Weekly Email for German 101-231 – 31. August 2021

Hartmut Rastalsky Weekly Email Archive

Dear all,
 
Welcome – or welcome back – to campus! All German classes at the 101-232 level will be meeting in a hybrid format this Fall. We are excited to be able to see you all in person again. It will also be great to be able to interact (mostly) without masks on the online days. This will be especially helpful in the earlier stages of language learning. The online days will also have other advantages, such as the greater likelihood of everyone getting to meet and work with everyone else in their section in the Zoom breakout rooms over the course of the semester. We hope you will enjoy your German classes, and that they will be a place where we all support each other, and where new friendships begin!
 
There are class email lists for all sections of German 101-231. I will send a message roughly once a week. My email will include a link to the full text of the message (always available online via this index), and a copy of the header section of the email. The full text of the email is divided into sections by general topic, with an outline of “highlights” at the top, so you can skip to what interests you and expand those sections. If you have time, I recommend clicking through all of the first couple of messages to get an idea of the various events going on in the department and around town, and the other kinds of info in the email. This is the first such message.
 
Two regular conversation hours, “Schokoladenstunde” (Mondays 5-6 in the Language Resource Center) and “German Convo on the Go” (Tuesdays 6-7, weather permitting) will take place in person weekly, starting next week – look for more details in these weekly emails. “German Convo on the Go” will take place in person, outside; weather permitting, the group will go for a walk. “Schokoladenstunde” will take place in person in the Language Resource Center each week; the group will play games, chat, and enjoy some German chocolate. All students at all levels are welcome to come to both events. You can earn 2 “A&P Tally” make-up points by attending.
 
In addition, all students are welcome to participate in weekly German Club events and in “Kaffeestunde” and “Deutschtisch.” Kaffeestunde and Deutschtisch are coordinated through the Max Kade German Residence. Look for more details in future emails!
  • Check out the German Club at Festifall 2021 (Wednesday, September 1; 5-8 p.m., Diag and Ingalls Mall)!
  • You can earn 2 “A&P Tally” make-up points by attending any of the above events! (German Club, Kaffeestunde, Deutschtisch)
The “German Lab” is a virtual office hour taking place Monday-Thursday 1-4 pm. It will open on Monday. 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.
 
On Thursday, September 9, 4-5 p.m., four alums of the German Department will talk (via Zoom) about their careers since they graduated with a German major/minor. You can find more information here.
 
The application deadline for studying abroad in Tübingen (Winter 2022) is set for Wednesday, September 15. This Thursday and Friday afternoon, we will have information sessions about the structure of the Tübingen program. Everyone is invited to attend.
 
We were approached by a high-school senior who is the founding president of LanguageLine, a non-profit that virtually connects senior citizens who speak German or Russian to students learning these languages. Through LanguageLine students and senior citizens meet virtually for 15-20 minutes discussing various questions and issues, fully in German. Students not only get the opportunity to practice their language skills but also gain valuable memories and experiences. The senior citizens are also able to keep socially active by making a new friend and are possibly able to practice their English. There’s no commitment for either group, i.e. you could try this out just once or twice if you have limited time or are unsure you will enjoy it. If you are interested, you can sign up here.
 
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.
 
Duolingo and HelloTalk: These two free apps are an ideal supplement to what you’ll be learning in class (and a great idea for AMDs in German 101, 102 or 221/231). Duolingo is an intentionally and permanently free app with the explicit goal of making language learning fun and addictive. HelloTalk is a free app for finding conversation partners around the world and at home. Click on the link for more info about Duolingo and HelloTalk.
 
In case your schedule may still change this semester, here is the list of German dept. classes offered in Fall 2021. 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.
 
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
  • Reserving Study Spaces on Campus – Miscellaneous
  • Finding German Films and Series Online – Miscellaneous
  • Arts & Culture “Attend at Home” event listings – Local Events and Opportunities

Upcoming Deadlines and Events

German Club – Festifall 2021 (Wednesday, September 1; 5-8 p.m., Diag and Ingalls Mall)
 
Study Abroad in Tübingen (Winter Term) – Information Session (Thursday, September 2; 4 p.m., and Friday, September 3; 4 p.m., Virtual)
 
German Alum Career Panel (Thursday, September 9; 4-5 p.m., Virtual–See Attachment)
 
Study Abroad in Germany – Winter 2022 Term in Tübingen (Wednesday, September 15; Application Deadline)
 
Study Abroad in Germany – Winter 2022 Metropolitan Studies in Berlin (Wednesday, September 15; Application Deadline)

Conversation Hours, German Lab

Two regular conversation hours, “Schokoladenstunde” (Mondays 5-6 in the Language Resource Center) and “German Convo on the Go” (Tuesdays 6-7, weather permitting) will take place in person weekly, starting next week – look for more details in these weekly emails. “German Convo on the Go” will take place in person, outside; weather permitting, the group will go for a walk. “Schokoladenstunde” will take place in person in the Language Resource Center each week; the group will play games, chat, and enjoy some German chocolate. All students at all levels are welcome to come to both events. You can earn 2 “A&P Tally” make-up points by attending.

The Max Kade German House in North Quad will host a weekly Deutschtisch and a weekly Kaffeestunde. Look for more details in future emails!

LRC Conversation Partner Site

Go to this page to sign up or find a conversation partner. 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!

Ann Arbor Stammtisch

  • A German Stammtisch meets once a week, usually on Thursdays at 8:00 pm at Grizzly Peak or another bar near Main Street. Join the email list to stay up-to-date on where and when the group will meet.
  • There’s also a facebook page: look for “German Table / Stammtisch”
  • Alternatively, contact Mechthild Heerde-Olind at heerdeolind@yahoo.com for the current location and for more information.
  • This is NOT something you can do to make up an absence, but you can still go for fun and/or write about it for an AMD.

German Club

Check out the German Club at Festifall 2021 (Wednesday, September 1; 5-8 p.m., Diag and Ingalls Mall)
 
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 “like” the club on Facebook at facebook.com/germanclubumich for updates!

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

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]

Local Events and Opportunities

Check out the arts.umich.edu “Attend at Home” event listing for this week via the tile/link on this page. Each week’s listing includes a wide range of exciting events, including
  • that week’s Penny Stamps Lecture (A high-profile artist or public figure speaks about their work each week. These lectures are a highlight of UM’s intellectual life. If you aren’t aware of this series, please read more about the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series here, where you can also see a list of upcoming speakers)
  • virtual exhibits, lectures, discussions etc.

UofM German bei Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn und Blogger

There are two German Department facebook groups:

  • “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 Program at University of Michigan – Vorwärts Blau!” [Post things here!]
    • You are encouraged to join this group to in order to read and post interesting/fun items related to German language and culture. If you have trouble joining the group or posting something, please email Hartmut!

AND there is a German Department facebook page. Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/umichGerman/

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 Twitter: @umichGerman

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!

The Study Spaces at U-M website helps you find and reserve study spaces.

Finding German Films and Series