Modern Languages and Literatures (MLL)

MLL 150 Don Quixote as Self-Made Superhero: Art and Life in an Unjust World (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: GE Area A2* or permission of the instructor.

A writing-intensive course examining Don Quixote through the lens of 21st-century popular culture. Building on the skills acquired in Written English Communication (A2), learn and practice the components of effective arguments: analyzing genre, audience, and purpose, as well as how to draft and give feedback. Reflection on contemporary issues of identity, social justice, well being and the relationship between fiction and life itself through writing and deep reading of the novel.
(This course is offered as SPAN 150 and MLL 150. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • E: Lifelong Learning Develop

MLL 325 Linguistics for Foreign Languages (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division students of foreign languages or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to modern linguistic theories and methods for application to specific foreign languages. Background for foreign language study.

MLL 345 Conflict and Cooperation in Asia (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing.

Examine international conflict and cooperation in contemporary Asia through a range of analytical models. Organized around historical period, issue-area, and Asian subregion. Combines theoretical and policy analysis.
(This course is offered as I R 345 and MLL 345. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

MLL 400 Introduction to Interpreting (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Passing score on SF State Bilingual Entrance Exam, (or the federal written exam) and admission to the program.

Introduction to English/Spanish skills required to pass the state interpreter examinations in the field of legal/court interpretation and the medical evaluation system of workers' compensation. Focus on interpreting theory, the fundamentals of simultaneous, consecutive and sight interpretation, and vocabulary development.

MLL 400GW Reading and Analysis of Cultural Texts - GWAR (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Modern Languages and Literatures majors; GE Area A2; or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to representative cultural texts associated with the languages taught in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. All written work in English. (ABC/NC grading only)

Course Attributes:

  • Graduation Writing Assessment

MLL 401 Sight Translation (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: MLL 400.

Understanding legal and other written documents commonly used in civil and criminal courts and translating these documents orally in the target language in a public situation. Focus on legal vocabulary development in both Spanish and English using legal documents from a variety of Spanish-speaking countries; literary, current events, tone, proper register, delivery and accuracy.

MLL 403 Consecutive Interpretation I (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: MLL 400.

Practice in the consecutive mode of Spanish/English interpretation in legal proceedings such as arraignments, pretrial hearings, depositions, trials and administrative hearings. Develop memory, acquire relevant courtroom terminology, develop familiarity with idiomatic expressions and slang used by Spanish-speaking witnesses and defendants, and discuss ethical issues and courtroom protocol. Use of courtroom scripts and tapes.

MLL 405 Consecutive Interpretation II (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: MLL 403.

Advanced practice in the consecutive mode of interpretation in legal proceedings including pretrial hearings, preliminary examinations, motions and trials in state and federal courts, depositions, medical/ psychiatric examinations and administrative hearings. Emphasis on extended recall, communicating nuances, maintaining register and equanimity in more demanding situations. In-class practice sessions are designed to improve memory, learn note-taking when appropriate and acquire relevant terminology.

MLL 407 Simultaneous Interpretation I (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: MLL 400.

Development of simultaneous interpretation skills from English to Spanish as practiced in legal proceedings. Students practice with tape-recorded legal texts at a slow to medium rate of speech; develop skills in shadowing and simultaneous interpretation of legal texts (English to Spanish), increasing from 100 to 140 words per minute. Emphasis on continued acquisition of general legal vocabulary and ways to cope with unknown terms, memory lapses and loss of concentration.

MLL 409 Simultaneous Interpretation II (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: MLL 407.

Practice in simultaneous interpretation skills from English into Spanish in more complex legal proceedings than in FL 407. Students practice with tape-recorded legal texts at a moderate to fast rate of speech (140 words per minute and faster.) Material used contains testimony of expert witnesses, legal motions, jury instructions, and other more complex material, and requires acquisition of specialized terminology such as forensic pathology.

MLL 523 Practicum in Language Tutoring (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Training for both tutors of English for speakers of other languages and foreign languages across a range of contexts (including secondary school, adult education, community college, and university). Techniques covered include readings, role-play demonstrations, and reflective journals. Discussion of how to locate and select reference materials for teaching appropriate language skills.
(This course is offered as ENG 523 and MLL 523. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

MLL 599 Internship in Foreign Languages (Units: 1-4)

Prerequisites: Minimum of 12 upper-division units in a foreign language or equivalent foreign language proficiency and permission of the instructor.

Supervised internship in a setting in which a foreign language is used, integrated with relevant academic research. (CR/NC grading only)

MLL 603 Technology in Language Learning and Teaching (Units: 3)

Prerequisite for MLL 803: Graduate standing.
Prerequisite for MLL 603: Intermediate language competency in a second/foreign language or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to principles and practices concerning the use of technology in second/foreign language learning and teaching. Focus on the connection between Second Language Acquisition theories and the implementation of current Internet and multimedia technologies.
(MLL 803/MLL 603 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)

MLL 608 Language Teaching in Multilingual Contexts (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

A survey of best principles and key competencies for second and foreign language teaching, drawing from current theories and researched practices, with an emphasis on the knowledge and skills that are crucial for language teaching in multilingual contexts.
(This course is offered as MLL 608 and ENG 608. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

MLL 700 Introduction to Academic Writing and Research Methodology (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in a Foreign Language program or literary studies program or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to graduate-level academic writing and research. Taught in English.

MLL 701 Seminar in Academic Writing and Research Methodology (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in a Foreign Language program or permission of the instructor.

Seminar in research methods and academic writing for graduate students in Foreign Languages and Literatures.

MLL 750 Curriculum and Instruction I: World Languages (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Single Subject Credential program students or permission of the instructor.

Principles and theory of teaching World Languages at the secondary school level, including the planning of content and instruction with consideration of student learning and state and national standards.

MLL 751 Curriculum and Instruction II: Foreign Languages (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of MLL 750 or permission of the instructor. Must be taken concurrently with S ED 660.

Principles and practical experience in the teaching of foreign languages at the secondary school level, including selection and use of instructional technology, evaluation techniques, assessment, and reflective practice.

MLL 785 Practicum in Teaching Language and Literature (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate standing and permission of the instructor.

Instruction in how to guide classroom discussions, prepare pedagogical materials, give classroom presentations, and provide constructive guidance to undergraduate students on their academic work. Graduate students will apply what they learn in an undergraduate class under the direction of supervising faculty who will develop the graduate students' capacities as aspiring teachers. May be repeated for a total of 4 units. (CR/NC grading only).

MLL 799 Internship in Foreign Languages (Units: 1-4)

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in a foreign language or equivalent foreign language proficiency and permission of the instructor.

Supervised internship in a setting in which a foreign language is used, integrated with relevant graduate-level academic research. (CR/NC grading only)

MLL 803 Technology in Language Learning and Teaching (Units: 3)

Prerequisite for MLL 803: Graduate standing.
Prerequisite for MLL 603: Intermediate language competency in a second/foreign language or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to principles and practices concerning the use of technology in second/foreign language learning and teaching. Focus on the connection between Second Language Acquisition theories and the implementation of current Internet and multimedia technologies.
(MLL 803/MLL 603 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)

MLL 808 Second Language Acquisition (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Survey of L2 acquisition research and methodologies. Examination of major hypotheses about complex variables underlying second L2 and perspectives that form L2 acquisition theories. Selected cases illustrating the relation of L2 acquisition studies to L2 pedagogy.