6 courses with the subject GE, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
GE 106Basic Intensive German II. (H), (U) One unit. German 106 continues the emphasis on functional
communication skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing and cross-cultural competence initiated in GE 105. The course includes authentic materials related to everyday life and culture, and interactive activities with a significant focus on contemporary works of literature and film. Students’ personal interests will in part determine specific materials chosen, and participants will work on a final project related to their interests or studies. Three weekly contact hours plus audio-visual “lab” and homework. Prerequisite: GE105, 1-2 years of high school instruction or permission of instructor. Students with more than two years of German require instructor’s permission. Native speakers will not receive academic credit for this course. Offered spring semester.
GE 107(Re) Discovering German: Accelerated Basic German. (H), (U) One unit. Why learn German?
One in every four Americans has German heritage. Germany has the third largest economy in the world, and it is estimated that today German is spoken by 140 million people in Europe and across the world. This fast-paced course welcomes students with up to two years of previous high school experience to rediscover German at the college level. It is also appropriate for those who wish to discover the language for the first time. Designed for highly motivated learners, the course provides students with solid basic functional skills in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural competence. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of German language use while introducing students to the cultures of Germany, Austria and Switzerland through interactive exercises, authentic texts, popular culture, and the visual arts. Prerequisite: 0-2 years of high school instruction or permission of instructor. Students with more than two years of German require instructor’s permission. Native speakers will not receive academic credit for this course. Offered spring semester.
GE 111Intermediate German I. (H), (O), (UU) One unit. In this course students will work toward solid
intermediate-level proficiency while they gain a broader knowledge of the history and popular culture of the German-speaking world. The curriculum offers both a solid review and expansion of basic skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing and cultural competence, utilizing a variety of authentic materials from various regions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Students engage in extensive work with German-language literature and film as a vehicle for reinforcing communication skills in interpreting, discussing and presenting information. Three contact hours of class weekly plus audio-visual “lab” and homework. Prerequisite: none. Offered fall semester. GE 112: Intermediate German II. (H), (O), (UU) One unit. As a continuation of GE 111, participants will work with more advanced features of the language, utilizing authentic materials illustrating vocabulary in context, as well as important “high” and “low” cultural aspects of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Linguistic work will focus on the ability to narrate, describe and explain, as well as on strategies for beginning to hypothesize and support opinion in an increasing number of contexts. German-language literature and cinema will be used as a vehicle for reinforcing communication skills, and students will also design a project relevant to their own personal interests or studies/major. Three contact hours of class weekly plus audio-visual “lab” and homework. Prerequisite: none. Offered springsemester.
GE 231Topics in German Cinema: Composition and Conversation I. (H), (O), (R), (UU) One unit. What can
film teach us about a country’s culture? In this class students will discuss both feature-length and short German- language films as the basis for understanding the history, society, culture, and national identity of German- speaking countries. Films will range from serious to comedic, from historical and documentary works to 21st century trends. Students will work on consolidating and improving advanced aspects of written and spoken German including narration and description, summarization, presentation, and discussion skills. Prerequisite: GE 112 or permission of instructor. Offered fall semester. 223 / 445
GE 232People, Politics and Pop! Composition and Conversation II. (H), (O), (R), (UU) One unit. People
– past and present, German, Austrian, and Swiss -- politics of all kinds, and culture – high and pop – will be the topics of this course. Students will strengthen their ability to converse and write about a wide range of people, events and values in contemporary society. Course materials will be drawn from written materials, film, music, and internet sources to create an integrated collage of contemporary issues tailored in part to participants' specific interests and studies. Students will continue to review advanced aspects of written and spoken German and improve their skills in understanding, interpreting and presenting information. Prerequisite: GE 231 or permission of instructor. Offered spring semester.
GE 310A Cultural Approach to Literature in German. (H), (RR), (UU) One unit. This course will introduce
connections across centuries through a variety of genres and disciplines, such as history, art, theater, music, film, and pop culture, by examining literature and other German cultural artifacts from athematic vantage point. Major themes such as wars and the Holocaust, literature as provocation, literature and the arts, society and the individual, and the writer’s place in society Germany and Austria will be used to structure the course. Students will be exposed to the works of major authors, as well as those of some lesser-known names. Prerequisite: German 232 or permission of instructor. This class is open to native speakers of German. Offered as required. ML 316 International Filmmakers. (R), (WW), (UU) One Unit. How does film’s visual language bring us closer to a country’s culture? This course examines the various representations of cultural traditions through the works of some of the most influential and thought-provoking international filmmakers. Directors include Chantal Akerman (Belgium), Jean-Pierre Bekolo (Cameroon), Icíar Bollaín (Spain), Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Turkey), Arturo Ripstein (Mexico), Michael Haneke (Austria),Chen Kaige (China), Abbas Kiarostami (Iran), Krzysztof Kieslowski (Poland), Akira Kurosawa (Japan),Lucrecia Martel (Argentina), Walter Salles (Brazil), Ousmane Sembène (Senegal), François Truffaut(France), Paolo Virzì (Italy), and others. Students interested in languages, foreign cultures and travel will gain a deeper understanding on the notion of “otherness” as seen through the works of award-winning filmmakers. This course is taught in English. Prerequisite: none. Offered as required. Electives in English: EN 310 Literature in Turn-of-the-Century Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and Barcelona. (H), (RR), (C),(U) One unit. A detailed reading of some of the major literary works written in fin-de-siècle Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and Barcelona. Along with readings by authors such as Arthur Rimbaud, Marcel Proust, Colette, Thomas Mann, and Rainer- Maria Rilke, this class will address the rise of psychoanalysis, the exploration of sexuality, and café culture. Students will visit several museums and galleries throughout the semester. Prerequisite: none. Cross-listed with FR 310 and AH 326. Offered spring semester of odd-numbered years.
