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Courses Spring 2020

 

Elementary & Intermediate German Language Courses


GERMN 101: Elementary German I (3 hours, 3 credits)
Section
Days Time Code Instructor Room
01 Mon & Thurs 9:45am-11:00am 1410 Koch 509B West
02
Mon & Wed 5:35pm-6:50pm
22640 Mekonen 509B West
03
Mon & Thurs 1:10pm-2:25pm
3138 Mekonen
611 West
04 Tues & Fri 2:10pm-3:25pm 3460 Wicker 611 West
05 Tues & Fri
12:45pm-2:00pm 4925 Merolle 611 West

Course description below.

 

GERMN 102: Elementary German II (3 hours, 3 credits)
Prereq: GERMN 101 or equivalent
Section
Days Time Code Instructor Room
01
Mon & Thurs
8:10am-9:25am
1411 Koch 611 West
02
Tues & Fri 11:10am-12:25pm
1412 Wicker 611 West
03 Tues & Fri 2:10pm-3:25pm 4400 Nicolai 509B West
04 Tues & Thurs 5:35pm-6:50pm 3653 Mekonen 509B West

Course description below.

 

GERMN 200: Intensive German II & III (6 hours, 6 credits)
Prereq: GERMN 101 or equivalent
Section
Days Time Code Instructor Room
01
Mon, Wed, & Thurs
11:10am-1:00pm
4098 Zimmerman 611 West Canceled

Course description below.

 

GERMN 201: Intermediate German I (3 hours, 3 credits)
Prereq: GERMN 102 or 103 or equivalent
Section
Days Time Code Instructor Room
01 Tues & Fri 11:10am-12:25pm 1414 Merolle 509B West
02
Mon & Thurs
9:45am-11:00am
1415 Nicolai 611 West

Course description below.

 

GERMN 202: Intermediate German II (3 hours, 3 credits)
Prereq: GERMN 201 or equivalent
Section
Days Time Code Instructor Room
01 Tues & Fri 9:45am-11:00am 1416 Merolle 611 West
02
Mon & Thurs
2:45pm-4:00pm 1417 Strohmeier 509B west
03 Tues & Thurs
5:35pm-6:50pm 3461 Strohmeier 611 West Canceled

Course description below.

 

GERMN 203: Intensive Intermediate German (6 hours, 6 credits)
Prereq: GERMN 102 or 103  or equivalent
Section
Days Time Code Instructor Room
01 Mon, Wed, & Thurs 11:10am-1:00pm 1419 Zimmerman 509B West

Course description below.

 


Advanced German Language, Literature and Culture Courses: Level I

"Level I Advanced Courses" in German have a prerequisite of GERMN 202 or 203 or equivalent.

 

GERMN 302: Advanced German Conversation & Composition (3 hours, 3 credits)

Section
Days Time Code Instructor Room
01
Mon & Thurs
1:10pm-2:25pm
1420 Zimmerman 509B West

Course description below.

 

GERMN 32029: Contemporary Minority Voices in Germany (3 hours, 3 credits)
Section
Days Time Code Instructor Room
01
Mon & Thurs
4:10pm-5:25pm 26019 Mekonen 509B West

Course description below.

 

GERMN 339: Modern German Drama (3 hours, 3 credits)
Section
Days Time Code Instructor Room
01
Mon & Thurs
11:10am-12:25pm 22643 Anderson C112 North

Course description below.

 

 


Advanced German Language, Literature and Culture Courses: Level II

"Level II Advanced Courses" in German have a prerequisite of one course from GERMN 320 to 359 or equivalent.

 

GERMN 350: Austrian Literature (3 hours, 3 credits)

Section
Days Time Code Instructor Room
01
Mon & Thurs
2:45pm-4:00pm 22641 Nicolai 611 West

Course description below

 


Courses in German Literature & Culture (Conducted in English) 


GERMN 241: German Fairy Tales (3 hours, 3 credits)
Pre- or Coreq: ENGL 120.
Section
Day Time Code Instructor Room
01 Saturday
8:10am-11:00am
3128 Titze 611 West
02 Tues & Fri 8:10am-9:25am 3129 Merolle 509B West
03 Tues & Fri 9:45am-11:00am 3708 Titze 509B West
04 Tues & Thurs 4:10pm-5:25pm 3948 Strohmeier 611 West

 

Fulfills the "Creative Expression" category of the Hunter core, Pluralism & Diversity Group D, and Writing Intensive.

Course description below.

 


Course Descriptions


GERMN 101:  Elementary German I  3hrs3crs.

No pre-req 

This course is for students 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 9780201914580

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

 

GERMN 200 Intensive German II & III 6hrs, 6crs.

Prereq: GERMN 101 or equivalent.

GERMN 200 combines the material of German 102 and 201. This course is meant for students who have done well in German 101 and are ready for a faster pace in their German studies. After this course, you will be ready to take German 202 either in Germany in the summer or at Hunter in the fall. The class will use the same approach as German 101 and expand your command of German in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. We will cover Access to German: Jägerbuch II, and will also work with the first half of Access to German: Jägerbuch III. This course requires regular attendance and completion of homework assignments.
Exam Format: written quizzes, midterm and final exams.
Textbooks: Access to German, Jägerbuch, Vol 2. ISBN 9780201914580 AND 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 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. 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.

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 302: Advanced German Conversation & Composition 3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: GERMN 202 or 203 or equivalent.
This course is designed to develop your conversational and writing skills. There will be intensive practice in spoken and written German with emphasis on vocabulary, idiom, and grammar. We will read recent news articles, comics, and other authentic texts. We will watch a telenovela and listen to audio materials to strengthen your comprehension skills. Regular preparation is required for group work and class dialogues. The course prepares students to take the examination Zertifikat Deutsch, the professional certificate of basic language competence administered by the Goethe-Institut. Fees charged by the Goethe-Institut will be announced in advance.

Textbook: E-book provided by instructor. Zero Textbook Cost

Course requirements: essays, oral presentations, group project

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

 

GERMN 32029: Contemporary Minority Voices in Germany 3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: GREMN 202 or 203 or equivalent

There are preconceived notions of what Germans look like, their traditions, their language, etc. But recent articles from Die Zeit and the New York Times point out that one quarter of the German population has a “migration background,” and with more immigrants including refugees coming to Germany, this number is expected to increase. These people, among them writers, poets, and filmmakers, challenge traditional ideas of what it means to be German and how to live and survive in a country that often struggles to create inclusive spaces for people of diverse backgrounds. In this course, we will hear the voices of Turkish-Germans, German and Russian Jews, Afro-Germans, “ethnic German” repatriates, refugees, and others through their literary works and films. We will investigate the work of immigrants; ethnic, national, and religious minority writers; and bilingual writers.

This course is conducted in German and not intended for native speakers of German. It is for students who have already completed GERMN 202 or 203 and have relatively little experience studying literature in German. 

Textbook: Ika Hügel-Marshall, Daheim unterwegs ISBN 3897716046 OR 978-3897716049

Other texts/films to be distributed:

May Ayim, “Blues in schwarz-weiss”

Emine S. Özdamar, “Der Hof im Spiegel”

Yoko Tawada, “Wo Europa anfängt”

Fatih Akin, “Aus dem Nichts,” “Tschick”

Course requirements: Regular reading, attendance, and participation; regular writing assignments; quizzes; presentations; group project

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


GERMN 339: Modern German Drama 3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: GERMN 202 or 203 or equivalent

In this class we will read and discuss Friedrich Dürrenmatt's tragicomedy Der Besuch der alten Dame, a play by Bertolt Brecht, and other short dramatic texts. Emphasis will be on close reading and analysis of form; the cultural and historical background of each play will also be considered. Students will watch/listen to performances 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 completed GERMN 202 or 203 and 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, ISBN 9783257230451

Course requirements: Regular reading, attendance, and participation; regular writing assignments; essay; group project

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


What is the difference between Level I and Level II advanced courses?

The advanced German courses are divided into two levels.  We expect students to take at least two literature courses at Level I before proceeding to Level II.  If you are in any doubt as to which course you should take, or if you have previous knowledge of German, please consult the chair of the department. 

Level I courses are intended for students who have recently completed GERMN 202 or 203 and who have only limited experience discussing German literature in German, orally and in writing. They are not intended for native speakers.

Level II courses are intended for advanced students who have taken a number of 300-level German language and literature courses and who may be interested in going on to use the German language professionally. They are thus meant to help students move to the highest levels of the undergraduate program and beyond. Students enrolled in Level II courses have the opportunity to take the B2 and C1 exams, the professional certificates of advanced language competence administered by the Goethe Institute. The exams are given each spring. Fees charged by the Goethe Institute will be announced in advance.

 

GERMN 350: Austrian Literature 3hrs, 3crs.

Prereq: one course numbered from GERMN 320 to 359

In this course we will primarily take a look at Vienna at the turn of the century when it was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the cultural capital of Europe. The days of the "Old Austria" were numbered, but intellectual life was at a peak. Writers, painters and scientists inspired and influenced each other in the literary salons where they met. Fin de Siecle-Vienna was the time when Sigmund Freud put forward his shocking ideas about the unconscious aggressive and erotic desires that - in their repressed and disguised form - reveal themselves in dreams and art.  Schnitzler's plays and novellas brought women's unconscious sexuality into the forefront of the cultural discourse through innovative use of the interior monologue. Klimt's, Kokoschka's, and Schiele's provocative portraits of women expressing lust, desire and anxiety evoked scandals.

In the arts and letters, the Vienna of 1900 was a byword for modernism. A city of massive contradictions, it had, for example, a large highly cultivated assimilated Jewish intelligentsia, and, at the same time, a powerful anti-Semitic political force. Its poets dealt in the most refined aestheticism and its masses lived in extreme poverty and squalor. Its bourgeoisie subscribed to severe standards of public morality, and its officer class was rigidly governed by codes of honor, but hedonism and sensualism, Angst and decadence, lay scarcely beneath the surface of what was essentially a disintegrating society.

To depict the various sides of Viennese life around 1900, we will read plays and a novella by Schnitzler: Liebelei, Reigen, and Leutnant Gustl. We will also read Jugend einer Arbeiterin by the socialist Adelheid Popp, extracts from Sigmund Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams and Stefan Zweig's autobiography Die Welt von Gestern. We will view one film version of a play by Schnitzler and talk about the art and architecture of the time as well as music. We will visit the Neue Galerie - the museum in New York City that is dedicated to German and Austrian Art of the beginning of the 20th century. 

Course requirements and exam format: Students need to be active participants in class, involve themselves in close reading of the assigned texts and contribute to class discussion. The class will be held entirely in German. Students will write three papers (3-5 pages) or shorter texts more frequently, depending on their linguistic proficiency. Additional books providing historical background on the period will be put on reserve at the library. Students will be graded on attendance and participation, papers, as well as midterm and final exams.   

Required Texts: Arthur Schnitzler, Liebelei, Reigen, Fischer paperback ISBN 9783596270095

Leutnant Gustl, dtv edition, ISBN 9783423026598

Adelheid Popp, Jugend einer Arbeiterin, ISBN 3801200272

Books (less than $30) will be ordered by the instructor, not through a bookstore. Students should have the same editions to facilitate class discussion and referencing.  Extracts from Stefan Zweig's and Sigmund Freud's texts will be provided as xeroxed copies. Additional books in English providing historical background on the period will be put on reserve at the library.


Courses Conducted in English


GERMN 241:  German Fairy Tales  "W"

Pre- or Coreq: ENGL 120. Fulfills the Creative Expression category of the Hunter Core, Pluralism & Diversity Group D, and Writing Intensive.

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 and tell one that they know; there will be regular written assignments, a midterm, and a final examination. All readings, discussions and written work will be in English. This course has a "W" designation.  

Course requirements: attendance and participation; regular preparation of readings; regular writing assignments. 
Exam Format: written midterm and final exams
Textbooks: 
Jack Zipes, The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, ISBN 978-0553382167
Joanna Cole, Best-Loved Folktales of the World, ISBN 978-0318796482 or ISBN 9780385189491

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