concentrated instruction and practice in expressive and receptive fingerspelling and the complex numbering system of ASL. Prerequisite: ASL 201 or consent of instructor.

ASL 206 Deaf Community, Church & Religion 2
Explores the variety of deaf community's experiences with churches and religion. Models of ministry and mission in the deaf community will be presented and critiqued. Out-of-class visits to local deaf ministries are required. Prerequisite: ASL 104.

ASL 301 Interpreting I 4
Introduces theory and skills of the interpreting process, presenting both consecutive and simultaneous methods. Prerequisite: All 200-level ASL courses or consent of instructor.

ASL 302 Interpreting II 4
Introduces spontaneous ASL/English interpreting and provides extensive practice utilizing videotapes and audiotapes. Prerequisite: ASL 301 or consent of instructor.

ASL 304 Certification Overview 1
Studies various quality assurance/state licensure assessments established across the United States. Prepares students for the written portion of the national certification of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Prerequisite: All 200-level ASL courses or consent of instructor.

ASL 305 Linguistics of American Sign Lang 3
Investigates the major grammar rules of American Sign Language. Studies specific aspects of phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. Prerequisites: ASL 205, Engl 310.

ASL 306 American Sign Language Literature 3
Focuses on various genres of literature by and about deaf people. Concentrates on deaf characters and the influences deaf culture and deaf history have on literary works. Prerequisite: All 200-level ASL courses or consent of instructor.

ASL 401 Interpreting III 4
Continues the development of interpreting skills through role-playing and participating in out-of-class interpreting opportunities. Prerequisite: All 300-level ASL courses or consent of instructor.

ASL 407 Topics in Interpreting 2
Practical and ethical issues in interpreting. Decision-making, assignment assessment, environmental management, policies and procedures within agencies and organizations. Prerequisite: All 300-level ASL courses or consent of instructor.

ASL 408 Specialized Vocabulary 2
Examines and develops the vocabulary necessary for interpreting in specific settings including education, medicine, mental health, legal, religious, etc. Taken during the first four weeks of the internship semester. Prerequisite: ASL 401 or consent of instructor.

ASL 409 Interpreting Internship 10
Supervised interpreting experiences through placement in various community settings. Course offered the last 10 weeks of the senior year. Prerequisite: ASL 401, 407, 408.

ASL 410 Senior Seminar 1
Students reflect on ethical dilemmas, problems or conflicts encountered during their 10-week internship (ASL 409) with the goal of learning and growing from the collective discussion and experiences. In addition, students will set goals for themselves related to career, vocation and job procurement and create tools to assist in achieving their goals following graduation. Prerequisite: ASL 401, 407, 408.

Spanish courses


SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish I 4
Basic skills in understanding, speaking, reading and writing Spanish for beginners; class work includes collaborative learning.

SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II 4
Basic skills in understanding, speaking, reading and writing Spanish for beginners; class work includes collaborative learning. Prerequisite: Span 101 or equivalent on placement test.

SPAN 103 Elementary Spanish III 4
Emphasis on basic communication skills in the target language and culture. Normally offered only on SST. Prerequisite: Span 102 or equivalent.

SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish I 3
A review of grammar and intensive oral practice. Prerequisite: Span 102 or equivalent.

SPAN 202 Intermediate Spanish II 3
Reading and discussion of short story, drama and topics in Spanish culture. Major emphasis on improving reading, writing and conversational skills. Prerequisite: Span 201 or equivalent.

SPAN 203 Intermediate Spanish III 4
Continuation of grammar practice with emphasis on spoken Spanish. Normally offered only on SST. Prerequisite: Span 201 or equivalent.

SPAN 205 Spanish Conversation & Culture 3
Extensive practice in spoken Spanish. Topics related to life in Spanish-speaking countries. Course especially designed to meet interests of returned SST students. Prerequisite: Span 201 or equivalent.

SPAN 301 Introduction to Spanish Literature 3
A survey of the currents in Peninsular literature. Beginnings through Golden-Age writers.

SPAN 302 Introduction to Spanish Literature 3
A survey of the currents in Peninsular literature. Late-19th and 20th-century writers.

SPAN 303 Spanish Composition I 3
A thorough review of Spanish grammar with exercises in composition.

SPAN 304 Spanish Composition II 3
A thorough review of Spanish grammar with exercises in composition.

SPAN 305 Culture of Hispanic World 3
Course focuses on culture, history, literature and music of the Hispanic world, with particular emphasis on Spanish-speaking SST locations. Comprehensive experience in written and spoken Spanish.

SPAN 309 Spanish-American Novel 3
A study of selected 20th-century Spanish-American novels representing various types emerging from the Spanish-American scene.

SPAN 322 Spanish-American Literature 3
A study of Spanish-American literature from 1880 to present time with special emphasis on the novels, the essay and the short story.

SPAN 349 Hispanic Short Stories 3
Presents Hispanic literature through short stories representative of the Hispanic world, originating in Spain, Latin America, United States and Canada, and integrating Spanish grammar and culture. Students read stories; review vocabulary and grammatical structures; study authors' lives and the historical context of the stories; and discuss cultural elements.

SPAN 350 Hispanic Film Studies 3
Presents Hispanic culture, conversation and grammar using films in Spanish. Prior to viewing, historical and cultural contexts, literary movements and influences of the era are discussed. Shows representative films, followed by activities which include written assignments, small-group presentations and discussions. Draws comparisons between books and the films based on them; encourages students to use vocabulary and grammar structures used in the films.

SPAN 400 Special Projects 1 (1-4)
Projects vary from studies in literature to advanced practice of language skills. Reserved for Spanish majors.

Arabic courses


ARAB 101 Elementary Arabic I 4
Introductory course designed to provide students with a basic competency in reading, writing and speaking modern Arabic. Special emphasis will be placed on learning the Arabic writing system, basic elements of grammar, vocabulary building, listening comprehension and pronunciation practice. Essential features of Arab culture and custom will also be introduced and interspersed with language instruction.

ARAB 102 Elementary Arabic II 4
A continuation of Elementary Arabic I, designed to strengthen facility in reading, writing and speaking modern Arabic. Particular attention will be devoted to vocabulary building, functional knowledge of grammatical principles and conversation practice. Elements of colloquial Arabic language will be introduced along with explorations of Arab culture and history. Prerequisite: Arab 101 or equivalent.

ARAB 103 Elementary Arabic III 4
Emphasis on basic communication skills in the language and culture. Normally offered only on SST. Prerequisite: Arab 102 or equivalent.

French courses


FREN 101 Elementary French I 4
Basic skills in understanding, speaking, reading and writing French for beginners.

FREN 102 Elementary French II 4
Basic skills in understanding, speaking, reading and writing French for beginners. Prerequisite: Fren 101 or equivalent on placement test.

FREN 103 Elementary French III 4
Emphasis on basic communication skills in the target language and culture. Normally offered only on SST. Prerequisite: Fren 102 or equivalent.

FREN 201 Intermediate French I 4
Grammar review with reading and discussion French. Normally offered only on SST. Prerequisite: Fren 102 or equivalent.

FREN 202 Intermediate French II 4
Reading and discussion of prose, poetry and drama. Grammar review, oral and written practice. Normally offered only on SST. Prerequisite: Fren 201 or equivalent.

FREN 203 Intermediate French III 4
Emphasis on conversational French. Normally offered only on SST. Prerequisite: Fren 201 or equivalent.

German courses


GERM 101 Elementary German I 4
Basic skills in understanding, speaking, reading and writing German for beginners; class work includes collaborative learning.

GERM 102 Elementary German II 4
Basic skills in understanding, speaking, reading and writing German for beginners; class work includes collaborative learning. Prerequisite: Germ 101 or placement test.

GERM 103 Elementary German III 4
Emphasis on basic communication skills in the target language and culture. Normally offered only on SST. Prerequisite: Germ 102 or equivalent.

GERM 201 Intermediate German I 4
Review of grammar related to readings in German literature and cultural texts with discussion based on readings. Prerequisite: Germ 102 or equivalent.

GERM 202 Intermediate German II 4
Reading and discussion of prose and poetry and topics in German culture. Emphasis on further development of oral and written skills. Prerequisite: Germ 201 or equivalent.

MCLL courses


MCLL 300 International Classics 3
Taught in English, this course offers an introduction to literary works of classic and/or contemporary authors in translation. Themes and texts vary from year to year. Topics may focus on a genre within comparative literature - such as epics, novels, or mythology - or on literatures of specific cultures such as those of Spanish speaking Latin America or of the French speaking Caribbean. Required for Spanish majors; appropriate for returning SST students and all who wish to deepen their knowledge of comparative literatures and cultures. Counts as SST alternative.

MCLL 400 Special Projects 3
Special Projects:

MCLL 409 Language Internship 3 (1-4)
Required of all departmental majors. Requirement usually fulfilled in extensive residence or study abroad in the language of the major, internship abroad or student teaching. Majors may also propose projects.

MCLL 410 Senior Integrating Seminar 1
Majors and faculty meet regularly for an exchange of views on such topics as vocations in foreign language and other issues related to a life-long study of language, culture, and literature in a diverse and multi-lingual global community. Involves the final assembly of a portfolio in the language of the student's major, as well as field excursions to culturally diverse communities in the area. Independent projects in research or teaching.

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