Language Elective II

Course goals

The successful student:

1. will be able to analyse, interpret and translate texts in the chosen language;
2. will have deep knowledge of the cultural and historical context of this literature and will be able to report on this orally and in writing;
3. will understand the development of the language in the period and will be able to reflect on this orally and in writing;
4. will be able to independently employ the scholarly apparatus (specialised dictionaries, grammar, bibliography) belonging to the field;
5. will be able use their proficiency in the chosen language for subsequent course work in the RMA programme, including research apprenticeships and the RMA-thesis.

Content

This course, taught as a tutorial, follows up on the basic course introducing the language and its literature to students. As such, it delves deeper into both topics, aiming to gives students more exposure to the rich variety of texts present in the language. It presents a medieval language (e.g. Old French, Old English, Middle Dutch, etc.) and its literature to students. It caters to learning goal 3 (the ability to navigate and process a wide variety of textual and/or material sources) in the AMRS EER (section 3.1).

Classes will be varied but will generally consist of translating texts, frequently with discussion of the primary literature and aspects of the pertinent secondary literature. The class may be connected to a BA course in language acquirement, but in that case what the RMA student does, differs from the BA students’ work: the RMA students write a reflection on what acquiring this language skill will bring to their personal learning goals in the RMA, and receive 5 EC on passing the course, where the BA student receives 7.5 EC. Reflection may for instance cover the fact that the student is now able to read primary sources in the language learned or is able to understand articles or books in that language that are not translated into English. In the cases where there is a connection, the course description for the BA course contains a brief note on the special features for RMA students.

Career orientation 
Honing of analytical skills
Professionalization of oral and written communication

Additional information

This course is for students that are enrolled in the RMA Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies; students from other RMA programmes can only enroll with consent of the programme coordinator and Board of Examiners.

It’s not possible to register for this course during late enrolment.