This class provides a relatively brief overview of conversational French, France and Paris. It is geared towards providing some useful skills and knowledge for a potential trip to Paris/France.
The first class is designed to teach you basic conversational French: from greetings and introductions to some frequent basic questions.
The second class will provide some basic knowledge about France, including geographical, historical, economical and cultural information.
The last class will focus on Paris -- its history, global significance, monuments and culture.
All of the classes will include games, the use of clips of movies and songs, and provide you with a summary handout.

Topology studies properties of objects preserved by "stretching" without tearing; hence, the famous joke that topologists cannot tell the difference between their coffee cups and doughnuts. This course will introduce the fundamental concepts of topology including open and closed sets, topological spaces, and continuous maps. A purely topological proof of the infinitude of primes will also be presented.


Prerequisites
2 years of high school algebra and 1 year of high school geometry. An interest in pure mathematics would be helpful.

Bring only a pen and paper. In this class students build off each other's ideas in a series of writing based games meant to stimulate the imagination and improve writing skills in a fun, enjoyable way.

A study of how the United States has obtained its position of the dominant power in the world. We will look at the historical events as well as some political theory that has lead to the current power of the United States as well as future threats to that power.


Prerequisites
An interest in politics, history, or international affairs.

Want to write the next bestseller? Interested in becoming the next Dr. Seuss? Want to take a shot at writing for the big screen? Whatever your writing interest, come prepared to learn about the limits and freedoms of various forms of writing - from songs to novels to screenplays - and to share your work with others.

Many students finish their first physics course associating the field with formulas and plugging-and-chugging. This isn't true! Physics is a creative process. It's all about using the laws that govern the universe in innovative ways to solve problems. This course will guide you through the process of solving problems in kinematics, focusing on the fact that problems can be solved in multiple ways. Each class, students will get to solve challenging problems together in groups on whiteboards. In addition to creativity, physics is all about collaboration!


Prerequisites
algebra and trigonometry

This class will be hosted at the Yale University Art Gallery where I will guide the class on a tour of the many art works and pieces on display at the YUAG. Through three lessons we will attempt to engage three distinct time periods, eras, and subjects. In the first week the emphasis will be primarily on the art found on the first floor of the YUAG: Roman, Greek, Byzantine, Islamic, and Pre-Columbian. The second week will take us up to the third floor where a collection of Asian and European Art is found. The third and final week will continue with what I left of European art and take us to the upper floor where pop art, modernist works, and abstraction explode onto the enormous white walls of the upper stories. The goal of the class is to familiarize you with some of the works at the YUAG and give you enough information to get a well-rounded understanding of what Yale and one of the most extensive art history departments in the United States has to offer.


Prerequisites
None.

Students will learn how to create a simple website from scratch using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

From the height of Beatlemania to the floor-shattering bass of Skrillex, explore the continuities and changes of American culture through the sounds of three great years in music: 1967, 1991, and 2013.

We will be looking at some popular--past and present!--poems and forms of poetry, and then we will write and workshop our own poems. No experience required!

In math, sometimes the questions that are easiest to state are the hardest to answer. Humans have been counting things for thousands of years but we still don't have a full understanding of how numbers fit together. In this class, we will discuss what number theory is, and some of the questions that motivate it. We will also explain and motivate some famous discoveries.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with prime numbers and Algebra II.

An introduction to the Latin language through the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Spells, characters and enchantments abound as we dive into the secret world behind the books. Did you ever wonder what that spell really meant, why certain characters acted the way they did? The Latin language is here to explain it. Be prepared to leave feeling a bit more magical than you used to be. No knowledge of Latin or Harry Potter required. No wizarding experience necessary.

What are the the fundamental building blocks of matter, and how does these constituents interact with each other? For centuries, mankind has explored the answers to this question through scientific experiment and discovery. This class will explore the history of our fundamental physics understanding from Isaac Newton, to Albert Einstein, to the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, Switzerland. In doing so we will state many of the fundamental assumptions and laws of physics, culminating in the Standard Model of Particle Physics, the most successful scientific theory to date.


Prerequisites
First year Introductory courses in Chemistry and Physics; Familiarity with basic concepts in Atomic/Nuclear Physics;

Students will be challenged to think critically about image and will have an opportunity to explore the creativity behind designing a brand. This class will be taught primarily through visual media. There will be workshop time in class when students will be able to create their own logos and explore the symbology of modern brands. Creativity is welcome!


Prerequisites
None

When we are little, we have a pretty basic understanding of infinity, how we can count and count and never end. But when we do more complicated work with infinity, it suddenly isn't so intuitive. How do we deal with that concept when it is applied to different theoretical scenarios? What can we learn from using infinitude in fractals?

Come to class prepared to participate and really stretch your mind!


Prerequisites
Understanding of Algebra and enthusiasm!

This course tackles the subject of public speaking from a variety of unique and fun-filled angles. Through interactive and interesting challenges and games, students will have an opportunity to practice and improve their public speaking skills. These skills are useful in almost every avenue of life, and this class tries to strengthen students' technical abilities and confidence.

Fighting disease outbreaks has been a struggle for much of the history of humankind. In the first session of this class, we will cover what epidemics and pandemics are and what organizations like the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) are doing to combat outbreaks. The second and third sessions will involve an examination of disease outbreaks from both history and modern times.

Put your high school history text books down! Come learn about all the things your history teacher doesn't tell you about. We will be exploring the more cultural (and funner) aspects of 20th century (1900s) U.S. history, focusing on the intersection of music/party scenes, drugs, and racial and gender identity. Who were the "bad" kids that didn't make the history books, but who nevertheless changed history? What do teenagers' music and fashion choices tell us about each historical moment? How has queerness/sexuality been expressed across the 20th century? These are some of the questions we will be engaging in this uncensored history course.

1st class: 1900s - 1930s
2nd class: 1930s - 1960s
3rd class: 1960s - present


Prerequisites
Students must be comfortable and mature about discussing drugs and sexuality.

Do you love food? Do you like eating so much that you look forward to breakfast, lunch and dinner? Do you enjoy cooking/baking? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this is the course for you! This is a cooking class designed to give you a 'taste' of the sorts of foods Australian kids grow up on, and to teach you some of my personal Australian favorites, such as vegemite, ANZAC biscuits and chocolate crackles.
If you're looking to have some fun in the kitchen, get a bit messy, eat lots of delicious treats and learn a bit more about Australian food and culture, then this is where you want to be!

In schools, we take English classes constantly. Grammar and reading comprehension are crammed down our throats constantly. But, while the pen IS mightier than the sword, can the same be said about the tongue? That's what we'll examine in this course. For three sessions we will analyze great speeches from movies and history in both a performative and rhetorical context. Ultimately, this will culminate in a speech of your own on anything you'd like to give a speech on. Whatever is passionate to you! Enrollment will be capped at 10 people, so enroll quickly to discover the art, power, and beauty of persuasion and rhetoric in speech; the oldest form of communication.


Prerequisites
none.

Everyone listens to music. Have you ever wondered what makes certain aspects of music appealing to our ears, while others sound less pleasing? In this class, we will listen to music samples across genres and discuss some of the theory behind the music we hear. No prior background in music theory necessary.

What do you think of when you think of the Middle East? This class serves to challenge commonly held misconceptions about the ethnic and religious make-up of the Middle East. We will learn about the history, culture, and beliefs of four different Middle Eastern communities.

This class serves to explore the concept of Palestinian Jews. Be they Jews who lived in the mandate of Palestine before the birth of Israel, or individuals with Jewish and Palestinian parentage, we will question and analyze the apparently conflicting identities.

The seminar will evaluate the common definition of historical fiction. The focus will be discussion as students will be challenged to investigate an author's reasons for writing historical fiction and the intended effect on the reading audience. Active reading will be stressed.


Prerequisites
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa must be read before the beginning of class. If students do not read the book, they will not be permitted to take the class.

Which elementary process makes the sun emit energy, providing the opportunity for life to arise in the Solar System? We will cover the basics of the nuclear physics mainly the concept of nuclear binding energy and fission and fusion, and explore how to use this process in a controlled, useful manner in fusion reactors on Earth.


Prerequisites
Recommended: - Basic knowledge of elementary particles (i.e. protons, neutrons, electrons) and particle physics. - Some familiarity with intro calculus. - Very basic understanding of what an electric and magnetic field is. Optional: - Linear Algebra - Differential Equations - Vector Calculus - Electromagnetism - Fluid Mechanics - Statistical Mechanics

Ever wondered what makes certain songs so catchy? Want to listen to guitar and learn about sound waves? Find out what the fibonacci numbers have to do with pianos, and how notes combine in harmony or discord. Strings, waves, pitches, tones, and all the math and physics to help you appreciate music in a new way.


Prerequisites
Math: Algebra, Trigonometry, and familiarity with derivatives. Physics: Introductory high school physics, and an interest in uncovering the marvels of the universe. Music: No prior knowledge assumed.

In this course, we will explore the Chinese Cultural Revolution through history, literature, visual arts, music, and film. The Cultural Revolution will be placed in context of the greater social changes in China 1949-the present. Focus will be placed on remnants of the Cultural Revolution in present China and it's relevance in modern society.

*For those with fluency in Mandarin, special materials are available in the language.


Prerequisites
An interest in China!

This crash course in the Canadian electoral system will introduce students to Canada's political parties and the different branches of Canada's government, as well as provide a brief summary of recent Canadian political history.

Topics discussed will include:
- How the Canadian and American electoral systems differ
- The names and political leanings of Canada's three major parties
- Controversies and scandals in modern Canadian politics

Ever wonder how antidepressants work or why people get addicted to morphine? This course will explore the science behind the effects of several well-known therapeutic and recreational drugs. An overview of required neuroscience will be followed by a survey of neurotransmitters and the drugs that modulate their activity, linking the science to behavioral effects.


Prerequisites
Some background in biology would be helpful, but is not required.

What is math? Have we invented math or is math a product of our natural world? Can infinity be grasped?

A brief philosophical and historical inquiry into topics of math, namely its ontology (how it can be represented as objects).


Prerequisites
Familiarity with algebra.

If you have ambitions of world domination , this class is for you. Through this class, you will learn about the global systems of political, economic and social power which exist in our world. In the process, you will analyze historical and contemporary examples of attempts at world domination.


Prerequisites
Interest in current affairs, politics, or history

Let the Sunshine In and Turn that Frown Upside Down! This class instructs students on how to use the power of a positive attitude to make any day a little brighter. By recognizing the benefits of a positive outlook on life themselves, students will be able to help others find the light in any situation.

Did you know that everything has red in it? Yes, even your blue shirt and the white clouds in the sky. Don't believe me? Come learn the inner-workings of colors and impress your family and friends when you take your drawings from good to photo-realistic!

This class will look at how the understanding of cancer has altered in the past 10-15 years, and how this understanding has shifted the way we treat the disease. We will discuss the various oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that act in concert to drive cancer cell proliferation, and how perturbing these aberrant signaling cascades with targeted therapies can provide an enormous therapeutic benefit over traditional cytotoxic chemotherapies. Lastly, we'll discus how patients can become resistant to these novel targeted therapies and what agents are currently being used in the clinic for these subsets.


Prerequisites
At least a basic high school biology background, though AP level biology is preferred

I will discuss book illustration and show some popular and successful illustrations from the past, maybe also reading a bit from the books. We will discuss the techniques used to bring visual life to the story. Then we will read some fun poetry that isn't too visually specific (I was thinking "Jabberwocky") and have a chance to interpret and illustrate it, drawing inspiration from the techniques we will have just talked about.

This class will cover general vascular biology and its role in common diseases including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Ongoing cardiovascular research in these areas and their potential impact will be briefly introduced.

Scandinavia encompasses Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.

In this course emphasis is placed on Denmark. You will learn about contemporary Danish culture and history (Vikings!). You will also have the opportunity to learn some of the fundamentals of the Danish language.

Come explore a country that is a world-leader in fashion, architecture, environmental engineering/sciences, biotechnology, and more!

The Danes are known for LEGO, artist such as AQUA, being from the happiest country in the world, providing students with free university education, designing notable structures around the world (i.e. Sydney Opera House), etc.


Prerequisites
Interests in culture, travel, and Scandinavia!

What lives in the walls inside your house (besides the potential mouse)? There are numerous material components that make up the structural support, electrical wiring, plumbing, etc of your house and classroom. Ever wonder what those materials are and how much force they can withstand?

Material Science is a fascinating field that is important to engineers and architects. Basic scientists seek to understand the fundamental chemistry and mechanics of each material and engineers seek to use them practically.

In this course we will discuss types of structural materials and how they relate to the building that you inhabit. We will also briefly mention other types of materials, such as electronic materials which are used to make semiconductors.


Prerequisites
Interest in materials!

This class will introduce students to some popular Francophone music songs. We will discuss some French vocabulary, differences between French and American music themes and styles, as well as how themes are portrayed through footage in the videos.

Do you want to give back to the environment and help conserve wildlife? Come and join me to learn how you can be a conservation biologist right in your backyard! I’ll discuss the different threats to local wildlife and what you can do to make your yard an attractive and safe place for animals. Topics will include creating a pollinator garden, bat houses, urban beehives, attracting migratory birds, insect hotels and much more. We will also discuss how you can have your backyard certified as wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

A brief introduction to some of the core elements of improvisational comedy, taught through games.

Do you want to learn what makes rockets so explosive and even take one home for yourself? In just one class, Rebecca and Genevieve from the Yale Undergraduate Aerospace Association (YUAA) will teach you the basics of rocket science. At the end of the class you will get to build and design your own rocket! There will also be a demo during the class!

To learn more about rocketry at Yale visit YUAA's website: yaleaerospace.com

From illegal drug testing, to secret chemical weapons development, to psychological torture, scientific research has long been marred by unethical practices. This course will cover the details of several infamous experiments on human subjects, such as the South African Aversion Project and the Willowbrook hepatitis studies.

Note: Contains some mildly graphic content.

Ever feel stressed out? Curious about what mindfulness is? Learn to use your mind to control itself and to manage your stress. This class will introduce you to mindfulness and teach you several simple and easy mindfulness-based techniques for stress reduction.

What did "gaming" entail before the era of video games? And why are educators and doctors starting to take play seriously? Come explore the principles of game design from before the era computers, and learn why play is of paramount importance for the physical and mental wellness of people of all ages. Based on the work of game designer Bernie Dekoven and play leader Dr. Kwame Brown. The class will include a presentation, brainstorming session, and the opportunity to design/test a game with the group!

Ever played Sprout? Nim? Hackenbush? Chomp? We'll play a few games and go over, without proof, number addition and strategies for impartial games.

Do you know the Prisoner's Dilemma? Have you thought about how gas stations should set prices in competition, or about how cooperation does or does not occur "spontaneously" in markets? This will be a mostly basic introduction to game theory, although there will be one calculation in the last part of the class.


Prerequisites
Knowing how to sum a geometric series (optional, but the end of the class will use it without comment)

Understand derivatives, partial derivatives, Lagrange multipliers and L'Hopital's rule like never before! We'll rush through calculus mostly without the usual drudgery and see elegant explanations of two small theorems.


Prerequisites
Calculus, or at least knowing what a derivative is. Some parts of the class will use multivariable calculus.

In the course of just under an hour we'll explore together several different classes of so-called bioactive molecules. Topics will include caffeine, carcinogens, and a special demo in which we'll test the effects of the so called miracle fruit (which causes sour things to taste sweet). NO science knowledge will be assumed!

A comprehensive survey of important political philosophers of modern Western thought, spanning the Enlightenment, the Anti-Enlightenment, the New Left, the Marxists, and others. Includes discussions of philosophers such as Locke, Hobbes, Marx, Rawls, Nozick, Arendt, Bentham, and Mill. For students who wish to gain a general overview of modern political thought, and who wish to explore political philosophy.

Did you know that in about 25,000 years, Polaris will no longer be our North Star? The phenomenon responsible for this is called precession. This course will teach you about how precession works, along with examples of precession using gyroscopes, and information about what role gyroscopes play in every day life.


Prerequisites
None.

Neutrinos are one of the most difficult particles for scientists to find. They don't like to play with other particles and they are very small. As a result, neutrinos can travel many, many miles without ever bumping into anything else!

In this seminar, we will learn about neutrinos and how physcists finally discovered that they were real. We will also do an activity that shows how hard it is to guess what something is, if you can't see it. This activity will allow us to use the same skills that particle physicsts needed to find neutrinos.

A brief introduction of how computer science and computational techniques are driving innovation in modern medical research. The three general field areas (Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Medical Informatics) will be covered via short, simple, live demonstrations of case studies drawn from current research.


Prerequisites
Experience with programming and biology (basic genetics) preferred but not required.

How do we make (and break) codes? Why is it so hard to learn a foreign language? And how do we teach computers to understand us? Learn the answers to these questions and more while solving fun language puzzles.

No experience in linguistics or computer science required!

In this class, we will explore some fundamental scientific concepts through food-related science projects! Come prepared to get your hands dirty and your taste buds excited!

In this course we will use optical illusions to learn about the basic anatomy of the eye, photoreceptors, and visual processing of the brain. The class will be very interactive and include many demos.

I would explain the basic principles of feminism as the equality between the sexes and open the discussion up between the students on simple feminist issues.


Prerequisites
none

Stretch for flexibility. Stretch for relaxation. Stretch for your soul. Discover muscles you didn’t know existed in this 50-minute full body elongation. Whether you’re a supple yogini or a fresh beginner, you can benefit from this opportunity to connect with your body. Wear comfortable clothes and your Sprout t-shirt.

We rely on memory for a lot more than just reliving good times from the past! By conducting a series of in-class experiments, learn how memory plays an important role in everything we do and find ways to improve your memory in real-life situations.


Prerequisites
A background in psychology is useful but not necessary!

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" From wave propagation in the air to complex sound processing in the brain, the noises we hear on a daily basis embark on a remarkable journey of energy transduction before we hear them. Learn about sound waves, ear anatomy, and neuroscience in the context of our sense of hearing.


Prerequisites
None

This course will introduce the underlying mechanisms of actin filament polymerization and cell motility.

Do you want to know how to write in secret? Do you want to work for the CIA or the NSA? Do you want to explore how famous figures such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson communicated without revealing their secrets? What do you think of today's spies? Codes and ciphers have been around for thousands of years, throughout nearly every language and culture. These vital tools of secrecy helped America win independence from Britain and the Allies win WWII. American spies used ciphers during the Cold War; criminals like the Zodiac used them to taunt the police and newspapers. In fact, one 19th century man named Thomas J. Beale wrote a cipher that gives coordinates to a $63 million treasure he buried in Virginia (to this day, no one has been able to solve the cipher and find the treasure!). These are just a few examples of how codes and ciphers have affected the course of human history. We will learn the basics of how to write and decode secret messages and discuss the role of spying in our society. By the end of the class, you'll be able to encode your writing and keep your secrets safe, just like the most well-trained spies!


Prerequisites
None

In this class, we will learn about some important techniques used today to study our genetic material - DNA. We will discuss how these experiments can be used to study topics ranging from evolution to human disease and even perform some of these experiments!

For decades, RNA was thought to be nothing more than a messenger between the genetic information stored in DNA and the proteins that carry out cellular functions. Recently, however, RNA has been revealed to have many new and exciting functions. In this class, we will discuss what RNA is and what some of these new roles are.

When you visit a website, what is actually happening? Learn about how websites are created, what goes on in the background, and how they ultimately end up on your computer.


Prerequisites
Must have used a web browser.

We will analyze both music videos and commercials in order to investigate the message that the forms of media plan to relay to various communities or groups of people about specific, diasporic communities or groups of people. I hope to give you the tools to break down the particular messages that commercials and videos are trying to relay about certain diasporas in the U.S.

欢迎光临到中国文化！An introduction to modern Chinese culture, touching on the language, popular culture, music, fashion, food, interaction with foreigners, and other phenomena. We will discuss cultural myths and misconceptions, as well as the most fascinating cultural differences and their implications. You will finally learn if it is actually acceptable to burp at a Chinese meal.

From Beyonce to Katy Perry and pretty much every modern-day rapper, artists explicitly express ideas about sexuality in their music videos. In this seminar discussion, we will be exploring how men and women are represented differently in music videos, and the implications of these representations in our society. Is being sexy and *flawless* an act of feminism? Are women treated fairly in music videos? We will be watching select music videos and tackling some of these questions.


Prerequisites
Must be comfortable discussing sexuality.

This class will cover techniques beyond casual play such as wavedashing, SHFFLing, and directional influence. It will also examine matchups, edgeguarding, combos, and other strategies to help you DESTROY YOUR OPPONENT!!!

If any of the above sounds familiar/comfortable/like you can do it with your eyes closed, it is possible that this class will be slow for you. You are still welcome to sign up. We expect to see a wide range of skill level, and some of you may even be better than us. And that's fine! The class is 95% participation and absolutely no lecturing, so you will be learning from your peers as much as from us. Chances are, we'll learn a ton from you, too!


Prerequisites
This class is designed for casual players. You must be familiar with all the buttons and their basic functions. Do you feel comfortable doing a smash attack in the heat of battle? Can you grab an opponent or rescue yourself using up B? If so, then the class is right for you. Other prereqs: Have fun, good sportsmanship.

Individuals who have different sexual and emotional desires from those considered "normal" have been written out of history for a long time, yet their stories are important to understanding our society and culture. How did the terms gay, lesbian, and transgender develop and evolve throughout the history of the United States? Who are some of the most important and prominent figures in gay history? How have queer people grappled with their identities, and what movements have they created to overcome discrimination and hardship? Feel free to come with any questions and be ready to discuss LGBT history/issues in a safe, welcoming space.

This course will introduce students to the subject of nanotechnology, with examples taken from self-assembly of molecules.


Prerequisites
General knowledge of atoms and molecules.

Prepare to be surprised with an assortment of random cool topics! Taught by an ensemble of admins, potential topics could include but are not limited to: typography, giant viruses, game theory, Greek mythology, and so much more!

Estimate show that over 30% of adults in the US are obese and over 60% are overweight. Unfortunately, these figures are only rising. What is it about the US that is so "unhealthy"? More importantly, what can we do about it? This course will provide a brief introduction to some of the major problems which plague in the American food system and discuss ways we can help rescue our nation's food landscape.


Prerequisites
Must be a human and eat food.

This course will give you an understanding of eight of the most important and thought-provoking psychological experiments of the twentieth century. We'll discuss ways that you can apply the experiments' insights to your daily life to make your life smoother and happier.