Hope College | Department of Modern and Classical Languages

Introduction to German. Students will achieve an elementary communicative competency in both spoken and written German. Oral work in class forms the cornerstone of learning, augmented by computer and written exercises to assist in learning vocabulary and essential grammatical structures.
Four Credits Forester Fall Semester

Continuation of German I designed to further communicative development as well as cultural understanding and control of more sophisticated German language skills. Conducted primarily in German. Prerequisite: German I, equivalent or placement. Four Credits Forester Spring Semester

Continuation of German II with emphasis on reading and writing skills, as well as the study of the culture in greater depth. Students meet three times per week in a Master Class and one time with a native German assistant. Students will gain greater communicative skills as well as more in-depth cultural awareness. Conducted in German. Prerequisite: German II, equivalent, or placement.
Four Credits de Haan, Forester Fall Semester

For German 201 and every course higher, a grade of C+ or better is required in order to proceed to the next course in the sequence.

Continuation of German III with added emphasis on reading and writing skills, as well as the study of the culture in greater depth. Students meet three times per week in a Master Class and one time with a native German assistant. Increased linguistic development and cultural awareness will prepare students for successful overseas study. Conducted in German. Prerequisites: German 201, placement, or equivalent, and a grade of C+ or better in German 201.
Four Credits Forester Spring Semester

Practical experience in the German language in various contexts such as teaching German at the elementary level, translating, or using German skills in business. The number of credits granted will be determined by the number of hours involved per week. This course may be repeated for credit but a maximum of two credits from German 280 may be counted as part of a German major or minor. Prior permission of instructor and chairperson required.
Credits to be Arranged Both Semesters

A course designed to allow a professor to teach in an area of special interest and experience. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Two or Four Credits de Haan Both Semesters

An intensive study of biographical/ autobiographical writing in German, through the careful reading and analysis of texts, which serve as models of style and organization for the students’ own writing. Representative texts are chosen from authors such as Goethe, Nietzsche, Freud, Mann, Boll, and Grass. Pedagogical emphasis is on the improvement of writing skills and a review of advanced principles of German grammar. Conducted entirely in German. Prerequisite: German 202, placement, or equivalent. Four Credits de Haan Fall Semester

Introduction to the essential vocabulary and style specific to German commercial transactions, as well as to the basic workings of the German economy. Students familiarize themselves with the German used in commerce and economics, industry and labor, import and export, transportation systems, communication, banking, marketing, management-labor relations, and Germany’s role in the European Union. Students develop reading, listening, speaking and writing skills using contemporary economics and business texts and conventions. Conducted in German. Prerequisite: German 202, placement, or equivalent. Four Credits Staff

A study of German film from the 1920s to the current scene, discussing such film makers as Murnau, Papst, Lang, Fassbinder, Herzog and Wenders. The class examines the German concept of “Heimat” through the use of literary texts and film, contrasting home as a place of residence, a set of relationships, a “homeland” nation, and a region of birth. Films, readings, lectures and discussion in German. Prerequisite: German 202, placement, or equivalent. Four Credits Staff

Creation and production of a German play. Students write/edit and stage a play in German, developing proficiency in the language through readings by several authors, such as Friedrich Durrenmatt and Bertolt Brecht, including theoretical writings on the theater. This play will be performed publicly. Conducted in German. Prerequisite: German 202, placement, or equivalent.
Four Credits Chamness

Building on the current explosion in e-mail, the World Wide Web and cyberspace, this course will introduce students to Germany through these electronic media. Students will become familiar with many aspects of contemporary German life and culture, such as politics, music, current events, through text, audio, video and other media on-line through the Internet. The capstone of the course will be a group project in which students actually build a functioning German-language Web site focused on a particular aspect of German culture and life. Conducted in German. Prerequisite: German 202, placement or equivalent. Four Credits Forester

This survey of the most significant works of German Literature serves as an introduction to the study of literature in the German language. We will examine and analyze poetry, drama, and Novellen by a variety of authors and learn approaches to secondary literature. Conducted entirely in German. Prerequisite: German 202, placement, or equivalent.
Four Credits Staff Spring Semester

A conversation practicum for students who are residing in the German House. Cultural and language-oriented activities form part of
the practicum, directed by the native assistant under the supervision of an instructor. May be repeated for credit but a maximum of one credit of German 380 may be counted as part of a German major or minor. Prerequisite: German 102, placement, or equivalent. One-Half Credit de Haan Both Semesters

A study of 20th century German culture, including economic, political, sociological, and creative forces and their influence on the German speaking world. Conducted in German. Prerequisite: at least 2 courses at the 300 level, placement, or equivalent- . Four Credits Chamnes

A study of origins, development, and significance of Germanic civilization, exploring creation and doomsday mythology, tribal life, courtly society, Minnesang, Hildegard von Bingen, Barbarossa, Luther, Faust, Zarathustra, Grimm Brothers, Marx, Spengler, Wagner, and Nazi mythology. Prerequisite: at least 2 courses at the 300 level, placement, or equivalent. Four Credits Chamness

An introduction to the history and development of the German language from runes (tribal times) to the present. Topics covered include the relationship of German to English and other European languages, changes in the German language, German dialects and a contrastive analysis of German and English geared to future language teachers. Course conducted in German. Prerequisite: at least 2 courses at the 300 level, placement, or equivalent. Four Credits Forester

A study of major authors of the 19th Century (Droste-Huelshoff, Moerike, Stifter, Storm, Keller, Meyer, Fontane), who developed the Novelle, a uniquely German narrative, used extensively to present significant social changes. Conducted entirely in German. Prerequisite: German 375, placement, or equivalent. Four Credits de Haan

A study of representative works by major modern German authors (Brecht, Boell, Grass, Frisch, Duerrenmatt, Handke, and writers from the former East Germany). Prerequisite: German 375, or permission of instructor. Four Credits Staff

Individual study under the direction of an instructor designated by the chairperson of the department in one of the following areas: literature, language, civilization, or methodology. This course may be repeated upon consultation with departmental faculty advisor; a maximum of eight credits may be counted toward the major. Prerequisites: one 400-level course in German and prior permission of instructor and department chairperson.
Two or Four Credits de Haan Both Semesters

Preparation for a comprehensive examination in the major area of interest. Prerequisite: Permission of department chairperson.
Two or Four Credits de Haan Both Semesters

A course designed to allow a professor to teach in an area of special interest and experience. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Two or Four Credits de Haan Both Semesters

This course provides supervised practical experience in international business, media, education, or government. Normally junior status and the completion of at least a German minor are prerequisites. Although ordinarily taken in conjunction with an existing off-campus program, students working together with faculty may make individual arrangements with a local host institution or organization. Following consultation with the off-campus coordinator, each applicant for this internship is required to submit a proposal describing in detail the program to be pursued, including the materials which will be submitted; a time schedule for submitting evidence; and the criteria for performance evaluation. If possible, proposals should be finalized prior to the semester in which the internship will occur. The number of credits to be determined in consultation with instructor and the chairperson. May be repeated for credit but a maximum of two credits from German 499 may be counted as part of a German major or minor. Approval of the chairperson is required. Both Semesters

GERMAN COURSE OFFERINGS