Course Offerings

Language:

Germanic Languages
Intensive Dutch I (N100/N401)
Prerequisite: This course presupposes no prior knowledge of Dutch. It is possible to attend N401/N100 as a first foreign language course.

N100/N401 is a first semester language course that develops basic skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The goals to be reached by the end of the first semester of Dutch are good pronunciation, elementary grammar, a reasonable conversational fluency, and an ability to read not too complicated texts. We move fairly rapidly through elementary grammar and pronunciation, and concentrate on conversation from the beginning. Audio-recordings and video material will be used on a regular basis in order to improve listening comprehension and pronunciation skills. Homework is designed to reinforce vocabulary, reading and writing skills, aural comprehension, and the understanding of grammar.

Intensive Dutch II (N150/N402)
Continuation of grammar, but concentration on text reading will be more intense. Texts include short stories and newspaper articles. Class periods will be spent on discussions of the assigned texts. These discussions will be conducted in Dutch.
Homework will deal with advanced grammar exercises and essay writing will gradually be required (1-2 pages per session).

Dutch Reading, Composition, & Conversation I (N200/N403)
There will be a review and continuation of grammar of the first year. Major attention will be paid to improving speaking, reading and writing skills. As conversation is emphasized, class participation is important. In order to achieve the maximum enthusiasm in the class discussions, students will be invited to bring up topics of their interest. There will be quizzes regularly and several short essays based on text materials we discuss in class. Each student will be required to give a presentation in class on a Dutch subject topic to be selected in consultation with the instructor.

Dutch Reading Composition & Conversation II (N250/N404)
Besides focusing on the textbook, we will concentrate throughout the second part of the 2nd year on three topics:
1. Short stories from the Netherlands and Belgium and one book;
2. Dutch television series and films;
3. Introduction to Dutch literature.
The skills focused on are: perfection of speaking, grammar and writing. The films and television series will help your listening comprehension of the native language spoken in a natural environment. Oral skills will be enhanced by active participation in discussions and by presenting two main projects in class and smaller ones throughout the course. Quizzes, a midterm and a final, will count towards the final grade.

Culture:

The culture classes are offered in the week prior to the beginning of the language instruction. They are taught by experts in the field, in English, for 3 hours, Monday through Friday during the week May 11-15, 2009.

Nordic and Dutch Art 1850-1950 (1 credit)
Examination of the development of modern art in Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden during a period of tremendous demographic shifts and social transformation. The course will offer a close look at works by Munch, van Gogh, and Mondrian. One class period will be spent looking at original works of art in the Print Room of the Indiana University Art Museum.

Migration and Integration from Nordic and Dutch Perspectives (1 credit)
Examination of the varying conditions and strategies with which these two regions manage labor supply, international migration, and integration. Based on the Migrant Integration Policy Index the class will compare and discuss the relative success or failure of policies relating to labor market access, refugees and immigrants, permanent residency, political participation, access to citizenship and discrimination.