COURSE SCHEDULE

Spring 2007

Elementary & Intermediate Language Courses

Advanced German Language, Literature and Culture Courses

Level 1

Level 2

Courses in German Literature & Civilization
Conducted in English

Elementary and Intermediate German

GERMN 101 Elementary German I 3hrs, 3crs.
NOT CREDITED WITHOUT GERMN 102.

This course is intended for students with no prior knowledge of German.  Basic skills of speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension are taught with a strong emphasis on active student participation.

GERMN 102 Elementary German II 3hrs, 3crs.
Prereq: GERMN 101 or equivalent.

This course continues the work of GERMN 101, practicing the four basic language skills.

GERMN 103 Intensive Elementary German I & II 6hrs, 6crs.

This course is intended for students with no prior knowledge of German. It covers in ONE semester the material normally covered in two semesters, in GERMN 101 and GERMN 102. Basic skills of speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension are taught with a strong emphasis on active student participation. The class meets FOUR evenings a week, and involves a considerable investment of time. Please consult the Chair of the Department for further advice about this accelerated course.

GERMN 201 Intermediate German I 3hrs, 3crs.
Prereq: GERMN 102 or 103 or equivalent.

Continued instruction in the four basic language skills. Introduction of advanced grammatical forms and review of elementary grammar. Reading and discussion of selected German writings. Continued practice in conversation and composition.

GERMN 202 Intermediate German II 3hrs, 3crs.
Prereq: GERMN 201 or equivalent.

Continued instruction in the four basic language skills.  Reading and discussion of selected literary texts.  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.

GERMN 203 Intensive Intermediate German I & II 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. The class involves a considerable investment of time. Please consult the Chair of the Department for further advice about this accelerated course.

ADVANCED GERMAN COURSES
The advanced German courses are divided into two levels. We expect students to take several courses at Level One before proceeding to Level Two. If you are in any doubt which course you should take, please consult the chairperson of the Department or a departmental advisor. All courses are conducted in German.

Level I
Language, Literature and Culture

These courses are intended for students who have recently completed GERMN 202 or 203 and/or GERMN 301. They are NOT intended for native speakers of German.

GERMN 302 Advanced German Conversation & Composition 3 hours, 3 credits
Prereq: GERMN 202 or 203 or equivalent. GER 3/A PD/D

The course is designed to develop the conversational and compositional skills. There will be intensive practice to contemporary spoken and written German with emphasis on vocabulary and idiom, and on active mastery of grammatical forms. Taped material will be used to strengthen comprehension skills. Regular preparation in writing is required for group work and class dialogues. The course prepares the students to take the examination for Zertifikat Deutsch **, the professional certificate of basic language competence administered by the Goethe Institute. ** Fees charged by outside examining agencies will be announced to students at the beginning of the term.

GERMN 320.57 Erich Kästner  3hrs, 3crs.
Prereq: GERMN 202 or 203 or equivalent. GER 3/A PD/D

Erich Kästner is one of Germany’s major 20th-century authors. He grew up under the Kaiser, served in World War I, became a literary “shooting star” of the Weimar Republic, was not allowed to publish under the Nazis (who burned his books), and ended his life as grand old man of letters in West Germany. He is known for his classic children’s books, his biting satires, his uproariously funny 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. Reading list: An assortment of Kästner’s poems; Emil und die Detektive; Drei Männer im Schnee; either Fabian or Die verschwundene Miniatur; Die Konferenz der Tiere. Time permitting, we will watch some film versions of his books. Class attendance and participation with individualized speaking assignments, bi-weekly papers of appr. 2 pages (with language corrections), mid-term and final examinations.

GERMN 323 Women in German Literature 3hrs, 3crs.
Prereq: GERMN 202, 203 or equivalent. GER 3/A PD/C

In this course, we shall read and discuss different genres of literature written by women of the 19th and 20th centuries.  We shall also examine the cultural and social role of women and what kind of literary channels were open to them at different times.  Authors such as Bettina von Arnim, Fannie Lewald, Annette von Droste-Hulshoff, Anna Seghers, and Gabriele Wohmann will be discussed.  There will be regular writing assignments in German as well as written exams.

Level II:
Literature & Language

The following 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 graduate school or to use the German language in other ways professionally. They are thus regarded as “bridge course” helping students to move to the highest levels of the undergraduate program and beyond.

GERMN 345 Weimar Germany 3hrs, 3crs.
Prereq: One course numbered from GERMN 320 to 359 or 444 or equivalent.
GER 3/A, PD/D

In this course, we shall read and discuss literature written in Germany between the end of the First World War (1918) and the beginning of the “Third Reich” (1933). We will deal with writings by such authors as Brecht, Toller, Fallada and others. Films and music of the twenties will be included. We shall be concerned with the complicated interaction of literature, art and politics in this period, and we shall work at building the vocabulary and linguistic skills to deal with this kind of topic. There will be regular writing assignments in German as well as a mid-term and final examination. Emphasis is placed on student participation in class discussion.

GERMN 444.60 Upper Level German through Translation 3hrs, 3crs.
Prereq: Three courses above GERMN 320 to 359 or 444 or equivalent.
GER 3/A, PD/D

This course does not count towards the Literature major sequence.

This course will help you refine your upper-level proficiency of German by tackling translations into and out of German and English. We will discuss what it means to translate (and “interpret”) from one language and culture to another. Ranging over a variety of literary and non-literary texts, working from shorter pieces up to longer projects, the course is structured as a workshop. Though we will mostly deal with concrete issues of translating, theoretical aspects will be considered. Weekly translations from English to German / German to English (1-2 pages per week) as well as a final project (5-7 pages) will be required.

German Literature in English Translation
(All reading, discussion, and written work will be in English)

GERMN 241 German Fairy Tales "W" 3hrs, 3crs
Prereq or co-req: 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 down to a Walt Disney movie and “politically correct fairy tales”. Students will read fairy tales, tell one that they know, and write three short papers, a mid-term and final examination. All readings will be in English. This course has a “W” designation.