German Courses

Description: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to most of the basic elements of the German language for the student with no knowledge of German. Practice is provided through short readings, conversation, composition, and lab work.

• Students who have received credit for GERM 201, GERM 202, or equivalent may not take this course for credit. This course covers the same material as GERM 201 and GERM 202.

Description: This course provides an introduction to the elements of the German language for the student with no knowledge of German. Practice is provided through short readings, conversation, composition, and lab work.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for GERM 200 or equivalent may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 201 with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course is a continuation of GERM 201 and completes the study of the basic elements of the German language. Practice is provided through short readings, conversation, composition, and lab work.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for GERM 200 or equivalent may not take this course for credit.

Description: This course offers a panoramic study of the major components of the culture of German‑speaking countries from the Middle Ages to contemporary times. Attention is given to these countries’ artistic, social, political, and economic life. This course is taught in English.

Component(s): Lecture

Description: This course focuses on reading and discussion of 20th‑century literary works and films from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Works translated from German are used. This course is taught in English, but advanced German students are encouraged to read the texts in German.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 200 or GERM 202 with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course provides a review of German grammar in a single term and furnishes additional details not dealt with in the introductory courses. Practice is provided through readings, discussions, and composition.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for GERM 241, GERM 242, or equivalent may not take this course for credit. This course covers the same material as GERM 241 and GERM 242.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 200 or GERM 202 with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course provides a review of German grammar and deals with additional details not covered in the introductory courses. Practice is provided through short readings, discussions, and composition.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for GERM 240 or equivalent may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 241 with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course is a continuation of GERM 241. It completes the review of the grammar and includes additional details not covered in the introductory courses. Practice is provided through short readings, discussions, and composition.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for GERM 240 or equivalent may not take this course for credit.

Description:

This course introduces the student to reading strategies, grammar, resources, and basic vocabulary and leads to a second-year reading knowledge of German in 13 weeks. This course is taught in English.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students registered in the German Minor program may not take this course for credit.

Description:

Specific topics for this course, and relevant prerequisites, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 240 or GERM 242. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.

Description:

This course is designed to help students understand advanced aspects of German grammar and to provide practice in the correct and effective writing of German.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 301.

Description: This course continues the study of advanced aspects of German grammar and provides practice in the correct and effective writing of German by means of composition such as the summary, description, narration, argumentation, and essay.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 240 or GERM 242 or equivalent.

Description:

This course is offered to non-native speakers of German. Its main goal is for students to improve their oral proficiency in German. This course aims to increase students’ competence levels in listening, reading, and writing.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for GERM 270 or 370 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 240 or GERM 242.

Description: This course examines German and English grammar in a comparative context in order to provide a basis for translation between the two languages. It also aims to develop lexical and semantic knowledge of the German language through analysis of textual materials, with special focus on words and idiomatic expressions that are essential to clear and effective communication. Students translate short texts from a variety of fields, primarily from English to German.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 306.

Description: This course continues the examination of German and English grammar in a practical context as a basis for translation between the two languages. It also enhances student lexical and semantic knowledge of the German language through direct, practical experience in translation. Students improve their vocabulary and linguistic accuracy by exploring the range of meanings associated with particular structures and idiomatic expressions. Translation is primarily from English to German.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 240 or GERM 242 or equivalent.

Description: This course provides students with marketable skills including linguistic competence, cross‑cultural proficiency, and knowledge about business in Germany across a variety of fields.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for this topic under a GERM 398 number may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 301.

Description: This course provides a general overview of the major authors and trends of German literature from 1750 to 1900 within an historical context.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 301.

Description: This course provides a general overview of the major authors and trends of German literature in the 20th century within an historical context.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 240 or GERM 242.

Description: Topics vary from year to year. Possible topics include German film; literature of the Counter‑culture; Germany and the Holocaust; immigrant culture and its discourse; women’s writing; popular culture; Medieval Germany: kings, castles, and minstrels; cultural diversity in German‑speaking nations. Specific topics for this course are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students may take this course twice for credit in their program provided the subject matter is different.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: GERM 240 or GERM 242.

Description: This course gives an overview of the developments in Germany throughout the 20th century. The emphasis of the course may vary from year to year with such topics as Germany between World War I and II, the formative years after WWII and the development of East and West Germany, and the unified Germany. Materials to be studied include historical and topical documents, film, video, and web‑based resources.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course is designed to give the student practical experience related to German language and culture and/or German studies. It is designed to complement the student’s academic program with outreach to the larger community in the form of organizing an event, working at an internship in a German cultural or educational institution of Montreal or similar. Students develop an outreach plan in consultation with the Department and produce a final report of their experience.

Component(s): Lecture

Description: Specific topics for this course, and relevant prerequisites, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.

Description: This course examines the figure of the android and explores representations of artificial beings in German literature, cinema, and video games. A focus is on issues of technology, art, gender, race, and class. Students receive insights into narrative constructions as well as ludology (including game history, design and reception) by exploring how video games challenge traditional models of understanding and approaching texts. The language of instruction is English, and no prior knowledge of the German language is required. Advanced‑level students — i.e. students placed at the 300 level or higher in German language courses — must do the readings and submit their work in German.

Component(s): Lecture

Description: This course explores how the strange, the magical, the supernatural and the uncanny (Das Unheimliche) are constructed in German texts from 1500 to the present. This course surveys a wide array of texts (novels, short stories, historical documents, fairy tales, films as well as video games) that deal with the phenomena of witches, ghosts, daemons and vampires. The language of instruction is English, and no prior knowledge of the German language is required. Advanced‑level students — i.e. students placed at the 300 level or higher in German language courses — must do the readings and submit their work in German.

Component(s): Lecture

Description: This course introduces international literature and film, mainly from the 20th and 21st centuries with a strong focus on young German authors associated with Popliteratur. Works focus on the perspective of particular literary characters who challenge established boundaries or on allegories of crisis. In addition to becoming acquainted with theoretical texts, students explore contemporary German identity narratives and their deep roots in the metaphysical tradition. The language of instruction is English, and no prior knowledge of the German language is required. Advanced‑level students — i.e. students placed at the 300 level or higher in German language courses — must do the readings and submit their work in German.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for this course under an ENGL 398 or a GERM 498 number may not take this course for credit.

Description: This course investigates the changing literary and social roles of German women from the 18th to the 21st century. Selected readings of women’s literary and cultural productions will also illustrate the history of gender coding from the period of Empfindsamkeit to the fin de siècle. In addition to examining cultural artifacts, such as novels, plays, screen scripts, paintings and advertisements, the course also offers an insight into the Women’s movement (both in Eastern and Western Germany). An introduction to main concepts of gender theory provides the basis to analyze the variety of gender identities and representations. The language of instruction is English, and no prior knowledge of the German language is required. Advanced‑level students — i.e. students placed at the 300 level or higher in German language courses — must do the readings and submit their work in German.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course offers guided readings in German language and/or literature, to meet the student’s individual needs. At least one major written assignment is required.

Component(s): Tutorial

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course offers guided readings in German language and/or literature, to meet the student’s individual needs. At least one major written assignment is required.

Component(s): Tutorial

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course offers guided readings in German language and/or literature, to meet the student’s individual needs. At least one major written assignment is required.

Component(s): Tutorial

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course offers guided readings in German language and/or literature, to meet the student’s individual needs. At least one major written assignment is required.

Component(s): Tutorial

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Honours status.

Description: This course provides the honours candidate with the opportunity to prepare an extensive research essay, on a topic to be chosen by the candidate with the approval of a supervising member of the faculty of the German section.

Component(s): Tutorial

Description: Specific topics for this course, and relevant prerequisites, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.