Weekly Email for German 101-231 – 21. April 2026

Hartmut Rastalsky Weekly Email Archive

Liebe Studis – Dear students,
 
Please note that (1) weekly conversation opportunities for the semester end after today, and will resume in the Fall (==>please consider attending the last “Schokoladenstunde” this morning – see below!), and (2) the German Lab will close after today and will reopen in the Fall.
 
If you are currently enrolled in German 102 or 231, please note that we are offering German 231 in the Spring half-term, and German 232 in the Summer half-term. The Spring/Summer classes typically have smaller numbers of students, and the intensive format makes for more efficient learning. If you are currently in German 102 or 231, you could complete the language requirement by taking German 231 in the Spring and German 232 in the Summer. In the Spring term, we also offer a 3-credit course in English, German 386- Fairy Tales.
 
The last weekly ‘Schokoladenstunde‘ takes place this morning (Tuesday, 10-11 a.m., MLB 3110). Regular conversation opportunities will resume in the Fall.
 
The “German Lab” is a virtual office hour taking place for the last time today from 1-4 pm; it will resume in the Fall. You can ask shorter and longer questions, come for conversation practice, help with homework etc. Here is more info about the German Lab – please take advantage of this great resource! Please sign up in advance on the German Lab Signup: instructors will check the signup at the beginning of their German Lab hour, and will leave the lab for that hour if no one has signed up.
 
Promote German! If you’ve enjoyed your German courses here, please tell your friends about them! Encourage your friends here to think about taking German 101. Encourage your younger friends and relatives back home to take German classes at your high school. Email your high school German teachers and tell them about your experiences in college, or offer to visit your high school to encourage students to take German there or in college!
 
The Institute for the Humanities offers a paid public humanities internship opportunity. The application deadline is Monday, May 18.
 
If you plan to conduct research in Germany, you can apply for the DAAD German Studies Research Grant. The application deadline is Friday, May 1.
 
You can apply for two Winter 2027 study-abroad programs: one is in Tübingen, which focuses more on language instruction, and the other is an IES-program in Berlin and is predominantly offering courses in English. The application deadline for both programs is Tuesday, September 15.
 
Reminders from earlier emails:

Here is the list of German dept. classes offered in Spring, Summer, and Fall 2026. Please note that even if you already know your plans for German language classes, the list also includes a wide variety of interesting courses in English. If you have questions please contact our advisors, Mary and Kalli. We also strongly encourage you to contact one of the German Peer Mentors, who are undergraduates and who have taken/are taking our German courses. See the “German Courses & Majoring/Minoring in German” section below for contact info.

If you are looking for additional resources for working on German:

Advisor office hours and contact info: You can reach the German advisors through a general email: germanadvising@umich.edu. We have two advisors. They are available for advising hours throughout the semester:

A link to their current office hours will always be included in the full text of these weekly emails, which you can find online:  scroll down to the section “German Courses & Majoring/Minoring in German.” You can schedule appointments with Mary and Kalli here.
 
Other highlights from this week’s email, and what section to check for more details:
  • Conversation Opportunities – Conversation Hours, German Lab
  • Study Abroad, Internships, Scholarship Deadlines – Study Abroad/Internships/Scholarship Info
  • Advising Info – German Courses & Majoring/Minoring in German
  • Conversation Partner Options – Miscellaneous
  • International Center Global Engagement and Education Abroad email list – Miscellaneous
  • Finding German Films and Series Online – Miscellaneous
  • Chrome Extension for Dual-Language Subtitles – Miscellaneous

Upcoming Deadlines and Events

  1. German Conversation Opportunity – Schokoladenstunde (Tuesday, April 21, 10-11 a.m., MLB 3110) 
 

  3. Heinz Prechter Scholarship for Internships in Germany (Thursday, April 30; Extended Application Deadline) 
 
* 4. DAAD German Studies Research Grant (Friday, May 1; Application Deadline)
 
  5. International Internship Scholarship Through College of Engineering (Friday, May 1; Application Deadline)
 
 
* 7. Heidelberg University Study Abroad Scholarship (Sunday, May 31; Application Deadline)

Conversation Hours, German Lab

Two regular conversation hours, “Schokoladenstunde” (Tuesdays, 10-11 pm in 3110 MLB) and “Kreativwerkstatt” (Fridays 12-1 pm; find location info at 3418 MLB) will take place in person weekly – look for more details in these weekly emails. All students at all levels are welcome to come to these events. You can earn 2 “A&P” make-up/bonus points by attending.
 
In addition, all students are welcome to participate in weekly German Club events and in “Kaffeestunde” (Fridays 5-6, North Quad 2450) and “Deutschtisch (Wednesdays 6-7 in the NQ dining hall).” Kaffeestunde and Deutschtisch are coordinated through the Max Kade German Residence. Look for more details in these weekly emails! You can earn 2 “A&P Tally” make-up points by attending any of these events! (German Club, Kaffeestunde, Deutschtisch)
 
The “German Lab” is a virtual office hour taking place Monday-Thursday 1-4 pm. It opens on Monday 1/12. You can ask shorter and longer questions, come for conversation practice, help with homework etc. Here is more info about the German Lab – please take advantage of this great resource! Please sign up in advance on the German Lab Signup: instructors will check the signup at the beginning of their German Lab hour, and will leave the lab for that hour if no one has signed up.
 
The Residential College offers lunch tables in multiple languages, including German. For purely logistical reasons, we do not offer A&P Tall points for attending, but this is a great opportunity to interact with the enthusiastic students in this great program, who are all enrolled in intensive courses and getting regular additional speaking practice through these lunch tables! [Don’t worry if the schedule page we have linked says Winter 2023: the times and locations are consistent and should still be accurate!]
 
LRC Conversation Partner Site Check out this site to find a conversation partner, and/or register so others can find you on the site. Please notify the LRC if you notice problems (e.g. outdated records etc.). Don’t be shy: the more people sign up, the better the site will work!
 
A2 Stammtisch
  • Meets every other Thursday at 8:00 pm at Grizzly Peak, 120 West Washington St. Pre-registration is requested: Contact Mechthild Heerde-Olind at heerdeolind “at” yahoo.com to be added to the email list. You can also check the event listings in the Ann Arbor Observer for info on meeting times and locations. [last verified: 1/23/2023]
  • You will NOT earn “A&P Tally” make-up/bonus points by attending, but you can still go for fun and/or write about it for an AMD.

German Club

German Club events will resume in the Fall!
 
Check the “Upcoming Deadlines and Events” section to see upcoming German Club events. You can earn 2 “A&P” make-up/bonus points by attending any of these events!
 
The German Club works to connect students of all levels with a passion for German language and culture to opportunities for language practice, cultural events, and networking. You are encouraged to come to as many or few events as you would like!
 
Email germaneboard@umich.edu to get put on the email list, or email me if this does not work!

German Courses & Majoring/Minoring in German

Faculty Advisors Mary Rodena-Krasan & Kalli Federhofer

Contact our two faculty advisors, Mary or Kalli, for advice on study abroad, internships abroad, a German major/minor, upper-level German courses, career opportunities in German, study-abroad and work-abroad opportunities, etc.

German Peer Advisors/Mentors

If you would like to get in touch with a peer mentor in our Department, please write to: germanmentors@umich.edu. Their expertise includes:

  • Current classes and potential courses
  • Study abroad, internship, and traveling in Germany
  • Academic requirements (major/minor, LSA language requirement) and combination (engineering, pre-health, etc.)
  • Max Kade House
  • Departmental scholarships/fellowships
  • On- and off-campus German opportunities (German Club, German Day, etc.)
  • Career/job search
  • Getting involved – enhancing your undergraduate experience with the German Department

Study Abroad/Internships/Scholarship Info

German-Related Jobs and Opportunities

[This page will only include entries in this category when there is a job/internship etc. aimed at German students at all levels. To see more internship and job opportunities, scroll through Kalli’s blog, addressed to all upper-level German students]

UofM German bei Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn und Blogger

There is a German Department facebook group, and a German Department facebook page:

  • “German Advising at University of Michigan” [Read news here!] Join this group to see much of the information you see in this email, as well as other relevant info, in the form of individual announcement posts.
  • German Department facebook page: Check it out!

You can find weekly updates similar to this email but with lots more content on this blog.

We also encourage you to join us on our LinkedIn site: ‘University of Michigan German Department’

You can also follow us on Instagram.

Miscellaneous

Conversation Partner Options: Various options for finding conversation partners are listed on this page.

Sign up here for the International Center’s Global Engagement and Education Abroad email list. Weekly emails include info on workshops regarding travel and work abroad, conversation groups, cultural info sessions etc. SEHR interessant!

Finding German Films and Series

Chrome Extension for Dual-Language Subtitles

A German 101 student has found a Google Chrome extension that allows for subtitles in two languages, and has found this very helpful for watching e.g. “Dark” in German for his AMDs. I have not had time to try this, but if you find the dual language subtitles in the “Easy German” videos helpful, then this may be worth checking out. The extension is called Language Reactor.