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German Literature and Culture in English
250. Literature and Culture of War in
Germany. (3). (HU).
Germany is one of the world's peoples and nations whose experiences and
destiny have been most horrifically intertwined with war. This course introduces
students to the reading and critical understanding of Germany's literature
and cultural reflections of war. Drawing from poems, novels, plays, film,
essays, and memoirs, but also from Clausewitz's canonical philosophic treatise
On War and from painting - from the baroque poet Gryphius to the
20th-century's Brecht, Grass, and Das Boot - the rich and terrible
"culture of war" that has repeatedly marked early-modern and modern
German will be comprehensively examined. One lecture and two discussion
sessions per week. Students will be evaluated by two in-class tests, two
papers, and class attendance and participation. (Bahti)
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Language Courses
101. Elementary Course. All students
with prior coursework in German must take the placement test. No credit
granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 100 or 103. (4).
(LR).
German 101 is an introductory course for students who have not previously
studied German. The course focuses systematically on the development of
all four basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing),
while emphasizing content and meaning at all levels and in all spheres of
the language acquisition process. The unique combination of a weekly group
lecture and individual hourly recitation sections is intended to ensure
that the course work corresponds to the cognitive and intellectual level
of adult language learners.
The weekly lecture period is devoted to chapter quizzes and presentation
of basic points of grammar, as well as linguistic and analytic strategies.
Students learn not only the German language itself, but also about language
and the language learning process more generally. During the weeks in which
there are no chapter quizzes, a portion of the lecture period includes presentations
on culture, history, economics, philosophy, music, and literature. Thus,
students are presented with the immediate intellectual applications of their
foreign language study and are prepared to take advantage of the developing
language opportunities at U of M, such as the specialty 232 courses, LAC
courses, and the expanding German Studies program. In the recitation sessions
(meeting on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) students practice conversational
skills, drill grammar, discuss reading selections in German, and participate
in a variety of activities that stretch linguistic ability, as well as intellectual
curiosity. By the end of the term students have a firm foundation in some
of the fundamental elements of German grammar and are able to understand
and respond appropriately to a variety of texts and basic conversational
situations. Students develop analytic skills and strategies crucial to language
learning and success in other academic fields. The night section (M Th 7-9)
will be coordinated with, but taught separately from the day sections, which
will allow non-traditional night students to be able to attend both evening
lecture and recitation sections. Cost:2 WL:1
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103. Review of Elementary German. Assignment
by placement test or permission of department. No credit granted to those
who have completed or are enrolled in 100 or 102. (4). (LR).
German 103 provides a review of the fundamentals of the German language
for students who have had German language instruction before entering the
University of Michigan. Although this class focuses intensively on grammar
review and vocabulary development, course work systematically addresses
all four basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)
so that students are sufficiently prepared for more advanced university
courses both within and outside of the German department. By the end of
the term, students will have a firm foundation in the fundamental elements
of German grammar and will be able to understand and respond appropriately
to a variety of German texts and conversational situations. Students will
also develop analytic skills and strategies crucial to language learning
and success in other academic fields. Cost:2 WL:1
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205. Conversation Practice. German
102 or 103. Students previously enrolled in a 300- or 400-level conversation
course may not register for 205 or 206. (1). (Excl). Offered mandatory credit/no
credit.
In this course, you will practice situations in which you need to ask for
information, express opinions, summarize important details, and formulate
arguments. The topics cover current events, everyday situations, German
etiquette, and important cultural information. The materials for the class
will come from German websites as well as various materials from the instructor.
this class is open to students who are at a German 221, 231, or 232 level
and those who intend to participate in the junior-year abroad program. Course
requirements are: active class participation, thorough preparation, and
oral presentations.
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221. Accelerated Third Semester German.
Placement test. No credit granted to those who have completed 230
or 231. Four credits granted to those who have completed German 102 or 103.
(5). (Excl).
This course combines an intensive review of basic grammar with more advanced
practice in the four basic language skills (reading, writing, listening,
and speaking). Substantial emphasis will be placed on providing a firm grammatical
base, and on reading, discussing, and writing about authentic German texts
from a variety of fields ranging from natural and social science to history,
literature, and the arts. By the end of the course, students will be able
to read and write about short texts from periodicals and textbooks, and
from classic texts by Nietzsche, Kafka, etc., independently, so that
they will be able to pursue their own specific interests in German 232 and
beyond. Requirements include daily homework assignments (reading, writing,
learning vocabulary, etc.), regular attendance, video assignments,
three in-class tests, and a final examination. Cost:2 WL:1
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231. Second-Year Course. German
102 or 103, or the equivalent (placement test). No credit granted to those
who have completed or are enrolled in 230 or 221. (4). (LR).
In this course, grammar and vocabulary from the first year will be reviewed
and extended. Greater emphasis will be placed on reading German texts and
talking and writing about them in German. Reading texts include both short
literary works and non-fictional texts from a variety of fields ranging
from history to science and the arts. Course requirements include daily
homework assignments (reading, writing, learning vocabulary, etc.)
regular attendance, video assignments, three in-class tests, and a final
examination. Cost:2 WL:1
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232. Second-Year Course. German
221 or 231 or the equivalent (placement test). No credit granted to those
who have completed or are enrolled in 230 or 236. (4). (LR). All sections
of German 232 address special topics, e.g., music, philosophy, science,
current political issues, etc.
Second course of a two-term sequence in intermediate German. The second-year
program is designed to increase students' proficiency in understanding,
speaking, writing, and reading German. Students are expected to increase
the level of accuracy at which they can understand German texts and express
themselves in their area of interest. The language of instruction is German.
Each section of 232 aims to introduce students to the study of a specific
discipline in German. For descriptions of individual sections, see below.
Section 001 - German Crime Stories: Literature and Popular Culture. In this class, we will examine the representation of crime in various texts and genres with a view to establish some characteristic features of these genres. In particular, we will try to establish what sets "serious" crime "literature" apart from "popular" crime fiction and crime journalism, so that this course will constitute a serious and entertaining introduction to the question "What is literature?" Friedrich Durrenmatt's novel Der Richter und sein Henker will constitute the main part of this course. We will read stories by other "serious" writers (Max von der Grün, Günter Kunert, Wolfdletrich Schnurre) and by "popular" writers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. We will read newspaper articles and compare their approaches to crimes that caught people's attention. Towards the end, we will discuss Doris Dörrie's movie Happy Birthday, Türkel!! Be prepared to read, write, and talk a lot. One brief presentation, three short essays, one midterm, one final, some grammar, some fun. Cost:2 WL:1
Section 002 - Contemporary German Society & Business Culture. While building a basic vocabulary and reviewing essential grammar appropriate to this level, students will be reading a variety of authentic texts dealing with such current issues as Germany's geographic location; Germany's recent history and the need to come to terms with its past; the reunification of "the two" Germanies and repercussions thereof in contemporary German society and business world; foreigners in German society and the workplace; and the evolution of the European Union. Cost:1 WL:1
Section 003 - Topics In Music. This course is designed to provide
students with an introduction to the discipline of music by focusing on
the works of a particular composer or period. For example, this course has
in recent years focused on Mozart's Magic Flute. Students will study
the composer or period from a variety of perspectives, and will also develop
vocabulary and reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through
activities focused on that composer or period. There are no musical prerequisites
for this course, but students should be willing to sing! Cost:2 WL:1
Sections 004 and 005 - Mathematical and Scientific German. In this
course we will spend several weeks each reading, discussing, and actually
doing some basic math, computer, physics, astronomy, and biology work in
German (just as Einstein learned to do these things in English...). The
necessary vocabulary and grammar will be provided along the way. This should
be easier than it perhaps sounds, because the technical terms are usually
very similar in German and English, and there is a clear context for guessing
the meaning of unknown words. No background in math or science is assumed.
Grades will be based on participation, homework, quizzes, and exams. Cost:1
WL:1
Section 006 - Opposition and Resistance In Nazi Germany. Germany during the Third Reich was by far not the monolithic society which Nazi ideologues had envisioned. Despite an ever-tightening grip on the population opposition to the regime took on many forms, from civil disobedience to violent opposition. Moreover, such resistance originated from different backgrounds, political as well as religious. In this section we will explore the historical situation by analyzing first hand documents and by studying modern textbook narratives. A film portrait of "The White Rose," a students' resistance group, will serve as an introduction to the constraints of everyday life in a dictatorship. By investigating historical moments of resistance and opposition we will also become familiar with history as an academic discipline, its terminology, its sources, its writing, its methods. Cost:1 WL:1 (Puff)
Section 007 - Women's Studies: A German Perspective. This course
serves as an introduction to the complex field of Women's Studies in contemporary
Germany. We will approach this topic from different angles: (1) we will
familiarize ourselves with the current debates in feminist and gender theory;
(2) we will explore the cultural production of women in literature, film,
and art. We will start our exploration with post-unification Germany, and
extend the inquiry back into the immediate postwar period dealing with both
East and West Germany. The language of instruction will be German. Student
evaluation will be based on participation in class, regular writing exercises,
oral presentations, and a substantial presentation at the end of the term
on a topic of the student's choice. Cost:2 WL:1 (Hell)
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305. Conversation Practice. German
232; concurrent enrollment in a 300-level course is encouraged but not necessary.
Students who have previously participated in a 400-level conversation course
may not register for 305 or 306. (1). (Excl). Offered mandatory credit/no
credit. This course does not satisfy the language requirement. May be elected
for credit twice.
The goal of this course is to increase students' confidence in speaking
on any topic and, therefore, the course will focus on a variety of topics
ranging from practical language situations to current cultural events to
areas of students' academic interests. Students will work on expanding vocabulary,
finding synonyms, and understanding/using varying spoken styles, which are
necessary to appreciate life in German-speaking communities. The materials
for the class will come from German websites as well as various materials
from the instructor. Course requirements are: energetic class participation,
thorough preparation, e-mail in German with the instructor and fellow students,
and oral presentations.
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325. Intermediate German. German
232. (3). (Excl).
This course is primarily intended to improve fluency and accuracy in written
and spoken German. Each section of 325 aims to introduce students to the
study of a specific discipline in German. For descriptions of individual
sections, see below.
Section 001 - Contemporary German Life. The goal of this course is to familiarize students with contemporary German politics and life, and to enable them to read and discuss newspaper articles on these topics on their own. Readings will be taken from various sources. Strong emphasis will be placed on the development of the vocabulary and grammar required to discuss such matters. Written work will consist of papers every other week which are corrected and returned in each intervening week. The term will conclude with an oral report instead of a term paper. Cost:1 WL:1 (Cowen)
Section 003 - Verfilmte Literature. This course will be based on four or five pieces of German literature which have been made into films. After reading sections of the literature, we will view the films. Class discussions and written assignments will be based on analysis, comparison, and contrast of the written and filmed versions. Grammar and questions of written style will be reviewed according to needs of the class. The language of instruction is German. Cost:1 WL:1 (VanValkenburg)
Section 004 - The German Language through Space and Time. The
goal of this section of German 325 is to acquaint students with the discourse
and methods of German dialectology and language history. We shall survey
the historical development of German and its dialects from the beginnings
to the present day, in the context of changing sociological, political,
economic, and cultural environments. As we study the changes in vocabulary,
pronunciation, and grammar of German, we shall also examine illustrative
texts from a variety of genres, translate the older ones into modern German,
and compare their features with those of modern German. Then, toward the
end of the course, we shall turn our attention to the divisions between
East and West, between political Left and Right, between native and immigrant,
between generations, and between genders, and how those divisions are reflected
in language behavior. Our studies will fall into three areas: (1) readings
from the textbook; (2) discussions of the illustrative texts; and (3) discussions
of weekly homework problems. There will be weekly quizzes on the previous
week's readings, frequent short papers on those readings, and frequent oral
presentations in class. Review of grammar will be conducted as needed. Cost:2
WL:1 (Kyes)
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350. Business German. German
232. (3). (Excl).
This course introduces students to the language of business German and gives
them insight into Germany's place in the global economy. The course is organized
around major business and economic topics, such as: the geography of business
in German; the European Union and Germany's roll therein; trade; traffic
and transportation, marketing, industry; money and banking; and ecology.
In addition to the basic text, students will read actual business, merchandising,
and advertising material, newspapers and magazines. There will also be short
videos on business and related topics. There will be three major exams,
a number of short reports, papers, and projects and a final exam. The language
of instruction is German. Cost:1 WL:4 (VanValkenburg)
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