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Asian and Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures (DAMELL)

Basic Structure of the Department

  • DAMELL offers courses in Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew and Japanese languages, literatures and cultures, and in Korean literature and culture.
  • DAMELL majors and minors may specialize may major in Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew or Japanese; they may modify these language/literature areas with coursework in other departments; they may major in the East Asian track (which requires the study of Japanese and Chinese); or they may major in any two of the languages offered in the department.
  • The introductory language sequences for all DAMELL languages are numbered 1 (offered fall), 2 (offered winter) and 3 (offered spring). A student who wants to begin a language must begin in the fall. Students wishing to continue study of one of DAMELL’s languages should take the appropriate Placement Exam offered on September 17.
  • The department sponsors two Foreign Study Programs for Chinese in Beijing (summer and fall), an accelerated Language Study Abroad (LSA+) for Japanese in Tokyo (summer), and a Foreign Study Program in Tangier, Morocco, for Arabic (fall). Dartmouth also offers an Exchange Program in Japan at Keio University, in Tokyo, and a brand new Korea Exchange Program at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, beginning in fall 2009.
  • If a student wants to participate in an FSP or an LSA+, s/he should begin planning early. Introductory language sequences DAMELL can only be started in the fall quarter, and the other prerequisites for DAMELL’s off-campus study programs are only offered once a year. See the Off-Campus Programs Office for information and application.
  • NOTE: Some prerequisites and required language courses for AMELL majors are not offered on-campus, only on the department’s off-campus programs. These include JAPN 23, a prerequisite for the Japanese major, and ARAB 31 -32, required for the Arabic major. CHIN 23 is offered on-campus during the spring term (as part of the CHIN 4-22-23 sequence), as well as on the two FSPs, but students are strongly advised to participate in the FSP.

Courses for the Student with Little or No Background Who Wants to Explore the Literatures and  Cultures of Asia and the Middle East

  • AMEL 17: Discourse, Culture and Identity in Asia and the Middle East
  • ARAB 10, CHIN 10, JAPN 10, HEBR 10, and Korn 10 are general introductions to the designated cultures.
  • Courses numbered 61, 62, 63 literature-in-translation courses that introduce students to various topics and themes in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew, and Korean literatures and cultures. They do not have prerequisites.

Advice for the First-Year Student Who Plans on Pursuing Studies in DAMELL

  • Students are encouraged to begin the language study as early as possible. A student who wants to begin a language can only begin in the fall.
  • Prerequisites are as follows:
  • Prerequisite for the China FSP: CHIN 3 and 10 (CHIN 3, the advanced beginner-level course, is offered in spring only, and CHIN 10 in winter and spring terms in 09F-11S)
  • Prerequisite for the Japan LSA+: JAPN 3 and 10 (JAPN 3, the third term of first-year Japanese, and JAPN 10 are both offered in spring only)
  • Prerequisite for the majors: ARAB 3, HEBR 3, CHIN 23 (offered on FSP, and on campus), JAPN 23 (only offered on LSA+).

Other Information

  • Any questions about the department can be addressed to Gerard Bohlen (department administrator) or Professor Susan Blader (department chair).

Current Enrollments, Class Size, and Distributives

The ORC

The DAMELL home page

Last Updated: 9/9/09