Class meetings: 12:15 - 1:20 in room 319 OEC

Office Hours and Class Schedule

Textbook: Please do not be dissapointed if you go to the UST bookstore and find that there is no textbook available there for you to purchase. The materials for Germ 212 are eithere online or will be distributed to you during the course of the semester by e-mail. The reading material will consist of short stories and essays written by leading German, Austrian and Swiss authors as well as a number of articles on current events from German newspapers and lyrics to current popular songs. So...even if you enjoy spending money on textbooks, you will not have that spending opportunity in Germ 212.

Most of the materials are posted within the Blackboard system. Some of the materials are posted at: Links to texts with sound files Additional materials will be distributed by the instructor or added to the current files on the Blackboard system.

Receiving the course materials: Some materials sent by e-mail will go to your UST e-mail account. If you prefer to use a different e-mail account, please set your UST e-mail to forward materials to your preferred e-mail address. The texts used in the course will be posted in the Blackboard system in the "Course Materials" section.

Tests and Grades: There will be a quiz given daily during the last 10 minutes of class. The quiz will contain 5 sentences, each counting 2 pts. which you will translate either from German to English or from English to German. There will be no mid-term nor final exam. At the end of each half of the semester the lowest quiz grade for that half semester will be dropped and the remaining average will be the quiz grade for that half semester. Tests missed will be graded as F. Make-up tests are given only for serious illness or family emergency.

The composit grade for mid-term and the final will consist of 75% as the average of the quiz grades and 25% on the quality of participation in the classroom discussions (in German).

Absence Policy: You are encouraged to be present for all class meetings. Assuming that learning is your objective, your objective will be best met by attending class and participating actively. There is no penalty for absence per se, but note above that missed tests will be graded as F and have a negative effect on your final grade and days of absence do not, of course, receive credit for participation in classroom discussion.

Tutors: Native German tutors will be available throughout the semester to assist you in study, as needed. The office number and hours will be announced in class early in the semester.

Learning objectives: Vocabulary development, development of reading skills, development of understanding of spoken German, development of speaking ability, grammar review, survey of German culture, introduction to German literature of the 20th century.

Personal considerations:

Welcome to your first non-required German course!

Learning German should be a pleasure rather than drudgery. Indeed this course will require effort on your part. Especially in the early weeks, you will need to spend significant time in looking up words in a dictionary and will need to concentrate to understand spoken German and express yourself in German, but with each passing day, as you continue to develop the skills of learning language and build on what you already know, the process will become more and more natural and less of a conscious effort. As in the development of any skill, be it athletic or intellectual, with increasing mastery, there is increasing pleasure in the exercise and development of your skills. Relax, enjoy your new skills as they develop. The instructor seriously wishes this course to be pleasant and a fulfilling experience for you and will do all he can to make the experience of language learning pleasant and rewarding for you. As you have ideas which might make the course more interesting or make learning easier or more meaningful for you, please do not hesitate to discuss your ideas with the instructor. If there are ways to accommodate your ideas to the academic objectives of the course and the needs of the other students, the instructor will be happy to make adjustments as the course progresses. If you would like to discuss the role of German within the framework of your objectives for the future and your career and personal plans, the instructor will be happy to discuss this with you, share ideas with you and help you design and integrate your learning experiences into your plans for the future.

 

Students with disabilities:
Qualified students with documented disabilities who may need classroom accommodations should make an appointment with the Enhancement Program – Disability Services office during the first two weeks of the term. Telephone appointments are available to students as needed. Appointments can be made by calling 651-962-6315 or 800-328-6819, extension 6315.You may also make an appointment in person in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center, room 119. For further information, you can locate the Enhancement Program on the web at http://www.stthomas.edu/enhancementprog/.Classroom accommodations will be provided for qualified students with documented disabilities. Students are invited to contact the Enhancement Program – Disability Services about accommodations for this course within the first two weeks of the term. Telephone appointments are available to students as needed. Appointments can be made by calling 651-962-6315 or 800-328-6819, extension 6315. You may also make an appointment in person in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center, room 119. For further information, you can locate the Enhancement Program on the web at http://www.stthomas.edu/enhancementprog/.In compliance with the University of St. Thomas policy and disability laws, I am available to discuss academic accommodations that you may require as a student with a disability. Students are encouraged to register with the Enhancement Program-Disability Services office for disability verification and for determination of academic accommodations. Please do so within the first two weeks of the term. Appointments can be made by calling 651-962-6315 or 800-328-6819, extension 6315. Telephone appointments are available as needed. You may also make an appointment in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center, room 119. For further information, you can locate the Enhancement Program on the web at http://www.stthomas.edu/enhancementprog/.

Students with disabilities:
Qualified students with documented disabilities who may need classroom accommodations should make an appointment with the Enhancement Program – Disability Services office during the first two weeks of the term. Telephone appointments are available to students as needed. Appointments can be made by calling 651-962-6315 or 800-328-6819, extension 6315.You may also make an appointment in person in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center, room 119. For further information, you can locate the Enhancement Program on the web at http://www.stthomas.edu/enhancementprog/.Classroom accommodations will be provided for qualified students with documented disabilities. Students are invited to contact the Enhancement Program – Disability Services about accommodations for this course within the first two weeks of the term. Telephone appointments are available to students as needed. Appointments can be made by calling 651-962-6315 or 800-328-6819, extension 6315. You may also make an appointment in person in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center, room 119. For further information, you can locate the Enhancement Program on the web at http://www.stthomas.edu/enhancementprog/.In compliance with the University of St. Thomas policy and disability laws, I am available to discuss academic accommodations that you may require as a student with a disability. Students are encouraged to register with the Enhancement Program-Disability Services office for disability verification and for determination of academic accommodations. Please do so within the first two weeks of the term. Appointments can be made by calling 651-962-6315 or 800-328-6819, extension 6315. Telephone appointments are available as needed. You may also make an appointment in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center, room 119. For further information, you can locate the Enhancement Program on the web at http://www.stthomas.edu/enhancementprog/.

Links for Ger 212 students:

Just for fun on day one

The Instructors Page

Electronic German-English/English German Dictionary

Alta Vista's text translator (Be careful with this. It can be useful, but makes a lot of computer type mistakes.)

Grammar

Reference Works

Maps

Map of Germany

Map of Switzerland

Map of Austria

Map of Liechtenstein

Instructor biography