Their subject heading and numbers have changed, but foreign literature in translation and foreign culture in translation courses still offer students unique perspectives as they fulfill their General Education Curriculum requirements. Students can take courses on a broad range of subjects – from vampires to Chinese literature to Nordic mythology – within the Department of Foreign Languages without having to know the language. Originally the classes were all grouped under FLIT but then split to include FCLT as well. "The main reason (they changed) is that FLIT implies it’s all literature," said Lisa Di Bartolomeo, teaching assistant professor in the department. "We decided as a department we needed something more descriptive." She said when students see the FLIT subject heading, they should realize they will be studying the literature of that culture, and when they see the FCLT subject heading, they will be looking at literature as well as art, film, music and television. In addition, splitting the subject headings allowed the department to start offering more classes for GEC requirements. She added each of the classes provides students with insight into another culture’s perspective. "For people in sciences who need to get their GEC or (Writing) course this gives them a chance to get something outside of their comfort zone," Di Bartolomeo said. "It’s a nice way for students to get this international experience without having the language knowledge." Katelyn Casten, a senior criminology and Russian major, said she has taken FLIT and FCLT classes pertaining to vampires, science fiction, the Holocaust and Russian fairy tales. "I enjoyed all of them. Each had something to offer. I learned more about our culture and other cultures than I did in any other class," Casten said. Casten added that it’s important to be well rounded in knowledge of our own culture and other cultures. "I think it’s important because it’s just a completely different view of our society. You’re not learning the typical stuff you would learn in a sociology class," Casten said. She said in general, all of the classes have been more interesting than other GEC classes she has taken. "They’ve definitely changed my perspective in looking at things," Casten said. "I think it’s important to not go through college with just one major. It’s important to get different perspectives." Ethan Gatrell, a junior slavic and eastern European studies major, agreed with Casten, saying his classes on vampires, 19th century Russian literature and comparative Polish cinema has changed the way he viewed cultures. "It’s going to give someone the possibility to learn something new for someone who’s an engineering major," Gatrell said. Both students also got the chance to apply what they learned during class in a study abroad trip to Romania. "You get to visualize what you’ve read," Gatrell said. He added that it helped him to not only better understand what he learned but also the culture and people. "We just look at it like vampires are what everyone is interested in right now, and you go over there and you see this is their culture," Casten said.
Foreign language classes don’t just study language
Published: Thursday, October 22, 2009
Updated: Thursday, October 22, 2009 23:10
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