In today’s world of global interconnectivity you have to be able and willing to look beyond your own community and step outside your comfort zone to be successful.

No matter whether you find yourself working in business, politics, humanitarian work, education, the arts, science, technology or any other field, it is impossible to be a “citizen” of one culture while ignoring the rest of the world. Part and parcel of the new paradigm of the 21st-century work environment are not only skills such as multitasking and adaptability to constantly changing technologies or personality trades such as flexibility. One of the key elements of a successful life and career is also the ability to navigate in a multicultural society, in a global economy and in a world in which all countries and its citizens are growing increasingly dependent on each other.

Germany has long been a tremendously influential “player” in cultural history, economics and sciences.

You may think:”Why should I study German? Most Germans speak English . . .”

English may be the “lingua franca” and you may be able to function on a superficial level in German speaking countries by speaking English only.

However studying the German language is key to truly becoming culturally proficient, and of course, English is a Germanic language, so you already know some German as a native speaker of English.

Reasons to study German

There are a multitude of reasons why you will not regret your choice of German as a foreign language and German Studies as a window into the culture of German speaking countries. Here are some to consider:

 

 

The Goethe Institute created a series of videos to inform you why learning German is going to be a huge asset to you – please, click on any of the following images to watch these videos and to find out more about how German can be useful in your future. 

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

He who does not know foreign languages does not know anything about his own.

Christa Wolf

Every revolutionary movement also liberates languages.

Hans Georg Gadamer

Nothing exists except through language.

Martin Heidegger

German language speaks Being, while all the others merely speak of Being.

Theodor Adorno

History does not merely touch on language, but takes place in it.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

The limits of language mean the limit of my world.

Take German at USC in the Fall!!!!

German 1 (Ger 101): M TU W TH 9-9:50am and M WE  10-11:50am

German 2 (Ger 102): M TU W TH  10-10:50am and 11 -11:50am

German 3 (Ger 201):  M TU W TH 12:00-12:50pm and M TU W TH  1 – 1:50pm

German 4 (Ger 221): T TU W TH 11:00-11:50am

Advanced Composition and Stylistics (Ger 470): M & We 2- 3:50PM

https://classes.usc.edu/term-20243/classes/germ/

Department Office

The German Studies Program is housed in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures
College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Taper Hall 255
Los Angeles, CA 90089-4353

Fax (213) 740-8550     Phone (213) 740-2735

slavic@usc.edu

Administrator: Deborah Russo

russod@usc.edu

Department Chair

Dr. Colleen McQuillen

Program Director

Dr. Britta Bothe