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German Language and Literature About the Department The curriculum of Earlham's German program looks to the past as much as it anticipates the future. To come to know the cultural heritage of German-speaking countries is an educational end in itself. However, our work as teachers is equally intent on presenting the complexities of today's German-speaking world and its many future challenges. One of our central goals, therefore, is to help students understand and appreciate German-speaking Europe, from medieval times to the present, and to understand its role in a united Europe. In all of our courses we use a proficiency-oriented, communicative approach and adhere to the nationally articulated Standards for Foreign Language Learning. In our basic language courses we focus on both language and culture, while introducing students to authentic texts, literary as well as non-literary. Students learn to interact with one another, whether across the ocean, across town or across campus. In upper-level literature, culture and film courses, students learn to describe, analyze and interpret a broad variety of texts in social, cultural and historical contexts. Through the texts they study, students also learn to appreciate the cultural diversity of German-speaking Europe. Communication and cooperation are essential ingredients in the way Earlham students and faculty learn and work together. All of our courses, whether they focus on language, literature or culture, afford students some opportunity to work with others in a group setting. Upper-level students may choose to work with faculty on a Ford/Knight collaborative project. All students of German, whether majors or not, may choose to live in German House, where they use the language in an informal setting. Each year an International Language Assistant also lives in German House. Students wanting to spend time in a German-speaking country may choose the semester-long Germany/Austria Program or the semester-long Vienna Choral Program. A May Term is offered on occasion. German majors and minors often combine their work with study of another discipline. They may choose either a combined major or a double major. For example past graduates have majored in German and Psychology, German and Religion, German and Economics, and German and Biology. Our minors use German to complement their studies in a number of other disciplines. German also is one of the languages that students may choose as part of the Comparative Languages and Linguistics (CLL) major. A combination of German with another field has proved to be invaluable to graduates as they have pursued further study or as they have entered into a profession. Recent graduates of our program now work in such diverse areas as the arts, information science, journalism, psychology, the airline industry, translating and language testing. Their career successes and personal satisfaction tell us that we prepare our students well for the demands of the global world. |
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Earlham College · 801 National Road West · Richmond,
Indiana 47374-4095 |