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German Current Courses

Fall 2024

Course Code Title/Instructor Meets
GRMN 101-01 German in Everyday Life
Instructor: Kamaal Haque
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the German language and culture of daily life. It focuses on the acquisition of language skills, such as speaking, reading, writing, and listening and does so while also learning about aspects of every-day cultures in German-speaking countries. Classes are small and emphasize communication. After successfully completing German 101 and 102, students are expected to have reached a basic level of intercultural and cross-cultural competence, that is, to be able to communicate with members of German-speaking cultures with an awareness of differences in language and culture.
08:30 AM-09:20 AM, MTWRF
BOSLER 307
GRMN 101-02 German in Everyday Life
Instructor: Kamaal Haque
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the German language and culture of daily life. It focuses on the acquisition of language skills, such as speaking, reading, writing, and listening and does so while also learning about aspects of every-day cultures in German-speaking countries. Classes are small and emphasize communication. After successfully completing German 101 and 102, students are expected to have reached a basic level of intercultural and cross-cultural competence, that is, to be able to communicate with members of German-speaking cultures with an awareness of differences in language and culture.
09:30 AM-10:20 AM, MTWRF
BOSLER 307
GRMN 102-01 German in Everyday Life
Instructor: Todd Bryant
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the German language and culture of daily life. It focuses on the acquisition of language skills, such as speaking, reading, writing, and listening and does so while also learning about aspects of every-day cultures in German-speaking countries. Classes are small and emphasize communication. After successfully completing German 101 and 102, students are expected to have reached a basic level of intercultural and cross-cultural competence, that is, to be able to communicate with members of German-speaking cultures with an awareness of differences in language and culture. Classes meet five times a week. Prerequisite: 101 or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
09:30 AM-10:20 AM, MTWRF
BOSLER 308
GRMN 201-01 Intermediate German I: Contemporary German Cultures
Instructor: Antje Pfannkuchen, David Takamura
Course Description:
What did the Brothers Grimm do besides collecting fairy tales? How do narratives inform national identity? Why do Germans return their empty bottles to the store? Students approach such questions, which touch on language, culture, economics, geography, history, and more, through a variety of media in this course. At the same time, students review grammatical structures, expand their knowledge of stylistic forms, and practice various registers of written and spoken German. German 201 aims to develop students skills to understand and reflect upon German-language culture at a basic intermediate level. Classes meet four days a week. Prerequisite: 102 or 103, or permission of the instructor. This course fulfills the language graduation requirement.
09:30 AM-10:20 AM, MTWR
KADE SEM
GRMN 201-02 Intermediate German I: Contemporary German Cultures
Instructor: Antje Pfannkuchen, David Takamura
Course Description:
What did the Brothers Grimm do besides collecting fairy tales? How do narratives inform national identity? Why do Germans return their empty bottles to the store? Students approach such questions, which touch on language, culture, economics, geography, history, and more, through a variety of media in this course. At the same time, students review grammatical structures, expand their knowledge of stylistic forms, and practice various registers of written and spoken German. German 201 aims to develop students skills to understand and reflect upon German-language culture at a basic intermediate level. Classes meet four days a week. Prerequisite: 102 or 103, or permission of the instructor. This course fulfills the language graduation requirement.
10:30 AM-11:20 AM, MTWR
KADE SEM
GRMN 202-01 Intermediate German II: Mediated German Cultures
Instructor: Antje Pfannkuchen
Course Description:
What was occupied Vienna like in post-WWII Central Europe? How does a film convey fear? Is German academic writing different from how I write papers at Dickinson? Posing these or similar questions, this course builds students basic intermediate level of cultural and linguistic skill and explores the challenges of understanding and communicating with various media in colloquial, academic, and professional contexts. As it does so, students will acquire a better understanding of contemporary and historical issues, anxieties, and desires in the German-speaking world. There will be a special focus on writing in different modes, as this is a writing in the discipline (WiD) course. Prerequisite: 201, or permission of the instructor.
10:30 AM-11:20 AM, MTWR
BOSLER 321
GRMN 250-01 Europe's Dictators
Instructor: Karl Qualls
Course Description:
Cross-listed with HIST 375-01. Contrary to the hope of contemporaries, World War I was not "the war to end all wars." Instead, at its end Europe emerged into a world of unprecedented turmoil and confusion, a time that was nonetheless permeated with hope, idealism, and possibility. This course explores European politics, society, gender, and culture between 1918 and 1945, focusing on the extreme developments in Germany, Russia, Spain, and Italy during this time. We will examine the emergence, development, form, and consequences of the rule of Hitler, Stalin, Franco and Mussolini and explore the relationship of these dictators to the states that sustained them.
01:30 PM-02:45 PM, MT
DENNY 103
GRMN 251-01 German and Austrian Culture, Politics and History through Music Videos
Instructor: Kamaal Haque
Course Description:
Music videos are a popular form of entertainment. In this course, however, we will treat selected videos as something more: as texts that reveal insights into German and Austrian culture, politics and history. For decades, musical artists have used videos to address the cultural and political issues of the day. In this course, we will discuss some of these issues as relating to German and Austrian culture. Topics may include the legacy of the Holocaust, immigration to Germany, discrimination, and current politics. Artists studies may include Hubert von Goisern, Advanced Chemistry, Ok Kid, K.I.Z. and more. Course is in German.
03:00 PM-04:15 PM, MR
BOSLER 310
GRMN 303-01 The Two Germanies: Cultures of East and West Germany
Instructor: Antje Pfannkuchen
Course Description:
For 40 years, Germany consisted of two states--the German Democratic Republic (GDR )and the Federal Republic of Germany (BRD). The contexts and conditions within which these two countries developed and their distinct cultural forms are the focus of this course. Literary and artistic production, political structures as well as differences in daily life will be examined within the context of learning more about the two Germanies. Prerequisite: a 200-level German course at 210 or above, or permission of the instructor.
01:30 PM-04:30 PM, W
KADE SEM