Elementary German Language Courses

Intermediate German Language Courses

Advanced German Language, Literature and Culture Courses

Courses in German Literature & Culture (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 103:  Intensive Elementary German  6hrs, 6crs.

Prereq: None.

This course is for beginners without prior knowledge of German. It covers in ONE semester the material normally covered in TWO, from GERMN 101-102. 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 AND 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: none, zero-cost course

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 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 32057:  Erich Kaestner  3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: GERMN 202 or 203 equivalent.

Erich Kästner is one of German's major 20th-century authors. This year, Germany is celebrating his 125th birthday with lectures, museum exhibits, and more. Born in 1899, he grew up under the Kaiser, served in World War One, and became a literary star of the Weimar Republic. Although he was not allowed to publish under the Nazis (who burned his books in 1933), he stayed in Germany during the Third Reich. When he died in 1974, he had been nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times. Kästner is known for his classic children's books, his biting satires, his humorous adult novels, and his political commentary. His writings have a light touch and accessible language, which work well for students beginning their study of German literature. We will read Emil und die Detektive (the only book of his not burnt by the Nazis in 1933), Das doppelte Lottchen, Drei Männer im Schnee, passages from his autobiography Als ich ein kleiner Junge war, and a selection of his poems. We will also watch some film versions of his books. We will exmaine why the Nazis considered Kästner decadent and what makes his children's books in particular so popular even today.

Textbooks: Emil und die Dektektive (ISBN 978-3-85535-603-4); Das doppelte Lottchen (ISBN 978-3-85535-605-8); Drei Männer im Schnee (ISBN 978-3-03882-016-1)

Course requirements: Attendance and participation with individualized speaking assignments, weekly or bi-weekly papers of 1-2 pages (with corrections), midterm and final examinations

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

GERMN 33900:  German Drama from Naturalism to Present  3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: GERMN 202 or 203 or equivalent.

In this course on German theater in the 20th and 21st centuries, we will read and discuss dramatic literature by Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956), Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990), and Juli Zeh (1974-), among others. Emphasis will be on close reading and analysis; the cultural and historical background of each text will also be considered. Students will watch/listen to performances and adaptations of the assigned plays, either in person or via recordings, and will also rehearse and perform scenes from the assigned readings.

This course is intended for students who have relatively little experience studying literature in German. It is not intended for native speakers of German.

Textbook: Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Der Besuch der alten Dame, ISBM 9783257230451

Course requirements: Regular reading and other class preparation; regular attendance and active participation; regular writing assignments; midterm & final exams

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

GERMN 37954:  Faust: Mar, Goeth and Mann  3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: ENGL 12000

There are countless stories surrounding the pact between men and the devil. One of the most famous is the Faust legend. This course aims to address the origins of the real figure of Johann Georg Faust, who likely lived between 1480-1541, as well as three of the most important interpretations of this text: Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (in this course we will focus on Faust I), and the novel Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann. The human conflict between the power of faith and the certainty of scientific knowledge is a major theme in these literary adaptations. Faust is the person who strives beyond his limits and finds himself in conflict between egocentric self-realization and social recognition in a world that is still influenced by religion. All three texts covered in the course shine light on the social conflicts and challenges of the time in which they were written. The aim of the course is to examine both the temporal context and the connecting elements beyond this temporal classification.

This course is conducted in English; no knowledge of German is required.

Textbook: Thomas Mann, Doctor Faustus: The LIfe of the German Composer Adrian Leverkühn as Told by a Friend. Translated by John E. Woods. First Vintage International Edition. New York: Vintage International, 1999, ISBN 9780375701160.

Course requirements: Regular attendance and preparation; oral presentation; 2 short papers; final paper

GERMN 38503: German Grammar for Upper-Level Discourse  3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: Three courses above GERMN 300 or equivalent.

During the first half of this course our aim shall be at functional control of all items of basic grammar, working intensively with the tasks of narration and describing. Building upon this in the second half of the semester, students shall proceed to work with the more complex grammatical structures, which are necessary for one to master in order to state and defend opinions, hypothesize and argue abstractly - in short - to speak and write at a high level of literacy. Students shall work throughout the semester not only on the active skills of speaking and writing, but also on their ability to comprehend spoken and written German. Students should expect regular homework, as well as two to three brief in-class presentations throughout the semester. While English will be the language of explanations (with discussions of grammar and syntax and comparisons to English grammar all being conducted in English) all functional practices and assignments will be in German.  
Exam format: Written midterm and final exam
Textbook: You will be given extensive handout materials. This is a "zero-cost" course, these materials will be provided to you free of charge. 

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