Elementary German Language Courses

Intermediate German Language Courses

Advanced German Language, Literature and Culture Courses

Courses in German Literature & Civilization (Conducted in English) 

Course Descriptions

GERMN 101:  Elementary German I  3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: None.

This course is for beginners without prior knowledge of German. It focuses on the basic linguistic and cultural abilities needed to function in German-speaking countries. The instructor will emphasize active student participation (speaking, listening, reading, writing). Regular attendance and daily homework are necessary to succeed in this course.
Exam format: written quizzes, midterm and final exams
Textbook: Access to German, Jägerbuch, Vol 1. ISBN 9781524996246

Note: If you have previous knowledge of German, please contact the department for advice and placement.

GERMN 102:  Elementary German II  3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: GERMN 101 or equivalent.

This course continues the work of GERMN 101. It broadens linguistic and cultural abilities for basic communication in a German-speaking environment. The instructor will emphasize active student participation (speaking, listening, reading, writing). Regular attendance and daily homework are necessary to succeed in this course.
Exam format: written quizzes, midterm and final exams
Textbook: Access to German, Jägerbuch, Vol 2. ISBN 9781524996253  

Note: If you have previous knowledge of German, please contact the department for advice and placement.

GERMN 201:  Intermediate German I  3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: GERMN 102 or 103 or equivalent.

This course is the third in a four-semester sequence and continues the linguistic and cultural introduction to German. Review and practice of elementary grammar; introduction of advanced forms. Reading and discussion of selected texts. The instructor will emphasize active student participation (speaking, listening, reading, writing). Regular attendance and daily homework are necessary to succeed in this course.
Exam format: written quizzes, midterm and final exams
Textbook: Access to German, Jägerbuch, Vol 3. ISBN 9780201814224

Note: If you have previous knowledge of German, please contact the department for advice and placement.

GERMN 202:  Intermediate German II  3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: GERMN 201 or equivalent.

Continued broadening of abilities in speaking, listening, reading, writing. Reading and discussion of selected literary texts. Strong emphasis on active student participation. Regular attendance and daily homework are important elements in this course. Completion of this course fulfills the Hunter College foreign language requirement. Students at this level will normally be tested by both written and oral examination.
Exam format: written quizzes, midterm and final exams
Textbook: Access to German, Jägerbuch, Vol 3. ISBN 9780201814224

Note: If you have previous knowledge of German, please contact the department for advice and placement.

GERMN 203:  Intensive Intermediate German  6hrs, 6crs.

Prereq: GERMN 102 or 103 or equivalent.

This course covers in ONE semester the material normally covered in TWO semesters, in GERMN 201 and GERMN 202. Instruction in the four basic skills is continued. Advanced grammatical forms are introduced. Selected literary texts are read and discussed. This accelerated class involves a considerable investment of time.
Exam Format: written quizzes, midterm and final exams
Textbook: Access to German, Jägerbuch, Vol 3. ISBN 9780201814224

Note: If you have previous knowledge of German, please contact the department for advice and placement.

GERMN 24100:  German Fairy Tales  3hrs, 3crs.

Pre- or Coreq: ENGL 120.

Fairy tales are known all over the world. The most famous European book of fairy tales is the one collected by the Brothers Grimm. These stories have entered our collective unconscious but are not easily explained. We shall look at various attempts at explaining what fairy tales are all about, look at older stories that served as models for the Brothers Grimm and study modern versions of the tales including scenes from Walt Disney movies and "politically correct fairy tales." Students will read fairy tales, tell one that they know, and there will be regular written assignments, a midterm and final examination. All readings, discussions and written work will be in English. This course has a "W" designation.  
Exam Format: written midterm and final exams
Required Reading: Jack Zipes, The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, ISBN 9780553382167
Joanna Cole, Best-Loved Folktales of the World, ISBN 9780318796482 or ISBN 9780385189491

GERMN 32700: Modern Swiss Literature  3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: GERMN 202 or 203 or equivalent.

Switzerland has played an important role in German intellectual and literary history for centuries. One of the most significant periods was in the second half of the 20th century when especially the Swiss authors Friedrich Dürrenmatt and Max Frisch wrote masterpieces about universal topics of the modern human condition which are still widely read and/or performed and adapted in Germany and internationally. They had seen from up close, but not been involved in the ravages of war in the 20th century and thus had a privileged and prescient look at the ways in which life and society were evolving in the modern and post-modern world. Swiss German is one of the best-known German dialect families and is widely spoken in daily life. Standard German is almost a foreign language to most Swiss Germans, which leads to a literary language that is clear and relatively easy to comprehend for language learners, in spite of their literary quality. Selections from the works we will read have often been included in college language classes and will be very accessible to students after 4 semesters. After a brief introduction to Switzerland, its geography, its dialects, and recent history, we will read a brief tale by Peter Bichsel (text will be provided) and then three books (see below). Note on the editions: Since Frisch's and Dürrenmatt's books have been edited and abbreviated for student use very frequently, please buy only the editions which I will announce (they are all paperbacks) so that we will have the same page numbers when we discuss the works.
Exam Format: written midterm and final exams.
Required Readings: Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Der Besuch der alten Dame (drama, 1956), ISBN 978-3257230451; Max Frisch, Homo Faber (novel, 1957), ISBN 978-3518368541 --- Possible Additional Readings (we will discuss in class which work students want to read most): Max Frisch, Andorra (drama, 1961), ISBN 978-3518367773; Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Der Richter und sein Henker (detective novel 1951), ISBN 978-3499101502); Milena Moser, Die Putzfrauinsel (novel, 1991), ISBN 978-3499138966.

GERMN 32800: German Children's and Adolescent Literature  3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: GERMN 202 or 203 or equivalent.

Children's literature and juvenile literature are among the genres that every native speaker knows but that are mysteries for most foreigners. Reading them provides unusually clear insights into values and belief systems that members of a culture acquire in their youth and often maintain throughout their adult lives. These texts also have the advantage that they are quite accessible to students who are still building up their language ability. In the course of the semester we will read some famous Fairy Tales from the collection of the Brothers Grimm and selections from such classics of German young people's literature as Max und Mortiz and Struwwelpeter. We will also look at more contemporary children's books such as Neben mir ist noch Platz, and Oh, wie schön ist Panama. Longer works will be Uwe Timm's story Rennschwein Rudi Rüssel, Das Austauschkind by Christine Nöstlinger and perhaps the serious novel Die Wolke by Grudrun Pausewang 
Required Readings: Uwe Timm, Renschewin Rudi Rüssel, ISBN 978-3423702850; Christine Nöstlinger, Das Austauschkind, ISBN 978-3407741004 

GERMN 44463: German Relationships: Family, Friendship, Romance, Language and other "Beziehungen" 3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: One course numbered from GERMN 320 to 359 or equivalent. GER 3/A, PD/D

In this course we will consider varied relationships -- such as romantic, friend, familial, linguistic, and societal -- in selected German-language texts and video. Beginning by looking at the word "Beziehung" itself, with its root in the verb "to pull," we will examine the different and complicated ways characters relate and are pulled together and/or apart. Texts will include short-to-medium length media such as poems and songs, film, essay, and short story, as well as one longer text in novella or dramatic form. Emphasis will be placed on student participation: individualized speaking and writing assignments will take into consideration each student's proficiency level. All reading, writing and discussion will be in German. There will be regular writing assignments, and a miderm exam and final project. 
Required Readings: Most materials will be provided by the instructor via Blackboard links and in-class handouts. One text may be purchased through the insturctor, for a cost of approximately $5 Possible Additional Readings Erich Fried's poem "Was es ist"; Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem "Selige Sehnsucht" and song (Lied); Max Färberböck's filme "Aimee und Jaguar"; Sharon Dodua Otoo's short story "Herr Gröttrup setzt sich hin"; Yoko Tawada's short text "Von der Muttersprache zur Sprachmutter"; a longer text in the form of a novella or drama.