Programs for students wishing to major in German are worked out for them individually by departmental advisors who should be consulted early. Calvin-sponsored programs are available in Germany and Austria for the interim, a semester, the academic year, or the summer. Students interested in such programs should work out the details with the department chair, the director of off-campus programs, and the registrar.

Major & Minor

GERMAN MAJOR
German 215
German 216
German 315
Two 300-level literature courses.
Six electives numbered 123 or higher (except 261), one of which may be the German Interim Abroad (30-32 semester hours)

GERMAN MINOR
German 215
Five courses from German 123 or higher (except 261), one of which may be the German Interim Abroad (20-22 semester hours)

GERMAN EDUCATION MAJOR
German 201 and 202
German 215 and 216
German 315
Two 300-level literature courses
Three approved electives (excluding 261).
German 356 or 357

GERMAN EDUCATION MINOR
German 201 and 202
German 215 and 216
Two approved electives (excluding 261).
German 356 or 357

Students in teacher education (secondary majors and minors and elementary minors) must pass the test administered by the State of Michigan. They must also pass a departmental German proficiency examination prior to the teaching internship. This examination is offered twice each school year, during October and March; for details see B. Carvill. Additional criteria for approval for the teacher education program are found in the Teacher Education Program Guidebook, available in the Education Department.

To be eligible for the major or minor program, a student must have completed at least two courses in German with a minimum grade of C (2.0) and must have completed 102, 122, or the equivalent. The fine arts core may be met by German literature courses numbered 217 and above.

Placement Test

Where will I be placed? What if I wind up in the wrong class? The staff of the German Department recognizes that such questions can be very unsettling. If you find yourself in too difficult a course, you will experience unnecessary frustration; if you find yourself in too easy a course, you will waste a lot of time (and money!) going over material which you already know. The nationally normed test which the Department uses to place students distinguishes levels all the way up to that of "native speaker." We use the test — along with other information you provide — to place you at the level for which you are best prepared.

At the moment, the Department offers five basic levels for the incoming student: German 101, 121, 201, 215 and 217. At the "Passport" session you attend, you will have the opportunity to discuss your placement with your advisor or a member of the German Department staff. Too, if you should find after a day or two of class that you are incorrectly placed, your instructor can take whatever steps are necessary to switch you to a course you think better suited to your level. (Experience has shown that misplacements are extremely rare, however!)

Courses

The department offers courses in language, literature, pedagogy and civilization.

101 Elementary German (4). F. An introductory course in the comprehension and use of spoken and written German as well as an exposure to the cultures of the German speaking countries. D. Smith.

102 Elementary German (4). S. Continuation of 101. D. Smith.

121-122-123 Introductory and Intermediate German (4,3,4). F, I, S. A closely integrated sequence involving two semesters and the interim for students who have completed two years of high school German but who, on the basis of a placement test, are not prepared for 201. The course is also open with the permission of the department to students in teacher education programs who have had no foreign language in high school. M. Buteyn/D. Smith.

201 Intermediate German (4). F, core. Further development of skills in speaking, listening to, reading and writing German. Includes systematic grammar review, Landeskunde, and introduction to reading a variety of short literary texts. Prerequisite: 102 or four units (two years) of high school German. D. Smith.

202 Intermediate German (4). S, core. Continuation of 201. Prerequisite: 201. D. Smith.

203 Intermediate German (4). F, core. A one- semester course intended specifically for students who have successfully completed three years (six units) of high school German. Selected readings and continued language study. B. Carvill. Not offered 2005/2006.

215 Intermediate Oral and Written Composition (3). F. Exercises, compositions, and drills designed to develop in the student intermediate competence in speaking and writing idiomatic German. Prerequisite: 123 or 202. B. Carvill.

216 Advanced Oral and Written Composition (3). S. An intensive review of German grammar integrated with extensive practice in oral communication. B. Carvill.

315 Advanced Grammar and Stylistics (3). F. For the advanced student who wishes to increase fluency in oral and written German. Study of selected areas of the German language such as advanced grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, and stylistics, with practice in speaking and writing. Prerequisite: 216 or permission of the instructor. B. Carvill.

Literature

217 Readings in Major German Authors (3). F, core. Basic introduction to German literature. Selected readings in major German authors from 1750 to 1850. Prerequisite: 123 or 202. H. DeVries.

218 Readings in Major German Authors (3). S, core. Readings in major German authors from 1850 to the present. Prerequisite: 123 or 202. H. De Vries.

301 Classicism (3).* S, even years. A study of the origins, nature, and literary manifestations of the classical ideal in eighteenth-century Germany. Readings from Lessing, Goethe, and Schiller. Prerequisite: 217, 218, or permission of the instructor. Staff.

303 Romanticism (3). S, odd years. The literary theory and philosophical-religious basis of the German romantic movement as reflected in representative works of both earlier and later Romanticists. Prerequisite: 217, 218, or permission of the instructor. H. DeVries.

304 Nineteenth Century Literature (3).* F, even years. Readings in German, Swiss, and Austrian prose and poetry of the nineteenth century. A survey of the intellectual and cultural changes in this era and an analysis of some literary works characteristic of the period. Prerequisite: 217, 218, or permission of the instructor. B. Carvill.

307 Twentieth-Century German Literature I (3).* F, odd years. Selected readings in German literature from 1890 to 1945, with special emphasis on the works of Th. Mann, Kafka, Hesse, and Brecht. Lectures, discussions, and assigned papers. Prerequisite: 217, 218, or permission of the instructor. B. Carvill.

308 Twentieth-Century German Literature II (3). * S, odd years. Readings in German literature from 1945 to the present from such writers as W. Borchert, Frisch, Böll, and M. Walser. Lectures, discussions, and assigned papers. Prerequisite: 217, 218, or permission of the instructor. D. Smith.

Pedagogy

356 Foreign Language Education in the Elementary School (3). Theory and practice of foreign language teaching in the elementary school. Study of language skill development, second language acquisition, methodologies, curricula and programs. Off-campus school visits for observation and aiding experience. To be taken prior to Education 346 and German 359. Required for elementary and K-12 endorsement. M. Pyper.

357 Introduction to Foreign Language Pedagogy (3). F. An introduction to the major principles and practices of foreign language pedagogy, offering a study of various methodologies and the major controversies associated with them. The course explores how a Christian approach to education affects foreign language pedagogy and how foreign language pedagogy interacts with the learner's personal growth. It also introduces the prospective educator to the teaching of the basic skills, to issues in evaluation and assessment, and the use of technologies in the foreign language classroom. This course should be taken in the junior or senior year, prior to student teaching. Required for secondary certification. Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent registration in Education 301/303. D. Smith.

359 Seminar in Secondary Foreign Language Pedagogy (3). S. A seminar reinforcing the major principles and practices of foreign language pedagogy on the secondary level for students during their semester of directed teaching. The course will provide an opportunity for collaborative work on putting theoretical and pedagogical matters of immediate concern into a practical framework. This course is required concurrently with Education 346. This course does not count as part of the major or minor program. Prerequisites: Education 301/303 and successful completion of the department proficiency exam. M. Pyper.

390 Independent Study. This course is tailored to meet the needs of individual students, to enable them to broaden their familiarity with the more important German literary works, and to deepen their understanding of them in tutorial discussions. Prerequisite: approval of the department chair. Staff.

395 Seminar (3).

Civilization

250 German Civilization (3). F, core. A study of the German spirit as it finds expression particularly in social customs and institutions, religious and political life, and the fine arts. Lectures and discussions. Prerequisite: 123 or 202. Not offered 2005-2006.

261 Introduction to Modern German Culture (3). S. A survey of the German cultural tradition of this century as it finds expression in the various arts, with particular emphasis on films and representative works of literature in translation. Open to all students, but planned primarily for those in designated pre-professional courses whose programs include the "foreign culture"option. No knowledge of German is required. Not offered 2005-2006.