Language Courses
Reading & Composition
Freshman Seminar
Courses Taught in English
Courses Taught in German
Dutch
Yiddish
Graduate
LANGUAGE COURSES
Please note that all sections of German 1 through German 4 will still meet five hours per week. However at each level we are introducing sections that will meet three days per week, rather than five days per week.
German 1
1. (5) Elementary German. Euba in charge.
Fall/Spring. Five units; classes meet three or five times a week. All four foreign language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) are addressed to help students acquire communicative competence in the German language while being sensitized to the links between language and culture. German 1 is for students with no prior knowledge of German.
German 2
2. (5) Elementary German. Euba in charge.
Fall/Spring. Five units; classes meet three or five times a week. Prerequisite: G1 or equivalent. In German 2, students will continue to develop communicative competence in the German language and expand their sensitivity towards the relationship between language and culture. While all language skills will be addressed, additional emphasis will be on the various styles of written and spoken German. Prerequisite: G1 or equivalent.
German 1G/2G
1G/2G. (0) Reading German for Graduates (S/U) . Euba in charge.
Fall/Spring. Taken on S/U basis. Prepares graduate students from other disciplines to take their German reading exam. One year of German should be taken before 1G; 1G or consent of instructor for 2G. Students who will take 2G should enroll in it at the beginning of the semester; 2G will begin approximately the eighth week of instruction. All students interested in the G courses should attend the first meeting of the semester.
German 3
3. (5) Intermediate German. Topics in German Language and Cultural History. Euba in charge.
Fall/Spring. Five units; classes meet three or five times a week. While continuing to expand students' communicative competence in German, this content-driven course will provide insights into postwar German history and cultural trends. Primary focus will be on the development of literacy skills (critical reading and writing), vocabulary expansion, and a thorough review of structural concepts. You will be guided towards expressing yourself on more abstract topics, such as language and power in society, multiculturalism, rebellion and protest, and social justice and towards drawing connections between texts and contexts, using a variety of text genres (journalistic, historical, short story, poetry, drama, advertising, film). This course fulfills the International Studies Breadth Requirement.
German 4
4. (5) Advanced German. Topics in German Language and Culture. Euba in charge.
Fall/Spring. Five units; classes meet three or five times a week. In this fourth-semester German language course you will work on strengthening your interpretative abilities as well as your written and oral forms of expression. While continuing the development of communicative competence and literacy skills, students will discuss a variety of texts and films and try to find innovative ways in which to engage with familiar presuppositions about who we are, about what determines our values and actions and about the function and power of language. This course fulfills the International Studies Breadth Requirement.
back to top
READING AND COMPOSITION
German R5A
R5A. Reading & Composition
German R5A is designed to fulfill the first half of the university's Reading and Composition requirement. All readings and discussion will be in English.
R5A, sec.1 (4). Toth, G.
German 5A is designed to partially fulfill the university’s Reading and Comprehension requirement. This section examines the interrelations between language and society in German speaking countries, embedded in relevant historical, cultural, and societal information. We will discuss their sociolinguistic situation, based on the consideration that language is the central institution of any society, and that many social features and factors are reflected in the overall language of the speech community, and in the linguistic behavior of the individual speaker. After an overview of the evolution of sociolinguistic studies in general, we will switch our focus to German and its varieties. Besides Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, we will visit smaller countries or regions where German is the or one main language of communication (Liechtenstein, Luxemburg; certain areas of Eastern Europe), and may also discuss some other, fairly “unexpected” ones, such as Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, or Kazakhstan, where German still has significance either historically or as a minority language. Examined topics will include language and identity, different approaches within sociolinguistics, the pluricentricity of German, the relation of German and English, the status of dialects, and the impact of various social factors on language (age, gender, or education).
Discussions will be conducted in English, but some supplemental readings and illustrations may be in German, so familiarity with the latter is preferred. Students will actively participate in discussions, and conduct some independent research whose results they will present in class and practice public speech. By the end of the course students should have a grasp of the main sociolinguistic concepts and issues, such as bilingualism, diglossia, pidgins and creoles, or heritage language, and become familiar with their significance for German and for languages in general. Taught in English.
R5A, sec. 2. (4). Banwell, Emily
Guilt and the Grotesque in Postwar Literature: Evolving Attitudes Toward German Identity
This course will investigate a variety of approaches to writing in Germany after the Second World War. Texts (both fiction and nonfiction, prose and drama) will include German, Swiss, Austrian and American writers in order to provide a broad range of perspectives, and will focus on authors’ complex and often contradictory responses to trauma. Taught in English.
R5A, sec. 3 (4). Rahman, Sabrina
Vienna 1900-1938: Between Decadence and Despair. This course examines the extensive and varied cultural production in Vienna from its days as the multiethnic imperial center of Austria-Hungary
to its establishment as the socialist capital of a considerably smaller German state and its merger with Nazi Germany in 1938. We will consider how a wide range of art and media (i.e. literature, journalism, the applied arts and cinema) intersect with politics and intellectual thought
in this city of often extreme contradictions. Texts include works by Sigmund Freud, Arthur Schnitzler, Karl Kraus, Adolf Loos, Joseph Roth, G.W. Pabst and Veza Canetti. Taught in English.
R5A, sec. 4 (4) Dewey, Tonya
"Here Be Dragons" - This course will focus on the portrayal of dragons and assorted other monsters in the Germanic tradition, primarily considering texts from the Middle Ages but also with reference to modern interpretations. These will include sagas, epic poetry, novels, and films. Taught in English.
R5A, sec. 5 (4). Banwell, Emily
The Wall and Beyond: Division and Identity in Post- World-War II Germany. Using various types of texts, including fiction, memoirs, film and essays, this course examines the political, ideological and cultural division of Germany from 1949 to 1989 through literature written on both sides of the Iron Curtain, and explores the effects of this division more than fifteen years after reunification. What happens to national identity when a country is divided for 40 years? How do authors deal with the complex topics of division, surveillance and restriction? Taught in English.
back to top
COURSES TAUGHT IN ENGLISH
German 39A
German 39A, sec. 1. (3). Freshman Semianr: Feldman, K.
In this seminar we will read the book of Genesis closely and examine various ways to interpret and discuss this seminal and inexhaustible text. We will also study responses to Genesis from the areas of literary criticism, anthropology, psychoanalysis and feminism, including excerpts by Erich Auerbach, Jan Assman, Elie Wiesel, Franz Kafka, Walter Benjamin, Martin Buber, Phyllis Trible, Rene Girard, and others. Taught in English.
German 157A
157A. (4) Luther, Kant, Hegel. Feldman, K.
Freedom, selfhood and critique have been central concepts in the development of modern thought. This course offers an introduction to these important themes of modern thought by way of close readings of short texts by Luther, Kant and Hegel. All readings and discussions are in English. Taught in English.
German 160B.
160B (4). Facism and Propaganda. Schuering, M.
This course will focus on the theory and practice of propaganda during the 12 years of the Third Reich. It takes a close look at the ideology the Nazis tried to transmit, the techniques, organization, and effectiveness of their propaganda. Challenging the idea of the total power of propaganda, it looks for the limits of persuasion and possible other reasons for which Germans might have decided to follow Hitler. Taught in English.
German 170
170 (3). History of the German Language. Dewey, T.
Designed for undergraduate and graduate students interested in the history of the pluricentric German language, which transverses a rich linguistic legacy from the "Lay of Hildebrand", through Luther and Grimm, to Grass and "Der Spiegel". Discussion, via linguistic principles, of language processes in the genetic development of the German language, as well as its interchange over time with closely and remotely related languages. No prerequisites. Taught in English.
German 177
177 (4) The Cultural History of Switzerland in Literature..... . Dewulf, J.
This course examines major topics pertaining to the cultural identity and history of Switzerland. All readings and discussions are in English. Fulfills the L&S breadth requirement in Historical Studies or Social and Behavioral Sciences. Taught in English.
German 186
186 (4) Transnational Cinemas: Gokturk, D.
"Auteur Theory: Transnational Directors" - This course will raise questions about authorship and originality in relation to cinema. A primary focus will be on the films of Werner Herzog (1942-) and Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau (1888-1931), both traveling directors from Germanywith transnational careers. Throughout their work we will find corresponding interests, in myth and cinematic experimentation as well as in documentary and challenging locations. Fulfills the L&S breadth requirement in Arts and Literature. Taught in English.
back to top
COURSES TAUGHT IN GERMAN
German 100
100. (3) Reading Culture: Staff. This course is intended to acquaint students with selected works from German cultural history and to familiarize them with various methods of interpretation and analysis. Required of all German majors. Fulfills the L&S breadth requirement in Arts and Literature or International Studies. Taught in German. Fulfills the L&S breadth requirement in Arts and Literature or International Studies. Taught in German.
German 101
101. (3) Advanced German: Conversation, Composition and Style. Euba, N.
Fulfills the Arts and Literature or International breadth requirement. Taught in German. Students with native fluency in German are not eligible to enroll in German 101.
German 102D
102D. (3) Advanced Language Practice: Popculture. Mittler, A.
Focusing on popular culture in German speaking countries, this advanced level language course will help students to improve and expand on spoken and written language functions. Fulfills the L&S breadth requirement in Arts and Literature or International Studies. Taught in German.
German 105
105. (3) Middle High German for Undergraduates. Kooiker, J.
This course will introduce students to the language and literature of the Middle High German period. The focus will be on reading competence and linguistic analysis of Middle High German texts, using structural comparison with Modern German to help students develop their translation skills. Daily translations will include excerpts from representative authors and genres of Middle High German literature. By the end of the semester students should be able to undertake more extensive reading of
medieval German texts without further instruction. Knowledge of Modern German (or another older Germanic language) recommended. Fulfills the L&S breadth requirement in Arts and Literature. Taught in English.
151 (3) 18th to 21st Century Poetry in German. Kudszus, W.
In-depth readings and discussions of 18th — 21st Century Poetry. Fulfills the Arts and Literature requirement. Taught in German.
179 (3) Special Topics in German. Tang, C.
"German Drama and Opera" - This course introduces students to the history of German theater from the 18th to the 20th century by reading the major works of dramatic literature from Lessing to Brecht and studying the masterpieces of German opera from Mozart and Wagner to Richard Strauss and Alban Berg. Taught in English. German majors and minors are required to read the texts in the original. Taught in German.
back to top
DUTCH
Dutch 1
1. (5) Elementary Dutch. Hollander, I.
Prerequisite: None; no previous knowledge of Dutch is required.
Focus of the course is on acquiring basic communicative competence in the language, i.e. developing the ability to appropriately use the language (spoken as well as written) in authentic situations. The course introduces fundamental structures and a core vocabulary, which will enable you to engage in conversation and to read and write short texts. You are encouraged to build confidence and skill by actively participating in classroom activities and interacting with others. The course meets five hours per week. In addition to classroom instruction, one hour at the language lab is required.
Texts:
E. Ham, et al. Help! (Deel 1): Kunt u mij helpen? Compl. rev. ed. Utrecht: Nederlands Centrum Buitenlanders, 2002.
W.H.T.M. Tersteeg, et al. Help! English Supplement, Utrecht: Nederlands Centrum Buitenlanders, 1998.
Dutch 2
Dutch 2 . (3) Elementary Dutch. I. Hollander.
In this course, one reinforces and expands knowledge of grammar and vocabulary, increases fluency through oral and written exercises, and builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in 1. Dutch 39A
Dutch 39A . (3) Fresh/Soph Seminar. Dewulf, J.
"Cultural History of the Low Countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg)" - All readings and discussions are in English. Fulfills the L&S breadth requirement in Historical Studies or Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Dutch C170
C170 (4) Dutch Culture and Society: Amsterdam and Berkeley in the Sixties : Dewulf. J
We will take a historical and sociological perspective in looking at the cultural aspects of protest and youth cultures in two cities that were particularly influential in the sixties: Amsterdam and Berkeley. Taught in English. Cross-listed with Sociology C189 section 1 and History C194 section 1. Fulfills the L&S breadth requirement in International Studies or Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Dutch 179
179 (3,4) Cultural Studies: Van Haute.
"Agriculture, Peasants and Rural Societies within the Expanding World Economy: Global and Comparative Analysis (Middle Ages - 20th Century)"
back to top
YIDDISH Check out the new Yiddish web site!
Yiddish 101
101 (5)Elementary Yiddish. Wamsley, R.
This is an introduction to Yiddish language, literature, and culture. With particular focus on the basics of Yiddish grammar, we will develop reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills. In so doing, we will also have an opportunity to explore simple Yiddish songs, stories, and dialogues as reflections of Yiddish culture and history.
Yiddish 103
131 (5)Readings in Yiddish. Chaver, Y.
back to top
GRADUATE COURSES
LITERATURE/CULTURE
German 201A
201A (4): Literature of the Middle Ages. Largier, N.
In this course, we will read and discuss major literary documents, authors, and intellectual movements of the Middle Ages. The course intends to provide students with a basic knowledge of the literary history of this period and tries to offer a fresh look at medieval texts.
German 204
204. (4) Compact Seminar . Benthien, C.
The Body in Literature. Das Seminar zum „Körper in der Literatur“ widmet sich einem Gegenstand, der in der kulturwissenschaftlich orientierten Germanistik seit den frühen 1990er Jahren Popularität erlangt hat. Es führt in zentrale Arbeitsbereiche und Themenfelder ein und erprobt ein Verfahren, dass Literatur und Wissensdiskurse verknüpft. Im historischen Durchlauf und anhand von unterschiedlichen literarischen Gattungen sollen zentrale „Epochen“ einer Literaturgeschichte des Körpers rekonstruiert und unter jeweils geeigneten kulturwissenschaftlichen Parametern wie Historische Anthropologie, Gender-Forschung, Performativität und Medialität diskutiert werden. Da sich in der deutschen Germanistik mit dem Fokus auf Anthropologie und Wissenschaftsgeschichte eine andere Richtung der „Körperforschung“ etabliert hat als in den USA, wo der Schwerpunkt mehr auf Cultural und Gender Studies lag, können anhand des Seminarthemas auch die unterschiedliche Wissenskulturen der German Studies verglichen werden. This is a four week course beginning August 29 and ending September 26, 2008. German majors must take the course as a letter grade. Taught in German.
German 212A
212A sec.1 (4)
Topics in Romanticism. Tang, C.
"Romantic Poetics and Politics". This seminar focuses on two issues that figure prominently in contemporary research on German Romanticism: the poetics of the early Romantics and what Carl Schmitt called political Romanticism. Against the background of current debates about the relationship between aesthetics and politics, we will try to work out the political implications of the theoretical speculation and formal experimentation of early Romanticism, as well as the aesthetic programs underlying the conservative politics of late Romanticism. Readings include Arnim, Brentano, Fichte, Hölderlin, Kleist, Novalis, Schlegel, and Tieck.
German 265
265 sec.1 (4) Film Theory: Historical and Systematic Perspective... Kaes, A.
"German Cinema: Revisiting the Canon" - Close readings and provocative re-readings of 15 classical films (from "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" to "The Lives of Others") with special emphasis on their historical moment, their implied theoretical project, and their dialogue with other German and non-German films. Also an introduction to film analysis and to current issues in film historiography. Major research paper required.
GERMANIC LINGUISTICS
German 282
282 (4) Old Saxon. Rauch, I.
Introduction to a heterogeneous language, which is unquestionably the most provocative of the major Germanic dialects in terms of language identification and language origin. Reading of the prose and verse prefaces that serve as the keystone to the literary and the ethnographic setting of the "Heliand", as well as reading of selected fits from the "Heliand" and the "Genesis" fragments. Study of the isogrammar shared by Old Saxon with Old Frisian and Old English to the North, and with Old High German to the South. No prerequisites.
German 290
290 (4) Seminar in german Linguistics. Shannon, T.
This seminar will deal with the methods and results of the analysis of word structure as applied to the German language. In addition to introducing the basic concepts and means of morphological analysis, we will study and apply various theories of word structure (generative, cognitive, and "natural") to German, focusing on a number of issues which have arisen in the recent literature. Taught in English.
German 291
291 (4) Methods and Issues in German Morphology. Shannon, T.
This seminar will deal with the methods and results of the analysis of word structure as applied to the German language. In addition to introducing the basic concepts and means of morphological analysis, we will study and apply various theories of word structure (generative, cognitive, and "natural") to German, focusing on a number of issues which have arisen in the recent literature. Taught in English.
back to top
PEDAGOGY
German 351
351. (3) Seminar in Foreign Language Pedagogy: Teaching College German (II). Euba, N.
This second course in a two-semester sequence is again designed to provide graduate students in German with knowledge and tools for their careers as teachers in the language classroom and beyond. Emphasizing critical reflection on pedagogical practices, this course will prepare for language teaching at the intermediate and advanced levels. The theoretical and practical exploration of recent developments in second language acquisition and teaching will focus on the development of literacy, the teaching of literary texts, the teaching of writing, and curriculum design. Along with the continous development of practices which promote professional growth, this should provide a basis for staying theoretically informed while participating in the professional discourse of a rapidly developing field. Included in this course is a significant practical component, addressing the day-to-day challenges of planning for and teaching the simultaneously offered intermediate German language courses.
back to top
|
