German, Nordic, and Slavic Courses – Fall 2026

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: MTWR 8:50 – 9:40 am

Course Description: An introduction to Yiddish language and culture, with a focus on developing basic skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will also be exposed to key texts, people, movements, and events in Yiddish/Ashkenazic cultural history, as it unfolded in eastern Europe, the United States, and beyond. No prior knowledge of Yiddish is presumed or required.

Prerequisites: None.

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: TR 9:30 – 10:45 am

Instructor: B. Marcus Cederstrom

Course Description: Exploration of the ideals and realities of sustainability in Central, Northern and East European contexts. Cultural, historical, environmental and other perspectives on sustainability on a local and global scale.

In 1987, the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) published Our Common Future, chaired by Norwegian Gro Harlem Brundtland, and stated that sustainability “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” But what does that mean in practice? In this class, we’ll examine questions of sustainability in Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. We will explore cultural and environmental histories of the region and its populations, natural as well as human.

The class aims to contextualize sustainability in Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe to help you understand the many, often changing, facets of sustainability while exploring the role that you play in the local and global effects of sustainability. This is a practical as well as theoretical course, so you will be conducting research and class projects will incorporate ways in which you can make research available to the public.

Prerequisites: None

(This course is cross listed with ENVIR ST 210)

(4 credits)

• Lecture 001: MTWR 8:50 – 9:40 am

Instructor: Gulnara Glowacki

Course Description: Provides an introduction to the Kazakh language, which is a Turkic language spoken by about 11 million people in Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Russia, and Iran. Work within four language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Learn to communicate in Kazakh in authentic situations. Kazakh will be used as the primary language in classroom instructions, with minimal use of English for explanations of grammar.

Prerequisites: None.

(4 credits)

• Lecture 001: MWF 8:00 – 9:15 am

Instructor: Nâlân Erbil 

Course Description: Designed for students who are interested in learning the modern Turkish language (“Istanbul Turkish”) and cultures, and who have limited or no previous language use. This course introduces basic grammar & vocabulary building competence in novice level listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in Turkish. Authentic materials will be provided to simulate real-life situations. Students will identify basic products, practices, and perspectives of Turkish speaking cultures in Turkey and beyond. The course counts towards Middle East Studies Certificate.

Prerequisites: None.

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: MWF 9:55 – 10:45 am

Instructor: Oksana Stoychuk

(4 credits)

• Lecture 001: MTWR 8:50 – 9:45 am

Instructor: Matt Johnson

Course Description: An introduction to Yiddish language and culture, with a focus on developing basic skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will also be exposed to key texts, people, movements, and events in Yiddish/Ashkenazic cultural history, as it unfolded in eastern Europe, the United States, and beyond. No prior knowledge of Yiddish is presumed or required.

Prerequisites: None.

(4 credits)

• Lecture 001: MWF 2:30 – 3:45 pm

Instructor: Nâlân Erbil 

Course Description: Designed to help students develop intermediate competence in spoken and written Turkish. Emphasis is on listening comprehension, reading, speaking, writing, and cultural and historical knowledge. Knowledge of the grammatical structures taught in the first two semesters is assumed while we review them and introduce advanced grammar preferably in context. Students will be able to analyze and compare products, practices, and perspectives of Turkish speaking cultures in Turkey and beyond. The course counts towards the European Studies Certificate and Middle East Studies Certificate.

Prerequisites: GNS 340 (or LCA LANG 340 prior to fall 2018).

(4 credits)

• Lecture 001: MTWR 12:05 – 12:55 pm

Instructor: Gulnara Glowacki

Course Description: Building on skills developed in fourth semester Kazakh, in this course students will develop proficiency at the advanced level in listening, speaking, reading and writing.