German
Hallo. Herzlich willkommen!
Welcome to German at Kwantlen Polytechnic University !
The German language is fascinating and fun, and learning it will improve your understanding of English, too. Germanic culture is incredibly rich and rewarding. Please read on to learn what Kwantlen German offers!
German Courses (2011-2012)
We offer Basic German (1100/01) on the Surrey, Richmond and Langley campuses. Intermediate German (2200/01) will be offered in Surrey this year (2200 in fall, 2201 in spring 2012). German Culture through Film (3300), a film course surveying German cultural history, will also be offered in spring 2012 on the Surrey campus. Please note: no knowledge of the German language is necessary for 3300.
We also offer the opportunity to study German 1100 and/or 3300 for credit in Berlin as part of the German Field School. The Field School is offered yearly over five weeks in May and June. For information contact jason.lieblang@kwantlen.ca
Language Course Format
Note: Native speakers of German who wish to take a first or second-year German language course must consult with a German instructor first. Students with a German 'Abitur' are not permitted to enrol in the courses. Students with a competence in the language beyond the level of the course in which they are registered may be required to withdraw. Students who are not sure of their language level should contact the instructor.
All courses are designed as the first or second half of a one-year unit. The second half should be taken immediately after the first to maintain continuity. All language courses consist of four hours of classroom instruction and one hour of conversation per week.
All German courses are computer-enhanced courses, i.e. outside the classroom students will use the internet to do and submit some of their homework.
All German courses are transferable. Refer to transfer guide here.
GERM 1100 - Basic German I (3 credits); offered in Surrey, Richmond, and Langley. Please see calender for time and classroom.
Introduces language and culture of the German-speaking countries using the communicative approach and focusing on contemporary culture. By the end of the semester, students will be able to talk about their likes, dislikes, hobbies, friends, family, and much more.
GERM 1101 - Basic German II (3 credits)
Students build on basic skills gained in German 1100 and continue to develop oral, listening, reading, and writing skills while further exploring past and contemporary German culture.
GERM 2200 - Intermediate German I (3 credits)
Students review and expand their knowledge of basic German grammar. They will continue to develop oral, listening, reading, and writing skills at the intermediate level while further exploring issues and popular culture from today's German-speaking world.
GERM 2201 - Intermediate German II (3 credits)
Students will continue to explore contemporary issues and popular culture from today's German-speaking world. By the end of the semester, they will have learned all major grammatical concepts of the German language and will have acquired good functional and cultural competence in German, certainly enough to visit any of the German-speaking countries or continue with upper-level German studies at any university.
GERM/CUST 3300 - German Culture through Film (3 credits) Note: Germ/Cust 3300 is next offered Jan. 2012
This course will interest students studying European History, Philosophy, World Literature, Fine Arts, or any students with an interest in German and/or the film medium. You'll learn to analyze film here, then use Germanic cinema as a lens through which to examine the interesting twists and turns of 20th century German history. Please note: no knowledge of the German language is necessary for 3300, as all films are subtitled and all discussion is in English.
Prerequisites for GERM/CUST 3300: ENGL 1100; one of ENGL 1202, ENGL 1204, CRWR 1100, FINA 1121; 3 credits from any 2000-level course or higher; or instructor's approval: jason.lieblang@kwantlen.ca
For other CUST courses offered by the Modern Languages Department, visit the CUST webpage (under construction). (Courses in Cultural Theory and Sexuality are in development for 2012; for information contact jason.lieblang@kwantlen.ca)
- German is widely spoken throughout Europe and is the de facto economic language of the European Union - growing into the largest economic block in the world.
- German is important in the global economy with Germany being the world's third biggest economy and Canada's fourth-largest trading partner and investor.
- Germany ranks second in the list of The World's Most Powerful Countries.
- German is the second most widely used language on the Internet.
- German is an international language in technology, chemistry, medicine, philosophy and art. After English it is the most important research language.
- German is the second most studied FOREIGN language in the world.
- German is important in the tourist industry. Germans are the most travelled people in the world.
- German and English are related languages - this makes learning it easier.
- Knowing German also improves your understanding of English.
- Study a second language with dedicated instructors who receive ongoing training in Canada and Europe.
- Study with excellent textbooks, software programs, and resource materials.
- Prepare yourself to study for free at one of Germany's universities or participate in the Work Student Program in Germany.
German FAQs
Will there be a German summer course?
No, at the present time there are no plans to offer German summer courses. However, you can take both German 1100 and 3300 for Kwantlen credit as part of the Berlin Field School each May. For more information contact jason.lieblang@kwantlen.ca
If you have not had any formal training in German, you need to start with the beginners' course (Basic German I). By the end of the first semester students are able to write a 70-word paragraph on a given topic without a dictionary.
What are the prerequisites for GERM/CUST 3300?
You will need to have successfully completed ENGL 1100; one of ENGL 1202, ENGL 1204, CRWR 1100, FINA 1121 and 3 credits from any 2000-level course or higher. ***In special cases where not all (or equivalent) prerequisites have been met, registration may still be approved. In such cases please contact instructor (jason.lieblang@kwantlen.ca) directly.
Viel Spaß und bis bald!
For more information, please contact your instructor:
bea.pires@kwantlen.ca (For general inquiries and German 1100/1101 and 2200/2201)
jason.lieblang@kwantlen.ca (For Germ/Cust 3300 and the Berlin Field School)
