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German

Faculty

German-speaking countries enjoy a long tradition at the cultural and political core of Europe. During the last two hundred years their importance has steadily increased, and with the recent developments in Eastern Europe their influence seems certain to expand even more.

The importance of the German language has grown correspondingly: it is the second foreign language after English in the countries of central and Eastern Europe, and its use is spreading within the European Community. Learning German opens the door to many fields of intellectual, technical and politico-economic endeavor. German scholars have been leaders in philosophy, the sciences, history, archaeology, sociology and political science. German literature is equally distinguished: writers like Goethe, Kafka, Rilke, Brecht, Mann, Wolf, Grass, Jelinek, zdamar, etc., have dealt with the widest possible range of human problems and concerns, and have been recognized worldwide.

The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures offers courses on literature from the Middle Ages to the present, so that the student may acquire an overview of this significant element of German life and culture. We offer language courses from beginning and intermediate to advanced levels, with practice in reading, writing, comprehending and speaking German, as well as stylistics, linguistics, and the specialized vocabulary and concepts of business. Language and literature instruction is integrated as far as possible, with the aim of teaching students advanced critical literacy in German. The department offers a minor in Yiddish, with instruction offered from beginning and intermediate to advanced levels. German combines well with other modern languages and literatures, and double-majors are encouraged. Students in a variety of programs, such as Cinema Studies, European Studies, Literary Studies, Drama, and others, will benefit from courses in German language, literature and culture.The Department supports opportunities for students to study and work in Germany, by encouraging participation in programs established by the German government, by Canadian universities, and by our own Arts and Science Facultys Study Elsewhere Program. One of these is the exchange program under which Toronto students can spend the academic year at the Humboldt University in Berlin.

A knowledge of German is a virtual necessity for specialists in many disciplines; it is also very useful in certain career areas (e.g., the foreign service, interpretation and translation, librarianship, business and commerce, music, tourism, and of course teaching). The successful completion of a four-year program, including seven approved courses in German, may entitle the student to enter the M.A. or Ph.D. program in the Graduate Division of the Department.

Students entering with some previous knowledge of German but without an OAC or equivalent qualification are required to contact the department to write an initial assessment test and will then be advised to take courses at the appropriate level. Students who have taken German in high school to OAC or equivalent level will normally begin with GER200Y1. Please check the department's web site at www.german.utoronto.ca for more information.

Information on studies in German Language and/or Literature can be obtained from the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies at german.undergrad@utoronto.ca.

Enquiries: Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures

Address: 50 St. Joseph Street, Odette Hall #322

Tel.: 416-926-2324

Email: german@chass.utoronto.ca

Website: www.german.utoronto.ca

German Programs

The German Department offers a Specialist or a Major program in German Studies, as well as Minor programs in German Studies, Business German, Yiddish Studies and German Studies in English. Enrolment in the Specialist and Major programs in German is open to students who have successfully completed their first year. Please consult the Faculty of Arts and Science Calendar and/or the German Department website for more general program requirements and a list of courses offered.

Enrolment in this program requires the completion of 4.0 courses.

(10 full courses or their equivalent)

1. GER100Y1, GER200Y1, GER300Y1, GER400H1
2. GER150H1 (to be taken within the first two years of studies)
3. GER205H1, GER305H1
4. At least 3.5 additional F.C.E. in GER courses on the 300-level
5. At least 1.5 additional F.C.E. in GER courses on the 400-level
6. No more than 2 F.C.E. courses taught in English
7. Preapproved cognate courses may count toward the program

Please note: (a) GER150H1 must be taken within the first two year of study; (b) students must complete GER205H1 before taking ANY 300-level topic courses taught in German (i.e. typically in the second year, concurrently with GER200Y1); (c) students must complete GER305H1 before taking ANY 400-level topic courses taught in German; (d) 300-level courses may be replaced by 400-level courses (inquire in advance); (e) all specialists should schedule an appointment with the Undergraduate Coordinator for personalized counselling as early in their studies as possible.

Enrolment in this program requires the completion of 4.0 courses.

(7 full courses or their equivalent)

1. GER100Y1, GER200Y1, GER300Y1, GER400H1
2. GER150H1 (to be taken within the first two years of studies)
3. GER205H1, GER305H1
4. At least 1.5 additional F.C.E. in GER courses on the 300-level
5. At least 0.5 additional F.C.E. in GER courses on the 400-level
6. No more than 1.5 F.C.E. courses taught in English
7. Preapproved cognate courses may count toward the program

Please note: (a) GER150H1 must be taken within the first two year of study; (b) students must complete GER205H1 before taking ANY 300-level topic courses taught in German (i.e. typically in the second year, concurrently with GER200Y1); (c) students must complete GER305H1 before taking ANY 400-level topic courses taught in German; (d) 300-level courses may be replaced by 400-level courses (inquire in advance); (e) all majors should schedule an appointment with the Undergraduate Coordinator for personalized counselling as early in their studies as possible.

Enrolment in this program requires the completion of 4.0 courses.

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

1. GER100Y1, GER200Y1, GER300Y1
2. At least 0.5 additional F.C.E. in GER courses on the 300-level
3. The remainder of the four courses or equivalent must have a GER designator
4. No more than 0.5 F.C.E. may be taken in English

Note: Students registered for a German Specialist or Major may not simultaneously be registered for a German Minor program.

The Department of German offers a variety of courses on culture, literature, theatre, film and critical thought from the Middle Ages to the present. They are designed to meet the different needs and interests of students on all levels. As one of the smaller departments within this large university, the German Department provides substantial knowledge and skills in intimate class settings.

The Minor “German Studies in English Translation” gives students the opportunity to embark on the study of German culture without first having to master a foreign language. A progression of courses leading from an “Introduction to German Culture” to “Intellectual History” and “Critical Theory” allows students to acquire skills of analytical understanding, critical judgment, and scholarly writing through the in-depth reading and discussion of literary and cultural texts, as well as of films and dramatic performances. At the end of the minor, the student will have a sense of the most fascinating aspects of German culture, including its unrivaled contribution to the Western tradition—in literature (Goethe, Mann, Kafka), thought (Marx, Nietzsche, Freud), cinema (Fritz Lang, Wim Wenders, Werner Herzog)—and its connections to Germany’s tumultuous modern political era (the Weimar Republic, Nazism, and the Cold War and Berlin Wall).

Specific Requirements: (1) The Minor Program requires 4 full courses (FCE), three of which have to have a GER denominator; (2) Required courses are GER 150H (German Cultural Studies; first year) and either GER 410H (German Intellectual History) or GER 411 (Critical Theory); (3) Optional courses are GER 220Y (German Literature), GER 240H (German Drama), GER 250H (German Film), GER 261H (Yiddish Cinema), GER 338H (Narratives of the Body), GER 361H (Yiddish Literature) and GER 429H (Medieval German); (4) A maximum of 1.0 FCE in cognate courses is allowed (i.e. courses offered by other departments containing a relevant Germanic component and a final paper on a Germanic topic); please inquire at the Department and get approved in advance. For a list of courses taught in English, please check the German Department website.

Note: Students registered for a German Specialist or Major may not simultaneously be registered for a German Minor program.

Enrolment in this program requires the completion of 4.0 courses.

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

1. GER100Y1, GER200Y1, GER300Y1
2. GER370H1, GER372H1
3. The remainder of the four courses or equivalent must have a GER designator
4. No courses may be taken in English.

Note: Students enrolled in the German Studies Specialist of Major Program may not simultaneously enroll for a Business German Minor Program.

Enrolment in this program requires the completion of 4.0 courses.

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

1. GER260Y1, GER360H1, GER462H1
2. The remaining courses should be taken from GER261H1, GER361H1, GER362H1, GER365H1; or GER100Y1, GER490H1/490Y1, ENG256Y1, HIS208Y1/HIS433H1, SLA202H1, DTS 200 and other pre-approved cognate courses

German Courses

The 199Y1 and 199H1 seminars are designed to provide the opportunity to work closely with an instructor in a class of no more than twenty-four students. These interactive seminars are intended to stimulate the students’ curiosity and provide an opportunity to get to know a member of the professorial staff in a seminar environment during the first year of study. Details here.

Notes: (a) All students with previous knowledge of the German language, as well as students returning from extended stays in German-speaking countries, are REQUIRED to take a placement test offered at the Department. (b) The Department reserves the right to place students in the language course appropriate to their level of language skill. (c) More detailed course descriptions and reading lists for the various courses are available from the instructor.

This is the language course to take if you have had no previous experience of the German language before. The emphasis is on comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary and basic grammar. This course can be counted towards all programs in German.

Note: Students with any previous knowledge of German are REQUIRED to take a placement test offered at the department.

This course is intended for students with some prior knowledge of German. It is equivalent to the Spring Term of GER100Y1. The emphasis is on comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary and basic grammar.

Exclusion: Senior high school German or equivalent
Distribution Requirement Status: This is a Humanities course
Breadth Requirement: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

GER150H1    Introduction to German Culture (E)[36S]

This course taught in English is intended for students who are unfamiliar with German culture. It examines historical, political and cultural developments in Germany from about 1871 to the present focusing on literary and non-literary texts.

 Note: This course is required for the major and specialist program, and can only be taken within the first two years. In later years it may be substituted with GER310H1.

This course continues the work done in GER100Y1 / GER101H1. It further expands on basic grammar and vocabulary, practice in comprehension, composition, and conversation.

This course offers a transition from the language courses to the topic courses on the 300-level. It introduces students to German literature and provides them with working methods and analytical tools relevant for the study of German literary texts in the original German.

Note: This course is required for the major and specialist program

This course taught in English is an introduction to major authors of German literature, such as J.W. Goethe, F. Kafka, T. Mann, G. Grass, C. Wolf and E.S. Özdamar, focusing on their key works and introducing central topics.

Exclusion: GER204H1
Distribution Requirement Status: This is a Humanities course
Breadth Requirement: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

GER240H1    German Drama in Translation (E) (formerly GER232H1)[36S]

This course taught in English offers a general survey introducing major dramatic works from the German-speaking countries from the eighteenth century to the present. Plays by authors such as G.E. Lessing, F. Schiller, G. Büchner, B. Brecht, P. Weiss and E. Jelinek.

Exclusion: GER232H1
Distribution Requirement Status: This is a Humanities course
Breadth Requirement: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

GER250H1    Topics in German Film History (E)[24P/24S]

Focusing on a specific era of film production (e.g.Weimar cinema, Nazi era and postwar, feminist filmmaking, New German Cinema or Postwall), this course explores the relationship between social movements and film form and style. Taught in English. Cross-listed with the Cinema Studies Program Innis College.

Exclusion: GER351H1
Distribution Requirement Status: This is a Humanities course
Breadth Requirement: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

GER260Y1    Elementary Yiddish[72P]

This course introduces Yiddish language, literature, music, theater, and cinema through interactive multi-media seminars, designed to build proficiency in reading, writing and comprehending. No prior knowledge of Yiddish is required.

Distribution Requirement Status: This is a Humanities course
Breadth Requirement: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

GER261H1    History of Yiddish Cinema (E) (formerly GER364H1)[24P/24S]

This course traces the history of Yiddish cinema from its beginnings in 1911 to the end of the twentieth century. There will be 2 hours viewing time and 2 hours lectures per week. Cross-listed with the Cinema Studies Program Innis College.

Exclusion: GER364H1
Distribution Requirement Status: This is a Humanities course
Breadth Requirement: Creative and Cultural Representations (1)

GER299Y1    Research Opportunity Program

This is a credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. Details here.

Continuing the work done in GER100Y1 and GER200Y1, this course offers German at the intermediate level focusing on extension of vocabulary, specific problems of grammar, essay-writing, reading and conversation. The Department reserves the right to place students in the appropriate course in the series GER200Y1 and 300Y1.

Building on the work of GER205H1, this course offers a survey of German literature and culture from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. Within a chronological framework, students read and analyze excerpts from representative works of major German writers.

 Note: This course is required for the major and specialist program, and should be taken concurrently with GER300Y1

This course focuses on contemporary German culture as expressed through a variety of media. It approaches Germany and Germanys position within Europe and the world mainly (but not exclusively) through non-literary texts.

Note: This course may count as a substitute course for the required GER150H1; please inquire in advance.

Goethe and his contemporaries saw themselves faced with a rapidly changing world. This course examines the innovative literary experiments they developed in response to these changing times.

This course focuses on German authors of the nineteenth century. Literary, political and philosophical texts are analyzed as a discussion of political uprisings, the industrial revolution and the emergence of German nationalism.

Franz Kafkas texts are read in the literary, historical, and philosophical context of fin-de-sicle Prague and central Europe.

This course focusing roughly on the period from 1918 to 1945 examines literary and artistic movements like Dada, Bauhaus, the Golden Age in German film in the decades between World War I and Nazism.

An examination of post-World War II German literature and culture from Zero Hour through to present-day debates about the Holocaust and its memorialization within a German context.

This course offers an introduction and exploration of German poetry from all ages. The focus lies on poems which pick as a central topic the self in its relation to itself, others, and society.

An analysis of the artistic confrontation with deviance, madness, and outsiders. The course covers expressions of this confrontation in a variety of genres.

This course offers an exploration of the cultural developments of one of the most exciting capitals of the world, from the Bismarckian era to German reunification and beyond.

In this course, we examine literary and cinematic explorations of bioethical questions, in order to understand how artistic discourse approaches problems such as normality, madness, and biopower. Readings could include texts by G. Buechner, H. Kleist, E.T.A. Hoffmann, F. Kafka, and T. Mann, among others. All material will be read in English translation.

The course offers close reading, rehearsing and staging of a play. Students will become familiar with the different steps of a theater production, be introduced to basic acting and staging techniques and get acquainted to leading theories of theater.

This course presents students with a survey of the history and development of the German cinema. It examines major trends of German cinematography focusing on thematic and formal aspects.

The topics of this course taught in English and open to students from other disciplines vary from year to year. Interested students can address questions to Woodsworth College.

Students who wish to petition the department for credit toward a specialist or major program in German will be required to do part of their work in German.

The course conducted in Yiddish offers a review of basic grammar, stylistics, study of short literary texts.

An overview of the major figures and tendencies in modern Yiddish literature and culture from the beginning of the 19th century to the present. Readings (in English) of modern Yiddish prose, poetry, drama and cinema.

The course focuses on Soviet Jewish culture between 1917 and 1991. Works in translation by Soviet Yiddish writers and poets, performances of central Yiddish theatres, and publications in central Yiddish periodicals will be analyzed as expressions of Soviet ideology and of ethnic identity.

The course examines the pre-modern cultural contacts (and conflicts) between Jews and Germans by analyzing important Yiddish and German narrative traditions from the 12th-17th centuries.

Topics in modern Yiddish or German Jewish literature and culture from the beginning of the 19th century to the present, featuring a selection of readings of modern Yiddish prose, poetry, drama and cinema. Taught in English and open to students across disciplines.

The course offers an in introduction to the use of German in the professional/business context and has been designed to provide students with practical experience applying to jobs in German-speaking countries. The emphasis lies on oral and written communication.

 Note: This course is required for the minor program in Business German

An intensive internship in Berlin, focusing on work/study and intercultural learning.

Intensive development of the linguistic skills needed in the context of a German business environment.

An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details here.

An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details here.

This is a course for advanced learners of German reviewing complex features of the language and introducing to aspects of German stylistics. The emphasis lies on oral and written communication.

This course taught in English offers an examination of key moments and themes in German intellectual history from the Enlightenment to the present.

The course familiarizes students with some of the key issues in critical theory today. Focusing on current debates, it will provide the background to these debates.

With the representation of gender as its focus, this course will examine key works of modern German literature, where typical themes range from love, lust and treachery to masochism, cross-dressing and other forms of gender trouble.

This course investigates contemporary German culture by paying attention to its other or alternate voices and perspectives, i.e. those not usually prevalent in mainstream cultural and sociopolitical discourses.

This course introduces to the literature and some philosophical tenets of Romanticism (roughly 1798-1830) as an occasionally thorough and challenging critique of Enlightenment, modern science, and modernity.

This course offers an introduction to the language, literature and culture of Medieval Germany. The reading and translation of exemplary medieval German texts will introduce to Middle High German and provide an insight into epochal concepts like courtly love and chivalry as well as courtly and monastic designs of identity.

An open course which explores specific topics in Medieval literature and culture. It serves to introduce to seminal premodern texts and discourses.

An open course which explores specific aspects of German literature and culture.

This course conducted entirely in Yiddish focuses on advanced reading, writing, vocabulary and conversation, the study of poetry, short fiction, and memoir literature by leading authors. Selected advanced grammatical topics are presented in conjunction with the study of texts.

A reading & research project in Germanic literature and/or culture involving a substantive research component.

A scholarly project chosen by the student and supervised by a member of the staff. The form of the project and the manner of its execution are determined in consultation with the supervisor.