Special Topics Course Offerings - Spring 2026

FLFR 442 – Linguistic Analysis of Informal French

Scholarly discussion of the various types of informal French speech, including slang, cursing, and different registers. Historical, linguistic, and sociolinguistic frameworks will be used to understand how these types of speech arise and which groups create and use them.

This course has low-cost materials.

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 321 – ASL Literature and Arts

Examination and analysis of contents, themes, and techniques of work from different areas of literature and the arts. Emphasis on practices in planning, developing, performing and critiquing various works in different genres. Taught in English.

Credit hours: 3
Modality: Online Asynchronous
Prerequisite: FLSL 101 or consent of department
Professor: Karla Castellanos, kcastellanos@niu.edu

FLSP 458/558 - Spanish American Modernismo and Vanguardias: 1880-1945

Overview of Latin American poetry and prose from 1880 to 1945, focusing on issues such as the influence of modernity, the politics of literary expression, and the artistic movements in Europe that led Spanish American writers to define their role in a globalized world.

This is a writing-infused course.

Credit hours: 3
Modality: Face-to-face
Meetings: Tuesday 5-7:40 p.m.
Prerequisite: FLSP 321 or FLSP 322; or consent of department
Professor: Francisco Solares-Larrave, fsolares@niu.edu

FLST 381 (0002)/ FLFR 300/ FLGE 300/ FLGE 400 - Special Topics: Paris-Berlin – Early French and German Film, 1890-1945

This course explores how early film transformed under the artistic, cultural, and political forces that shaped Europe from the birth of cinema to the end of World War II. This course traces the growth of major studios like Gaumont, Pathé, UFA, and Bavaria; examines cross-border collaborations and shared talent; and considers how French and German cultures portrayed each other on screen - from reconciliation and comedy to propaganda. All films will be available with English subtitles (some with German or French as well), and discussion will be in English. Students in German may take the course at the 400-level if they are able to do extra work and engage in some discussion in German separately.

This course has zero-cost materials.

Credit hours: 3
Modality: Face-to-face
Meetings: Monday and Wednesday, 2-3:15 p.m.
Prerequisite: None; or for credit in German: FLGE 202 (for FLGE 300) or completion of at least one 300-level German course (for FLGE 400); or consent of department
Professor: Dennis Brain, dbrain@niu.edu

Contact Us

World Languages and Cultures
Watson Hall 111
815-753-1501
askfl@niu.edu