Spring 2006

                                                                                                                                                  See also: 
Freshman Year Trip to Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich!
              Fall Semester in Salzburg!
 Fall 2005 Newsletter
    Spring 2005 Newsletter
Spring 2007 Newsletter
Contact us by Email

Lew Grobe, Bennett Frensko, and Keith Spinali
Awarded Fulbright Scholarships for
Research and Teaching in Austria

Grobe and Frensko Also Awarded Fulbright Scholarships to Germany and May Do Both in Successive Years.    Each year, CSB and SJU German majors and minors are selected for research projects and teaching positions in Austrian and German Gymnasien, or schools.  Over the past 15 years 45 CSB/SJU students have participated in these prestigious programs following their graduation.

These annual scholarships are awarded to CSB students who demonstrate academic distinction, especially in German. S. Margaretta was known for her outstanding teaching of German for CSB/SJU and for founding abroad programs in Switzerland and Germany before the beginnings of our Salzburg program. Congratulations, Laura and Mersi! We are proud of your achievements!

Michael Risch-Janson Awarded the
Otmar Drekonja Scholarship

Dear Michael,  The German section of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages is pleased to inform you that you have been awarded the Otmar Drekonja German Cultural Studies Scholarship for 2006-2007. The amount of the scholarship is $950.00.  We applaud your enthusiastic dedication to the study of German—something illustrated by the strides you have made since beginning that study as a first-year college student in fall 2004. You understand the value of multicultural experiences and show a willingness to be an active participant in promoting them.   We congratulate you on your accomplishments and wish you great success in the continuation of your studies.   Wir gratulieren herzlich und wünschen besten Erfolg!  Read more about Otmar Drekonja (pictured above right with his wife Ingrid).
 

Sam Boggs

Sam Boggs Presents His Research on
German Poetry of War and Peace
at the Notre Dame Peace Studies Conference
 
National Conference was held March 31 - April 1 at the
Hesburgh Center for International Studies

Sam, a Peace Studies major and German minor, presented his paper, “From the Front: Cries for Peace in First World War German Expressionist Poetry”  in a session titled “Art in War and Peacebuilding.”   In his paper, Sam focused primarily on the poetry of  Georg Trakl and August Stramm.  Reflecting on the conference Sam said, "It was especially exciting to present with other undergrads from Universities like Duke, Cornell, Berkeley, Columbia, and Notre Dame.    more >

German Majors Keith Spinali, Bennett Frensko,
Jessica Argabright, Lew Grobe and Michael Kruk Complete Senior Presentations 

Bennett Frensko

2. Der „Magische“ Kreis:  Die Ausschließung des Anderen und die Einschließung von sich selbst
   With the collapse of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, fell one of the most daunting and impenetrable physical barriers of human creation in history.  Despite this monumental event, barriers still remain in Germany today, barriers that are more transparent but often more substantial than the Berlin Wall, what Ingrid Würtenberger calls a magischer Kreis (magical circle).  Since the beginning of time, differences between peoples, societies, cultures, and countries have created such a magischer Kreis.  What, however, is this magischer Kreis?  How does it become erected?  Can it be overcome?  By exploring examples in German literature, history, and current social issues, it will become clear how such magical circles have been and continue to be built, and how they can be dismantled in 21^st century Germany.     
 

Jessica Argabright

3. Die Geschichte der Europäischen Union 
   The aftermath of the two World Wars, was a time when peace was a necessity.  The countries of Western Europe were in shambles, physically, economically and politically. The prevention of another war was essential.  Out of this need as well as the desire for a union that would aid economies, ideas slowly came about giving the present EU its history.  The history and origin of this union is what makes it what it is today.  The European Union is one of the most important international organizations in that it gives Western Europe (as well as many new entering countries) a sense of unity, economic stability and promotes future relations and beneficial legislation.

 

Kemal Bigalou and His Family Give a Talk to
German Students about Living the Islamic Faith
in Germany and in Stearns County

Area High School Teachers and Students Join Us for
an Evening with Professor Gerhard Weiss

Gerhard Gives Talk about His Home City of Berlin: "Eine Reise Wert!"

Ein Fantastischer Theaterabend!

Twenty German German Students Hear Lecture, then See Mozart's
Don Giovanni at the Ordway in Saint Paul

    Celebrating Mozart's 150th Anniversary, students of CSB/SJU German Studies Program enjoyed a truly fabulous evening in the Ordway Theater experiencing what has been called Mozart's “perfect” opera—Don Giovanni. Set in Seville, Spain, sung in Italian, scored by the Austrian Mozart, libretto by the Italian da Ponte, and premiered in 1787 in Prague, the evening had a truly cosmopolitan flair. The captions in English helped viewers follow the plot and, more importantly, catch the numerous jokes!     
    In the thirty-minute pre-performance lecture, we learned that the opera teetered-tottered between serious opera and buffoonery. The lecturer reminded listeners that Minnesota residents had been blessed by the unique Guthrie World Stage Series performance of commedia del’arte last November (Arlecchino, Servant of Two Masters, was seen by students in GERM 349), the source of Mozart’s knowledge of buffa characters.
    In addition to the wonderful weather, the terrific group, box seats in the elegant Ordway, fabulous music and great staging, we were fascinated by the energetic Chinese-born Xian Zhang on the conductor’s podium. The petit Xian is making her Minnesota Opera debut with Don Giovanni. Conductor Xian Zhang recently received the prestigious Segal Award given to rising young artists.
    Pictured here is Professor Lisa Ohm who accompanied the group and gave this account.  Thank you for this wonderful event, Professor Ohm! Also special thanks to Professor Wendy Sterba who planned and organized this event months ahead of time!

Professor Wendy Sterba's Seminar on Late 20th Century Germany
Shows Its Singing, Dancing and Superb Acting Skills

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome! / Fremder, etranger, stranger!
Glücklich zu sehen, je suis enchanté, / Happy to see you, bleibe, reste, stay.
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome / Im Cabaret, au Cabaret, to Cabaret!

Vielen Dank an alle, die mitgemacht haben!

   "Learning about the culture and learning German will go
hand in hand."  -- Professor Ohm

Professor Lisa Ohm and Husband Stuart Goldschen Head to Salzburg for Fall Semester with
Eleven CSB/SJU Students

German Faculty Creates a Renewed Curriculum and
Co-Curricular Programs with the Help of
Planning Experts Linda Marrin and Heidi Byrnes

With generous support from the CSB/SJU Faculty Development and Research Committee, from the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, and from a local Foundation interested in promoting German studies, the German Department Faculty have undertaken a multi-year curriculum enhancement project which will lead to new courses, new ways of teaching and learning, and a variety of co-curricular activities.  Pictured above are Planning Consultant Linda Marrin, who so far has given us three workshops to help us create a sound strategic plan for German at CSB/SJU; Professor Heidi Byrnes of Georgetown University, known internationally for her publications and talks on new approaches to university curricula in German (here is her webpage); and our German faculty, Professors Wendy Sterba, John Kulas, Lisa Ohm, Mark Thamert , and Andreas Kiryakakis.     

Fr. Mark Receives Study Abroad Director of the Year Award for 2006

On May 4, 2006, students and faculty gathered for an award ceremony highlighting the work of our study abroad participants and directors in Australia, Austria, Central America, China, England, France, Greece and Italy, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, and Spain.  When asked about the citation, Fr. Mark said, "The award really belongs to the wonderful students who commit themselves to a semester or year abroad in Austria; to Dallas Kenny and the folks in our Center for International Studies for their astonishing organization; and to the German Studies Department, who has guided this program for nearly 30 years."

Pictured here are
Suzie Goossens, a Salzburg Program participant, Fall 2005, and Fr. Mark Thamert.  Suzie's citation can be found here.

Greta Sandnas Completing Her Junior Year in Munich at the Ludwig Maximilian University
  Loves Her Full-Time Studies and an
Internship Involving CD-Rom Translations

Greta writes from Munich:

Hallo Alle in Saint Ben's und Saint John's!!!
  Mein Aufenthalt hier in Muenchen hat mir bisher sehr gut gefallen. Ich habe wirklich so viel gelernt. Ich fuehle mich als ob ich vorrher kein Deutsch gesprochen habe, aber mein Deutsch ist weit von perfekt. Es ist so anders als ein trandtionalles Programm von CSBSJU. Wenn man hier fuer ein Jahr bliebt, wird es mehr wie eine zweite Heimat. Dieses Programm bietet auch viele Gelegenheiten an, die nicht möglich wären, wenn man nur fuer drei Monaten bleibt -- z.B. helfen Sie mir, ein Praktikum während unserer zwei-Montaten Pause zu finden. Jetzt arbeite ich bei "Studentenwerk" als eine Übersetzterin von einer CD-Rom von Deutsch zu Englisch. Es ist schwierig und ich weiß nicht genau, wie viel es mir hilft, aber ich mache es gerne. Also was ich sagen will -- dieses Programm ist sehr gut, wenn man arbeiten will. Die Dozenten sind auch sehr hilfsbereit und freundlich. Hoffentlich sind diese Infos hilfreich fuer alle CSB und SJU Studenten!
    Ich wuensche Ihnen ein schoenes Wochenende und ein gutes Semesterende!

Mit herzlichen Gruessen,
Greta

Greta will return in fall 2006 to complete her senior year at CSB/SJU

Bryan Short Completing
His Second Semester
at the University of Salzburg
  "Enrolling in Classes Was Easier than I Expected."

Bryan writes from Salzburg:  "Servus aus Österreich!   Ich bin gestern um 13.30 in Salzburg angekommen.  Es war eine lange Reise und mein Jetlag ist noch da, aber ich fühle mich gut.  I'd like to dissolve a few myths about studying here.. it's actually quite easy to set up!  All I had to do is go to the office and the guy basically said 'Oh, no problem enrolling in the Uni, I just need your passport.  Fill out this piece of paper and then we'll get you a student ID across the hall and you can register for classes and get health insurance."  Bryan, you do us proud with your depth of interest in Austrian culture and language!   Bryan Short is pictured above (far left) with the Fall 2005 Salzburg Group. 

 

 

                                                                             

Brooke writes, "Ultimately I hope to be a German professor who enables my students to achieve an advanced level of German which they can then incorporate into their lives and professions in meaningful ways."

Alumna Brooke Kreitinger Excels in the Renowned German Department at Georgetown University

Brooke writes from Washington D.C., "Why German?  What it all comes down to is regardless of which way I have chosen to wander in life, my path always leads me to German. My sophomore year in high school I began learning German from a lively and inspiring teacher. I then went on a class trip to Germany, and after my first 'authentic' encounters with the language and culture, my burning desire to become a polyglot was truly ignited. I continued my language acquisition by taking German courses at St. Ben’s and St. John’s with, of course, lively and inspiring professors, and I eventually decided to major in German and French. (Somewhere along the journey I grew rather fond of French also, but that’s another story.)'
    More > Brooke's Salzburg Semester, Fulbright Year in Austria and Enrollment in Georgetown German Department
    More > News from Other Alumnae and Alumni of Ger


        

45 CSB/SJU Students Head to Munich for May Term 

This is the fourth summer in the row that students of our colleges have had the chance to experience Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy first hand.  The first May Term -- one of the first in our colleges' history -- was offered three years ago for 30 students and featured a comparison of the art and architecture of Berlin and Munich.  the last two years 45 students participated in a similar May term, but the topic shifted to the development of German Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture in relation to what was happening culturally in the Mediterranean region.  This summer on May 19 and again on July 13, a total of forty-five more students will depart for the summer term seminar titled, Rome, Florence and Munich: Arts and Ideas.  

Pictured here: Students biking through Munich learning about the history of its architecture and the intellectual movements that gave rise to radically different kinds of architectural expression.  Our tour director Dave gives a lecture in front of the Friedensengel in Munich.  In the picture on the right, Sam Pokorney (center) joins Bavarian Schuhplattler in a traditional Volkstanz.

Take a German Immersion Course This Summer! 

Record numbers of college students are deciding to take immersion courses in German during the summer months.  Courses last from one week to several weeks.  This is an invigorating way to spring forward in your language fluency, either stateside or in Germany or Austria.  Check out just a few of the best possibilities here.

Herzlichen Dank!

Special thanks, Professor Camilla Krone, for your elegant leadership of the MCL Department and your support of our German activities; Mary Niedenfuer, for your expert coordination of Department events and personalities; Mersiha and Robert for your excellent work as tutors and teaching assistants; Professor Greg Schroeder, for your support of the Salzburg Program and our German Department's academic life; Dallas Kenny, for your inspiration and astonishing leadership as dean of international programs; and John Taylor, for your work on our behalf in Institutional Development.  We could not do it without you!   -- The German Faculty

Do you have comments or news for upcoming editions of In the News?  Feel free to e-mail us at German section news!