Beginning language students should
- Achieve a good understanding of the basic structure of German
- Be able to communicate on a basic, everyday level.
- Develop a basic active vocabulary and a more extensive passive vocabulary
- Be able to read simple authentic texts with the aid of a dictionary
- Achieve a basic cultural competency
Advanced German students should gain
- An awareness of the development of German literature and culture from the Middle Ages to the present
- Familiarity with major German writers and representative works
- An awareness of basic critical methodologies in the field
German majors should gain
- The ability to read modern German at a level at which sophisticated literary analysis can be performed
- The ability to write, speak and comprehend German sufficiently so that they can communicate not only on an everyday level, but also participate in critical discussions and produce critical essays
- The ability to analyze and interpret literary and cultural texts
- An awareness and appreciation of culture difference