Temple University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Spring 2022 Course Guide

THURSDAY COURSES
FRENCH IMMERSION
Lois Beck
Thursdays, 10:00 AM‒11:30 AM
Jan. 27‒Apr. 14 | Full Semester
This class is designed for students who speak
French at a high intermediate or advanced level.
It aims at improving students’ aural/oral skills.
Another objective of the class is to have students
become aware of current events in France as
well as in Francophone countries. Thus, course
materials will consist of newspaper articles,
films, and videos. Maximum registrants: 14
NEW TOPICS IN AGING AS A TREATABLE
DISEASE (PART 2)
Jay Pomerantz
Thursdays, 10:00 AM‒11:30 AM
Jan. 27‒Feb. 24 | Session 1
The topics this spring semester will include:
the aging spine; updates in diagnosis and
treatment; is inflammation the link between all
chronic diseases; brain plasticity and the everchanging
brain; meditation, mindfulness, and
stress reduction; medical care that is appropriate
near the end of one’s life. The first half of each
90-minute session will consist of videos on
the session topic. That will be followed by a
discussion, mostly following the interests of
participants as evidenced by their questions.
Maximum registrants: 500
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE‒PROMISE AND
PERIL
Nancy McDonald
Thursdays, 10:00 AM‒11:30 AM
Mar. 17‒Apr. 14 | Session 2
Artificial intelligence (AI), envisioned over 70
years ago, is beginning to affect our everyday
lives from digital assistants on smartphones to
self-driving vehicles on some roadways.
Maximum registrants: 500
RETHINKING RELIGION
Alan Soffin
Thursdays, 10:00 AM‒11:30 AM
Mar. 17‒Apr. 14 | Session 2
Rethinking Religion investigates religious ideas
philosophically. What is religion? Are there
uniquely religious truths? Is it a form of social
control, mass therapy or a defense against
anxiety? What is the relation between “God’s
Word” and morality, between religion and
politics? What is the meaning of human Life?
Throughout, we ask, “Can traditional religions
be conceptually reconstructed in a manner that
is not reductionist? Can the insights and mystery
of religion, newly understood, find a place in our
“secular” age? Maximum registrants: 18
INTRODUCTION OF BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY
(PART 2)
Helen Rosen
Thursdays, 10:30 AM‒12:00 PM
Mar. 17‒Apr. 14 | Session 2
This course introduces participants to a Buddhist
view of individual psychology and how to
be happy. It also teaches students about the
importance of meditation in Buddhism and how
to meditate. The course emphasizes cultural
differences in Western and Buddhist psychology
and the importance of “practice” in understanding
the Buddhist path. Maximum registrants: 100
DRAWING AND PAINTING
Joann Neufeld
Thursdays, 10:30 AM‒12:00 PM
Jan. 27‒Apr. 14 | Full Semester
Using the art from Ancient Cultures as inspiration,
we will draw and/or paint from artifacts using the
basic skills (line, shape, composition, contrast,
shading, color) that we will review.
Maximum registrants: 50
For more information, please visit noncredit.temple.edu/olli | Spring 2022 17