Courses

The course will consist of a systematic introduction to German grammar, vocabulary, and exercises with the sole goal of learning to read academic German. The course will not include conversational German nor is there a high expectation of memorized vocabulary. There is however an expectation that the student will analyse, comprehend, and accurately translate German at a complex syntactical level such as is used in scholarly journals and texts. There are no minimal expectations of knowledge of German to enter the course, but some familiarity with German will assist in maintaining the pace of the course.

Knowing…

• The student will be able to pass a German reading exam for the purposes of the Ph.D. program upon completion of the course. Passing the exam will qualify the student for the language requirement of their respective Ph.D. programs. There will be no need for any further exams.

Being…

• German Quickly is designed to be an introductory text that the student will enjoy. The whole course will be designed to make the experience fun and profitable. Learning languages should not be drudgery. Concepts will be covered so that better clarity is achieved in all use of language. Frisch begonnen ist halb gewonnen! (A fresh start is half the victory.)

Doing…

• The student will read German voluntarily for enjoyment, will not hesitate to include research available only in German, and will become a little bit familiar with Germany.