German

Nowadays, many students are seeking admission to German Universities. There is also an increasing demand for computer professionals in Germany and many Indians are taking advantage of this opportunity. Moreover, there is an increase in trade with Germany. However, many Germans do not know enough English to be able to communicate effectively, thus making it important for a non-German to learn German. The Germans penchant for punctuality and discipline is well-known. They are quite hospitable and friendly.

The German language has its roots in Sanskrit and we find many aspects of German language in our Indian languages. German is a phonetic language. It is written the way it is pronounced and is pronounced the way it is written. Silent letters are very much restricted to a smaller number. German has well-framed rules of grammar, which are very essential for any language. Importance is given to the genders, the cases, the subject-verb-object agreements etc. With the exception of a few special characters, German language uses the Roman script as does English. This makes it easy for Indian students to learn German, provided they put in at least one hour of hard work after every class. Learning a language involves four major skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Our course gives equal importance to all the skills.

It is recommended that anyone planning to study at a German University (even though the proposed course of study is in the English medium) must complete the Junior II level of our course. Those planning to study in the German medium must complete the Diploma II level.

The standard of our German course is so high that by the time the students finish the Diploma level they are capable of teaching the language at the Junior level.

First junior syllabus

• German sounds: Vowels, Consonants, Diphthongs, Umlaut.
• The nouns, gender distinctions, cases, definite and indefinite articles.
• Conjugation of verbs, verbs with separable and inseparable prefixes, modal verbs.
• Personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, reflexive pronouns.
• Cases - Nominative. Accusative and Dative.
• Structure of sentence and categories of sentences, subordinate clause: Causative and conditional sentences.

A very interesting slideshow presentation is held to enlighten the students about the culture, people, and lifestyle in Germany.

Prescribed textbook: Deutsch als Fremdsprache IA Grundkurs

Second junior syllabus

• Verbs - different forms - Past tense and Present perfect tense,
• Adjectives and their declension, degrees of comparison.
•  Prepositions - Genitive case - Konjunktiv II
• Different conjunctions (co-ordinating and subordinating), simple, complex and compound sentences.
• Active and Passive voice.
• Relative pronouns.

Prescribed textbook: Deutsch als Fremdsprache IA Grundkurs

First senior syllabus

• Infinite Sentences.
• Use of Konjunktiv I and Konjunktiv II (contd.)
• Plusquamperfect.
• Modal Verb - (Contd.)
• Conjunction - Temporal, Subordinate clauses Complex sentences.

Prescribed textbook: Deutsch als Fremdsprache IB Ergänzungskurs

Second senior syllabus

• Partizip I and Partizip II
• Temporal conjunctions.
• Genitive Prepositions.
• Active and Passive voice (contd.)
• Adjective Declension (Contd.)
• Modal Verb - Paraphrasing of Perfect tense using Modal Verb.

Prescribed textbook: Deutsch als Fremdsprache IB Ergänzungskurs

Diploma I syllabus

• Advanced Grammar
• Translation
• Re-narration of texts
• German Literature - A brief history, prose and poetry.
• Advanced Grammar
• Revision of basic grammar
• Locative use of prepositions
• The perfect tense with "haben" and "sein"
• Verbs governing cases
• Word formation - the formation of nouns, adjectives and verbs
• The use of the impersonal "es"
• Modal words and modal verbs
• Verb families
• The subjunctive and its use
• Subordinate clauses - types, meanings, formation and use
• Reforming sentences (simple, compound, complex etc.)
• Vocabulary expansion exercises
• Translation
• Translation of non-technical texts from German into English and vice-versa
• Re-Narration of Texts
•  Re-narrating stories from a selection studied
• German Literature
• A brief outline of German Literature
• Prose: A selection from the following texts will be dealt with :
• Geschichte von Isidor by Max Frisch
• Nachts schlafen die Ratten doch by Wolfgang Borchert
• Die Küchenuhr by Wolfgang Borchert
• Hernn K's Lieblingstier by Bertolt Brecht
• Maßnahmen gegen die Gewalt by Bertolt le
• Der Tunnel by Friedrich Dürrenmatt

Poetry: A selection of the following poems will be studied / interpreted:

• Erlkonig by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Willkommen und Abschied by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Prometheus by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Der Handschuh by Friedrich Schiller
• Mondnacht by Josef Freiherr von Eichendorff
• Sehnsucht by Josef Freiherr von Eichendorff
• Mondesaufgang by Annette von Droste-Hulschoff

Diploma II syllabus

1. Re-narration of texts
2. Translation
3. German Literature - Prose and Poetry

• Re-narration of texts
• Re-narrating stories from a selection studied
•  Translation
• Translation of technical texts from German into English and vice-versa
• German Literature
•  Prose: A selection from the following texts will be dealt with:
• i. Das Gottesurteil by Heinz Risse
• ii. Beim Uhrmacher by Eric South
• iii. Märchen vom Korbstuhl by Hermann Hesse
• iv. Es wird etwas geschehen by Heinrich Böll
• v. Die Linkshänder by Günter Grass
• vi. Die Fahrt des Herrn von Ringen by Werner Bergengruen

Poetry: A selection from the following poems will be studied/ interpreted:

• Die Bürgschaft by Freiderich Schiller
• ii. Der Panther by Rainer Maria Rilke
• iii. Das Karussell by Rainer Maria Rilke
• iv. Der romische Brunnen by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer
• v. Die Beiden by Hugo von Hofmannsthal
• vi. Im Nebel by Hermann Hesse
• vii. Exilliteratur (1933 - 45) (Selections)

Prescribed books:

• Moderner Gebrauch der deutschen Sprache by Schulz/Griesbach
• Wie sage ich das auf Deutsch by Gerhard Kaufmann
• Wege zur deutschen Literatur by Hermann Glaser u.a.
• Benno Von Wiese (Auswahl und Einleitung): Deutschland erzahlt Von Arthur Schnitzler bis Uwe Johnson
• Deutsche Gedichte by Echtermeyer von Wiese
• Das deutsche Gedicht by E. Hederer
• German Verse by B.B. Kulkarni
• Texte zum Lesen und Nacherzählen by Hans-Joachim Arndt
• Kleines Wörterbuch der stilkunde by Krahl / Kurz
• Sachwörterbuch für den Literaturunterricht Klasse 9 bis 12 by Autorenkollektiv
• Deutsche Texte zum übersetzen by Gunther Haensch
• Authentic texts in German from Newspapers, Magazines, Technical Journals etc.