Dear all,
 
Willkommen im Wintersemester 🙂
 
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” (Wednesdays 3-4 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; 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! 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 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.
 
If you are still looking for housing in Ann Arbor for the academic year 2022/2023, you may want to consider the Max Kade German Residence. The application deadline is Friday, January 14.
 
If you are graduating in April/August 2022, you can apply to become a US Teaching Assistant in Austria. The application deadline is Saturday, January 15.
 
Two important general deadlines: the last day for students to drop or add regular classes without getting permission is Tuesday, January 25. The deadline for finishing incomplete work from last semester is Tuesday, February 1.
 
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 a great 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 Winter 2022. 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
  • Chrome Extension for Dual-Language Subtitles – Miscellaneous
  • Arts & Culture “Attend at Home” event listings – Local Events and Opportunities
Requiem: Fire in the Air of the Earth – A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham (Friday, January 7, 8 p.m.; and Saturday, January 8, 8 p.m. Power Center)
 
 
German Conversation Opportunities – German Convo on the Go (Tuesday, January 11, 6 p.m., Burton Tower) and Schokoladenstunde (Wednesday, January 12, 3 p.m., Language Resource Center, North Quad)
 
“Schwarze Adler” – 2021; Director: Torsten Körner (Friday, January 14, 2-4 p.m., North Quad 2435)
 
Max Kade German Residence 2022-2023 (Friday, January 14; Application Deadline)
 
US Teaching Assistantship in Austria 2022–2023 (Saturday, January 15; Application Deadline)
 
Academic Year in Freiburg 2022/2023 (Tuesday, February 1; Application Deadline)
 

The following two conversation hours will resume next week: We offer two weekly conversation opportunities for you to practice your German in an informal context. You can earn 2 “A&P Tally” make-up points by attending.

  • German Convo on the Go” will meet on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. sharp at Burton Tower for a 1-hour walk and talk with Mary Gell (magell “at” umich.edu). This event happens rain or shine—in case of rain, the group would meet under the tent next to Burton Tower.
  • Schokoladenstunde” will convene on Wednesdays 3-4 p.m. in the Language Resource Center in North Quad (in the comfortable seating area between the two computer classrooms). There will be some German chocolate to snack on. Silvia Grzeskowiak (sgrzesko “at” umich.edu) will bring games, and the hour will be spent chatting and playing games in German (e.g. Tabu).
Times for the Max Kade events still need to be confirmed. Here is the info from Fall 2021: All students are also welcome to participate  in “Kaffeestunde” and “Deutschtisch.” Kaffeestunde and Deutschtisch are weekly events organized by the Max Kade German Residence.
  • Kaffeestunde 7-8pm Thursdays, in 2175 North Quad. Please confirm the location before you go by checking the North Quad 3200s Community Events page AND please register for the event in advance on the Community Events page (click “Select” next to Kaffeestunde and then follow the instructions to register). This will also ensure that you receive any last-minute updates about the event. ***ResponsiBLUE will be checked at the entrance*** 
  • Deutschtisch 6-7pm Sundays, same Zoom link for the whole semester, listed on the North Quad 3200s Community Events page. No need to register, but if you do, the organizers will have a better idea of how many participants to expect, and you would receive any last-minute updates about the event.
  • You can earn 2 “A&P Tally” make-up points by attending Max Kade events!

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!

The “German Lab” is a virtual office hour taking place Monday-Thursday 1-4 pm. 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.

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.
Check the “Upcoming Deadlines and Events” section to see upcoming German Club events. You can earn 2 “A&P Tally” make-up 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 “like” the club on Facebook at facebook.com/germanclubumich for updates!

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

[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]

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

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

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.