MONDAYS
Italian IA: Session 1, 2, 3. This introductory Italian language course has
been developed from a communicative based approach and focuses on the
four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing). Our first
goal is communication, both oral and written. Grammatical structures are
presented in order of frequency and relative complexity. Language
analyses activities include controlled oral and written production,
while communicative tasks involve listening and reading comprehension
and free oral and written activities. Teaching material is always
introduced in some form of authentic text (newspaper or magazine
article, taped dialogue, video-taped situation, letter, short story,
etc.). Materials and activities focus on communicative situations and
cultural experiences. The course is conducted entirely in Italian. The
students are expected to communicate in Italian more and more as the year progresses.
The Aesthetic Life of Japan -- Coping with Disaster through
Literature, Art, and Popular Culture: Session 1, 2, 3. This year-long seminar uses a
thematic approach over a range of historical periods to examine how
literature, art, and popular culture have enabled the people of Japan to
come to terms with natural and man-made disasters, from earthquakes and
tsunamis to war and nuclear holocaust. Key Japanese aesthetic concepts
such as impermanence, asymmetry, simplicity, acceptance, intuitive
spontaneity, and ecological balance will be illustrated through various
aspects of Japanese culture, including the appearance of monsters in
painting and film, the mythology of samurai heroism in literature, the
practice of tea ceremony and meditation, and tales of catastrophe from
ancient texts through contemporary manga and anime. Students will be
encouraged to consider the benefits but also the costs of Japanese
approaches to dealing with the dangers of human existence. Students may
sign up for any combination of trimesters. Session 1: Literature / 2:
Art / 3: Popular Culture.
Introduction to Philosophy:
Session 1, 2, 3. Do you know ever wonder who
you really are? Whether or not you really think what you think you
think, or know what you know you know? If you do, this course is for
you! If you don't, having read these questions, are you intrigued? If
so, this course is for you, too!
Socrates once said, "The Unexamined
Life is Not Worth Living." This course will examine what Socrates
meant by this and why it is important to ask questions that seem to have
no answers. In addition to learning how philosophers have addressed
these questions, you will be encouraged to see how you have addressed
them and how the philosophers may challenge you to think differently
about them.
Journalism: Session 1. Print journalism has had a long history and
evolution as a means to communicate the news to the masses. Journalists
have a special style of writing—communicating to readers the news,
features and opinions of the day concisely, succinctly and cohesively.
This course will focus on the evolution of print journalism, teach
students the proper methods and style and allow time for practical
application for this writing style.
Hamlet: From Page To Stage: Session 2. This course aims to bring
Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy to life through reading and
performance. Emphasis will be on understanding the nuances of the text
and how these might be applied to the play. In an introductory class,
we will address the context of the play’s original production, the
sources used in the writing of the text and the relevance of
Shakespeare’s biography. Students will be asked to read an act of the
play before each class in order to be primed for the acting of specific
scenes. We will spend as much time as possible on our feet considering
the dramatic possibilities of the play. Along the way, we will look at
excerpts from film versions of the play (adaptations by Michael
Almereyda, Franco Zeffirelli, Kenneth Branagh and Laurence Olivier) and
consider criticism and biography (such as Jan Kott’s Shakespeare Our
Contemporary and Stephen Greenblatt’s Will in the World). Students will
choose groups in which to rehearse short scenes from the play and in
the final class they will perform these scenes to one another.
TUESDAYS
Introduction to Mandarin Chinese: Session 1, 2, 3. This yearlong seminar
in beginning Mandarin Chinese starts with an introduction to the
phonetic tones and pronunciation rules of spoken Chinese and
familiarizes students with the pinyin Romanization system. Special
emphasis is placed on early mastery of tonal accuracy through
visualization and interactive classroom exercises. Within the first
weeks of class students commence the study of Chinese characters as
well, with side-by-side presentation of traditional and simplified
versions for future fluency across the full range of Chinese cultural
areas. To enliven the study of characters, the origins of the writing
system and the art of Chinese calligraphy will also be introduced.
Students progress quickly into basic skills such as counting, greetings,
and the use of simple grammatical structures in conversation and
presentation as they develop basic competency across all four-language
skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). As the course
progresses, instruction switches predominantly to Chinese and students
are expected to speak Chinese as their primary language in the seminar.
By the end of the year students should be able to use 200 or more words
in speaking and listening, approximately 100 characters in reading, and
50-100 characters in writing. Students must commit to all three
sessions.
Health and Wellness: Session 1, 2, 3. This health and wellness course is
designed to give students the opportunity to uncover optimal wellness
for their own body. Students will learn about and participate in a
variety of fitness routines, mindfulness journaling, food
shopping/selection, and de-stressing activities. As a focus for the
course, physical fitness activities such as yoga and Pilates are
examined. No prior experience necessary.
Advanced Quaker Studies Seminar-- Encountering Quaker
Testimonies: Session 1, 2. In this seminar, students will explore the questions: How
are Quakers engaging with the world today? What messages are they
bringing? How does this relate to the faith and practice of Quakers?
What is the history that brought us here? We will consider along the
way, why did Quakers found this school, and why do Quakers still support
it? How did “Quaker Testimonies” develop? What is the relationship of
these testimonies to the meeting for worship based in silence and to the
way Quakers make decisions? And most importantly, whether or not I am a
Quaker, what do these questions mean to me, as a student in a Quaker
school and in my life?
The seminar has as its foundation a series of
discussions with Quakers in our Yearly Meeting living those Testimonies.
It will also emphasize independent reading, papers based on that
reading, and class presentations and discussions. Readings shared by the
whole group will relate to the discussions and will also provide a
basic outline of Quaker history in New York from 1650 to the present.
Creative Writing Workshop: Session 2, 3. By employing established
Writing Workshop protocols, students will study elements of fiction and
poetry, and develop the craft pf short story and poetry writing. As we
explore a variety of genres, students will respond to prompts that allow
that to expand and evolve their creative writing skills. Each student
will develop and complete either a full short story, or a collection of
poems, by the end of the seminar. In order to meet this goal, students
will be expected to read and write actively, and work independently,
outside of class.
WEDNESDAYS
Caribbean Studies -- The Past to the Present: Session 1, 2, 3. Most North
Americans view the Caribbean as a tropical paradise of palm trees and
resorts for tourist consumption. This course will look beyond such
popular images to understand the diverse histories and cultures of
Caribbean societies with a focus on such islands as Jamaica, Grenada,
Barbados, Guyana, Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago. Consideration will be
given to the historical, political, economic, geographic, and social
experiences of the Caribbean ethnic and cultural groups with special
attention to their diversity and unity. We will also take a close look
at how Caribbean people have influenced the city of New York, especially
Brooklyn.
Food, Society, and Self: Are We What We Eat? Session 1, 2, 3. This
year-long seminar will combine materials from the disciplines of
science, journalism, and anthropology to investigate our relationship
with what we eat, with attention to the biological, physiological,
ecological, economic, and political dimensions of food production and
consumption. Readings and discussion will address current topics and
controversies including sustainability, eating local, carbon footprints,
agricultural subsidies, class and cultural preferences, the marketing
of and addiction to artificial flavorings, and health-care costs. The
course will focus primarily on American food culture but will consider
examples from other societies as well. Students may sign up for any
combination of sessions. Session 1: Where Our Food Comes From / 2: Is
Food Sustainable? / 3: The Culture and Science of Taste.
Astronomy: Session 1. This course will explore many concepts in
advanced Physics without the difficult mathematics, such gravity and
motion of stars; planets and the moon; the formation of stars, planets,
galaxies and other celestial bodies. In addition the class will study
the ancient forms of astronomy, time, space and relativity, as well as
ancient astronomers. A field trip to the Rose Center at the American
Museum of Natural History is also planned.
Introduction to Black Studies: Session 3. An introductory course
designed to provide students with a factual framework and conceptual
foundation to analyze the history of the Black Race in the New World.
This inter- and multidisciplinary course with will analyze the Black
experience in America through the arts and humanities.
THURSDAYS
Service, Activism and the Implementation of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Session 1, 2, 3. In 2000 world leaders met at the UN to develop a plan to
improve the quality of life in developing countries by fighting poverty,
hunger, disease, and inequality. Eight specific development goals were
created. These are known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
They offer a program of action to be achieved by 2015 to combat many of
the world's ills through a global partnership. The world has enough
resources, technology, and know-how to achieve the MDGs. MDGs are not
well known in the United States, but in developing countries and much of
the rest of the world they are considered critical and noteworthy, and
citizens are holding their governments accountable for their Millennium
pledges.
We will learn about each of the goals and look at
examples of the impact on different countries and individuals. We will
use short readings, videos, and the Internet to research topics of
individual and/or group interest. We will share our information through
discussion in class and will use this as a springboard for creating
service learning projects to inform others in our school about the
importance of understanding and actively supporting the MDGs.
This class will provide a way for students who are
committed to working for political, economic, and social justice to get
more involved in providing leadership at BFS and beyond.
Digital Photography Foundation Course: Session 1, 2, 3. This course is an
introduction to the scientific, artistic, and computing aspects of
digital photography. Students are introduced to the basic principles of
photography using a digital camera. Concepts/skills will include the use
of digital cameras, scanners, printers, as well as use of Adobe
Photoshop software. Students will explore creative use of lighting,
composition, and design in a fine arts environment, and will create
photographic images as an expression of individual artistic vision.
Students will learn how digital cameras work, how to
elevate their skills from taking snapshots to making photographs, and
how to manipulate these afterwards. Topics include lenses and optics,
light and sensors, optical effects in nature, perspective and depth of
field, sampling and noise, image processing and editing. Also covered
are: exposure and metering, flash, histograms, white balance. file
resolution, dynamic range, CMOS and CCD sensors, RAW versus JPEG
formats, color spaces and profiles. We'll also survey the history of
photography and look at the work of famous photographers.
Coursework is written assignments and photography
assignments. Prerequisites: Digital camera with manual control over
shutter speed and aperture. Need not be an SLR. Loaner cameras will be
available to students who need them.
FRIDAYS
The Week in Review: Session 1, 2, 3. This course will provide the
opportunity for students to analyze national and international issues,
policies and actions. It will also allow students to analyze arguments
and to provide the changes necessary to strengthen their positions. Not
only must students be prepared to defend their opinion with relevant
facts, but they must also be prepared to provide an analysis of the
opposing point of view with reasons as to why that view is not superior.
In addition to the ability to analyze, the course will focus on
logistical and structural presentation formats, including public
speaking.
The Spiritual Life of China: Taoism, Confucianism, and
Buddhism: Session 1, 2, 3. This yearlong seminar delves into the three great
philosophical traditions of China, providing a foundation in non-Western
thought and an inquiry into historical approaches in China to morality
and the individual's relationship to the world. Readings will include
classic texts by the Taoist sages Laozi and Zhuangzi, followed by the
Confucian Analects, and then key Buddhist sutras, with the goal of
illuminating the spiritual and ethical origins of East Asian culture.
Students will investigate the sources of such popular concepts as
yin-yang, karma, Zen, and the sayings of Confucius and consider the
roles of mysticism, divinities, family, authority, and ritual in
traditional Chinese culture and society. In passing, comparisons to
Western traditions will encourage students to consider the definition
and function of religion. Students may sign up for any combination of
sessions. Session 1: Taoism / 2: Confucianism / 3: Buddhism
Seminar on Contemporary China: Session 1, 2, 3. The People’s Republic of
China—at once an economic superpower, a relatively poor developing
country by per-capita measurements; a growing regional military force; a
status-quo participant in international organizations; the most
populous nation-stat in the world struggling to achieve higher standards
of living while maintaining political stability within a one=party
system and some degree of environmental sustainability. How do all of
these seemingly contradictory elements fit together?
We will keep track of 10 issue areas weekly by
reviewing the relevant articles that have appeared that week in the New
York Times and other publications. In addition, we will examine the
historical context for today’s events by viewing and discussing Sue
Williams’ outstanding six-hour documentary film “China: A Century of
Revolution”.