GNS Courses Spring 2025

(3 credits)

• MW 4:00 – 5:15 pm

Instructor: Geoffrey Durham

(4 credits)

• MTWR 12:05 – 12:55 pm

Instructor: Nâlân Erbil

Course Description: Second semester Turkish is designed for students who are interested in learning the modern Turkish language (“Istanbul dialect”) and cultures, and who have taken first semester Turkish (GNS 339) or have already a basic command of modern Turkish. Students will have the opportunity to practice the materials to increase their elementary level listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in line with the ACTFL proficiency guidelines for Turkish and based on the World-Readiness Standards.

Prerequisites: GNS 339 or consent of instructor. Turkish program coordinator e-mail: erbil@wisc.edu

Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S. Counts towards Middle East Studies Certificate and European Studies Certificate.

(3 credits)

• MTWR 11:00 – 11:50 pm

Instructor: Krzysztof Borowski

Course Description: Continuation of SLAVIC 111 — First Semester Polish.

Prerequisites: None

(Meets-with Slavic 112.)

(4 credits)

• MTWR 1:20 – 2:10 pm

Instructor: Gulnara Glowacki

Course Description: This course will review, strengthen, and upgrade the knowledge acquired during the Third semester of language study in Kazakh (GNS+ 431 – Third Semester Kazakh).

While enhancing their familiarity with grammatical structures, students will develop also a broader vocabulary, more idiomatic patterns of speech, and greater fluency in oral expression.  All linguistic skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) will be practiced, but the main emphasis will be on communicative competence, as well as on a closer acquaintance with Kazakhstan’s life and culture.

The language of instruction will be mostly in Kazakh.

Prerequisites: GNS+ 431: Third Semester Kazakh

(4 credits)

• MTWR 11:00 – 11:50 am

Instructor: Nâlân Erbil 

Course Description: Fourth Semester Turkish is designed for students who have studied three semesters of Turkish or its equivalent. This course is 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 in line with ACTFL proficiency guidelines for Turkish and the World-Readiness Standards. Knowledge of the grammatical structures taught in the first three semesters is assumed while we review them and introduce advanced grammar preferably in the context. You can expect to engage in group and pair work and to take part actively in class. Your ability to communicate in Turkish will increase as you apply yourself in class and even outside of the classroom. Turkish will be the primary language of the class although there could be instances where the instructor resorts to English for clarification. Any questions and concerns that require the use of English may be addressed after class time or during the instructor’s office hours.

Prerequisites: GNS 539 or consent of instructor. Turkish program coordinator e-mail: erbil@wisc.edu

Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S. Counts towards Middle East Studies Certificate and European Studies Certificate.

Eligible for FLAS funding.

(1 credit)

• W 9:55 – 10:45 am

Instructor: Karen Evans-Romaine (Supervisory Instructor), TA (Principle Instructor TBD)

(4 credits)

• MTWR 12:05 – 12:55 pm

Instructor: Gulnara Glowacki

Course Description: This is an advanced mid-level Kazakh language course.

This course has two goals: firstly, it focuses on reviewing some of the topics of the prerequisite course and introducing more challenging vocabulary, improving usage, and comprehension in Kazakh. Lessons will be focused on reading texts, analyzing multimedia, and discussing special topics. Secondly, it introduces new topics which are focused on learning to communicate about abstract topics such as what is published in the news media, work etiquette, and politics among other topics as warranted.

The class activity is conducted primarily in Kazakh. The course will enhance your ability to read complex Kazakh texts more easily and to express yourself with greater confidence, clarity and precision both in writing and everyday conversation.

Prerequisites: GNS+ 531: Fifth Semester Kazakh

(3 credits)

• TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm

Instructor: Nâlân Erbil 

Course Description: This course will focus equally on reading, writing, listening and speaking skills with the goal to enhance critical literacy in Turkish. Materials will include various authentic texts produced for speakers of Turkish such as novels, short stories, poems, and films. Perspectives of Turkish speaking cultures will be analyzed in comparison. Azeri/Ottoman will be incorporated upon demand.

Prerequisites: GNS 539 or consent of instructor. Turkish program coordinator e-mail: erbil@wisc.edu

Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S. Counts towards Middle East Studies Certificate and European Studies Certificate.

Eligible for FLAS funding.

(3 credits)

• M 2:30 – 5:00 pm

Instructor: Liina-Ly Roos

Course Description: This course promotes the academic and professional development of graduate students in the humanities, in particular in the fields of German, Scandinavian, and Slavic studies. We will analyze MA and PhD learning outcomes with an eye to different career paths and consider the structures of in/exclusion in our respective disciplines. Students will create and critique conference presentations, grant proposals, books reviews, CVs, and other academic documents. The seminar includes visits from faculty in the various programs of German, Nordic, and Slavic.

Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing