WHY GERMAN? : Department of Modern Languages and Cultures : Hanover College

WHY GERMAN?

Join Our German-Speaking Communities!

German Club: Leadership opportunities available with elections each spring! This organization is run by students of German and those interested in any aspect of German culture, history and language. Join the German Club and participate in some or all of the activities. Specific meeting times will be announced. Please let Dr. Smith or one of the club officers know if you would like to be included on the mailing list. President: Olivia Wertz, Vice President: Evie Montgomery, Secretary: Emma Brelage, Treasurer: Vinny Shilling, Social Media: Anissa Weber, Student Senate Rep: Michelle Triplett. Here is our website and follow us on Instagram: @hanovergermanclub.

GER 301 - SPARK for German - Are you interested in teaching German to K-12 students? Join the SPARK for German program and teach 10 free lessons per semester. We meet weekly or every other week to discuss how the lessons went and plan new ones. Materials are provided by the SPARK for German program, or you can develop your own. Location: TBD--either a local school, library or other community space. You can either sign up for 0.5 credit (which can be repeated once for a total of 1 credit toward your German degree) or complete the lessons for community service. Prerequisite: GER 218, or by permission from the instructor (me!). Write to me if you are interested!

Study Abroad! Complete a semester abroad in Marburg or through IUSP, take summer courses in Germany through DAAD, Science majors can complete an internship through DAAD RISE, spend May Term 2025 in Germany with Frau Smith by taking GER 226/326 Off-Campus Conversation and Culture: Location(s) TBD. Prerequisite: completion of GER 218. May be repeated for credit, as each version of the course is different. The plan is to go to a German-speaking country every two years (more often when possible and if there is interest)! Scholarships available! Contact Dr. Uschi Appelt for more info.

Join our Honor Societies!

Delta Phi Alpha - National German Honor Society: The society aims to promote the study of the German language, literature and civilization and endeavors to emphasize those aspects of German life and culture which are of universal value and which contribute to humanity's eternal search for peace and truth. As a member of Hanover College's chapter, Phi Beta, you would have access to several scholarships, awards, and essay competitions. For more information see: https://www.aatg.org/delta-phi-alpha/(currently being updated). All you need to do is become a German or German Studies minor or major and complete:

A minimum of two years of college German or their equivalent (= completion of GER 218)
A minimum of a B+ (3.33 GPA) average in German courses
A minimum cumulative average of B- (2.67 GPA)

Phi Sigma Iota - International Foreign Language Honor Society, Inc.: Phi Sigma Iota recognizes outstanding accomplishment in the study or teaching of any of the academic fields related to foreign language, literature, or culture. These fields include modern foreign languages, Classics, Linguistics, Philology, Comparative Literature, Bilingual Education, Second Language Acquisition and other interdisciplinary programs with a significant foreign language component. Phi Sigma Iota is the highest academic honor in foreign languages. For more information on the benefits of joining, see: https://phisigmaiota.org/benefits-of-membership/. Eligibility requirements:

Complete at least one course at the 3rd-year level (above GER 218)
have completed 45 semester hours or its equivalent,
have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
rank in the top 35% of their class.

https://modlang.hanover.edu/german/courses.php

Why did you choose German?

Allison Compton, HC '23 German Major, German Club Secretary	I come from a mostly German family and a very German community. However, until my older sister took German in high school, I didn't know anyone who spoke it. My idea of the language was warped by American pop culture, making me think that the language was hard, cold, and ugly. That was until I heard a musical in German. I realized that the language can actually be quite soft, romantic, and musical in nature. I instantly fell in love and knew that I wanted to learn the language. I took German classes all through high school and it is now one of my majors. It's not too different from English and was very helpful when I visited Europe with my family. In our current interconnected world, it is so important to learn and understand different cultures, and German has really done that for me.
Samantha Grunow, HC '21 German Club President	My familial background is Okinawan and German. Because I was able to experience Okinawan culture throughout my childhood, German felt like the natural option when I chose a foreign language to study in high school. Little did I know that this would become one of my favorite subjects. Even now as my busy schedule does not allow for more German courses, I enjoy being a part of German club to continue participating in German culture and conversation. As an International Studies Major, German is a helpful steppingstone with its distinct eurocentric qualities that I can relate to and better understand, and through German I have been able to build on my understandings of other nations I study in northeast Africa and southeast Asia. I look forward to possibly working in Germany next year, but I know that no matter where I go, German culture and language will always be a part of my identity.
Laman Istrabadi, HC '22 German Minor	When I was thirteen, my family and I visited Europe. We traveled to several countries, including both Austria and Germany, and I fell deeply in love with both. I had such a wonderful time immersing myself in the culture and hearing the language for a few weeks. For years after that, I swore I would live in Vienna when I grew up. My father and two of my three grandmothers are German-speakers, one of whom is originally from Germany. I'd always loved my grandmother's accent and hearing her speak her native language, and even asked her how to say grandmother in German so I could refer to her that way. I knew that I wanted to learn German myself, and though I wish I had learnt it earlier in my life, I'm really enjoying Frau Smith's German classes; they've quickly become some of my favorite classes I've ever taken on campus. Getting to learn new languages is a way of opening yourself to a whole new world of possibilities and I'm so excited to continue.
Grace Miller, HC '22 German Minor, German Club Vice President	I decided to study German my sophomore year because it fit with my schedule best, but it turned out to be one of my favorite subjects. I found myself looking forward to my German classes and could see how my German was getting better due to the exposure of the German language in class as well as the exposure from the conversation groups and the German club activities. I continuously find myself getting excited about doing the homework and challenging myself through the writing projects and speaking projects. While German has given me insight to other cultures and the joys of learning a new language, German has also allowed me to form strong connections with my classmates and Frau Smith. I truly enjoy studying German and being a member of German club!
Connor Trimborn, HC '21 German Studies Minor	My father is German, and we speak the language in the home, so my taking German in a more formal capacity allowed for better conversation and even led to moments of me teaching him something. I have also had the privilege of being a part of a wonderful community thanks to participating in the German program. There are friends that I still have from high school that I would not have met if not for our shared fondness of the language. German has also allowed me to apply to the Fulbright Scholarship for an English Teaching Assistantship in Germany. I don't yet know whether or not I will be a recipient of said scholarship, but the fact that I was able to apply at all is thanks to my years of studying German. I think that, ultimately, learning German has been about connection. Connection to family, friends, and the world. The ties that I have been greatly improved by studying German.

Last updated on 6/6/24.