Courses in German for Spring 2024

Courses Spring 2024 

German 1 (5) Elementary German I. Euba.
(Taught in German)

Fall/Spring. Five units; classes meet two or five times a week. Prerequisite: German 1 is intended for students who have not previously taken courses in German.

Course Objectives:
This introduction to the German language focuses on the development of basic communicative competencies (spoken and written) while sensitizing students to the links between language and culture. Students will be able to understand and use high frequency vocabulary and basic grammatical structures and engage with a broad variety of texts from various genres, including poetry, news reports, songs, and the visual arts. 

German 2 (5) Elementary German II. Euba.
(Taught in German)

Fall/Spring. Five units; classes meet five times a week. Prerequisite: 1 semester of college-level German or equivalent.

Course Objectives:
This German language course continues the development of basic communicative competencies (spoken and written) while sensitizing students to the links between language and culture. Students will be able to understand and use high frequency vocabulary and basic grammatical structures and engage with a broad variety of texts from various genres, including poetry, news reports, songs, and the visual arts. 

German 3 (5) Intermediate German I/Topics in German Language and Cultural History. Euba
(Taught in German)

Fall/Spring. Five units; classes meet five times a week. Prerequisite: 2 semesters of college-level German or equivalent.

Course Objectives:
Embedded in the context of German-speaking regions, their history and culture, this course focuses on the development of communicative competencies (spoken and written), the expansion of vocabulary, and the review and practice of grammatical structures. Students will be guided towards more creative and analytical expression by engaging with texts from a variety of genres such as poetry, drama, news features, and the visual arts.

German 4 (5) Intermediate German II/Topics in German Language and Culture. Euba
(Taught in German)

Fall/Spring. Five units; classes meet five times a week. Prerequisite: 3 semesters of college-level German or equivalent.

German 101 (3) Advanced German Conversation, Composition, and Style. Lenz
(Taught in German)

Prerequisite: 4 semesters of college-level German or equivalent.

Objectives: Focusing on genres, this advanced level language course will help students to improve and expand on spoken and written language functions utilizing a variety of works from literature, journalism, broadcasting, fine arts and the cinema. The final goal is to enable students to participate in the academic discourse – written and spoken – at a linguistic and stylistic level appropriate for an advanced student of German in upper division courses. Readings and Discussions in German.

German 102A (3) German Cabaret. Euba
(Taught in German)

The analysis, discussion, adaptation and public performance of authentic texts from German Kabarett (i.e., comedic skits, political and social satire, parody, humorous poetry, etc.) will advance students’ language and interpersonal skills, while providing unique access to a significant dimension of German popular culture. Additional emphasis is put on aspects and practice of creative writing and German pronunciation and enunciation. Students need to be available for evening performances from 5-8 on 4/16 and 4/17. 

(Note: Students can only take one course from the 102 series to apply to the major or minor!)

German 156 (4) “Literature in Digital Age”. Balint

The digital age has altered the way we read, write, think, spend time and money, experience the world, and relate to others. But how is literature affected by the profound changes that the digital era has ushered in? Asking this question, the course dedicates itself to the various effects of the digital age on literature and the literary field. The emphasis will be on themes, poetics, and media of digital writing; as well as on shifting notions of the literary itself. Topics include forms of microblogging such as Twitter and Instagram; aesthetic experimentation and/on social media; notions of digital authorship. In juxtaposing texts disseminated in various media and formats, the course also focuses on changing practices of reading and viewing. Finally, attention will be given to how digital communication affects non-digital literature. Most readings, assignments, and course discussions in German.