American Media and Culture

Students:

  • These classes immerse students in rich and engaging readings, videos, podcasts, and discussions focusing on current events, contemporary issues, and cultural history.
  • Many courses have multiple levels to meet student target goals, backgrounds, and proficiency.
  • Courses are open to learners at any level:
    • native, multilingual, and non-native speaking students;
    • visiting international and U.S. resident students as well as current Cal students.

Content:

Courses provide the opportunity to improve and refine language and communication skills as well as your knowledge of the diversity and tensions within American culture.

Topics covered include

  • “fake news” and the media;
  • digital media;
  • U.S, California, and Berkeley history and culture;
  • inclusion vs. discrimination (i.e. the Black Lives Matter Movement, among others);
  • theater, film, literature, and more!

Skills include

  • Critical interpretation, analyses, synthesis, and evaluation
  • Public Speaking and debates
  • Written communication
  • Vocabulary development
  • Active listening
  • Close reading
  • Note-taking

Courses:

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