Dear all,
This Thursday, the “German Club” will hold its first mass meeting (Thursday, September 8, 7 p.m., Mason Hall 1401). You can complete this very quick survey (name, uniqname, and a click) to be added to the German Club email list. The UofM German Club is traditionally very active. It hosts cultural events and holds a weekly conversation hour (Stammtisch), which students of all German speaking levels are encouraged to attend. You are encouraged to come to as many or few events as you would like. You can earn 2 “A&P Tally” make-up points by attending German Club events.
As mentioned last week, two regular conversation hours, “Schokoladenstunde” (Mondays 4-5 in the Language Resource Center) and “German Convo on the Go” (Tuesdays 6-7) will take place in person weekly. “Schokoladenstunde” will take place Mondays 4-5 p.m. in the Language Resource Center; the group will play games, chat, and enjoy some German chocolate. “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. This event happens ‘rain (or snow) or shine.’ 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 “Kaffeestunde” and “Deutschtisch.” Kaffeestunde and Deutschtisch are coordinated through the Max Kade German Residence. Deutschtisch will take place Wednesdays 6-7 p.m. in the North Quad dining hall. Ask at the door for the location of the German conversation table, or listen for a group speaking German. You will need a meal contract to enter the dining hall (or you could purchase a guest meal). Details for Kaffeestunde will be finalized soon. You can earn 2 “A&P Tally” make-up points by attending Max Kade events!
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.
In addition, the German Peer Mentors would like to offer additional help, either as a conversation partner or help with grammar, to our beginning language learners. Catharina, who is a native speaker, has reserved Alcove B in the Language Resource Center (in North Quad), Thursdays 4-5pm, every week beginning this week. Please take advantage of this great opportunity!
The Athletic Department at the University of Michigan is looking for tutors for German 101-232 classes. The application deadline is Friday, September 9.
Tomorrow, “Schriftlich” will have its first mass meeting (Wednesday, September 7, 6:30 p.m., West Hall 335). Schriftlich is a student-run bilingual literary journal. You may be interested in joining this active group.
The International Center and the International House Ann Arbor will host their September International Coffee Hour on Friday, September 9, 3:00 – 4:30 PM at the International House Ann Arbor (921 Church St.). International Coffee Hour is a great opportunity to meet new people from around the world! The event is open to all members of the U-M community, including international and U.S. students, scholars, faculty, staff, and their partners. Drinks and snacks will be provided.
You have until September 21 to apply to participate in the International Center’s 3-part Intercultural Leadership Seminar. The Intercultural Leadership Seminar (ILS) is designed for international and U.S. students who want to learn how to be more effective in a global environment. ILS includes brief lectures, discussion, experiential activities, and small group work. It consists of the following three sessions:
- Session 1: Intercultural Competency (October 7; 3:00-5:00PM)
- Session 2: Intercultural Communication (November 11; 3:00-5:00PM)
- Session 3: Intercultural Leadership (December 2, 3:00-5:00PM)
The DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) opens its annual photo contest: the top prize is a free return flight to Germany. The application deadline is Monday, October 10.
Advisor office hours and contact info: You can reach the German advisors through a general email: germanadvising@umich.
- Mary Rodena-Krasan (MLB 3128; mkrasan@umich.edu)
- Karl-Georg Federhofer (MLB 3422; kallimz@umich.edu)
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.
Easy German and Super Easy German: These two great series of videos with enthusiastic hosts (the series began as a high school project) introduce German language and culture in clear, simple German. Access both playlists for free via the Easy German home page. All videos include clear subtitles in German and English. Paying for a membership supports the site and gets you access to additional features. If you are just starting German 101, I recommend starting with the Super Easy German playlist. Scroll all the way down to start with the first video and go from there 🙂
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 Fall 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
- Finding German Films and Series Online – Miscellaneous
- Chrome Extension for Dual-Language Subtitles – Miscellaneous
German Conversation Opportunities – “German Convo on the Go“ (Tuesday, September 6 & 13, 6-7 p.m., Burton Tower) and “Schokoladenstunde“ (Monday, September 12, 4-5 p.m., Language Resource Center, North Quad)
“Schriftlich” (Bilingual Journal) – Mass Meeting (Wednesday, September 7; 6:30 p.m., West Hall 335)
“German Club” – Mass Meeting (Thursday, September 8; 7 p.m., Mason Hall 1401)
Academic Success Program: German Tutors Needed (Friday, September 9; Application Deadline)
German Club – “Stammtisch“ (Wednesday, September 14; 7 p.m., Michigan League Underground)
Study Abroad in Germany – Tübingen – Winter 2023 (Thursday, September 15; Application Deadline)
Study Abroad in Germany – Metropolitan Studies in Berlin – Winter 2023 (Thursday, September 15; Application Deadline)
German Alum Career Panel 2022 (Thursday, September 22; 3:30 p.m., Virtual – See Attachment)
Gilman-DAAD Germany Scholarship for Studying Abroad (Thursday, October 6; Application Deadline)
Seeing Double 2022 – DAAD Annual Photo Contest (Monday, October 10; Application Deadline)
Two regular conversation hours, “Schokoladenstunde” (Mondays 4-5 in the Language Resource Center) and “German Convo on the Go” (Tuesdays 6-7) will take place in person weekly. “Schokoladenstunde” will take place Mondays 4-5 p.m. in the Language Resource Center; the group will play games, chat, and enjoy some German chocolate. “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. This event happens ‘rain (or snow) or shine.’ 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 “Kaffeestunde” and “Deutschtisch.” Kaffeestunde and Deutschtisch are coordinated through the Max Kade German Residence. Deutschtisch will take place Wednesdays 6-7 p.m. in the North Quad dining hall. Ask at the door for the location of the German conversation table, or listen for a group speaking German. You will need a meal contract to enter the dining hall (or you could purchase a guest meal). Details for Kaffeestunde will be finalized soon. 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.
In addition, the German Peer Mentors would like to offer additional help, either as a conversation partner or help with grammar, to our beginning language learners. Catharina, who is a native speaker, has reserved a room in the Language Resource Center (in North Quad): Alcove B, Thursdays 4-5pm, every week beginning this week! Please take advantage of this great opportunity!
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.
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- Click here to see Mary’s and Kalli’s contact info and (frequent!) office hours
- To reach either advisor: germanadvising@umich.edu
- You can also schedule appointments with Mary & Kalli by clicking here
- …and you can contact Kalli via text message (734-277-7341) or via Facebook (Kalli Federhofer)
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 in Germany – Tübingen – Winter 2023 (Thursday, September 15; Application Deadline)
- Study Abroad in Germany – Metropolitan Studies in Berlin – Winter 2023 (Thursday, September 15; Application Deadline)
- German Alum Career Panel 2022 (Thursday, September 22; 3:30 p.m., Virtual)
- Humboldt Foundation German Chancellor Fellowship (Saturday, October 15; Application Deadline)
- Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) 2023/2024 (Tuesday, November 1; Application Deadline)
- DAAD Scholarship – Master Studies in Germany for all Academic Disciplines (Friday, November 4; Application Deadline)
- LSA Internship Funding Page
[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!
Finding German Films and Series
- Check the Telescope website for info on German films and series worth watching, including trailers and details on where they are available online.
- Here is a survey of German film series that you can watch in the US, compiled by the Goethe Insitute.
- Here is another list of German television and shows available on Netflix and Amazon Prime. The rankings seem arbitrary, but the descriptions and availability info are very helpful.
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.