111-112 – Elementary German
Essentials of German
structure and syntax; emphasis on comprehension of written
and spoken German, with course conducted largely in
German. Required additional scheduled session of language
practice.Within two semesters, students are expected
to master the fundamentals of German grammar and to
acquire an active vocabulary of at least 1,000 German
words. Three hours each. Staff.
120 – Reading and Translating German
A reading and
translating course designed for those students who need a
reading/translating knowledge of German. No prior
knowledge of German needed; no prerequisites; does not
fulfill collegiate requirements. For German majors and
minors, additional work will be required. Offered by
request. Three hours. Staff.
211-212 – Intermediate German
Readings in German
prose and poetry. Review of German structure and syntax.
Emphasis on enlarging vocabulary, refining grammatical
facility, and introducing elementary literary works.
Students must be able by the year’s end to handle secondyear
graded readers without difficulty. Required additional
scheduled session of language practice. Prerequisites:
GERM 111-112 or equivalent or placement by examination.
Three hours each. Staff.
221 – Modern Drama in English Translation – See
FLET 221.
222 – 20th Century Narrative Fiction – See FLET 222.
245 – Conversation and Film
This is an introductory
conversation course that can be taken after German 212 or
equivalent. Films, novels, and other readings provide the
basis for conversations that will deal primarily with the
culture of Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany (1933-
1945). Special topics will deal with German resistance
groups as well as how Nazi laws affected Jewish life in
Germany. Grammar reviews and writing exercise will
round out the course. Prerequisite: GERM 212 or equivalent.
Offered alternate years. Three hours. Eren.
251 – Topics in German Literature
An introduction
to literary interpretation designed to enable students to
engage in effective analysis of a variety of literary genres.
Prerequisite: GERM 212 or equivalent. Given in
German. Partially fulfills the Area of Knowledge
requirement in art and literature (literature). Offered
alternate years. Three hours. Staff.
261 – Culture and Civilization
An historical, social,
cultural, and literary study of the Holy Roman Empire of
the German Nation and the contemporary institutions
and social order of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
A wide range of audio-visual aids, as well as lectures,
will be used to illustrate the interrelationship of politics,
art, literature, and culture. Offered alternate years. Three
hours. Staff.
301-302 - Advanced German
The purpose of this third
year course is to refine and crystallize those language
skills begun and partially perfected during the first four
semesters and to ensure that students enrolling in more
advanced courses requiring a great deal of reading, writing,
and speaking in German will be equipped to do the
work without difficulty. Emphasis during the first semester
will be placed on a thorough grammar review and close
analysis of German sentence structure, leading to the
translation into correct and effective English of German
texts of increasing difficulty. This will be followed by an
introduction into theme writing, beginning with guided
composition and then moving to theme writing in German
without assistance from the instructor. Upon this sound
knowledge of German grammar, the second semester
course will ensure a complete familiarity with the 1800-
word frequency list and will stress increasing ability to
express oneself orally. Required additional scheduled session
of language practice. Three hours each. Staff.
305-306 – Conversational German
Intensive individualized
practice in conversational German to develop
the student’s ability to communicate orally. Emphasis is
placed on the acquisition of a broad vocabulary. Topics
of discussion and reading center upon contemporary
German culture as well as current events. Offered alternate
years. Three hours each. Staff.
314 – Modern Drama of the German-Speaking World
Study of a select number of plays from Frank Wedekind
to Peter Weiss. The material will be read in the original
German. This study of the primary texts will be supplemented
by critical writings with a strong emphasis on
Brecht’s dramatic theory. Emphasis on close textural
analysis, interpretive problems, and historical perspective.
Prerequisite: a knowledge of German adequate to the
understanding and discussion of contemporary German
texts. Offered every three years. Three hours. Staff.
315 – The German Novelle
A brief history of the
European Novelle and a close reading of selected works
by 19- and 20-century German writers. A prior familiarity
with other genres in German literature is recommended
for more complete appreciation and understanding of
the unique character of the German Novelle. There will
be close textual analysis of the Novellen, which will be
read in German, supplemented by critical writings in
both English and German. By the end of the semester,
students will be expected to have read representative
works by the major authors of German Novellen of this
period and to be able to explain their unique character in
proper historical and literary critical perspective. Ability
to read and understand contemporary German is essential.
Offered every three years. Three hours. Staff.
349 – Teaching Methodology for Foreign Languages
Also listed as FREN and SPAN 349, this course fulfills
a state requirement for students seeking certification in
the teaching of foreign languages. Students will explore
the theories of language acquisitions, current research,
and various methods of language instruction. Students
will create lesson plans and assessments that correspond
to current understandings of how K-12 students best
learn a second language. This course will emphasize the
national standards and proficiency-based objectives for
foreign language instruction. Given in English.
Prerequisite: Seven courses beyond the 212-215 level
and admission to the Randolph-Macon Education
Department's teacher preparation program. Required to
be taken no earlier than the academic year during which
student teaching is to take place. Offered as needed.
Three hours. Staff.
495 – Capstone Experience
This is a one-credit course
to be taken during the spring of the senior year (during fall
in the case of Education minors). Working with their capstone
advisor, students will submit for approval of the
Capstone Committee, a topic related to the interests of the
student. During the fall of their senior year (during spring
of their junior year in the case of Education minors), students
must begin research for their capstone project. In
addition to the written project, students will make two
oral presentations, one in English on Research Day and
another in German. Given in German. Offered in spring;
offered in fall when necessary. Prerequisites: Since this
course is associated with an upper-division course, the
prerequisites required for the associated 400-level course
will also apply to the capstone. One hour. Staff.
496-498 – Senior Project – Six hours. Staff.