Language Courses
Besides the following courses, we also offer contract and customized courses designed for specific professions, such as health care and law enforcement.
The courses listed below are noncredit courses. To find out what undergraduate and graduate credit courses in foreign languages are available through UM-St. Louis, visit the Dept. of Foreign Languages & Literatures.
REGISTER SOON FOR COURSES IN:
All of the courses offered through the Foreign Language Connection include opportunities to practice conversational skills in practical contexts, as well as covering essential vocabulary and cultural issues to consider. Most of the courses are taught by native speakers.
The Foreign Language Connection offers two levels of basic conversational courses:
- Level I is for people with little or no experience with the language.
- Level II requires some knowledge of the language.
Participants in our intermediate conversational courses are not required to have taken the basic courses but must have a limited knowledge of the language.
The Foreign Language Connection's courses for professionals focus on real-world situations, essential vocabulary, and important cultural issues, and provide opportunities for participants to practice conversational skills.
Bosnian Language and Culture
Wednesdays, October 8, 14, & 22, 2008
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Bayless Intermediate School District, 4529 Weber Road,
St. Louis, MO 63123
Fee: $20 for individual, $30 for organizational staff member
Information: (314) 516-5974 or pattersonam@umsl.edu
Registration: (314) 516-5974 or online
Instructor: Daniela Sales -- Daniela Sales, native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has lived in the United States since 1994. As a leader of the Aria Cultural & Educational Center for youth and children, she has developed and taught multiple art and culture programs. She has worked as a translator since 1995 helping new members of the local Bosnian community navigate complicated processes involved in establishing themselves as new members of the community. As a member of the Affton/Bayless Task Force on New Americans, she developed and teaches the Bosnian Language and Culture class.
Did you know that there are more than 20 different cultures represented and languages spoken by residents of Affton? Learn to speak and understand Bosnian language and culture!
This Bosnian language and culture class is designed for anyone who wants to learn basic phrases to better communicate with their neighbors and gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of their Bosnian friends, colleagues, and neighbors.
Basic Conversational Bosnian I
Mondays & Wednesdays, November 3-24 (excluding Nov. 12)
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Bayless Intermediate School Library, 4529 Weber Road,
St. Louis, MO 63123
Fee: $65
Information: (314) 516-5974 or pattersonam@umsl.edu
Registration: (314) 516-5974 or online
Instructor: Daniela Sales -- Daniela Sales, native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has lived in the United States since 1994. As a leader of the Aria Cultural & Educational Center for youth and children, she has developed and taught multiple art and culture programs. She has worked as a translator since 1995 helping new members of the local Bosnian community navigate complicated processes involved in establishing themselves as new members of the community. As a member of the Affton/Bayless Task Force on New Americans, she developed and teaches the Bosnian Language and Culture class.
This practical six-week course provides a comprehensive introduction to modern Bosnian for those who would like to speak the language or use it for reading or research. The course stresses all four major communicative skills--reading, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking--as well as culture. Perfect for beginners, the course is also a great follow-up to the Bosnian Language and Culture Class.
Basic Conversational Spanish I
Thursdays, Sept. 18-Oct. 23
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Brentwood Parks and Recreation, 2502 S. Brentwood
Fee: $65
Information: (314) 516-5974 or pattersonam@umsl.edu
Registration: (314) 516-5974 or online
Instructor: Nathan Bachelder -- Nathan Bachelder has nearly 20 years' experience teaching conversational Spanish at all levels and in a wide variety of settings. He has taught summer enrichment Spanish to elementary children, Spanish levels 1-3 at Pattonville High School, and evening adult Spanish classes in the Pattonville School District's Community Education Program, and he has served as an adjunct lecturer at UM-St. Louis for a number of years. Nathan honed his Spanish skills while living in Ecuador and holds a master's degree in Spanish Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
This newly redesigned conversational course doesn't emphasize grammar but instead emphasizes learning basic conversational skills. In this course, you will be able to learn Spanish the same way you learned English--through fun, interactive exercises and games. You will even learn how to make a Spanish dish! This introductory course has been designed specifically for the adult learner who has never formally studied Spanish or who has taken a Spanish class but struggles to make sentences or to understand.
TEXTBOOK: A Conversar! Level 1 by Tara Bradley Williams.
Available from the UMSL Bookstore; take the following steps to order online:
- Go to www.umslbookstore.com, and click the Textbooks button.
- In the Select Term and Departments window, click Summer 08. Then scroll down and click in the box beside SPC ORD, and click the Continue to Select Courses button.
- In the Select Courses window, click in the box beside SPC ORD SPAN BAS I - CONVERS - STAFF, then click the Continue to Get Course Materials button.
- Click the Add to Cart button.
- To complete your purchase, click the Shopping Cart button and then the Continue Checkout button, and enter the requested information.
CHECK BACK FOR SCHEDULES FOR THESE COURSES
BOSNIAN
Bosnian Language and Culture
Did you know that there are more than 20 different cultures represented and languages spoken by residents of Affton? Learn to speak and understand Bosnian language and culture!
This Bosnian language and culture class is designed for anyone who wants to learn basic phrases to better communicate with their neighbors and gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of their Bosnian friends, colleagues, and neighbors.
Basic Conversational Bosnian I
This practical six-week course provides a comprehensive introduction to modern Bosnian for those who would like to speak the language or use it for reading or research. The course stresses all four major communicative skills--reading, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking--as well as culture. Perfect for beginners, the course is also a great follow-up to the Bosnian Language and Culture Class.
CHINESE
Mandarin Chinese for Business Travelers
Taught from the unique perspective of a native speaker, this basic conversational course is the perfect introduction to Mandarin Chinese for the casual traveler or the international business professional. This noncredit course presents everyday situations that may be encountered when traveling or doing business in China. It introduces essential vocabulary and provides participants with opportunities to practice Mandarin Chinese conversation in a wide variety of practical contexts. Participants are also introduced to a number of cultural issues that must be considered when communicating with Mandarin Chinese-speaking people.
ITALIAN
Basic Conversational Italian I
This basic conversational course is the perfect introduction to Italian for the casual traveler, those of Italian heritage, or those interested in art, literature, and history. This noncredit course presents everyday situations that may be encountered when traveling or living in Italian-speaking countries or when interacting with Italian-speaking people in the United States. It introduces essential vocabulary and provides participants with opportunities to practice Italian conversation in a wide variety of practical contexts. Participants are also introduced to a number of cultural issues that must be considered when communicating with Italian-speaking people.
Basic Conversational Italian II
This six-week course builds on Basic Conversational Italian I. It provides participants with more opportunity to learn practical Italian to use in everyday situations as they build on vocabulary learned in Basic I and practice Italian conversation in a wide variety of practical contexts. Those who register for this class should have completed Basic I or have some knowledge of Italian.
Intermediate Conversational Italian I
Readings and conversations on Italian art, culture, cinema, travel, and lifestyles will enrich students' knowledge of Italy and provide a larger vocabulary, which will increase their enjoyment of the country and its people. Beginning Italian I and II (or the equivalent) are the prerequisites for Intermediate Italian I. If you have questions about
placement, please call (314) 516-5911 and ask for instructor's evaluation.
SPANISH
Basic Conversational Spanish II
This redesigned conversational course doesn't emphasize grammar but instead emphasizes learning basic conversational skills.
In this course you will learn Spanish the same way you learned English--through fun and interactive exercises and games.
This course has been designed specifically for the adult learner who has taken a basic Spanish class and wishes to improve conversational skills. It stresses conversational fluency in real-life situations, and introduces different verb tenses. In addition to the conversational focus, vocabulary themes covered include seasons, months, days of the week, dates, clothing, weather, directions, descriptions of people, restaurants, making telephone calls, and conversational phrases.
Intermediate Conversational Spanish I
A continuation of the basic conversational courses, this noncredit course is the next step toward Spanish for the casual traveler, the social service professional, or the classroom teacher of Spanish-speaking students. This class helps participants extend their understanding and use of Spanish fundamentals, vocabulary, and grammar in order to communicate effectively in a social setting.
You do not have to have taken our basic courses to take this intermediate course as long as you know a little Spanish. A limited knowledge of the language is all that's necessary for you to be able to join us at this level.
Intermediate Conversational Spanish 2
A continuation of Intermediate Conversational Spanish I, this noncredit course is the next step toward Spanish for the casual traveler, the social service professional, or the classroom teacher of Spanish-speaking students. This course helps participants extend their understanding and use of Spanish fundamentals, vocabulary, and grammar in order to communicate effectively in a social setting.
Basic Spanish for Business
As more and more companies in our global economy reach across borders to make business agreements, the need to communicate sensitively and effectively with business people in Hispanic cultures becomes more critical. This introductory conversational course will be taught from the unique perspective of a native-speaking businessperson as it focuses on language fundamentals, vocabulary, and grammar in a business context. The intent of the language component of this course is to present practical language that can be effectively used in a business setting.
Good business communication is not just about what is said but, perhaps equally important, about how it is said. You will not only learn the fundamentals of the language, but will come away from this course with a better understanding of the culture--what is appropriate conversation in a business setting, and what topics should be avoided; what is humorous, and what might be perceived as offensive.
Spanish for the Classroom Teacher
A conversational Spanish course designed specifically for teachers of Spanish-speaking students, this basic course will equip teachers of elementary, middle, and high school students who are new to the United States with basic grammar and practical language skills to communicate effectively with them. This course will be taught by an elementary classroom teacher who is a native speaker.
Spanish for First Responders
This is a conversational course designed specifically to assist emergency responders in learning basic survival Spanish with an emphasis on EMS situations and medical terms. Participants will learn how to obtain and convey critical information to patients and family members during a crisis, including obtaining consent, interviewing the patient, and explaining treatment. The first segment of this course focuses on classroom instruction where first responders will learn what they need to communicate in an emergency situation. The second segment will require first responders to apply the newly acquired knowledge and skills to a real-life emergency situation through a practical scenario.
Basic Spanish for Health-Care Professionals I
Spanish is one of the fastest-growing areas of language instruction throughout the country. This practical course will give participants "real world" language as well as grounding in Hispanic culture that will significantly enhance their use of the language. participants, whether professionals already working in the health-care field or career/goal-oriented students in an occupational training program, will learn key vocabulary while focusing on easily mastered core expressions. Art, photographs, and brief dialogues, supported by brief grammar explanations, reinforce needed terms. In class, participants will practice communicative survival using key vocabulary essential to the health-care field to enable them to use their Spanish in the real world at work.
Basic Spanish for Health-Care Professionals II
A continuation of Basic Spanish for Health-Care Professionals I, this course builds on everything the students learned in their first six weeks. Students will continue to expand their vocabulary and develop conversational skills. Students who enroll in this class should have taken Basic Spanish for Health-Care Professionals I or have some knowledge of Spanish.
Spanish for Law Enforcement Personnel
This class presents realistic situations and the specialized vocabulary that law enforcement professionals need in the course of their daily work in order to communicate with Spanish-speaking people. Personalized questions, grammar exercises, dialogue completions, and role-plays provide participants with numerous opportunities to apply Spanish in a wide variety of practical contexts. participants will be trained to ask questions, give answers, and execute commands as they apply to performing pedestrian field interviews as well as both high- and low-risk vehicle stops. Discussion of Hispanic culture will also be included.
Basic Spanish for Social Service Professionals I
A growing Hispanic population in the St. Louis region means an increase in the number of people seeking social services whose primary or only language is Spanish. For the social service professional whose job it is to assess, reassure, educate, and treat people, a basic knowledge of conversational Spanish and an awareness of Hispanic culture in a social service context are growing necessities.
This basic conversational course in Spanish will be taught by a social service worker who is fluent in Spanish. It will focus on language fundamentals, as well as the role of culture in the assessment and treatment process. Vocabulary and grammar will be presented in a social service context, beginning with the building of the patient-practitioner relationship. Students will learn practical conversational Spanish that will assist them in helping Spanish-speaking patients and clients.
This course is recommended for social workers, nurses, other health-care professionals, and probation and parole officers.
Intermediate Spanish for Social Service Professionals
A continuation of the basic Spanish for Social Service Professionals course, this noncredit course is the next step toward Spanish for the social service professional whose job it is to assess, reassure, educate, and treat people. This intermediate course will help participants extend their understanding and use of Spanish fundamentals, vocabulary, and grammar in order to communicate effectively in a social service setting. This course is recommended for social workers, nurses, other health-care professionals, as well as probation and parole officers.