World Languages and Literature (WLL)

WLL 1000  LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY IN US MEDIA (3 credits)

The course analyzes the intersection between languages and reality, i.e., how the coexistence of languages informs our daily experience, self-perception, and perception of others. We will explore the many assumptions and beliefs about the value of different languages and variants within them, and that of their speakers. We will look at examples of how linguistic groups in the US represent themselves and show the complexity and richness of their culture through visual and audio representations of language, through a variety of media-social media, film, music, and written narratives-while investigating when and how linguistic communities have formed and disappeared in the United States and their cultures of origin, thus placing U.S. linguistic diversity in a global context. (Cross-listed with FREN 1010, GERM 1010, JAPN 1020, SPAN 1010).

Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course and Humanities and Fine Arts General Education course and MavEd Cultural Knowledge

WLL 1010  BIG SCREENS TO SMARTPHONES: LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA THROUGH THE CENTURY (3 credits)

How do streaming platforms and smartphones shape what we see on screen-and how we understand other parts of the world? This course introduces students to Latin American cinema while exploring how changes in media technology affect the way films are made, shared, and watched. We will view films from across Latin America, from early and classic works to contemporary digital and Indigenous productions, and consider how filmmakers tell stories about everyday life, social inequality, history, and identity. By comparing films from different periods and viewing contexts-from movie theaters to handheld screens-students will learn how cinema offers different ways of imagining the modern world. The course emphasizes close viewing, discussion, and basic film concepts, helping students develop tools to analyze images, sound, and storytelling while thinking critically about how movies shape global perspectives in the digital age.

Prerequisite(s): The course is taught in English. All readings are in English.

Distribution: MavEd Humanities

WLL 2000  WRITING WORLDS WITH AI: LANGUAGE, TRANSLATION, AND CREATIVITY (3 credits)

From personal assistants to translation apps, artificial intelligence now touches nearly every aspect of how we live, work, and communicate. In this course, students explore how technology can transform the way we write and communicate by learning about AI tools, such as writing assistants, translation engines, and generative models. They will learn how AI tools impact creativity, authorship, and the writing process itself, including how translation technologies mediate communication across languages and shape our understanding of meaning in multilingual contexts.

Prerequisite(s): Preliminary (basic) knowledge of a language other than English.

Distribution: MavEd Humanities

WLL 2520  SPECIAL TOPICS IN WORLD LANGUAGE AND CULTURE I (2 credits)

WLL 2520 is a language-open special topics course, primarily for non-majors. Students in this course will study linguistic and cultural topics not usually included in the curriculum. This could include development in linguistic and cultural proficiency in target languages not normally offered or in the study of specialized topics related to language, culture, literature or film studies.

WLL 2530  SPECIAL TOPICS IN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE I (3 credits)

WLL 2530 is a language-open special topics course, primarily for non-majors. Students in this course will study linguistic and cultural topics not usually included in the curriculum.

WLL 3520  SPECIAL TOPICS IN WORLD LANGUAGE AND CULTURE II (2 credits)

WLL 3520 is a language-open special topics course, primarily for non-majors. Students in this course will study advanced linguistic and cultural topics not usually included in the curriculum. This could include development in linguistic and cultural proficiency in target languages not normally offered or in the study of specialized topics related to language, culture, literature or film studies.

WLL 3530  SPECIAL TOPICS IN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE II (3 credits)

WLL 3530 is a language-open special topics course, primarily for non-majors. Students in this course will study advanced linguistic and cultural topics not usually included in the curriculum.

WLL 4010  MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY (3 credits)

This interdisciplinary course examines the dynamic connections between language, culture, and society by drawing from multiple fields of study including linguistics, cultural studies, and literature. Through various lenses, students explore topics such as cultural norms, social structures, individual identities, and intercultural communication. (Cross-listed with WLL 8016).

WLL 4800  INTERNSHIP FOR LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT (3 credits)

This course provides students with practical, hands-on experience in a professional setting connected to their language studies. Through internships or field-based work, students apply their language skills in real-world contexts while gaining insight into a variety of industries, organizations, and institutions. In addition, students complete coursework designed to familiarize them with essential tools for a successful job search. (Cross-listed with SPAN 4800).

Prerequisite(s): Instructor permission. Not open to non-degree graduate students.