PREP COURSE FOR THE MAY 2006 JBIP STUDY TOUR

Grand Tour of Great Cities

JBIP 210.004

Course Description, Rules, Procedures, Schedule, etc.

1.  Study Tour Leaders. Profs. McCrary, Tarabek, Goode  

2.  The Grand Tour of Great Cities Study Tour is part of Queens University's John Belk International Program.   As such, all students are expected to abide by both the spirit and the letter of the HONOR CODE.   The Academic Pledge (“I pledge truthfulness and absolute honesty in the performance of all academic work”) and the Community Pledge (“I pledge to be truthful at all times, to treat others with respect, to respect the property of others and to adhere to University policies.”) should be upheld both in class and on the Study Tour.  Specific policies governing this study tour and the Belk International Program can be found in the "John Belk International Program 2006 Study Tour Handbook" issued by the John Belk International Program Office.

3.  The preparation course for the Grand Tour of Great Cities Study Tour is JBIP 210.004 (2 credit hours) which meets from 4:35 to 5:50 p.m. on all Thursdays during the semester as well as the first five Tuesdays at the same time.  

4.  Attendance Policies.  It is very important for all participants to understand the attendance policies.  We expect all participants to attend class regularly and punctually.  You may have one unexcused absence, but remember that two or more unexcused absences will result in your being excluded from the study tour.  For each absence—for whatever reason, whether excused or unexcused—you must do a make-up assignment: an original paper (minimum of two full pages, typed, double-spaced and properly documented) on a topic approved by the instructors.  This report must be of acceptable quality to the instructors and is due not later than two weeks from the date of the absence (and in any case, before the final examination).  Please note that these policies are enforced.

5. Queens University Policy on the Minimum Level of Work Required to Participate in the John Belk International Program.  As in all of the past 17 years of the international program, participation in the study tour presumes satisfactory work (which the catalog defines as not lower than a C-) in the preparation course.  The requirement -- unanimously approved and supported by the faculty and academic administration of the College of Arts and Sciences -- is that a student must make a C- (an average of 70) or better in the prep course in order to be eligible to participate in the John Belk International Program study tour.  It is essential for you to understand that any student who does not make a C- (an average of 70) or better in the prep course will not be allowed to participate, and the consequent costs will be borne by the student.  There have not been -- and will not be -- any exceptions to this policy.    

6. Grading for JBIP 210.  Final grades are on the regular ABCDF basis.  The grading scale is as follows:  100-94, A;  93-90, A-;  89-88, B+;  87-83, B;  82-80, B-;  79-78, C+;  77-73, C;  72-70, C-;  69-65, D+;  64-60, D-;  59 and below, F.   This course may not be taken P/NR or P/F.

7. Required Work, Tests, and Grading:  You will be graded on 3 separate components of the course – language instruction in French, German, and Czech, "background" information on the countries and cities we will visit, and European geography.  You must make a C- (an average of 70) or better to go on the study tour.  Please read the following carefully:

a. Language.  It is important for you to be able to use some basic phrases in each of the languages we will be studying.  You will be expected to learn some common, useful words and phrases, and you will be tested on these.  The language tests will be cumulative.  We strongly suggest that you make flash cards for the assigned vocabulary and make use of the language resources found on the Belk page of the Queens’ website (www.queens.edu/international/resources.asp). 

In calculating the average of your language tests, we will drop your lowest score, so that you may miss or mess up a test.  There will be no make-ups; a test missed, whether due to absence or tardiness, will count as a zero in the calculation of your weekly language test average.  In figuring your final language component grade, the test average will count 75% and the final language examination 25%.  Students who have a language test average of 90% or better do not have to take the final language examination.  The language component of the prep course will count toward 25% of your final course grade.

b. Assigned Readings and Videos on "Background" (culture, history, economics, politics, etc.). There will be reading assignments and sometimes a video for each class.  Generally, these will be available as handouts or from required texts.  For possible library reserves, you should ask at the main library desk for the "Grand Tour" study tour reading assignment(s) or video for the relevant date.  You are to be prepared to discuss these materials and to take a test on them at each week's meeting.  The procedures and policies followed in calculating your weekly language test average and final language component grade (described above) will apply in the calculation of your "background" component grade.  The "background" component will count toward 60% of your final course grade. 

c. European  Geography.  You are expected to be familiar with the geography of the country or region we will be visiting and with the basic geography of Europe.  There will be a Geography quiz given on Feb. 16.  The Geography quiz will count toward 10% of your final course grade.  Should you fail to receive a satisfactory grade (a grade of C- or better) on the geography quiz, you will be required to complete a map assignments designed to improve your geographical literacy.  You can use the Belk Resource page again to find maps, atlases and other resources.

d. Class Participation & On-Site report.  Since it is important for students to be engaged in their own education, you need to be prepared to discuss the assigned reading and use the current vocabulary every day.  As part of your class participation grade, you are required to prepare, during the course of the semester, a brief report (2-3 pages, typed, double-spaced and properly documented) on a site or area of interest from the country or region you will be traveling to.  These reports will be due on March 2.  After they are collected, faculty will keep them and bring them on the study tour so that you can present the information to your fellow students at an appropriate time.  This report is not graded but a satisfactory performance is required to complete the course.  Class participation will make up 5% of the course grade.

8. Learning objectives.  At the end of the prep course students should be able to:

            ► Understand and use basic phrases and expressions in the target language(s)

            ► Identify the major geographical features of the country or region

            ► Identify important historical periods for the country or region

            ► Identify major historical and artistic figures associated with the country or region

            ► Identify cultural differences of the country or region compared to the U.S.

9. General Requirements for the Grand Tour of Great Cities  2006 May Study Tour  (2 hrs. credit):

            (1) regular attendance in scheduled activities;

            (2) appropriate behavior at all times while overseas;

            (3) presentation of an On-Site report prepared during the semester;

            (4) a  reflective and interpretive travel journal, regularly kept and submitted to the

                        instructors upon demand and on the flight home;

            (5) two short interpretive/reflective essays, to be written in the last days of the study tour

                        and included in the journal. 

9.  Class Schedule.

1/10     Introduction to the Great Cities

            French Vocabulary I

            Geography Assigned

1/12     Overview of Medieval Europe Click here for slide show.  Save to your desk top or wait a few seconds to load .

            French Quiz #1

1/17     Group-Building Exercise

1/19     Art Appreciation I – Painting

French Vocabulary II

1/24     Art Appreciation II – Sculpture & Architecture       Slide Show        Study Questions
            Read: Architecture
            Read: Sculpture
             
     French Quiz #1

            Reports assigned

1/26     Paris I  Slide Show  (it is best to save a large file like this to your desktop and then open it)

            French Vocabulary III

1/31     Paris II

            French Quiz #3

2/2       World War I and World War II  
             German Vocabulary I    

     Read about the Treaty of Versailles that proscribed the peace terms after WWI

       http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty_of_versailles.htm

     Rise of the Nazi Party

       http://fcit.usf.edu/Holocaust/timeline/nazirise.htm

     Here is one memoir of a concentration camp

       http://www.104infdiv.org/CONCAMP.HTM

2/7       Bastogne   Readings

            German Quiz #1

 
2/9       Berlin I                            
            Read: Twenty-five Points of the Nazi Party
     Read: The Degenerate Art Exhibit

           
            German Vocabulary II

            Geography Test

2/16     Berlin II

            German Quiz #2

2/23     Cold War

            German Vocabulary III         

            Reports Due

3/2       Prague I

            German Quiz #3

3/9       Prague II

            Czech Vocabulary

3/16     Spring Break – No Classes

3/23     Munich 
            Reading: Read this on Munich and follow the links indicated toward the end.

            Czech Language Quiz

3/30     Modern Europe

4/6       Language review and practice

4/13     Final Exams

4/20     Last minute questions and preparation

Please come to class prepared to participate fully.  The more you know about the places you will see, the more you can expect to get out of the study tour.  Let's make this a successful and unforgettable experience for all of us.