The German Language Dormitory and Other Activities
- German Language Dormitory and Stammtisch
- Kaffeestunde,Norsk Kaffepause, and Koffetijd
- IUB's Language Laboratory
- Seminar Library and Oskar Seidlin Reading Room
The German Language Dormitory and Stammtisch
Part of one dormitory on the Bloomington campus has traditionally been set aside to house students interested in the study of foreign languages and cultures. In fall 1999 the German residence program moved to Foster International and now shares facilities with other foreign-language programs; in 1998-99 Dutch and Yiddish activities were added to its calendar.
Members of the German dormitory are undergraduates who wish to include the active use of German in their daily experience. The residents have varied interests and participate in a wide range of university activities. They enjoy speaking and studying German, although use of the German language while in the residence hall is not mandatory. There are; however, specific times set aside for speaking German, such as the weekly Stammtisch. A departmental graduate student director specifically for German also provides advising and support for various events, such as German movie nights, short theater presentations, lectures on various topics, and other activities that expose students to aspects of German culture.
The German program is also associated with the Global Village in Foster-Martin. The Global Village is a multilingual, multinational, multicultural, and multidisciplinary living-learning center that maintains a cooperative relationship with Foster International. The Global Village has a dedicated language/computer lab. For information about residence opportunities call 812-855-4552; a match with a German-speaking roommate may be possible. The Village’s website is at www.indiana.edu/~college/global/
To apply for residence in Foster International, please contact Residential Programs and Services at 855-5601. Some background in the German language is required. For additional information contact the department’s undergraduate secretary at germanic@indiana.edu, 812-855-1553 or Nikole Langjahr, Director of the German House.
Departmental Coffee Hours
Kaffeestunde
The department sponsors a weekly Kaffeestunde as a setting for informal conversation in German outside the classroom. Students at all levels, as well as faculty and associate instructors, are invited to attend. For the 2006-2007 academic year, Kaffeestunde will take place on Wednesdays, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. in Ballantine Hall 643 (the Germanic Studies seminar library).
Koffietijd
Students of Dutch also meet regularly for conversation. The Dutch Koffietijd meets the last Thursday of every month, from 3:30-4:45 in Ballantine Hall 643. Please contact Esther Ham for more information at eham@indiana.edu.
Norsk Kaffepause
Students of Norwegian meet monthly for conversation as well. The Norsk Kaffepause meets the second Tuesday of every month, from 3:30-4:45 in Ballantine Hall 643. Please contact Gergana May for more information at ggmay@indiana.edu.
Please note: Kaffeestunde, Norsk Kaffepause, and Koffietijd do not take place during the summer sessions, nor meet during the first or last weeks (dead week) of classes during the fall and spring semesters.
Language Laboratory
The campus language laboratory complex is located on the first floor of Ballantine Hall. Use of specified tapes is assigned or encouraged in several German language courses. Students at any level are always welcome to work on pronunciation and listening skills with appropriate lab tapes, even if not in connection with a specific course. Besides taped exercises coordinated with specific textbooks, the language lab also maintains an extensive collection of stories, plays, poetry, songs, and music by German, Austrian, and Swiss writers and composers. Germanic Studies tapes are housed with other foreign language tapes in Ballantine 121, where they may be checked out for use in the lab rooms BH 115 and 117. Although tapes may not be removed from the language lab area, students may make copies of any lab cassettes free of charge in BH 121 if they provide their own normal-bias cassettes. Assigned listenings for G100, G150, and G200 can also be accessed online at . Further information about language lab facilities and policies is available in Ballantine Hall 120 (855- 8383).
Educational software assigned in the introductory courses G100, G150, and G200 may be accessed in Ballantine Hall 104, 108, and 118.
Reserve Book Shelves and Oskar Seidlin Reading Room
Reserve book shelves and associate instructors' mailboxes are also located in BH 643 Books may be checked out through the undergraduate secretary in BH 644. An assortment of periodicals from the German-speaking countries, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands is kept in the Oskar Seidlin Reading Room, Ballantine Hall 643A. Materials may not be removed from this room, which is used exclusively for reading.
