Julia Perrin

Building on the grammar and communication skills acquired in Beginning German (GERM 3001), this course will strengthen students' abilities in four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will engage with authentic German texts and media, deepening their understanding of both the language and contemporary German culture. For a targeted grammar review, especially in the early fall, students will revisit the beginner textbook, Neue Horizonte (8th edition), and use other online grammar materials. The main focus of the course will be on two major texts: Faith Akin's movie Im Juli (2000) in fall and Nora Krug's graphic novel, Heimat (2018), in spring. Additional shorter texts and media related to German society and culture—such as online video series and language learners: Nicos Weg, Meet the Germans, Easy German—will complement class discussions. In addition to regular class-discussion participation, students will be expected to work on vocabulary, complete multiple writing assignments throughout the semester, and deliver a 10-minute presentation on a topic related to class discussions. Conference time will be dedicated to speaking, alongside refining writing skills and preparing presentations. By the end of the year, students will be able to communicate effectively in German, using all four cases, key tenses, and complex sentence structures with greater fluency and accuracy. Students will confidently express opinions, narrate events, and engage in discussions on cultural topics. This course will prepare students for travel, deeper explorations of German history and literature, and study in a global education program. Students will gain the skills to navigate real-world interactions in a German-speaking environment.