German at the University of Toronto

German is a member of the western branch of the Germanic family of languages, which in turn is part of the Indo-European language family. English is also a Germanic language, and many English speakers discover a natural affinity when learning German.
German is the ninth most commonly spoken language in the world. A high proportion of North Americans have German ancestry.
A knowledge of German is indispensable in many professional and academic fields, from archaeology (a German named Schliemann began it all) to zoology (the geneticist Gregor Mendel was an Austrian monk). A student who is seriously interested in philosophy, psychology, political science, music, art history, and many other academic disciplines will find a knowledge of German invaluable.
German is one of the world’s great cultural languages. It was the language of Nietzsche, Freud, Marx, Jung, and Einstein, also of Goethe, Schiller, Brecht, Hesse, Mann, Kafka, Böll, and Grass, writers who have helped shape the way we see our world.
With the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the unification of Germany East and West, and the drive for greater integration of the member countries of the European Union (EU), Germany is becoming increasingly important politically and economically. A proposal has been made to elevate the German language to co-equal status with English and French as an official language of the EU.

Visit the Department of Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures website for more information.
Consult the A&S calendar for specific course offerings.

In 2006, the University of Toronto in Berlin opens its offices in the Gendarmenmarkt in the heart of the city, providing new study and research opportunities there.
In conjunction with Woodsworth College, German courses may be taken in Berlin at the Humboldt University during the Summer Abroad Program and this offers students an invaluable opportunity to include an international experience in their undergraduate academic career.
Students may also choose to do an international exchange for a longer period through the International Student Exchange Office. Opportunities include the Humboldt University Exchange Program, the Baden-Württemberg Exchange Program and the Canadian Summer School in Germany.
The annual “Work-Studies Program” offers students the opportunity to work and travel in Germany during the summer and at the same time to improve their language skills. Since 2005, students have the opportunity to work for 3 weeks in a German company in Berlin as part of the Berlin Internship.

Is German really similar to English?
Yes and no. You will find yourself learning new aspects of Grammar, but many German words share a common root with English and will look and sound familiar to you.
What can I do with a degree in Germanic Languages and Literatures?
A knowledge of German is an asset if you wish to pursue a career in business and commerce, the foreign service, interpretation and translation, librarianship, music and the arts, tourism, and many others. Trade between Germany and Canada is growing in significance; the Canadian-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce lists over 500 German subsidiaries in Canada.
What if I have very little or no knowledge of German?
Not at all. Our department offers separate language streams for students at all levels, including those who have never spoken the language before. If all you can say is “Guten Tag!”, come and say it to us.
What is the introductory course like?
The introductory course meets four hours per week. Usually there are 25 students in the class. The course emphasizes communicative skills such as speaking and listening, reading and writing. You will also learn about the culture of the German speaking countries.