Northern Illinois University
World Languages and Cultures
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

FLFR 311 – Spoken French in a Cultural Context

Development of oral skills necessary to converse competently and convincingly on a range of topics, both of an everyday nature (sports, weather, gossip, pop culture) and of a more pressing concern (social inequality, globalization, global warming).

This course has low-cost materials.

Credit hours: 3
Modality: Face-to-face
Prerequisite: FLFR 202
Professor: Shannon Becker, sbecker@niu.edu

FLFR 411 – Communicating in Modern French

Advanced conversation and composition focusing on the comprehension and usage of contemporary French in day-to-day communication, including formal and informal language, world varieties of French and French slang.

This course has low-cost materials.
This is a writing-infused course.

Credit hours: 3
Modality: Face-to-face
Prerequisite: Completion of two 300-level FLFR courses, or consent of department
Professor: Shannon Becker, sbecker@niu.edu

FLSL 311 – Advanced ASL Conversation

The incorporation of knowledge in American Sign Language (ASL) grammar and vocabulary, previously taught in intensive practical training in conversational skills, to achieve fluency of structural knowledge and expression. Conversational topics will include academics, business, medical, sports, religion, current events and more. Taught in ASL.

Credit hours: 3
Modality: Face-to-face
Prerequisite: FLSL 202 or consent of department
Professor: Karla Castellanos, kcastellanos@niu.edu

FLSP 438 – Contemporary Spanish Literature

Historiographical Metafiction and the representation of history in the contemporary Spanish novel.

This is a writing-infused course.

Credit hours: 3
Modality: Online synchronous
Prerequisite: FLSP 321 or 322. Concurrent enrollment in FLSP 322 and FLSP 438 with departmental consent (email askfl@niu.edu).
Professor: Stephen Vilaseca, svilaseca@niu.edu

FLSP 484 – Advanced Translation

This course provides intensive training in accurate and idiomatic translation of business, administrative, literary and consumer-oriented texts from Spanish to English and English to Spanish. Emphasis on localization, editing and proofreading.

This is a writing-infused course.

Credit hours: 3
Modality: Hybrid Online and Face-to-face meetings
Prerequisite: FLSP 302; or consent of department
Professor: Laura Vilardell, lvilardell@niu.edu

FLSP 487 – Hispanic Dialectology

Introduction to the study of variation within the Spanish language in both Spain and the Americas. Focus on the intricate mix of social, political and historical factors that underlie the natural processes of dialect formation, bilingualism and multilingualism across linguistic communities around the world.

This course has zero-cost materials.
This is a writing-infused course.

Credit hours: 3
Modality: Face-to-face
Prerequisite: FLSP 302; or consent of department
Professor: Mandy Faretta-Stutenberg, mfs@niu.edu

FLST 481 – Global Communication and Multilingualism

This course explores how digital technologies are transforming language learning and multilingual communication in today's globalized world. Students will examine and evaluate tools such as AI tutors, ChatGPT, speech recognition and collaborative platforms, while learning to design engaging, technology-enhanced language lessons. Grounded in frameworks like TPACK and the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, the course emphasizes both practical application and critical reflection on the role of emerging technologies in education. Through hands-on projects and global case studies, students will develop the skills needed to integrate digital tools effectively and thoughtfully into language teaching and learning contexts.

This course has zero-cost materials.

Credit hours: 3
Modality: Online synchronous
Prerequisite: consent of department – please email askfl@niu.edu to be added to the course.
Professor: Rahmi Aoyama, rhartati1@niu.edu