Summer 2009/Pasadena
Five-week Intensive: June 22-July 24
LG566
Keller
LG566: THEOLOGICAL GERMAN. James Keller.
DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to introduce theological students to a
reading knowledge of the German language with special emphasis on theological
German. Previous knowledge of German is neither presupposed nor required.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: After taking this five-week course, students should be able
to read most theological literature written in German, or know how to summarize
it quickly using the most efficient resources.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: This course in elementary German reading builds the
skills necessary to access the vast amount of literature available in the
German language from McAlister Library. Since Reformation times the German
language has been utilized to convey theological thought. Church ministry can
only be enhanced by tapping this rich source of theological insight. Reading
knowledge of German belongs among the abilities possessed by church ministers
and theologians, and the effectiveness of ministers and theologians often
depends on their comprehension, at least in broad strokes, of the contents of
major German theological texts.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet twice weekly for four-hour sessions for
five weeks. A two-hour homework assignment will be given after every class
meeting.
REQUIRED READING:
- Wilson, April. German Quickly. 3rd revised edition. New
York: Peter Lang, 2002. ISBN-10: 0820423246; ISBN-13: 978-0820423241
- Ziefle, Helmut, ed. Modern Theological German: A Reader and
Dictionary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997. ISBN-13:
9780801021442
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Arnet, Liliane. German Vocabulary. Boca Raton: BarCharts,
2002. ISBN 978-1572226890
- Mosse, Walter M. A Theological German Vocabulary. Eugene:
Wipf & Stock, 2006. ISBN 978-1597528931
- Stern, Guy, and E. F. Bleiler. Essential German Grammar. New York:
Dover, 1961. ISBN 978-0486204222
- Zorach, Cecile, and Charlotte Melin. English Grammar for Students of
German. 4th ed. Ann Arbor: Olivia and Hill Press, 2001. ISBN-13:
978-0934034319
- Also recommended:
- Terrell, Peter, et al. Collins German-English,
English-German Dictionary. 5th ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2004. ISBN-13:
978-0007126309
- Oxford-Duden German Dictionary. New York: Oxford University Press,
1999. ISBN-13: 978-0198602484
ASSIGNMENTS: Regular assigned reading from reading list and weekly handouts. A
two-hour homework assignment will be given after every class meeting. In
addition, students will select their own text (subject to approval of the
instructor) to work on during the course, and that text will serve as the basis
for the final exam.
PREREQUISITES: None. No audits except for those with transcript evidence of
previous study of German.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes. Selection from student's passage (2-hour length).
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (4/09)