German Studies Rhodes University

Overview

About the program

German Studies at Rhodes University is called ‘German Studies’ because we deal not only with the acquisition of the German language, but also with the cultures and literatures of the German-speaking world, as well as with Translation Studies. We thus hope to give you a more holistic approach to our subject.

We start in the first-year course with an introduction to the language for beginners. Yet the focus in this and subsequent courses is not only on competence in written and spoken German language; since real competence also entails cultural knowledge, you are familiarised with German, Austrian and Swiss culture in the broadest sense, including modules on German literature, on history and geography, on customs and institutions.

The aim is to render you as culturally sensitive and critical, as well as adaptable and versatile in preparation for your professional life, thus modules in which skills such as translation are taught are also included. Weekly tutorials with advanced German students facilitate consolidation of materials covered in lectures and enable you to enhance your level of spoken German.