FSEM 169   Elementary Italian I

Faculty Profile for Professor Merklin

To learn a language is to have one more window from which to view the world. Elementary Italian I is an introduction to the Italian language and culture. Italian is renowned as the language of the arts, music, and opera. In the third millennium, at the crossroads of Mediterranean culture, Italy is quickly becoming a multicultural nation, with one of the top ten economies in the world. Activities that emphasize the four language skills of speaking, reading, writing and listening will help students obtain both communicative and cultural competency in Italian. Students who successfully complete this course receive credit for ITAL 121 and satisfy one half of the human thought and expression areas of inquiry requirement.

Dr. Franziska Merklin’s research focuses on literary translation and classical reception studies. Her publications include books on the Italian Humanist Iacopo Sannazaro and the German avant-garde poet Stefan George. She teaches both language and literature courses. Her classes incorporate many pedagogical tools, including film and music, and she believes in creating a friendly classroom atmosphere that encourages communication.