Kiel. The German Studies program at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) has emerged as the most sought-after course for first-semester students in the winter semester of 2024.
Many associate German Studies primarily with reading books. However, Leena Bodin, a 25-year-old graduate of the program, provides insight into what students can expect. In an interview, she discusses the competencies required for success in this field.
Bodin chose this program because of her passion for storytelling. She expressed, "I love hearing and telling stories. I wanted to understand how that works. How is a story structured? How do stories make people change?" Her interest particularly lies in the area of narratology.
Essential competencies for studying German include grammar knowledge. CAU offers an intensive grammar course one week before the semester starts to ensure all students are on the same level, although attendance is not mandatory. Students should also be prepared to give presentations and engage in group work, with a strong interest in text analysis being crucial.
The curriculum begins with foundational courses in literary studies and linguistics. In literary studies, students learn about text structure and stylistic devices, while linguistics focuses on language development and the connection between past and present languages. Students can choose courses in Middle High German or Middle Low German, emphasizing the languages and their cultural contexts.
Initially, students will take exams, but over time, written assignments will dominate. During the Bachelor’s program, students can specialize in areas such as Modern German Literature, Linguistics, Middle High German, Middle Low German, or Media Studies. The latter focuses on analyzing film and television productions, allowing students to choose between aesthetic, historical, societal, or transmedia approaches. Notably, German Studies cannot be pursued without a second subject. Bodin chose Art History as her second field. The standard duration for a Bachelor’s degree in German Studies is six semesters, and the program is open access.
Bodin finds Media Studies particularly interesting, especially film and video game analysis. She also enjoyed phonetics in linguistics, exploring how language sounds, including dialects, and found poetry analysis in literary studies rewarding.
While she feels satisfied with her studies, Bodin initially struggled with organizational aspects, finding the course structure and registration process unclear. She emphasized the importance of prioritizing what to memorize for exams, particularly in linguistics.
Bodin recommends the program to individuals who enjoy engaging deeply with fictional and non-fictional texts and who question the messages conveyed in those texts. She believes the program is well-suited for those who love storytelling.
Overall, Bodin's experience aligned with her expectations, noting that her studies were a continuation of her strong foundation in German from school. She mentioned that the focus on Middle High German and Middle Low German often surprises students, leading to questions about its relevance.