Advanced Vietnamese

This course provides an introduction to Vietnamese literature and culture through extensive reading of authentic Vietnamese texts. Reading assignments will be determined according to a general theme selected for each semester, from a broad range of sources including novels, short stories, poetry, journalism articles and essays covering the classical, colonial, and contemporary eras.  Examples of the selected theme are: the nature of the Sino-Vietnamese classical tradition, the cultural legacies of French colonialism, the emergence of a distinctive Vietnamese modernity, historical legacy of the Vietnam War, gender issues in Vietnamese literature, the Doi moi era, Vietnamese memoirs, etc. Regular attendance and participation in classroom activities is mandatory and no English will be spoken in class.