University of Bristol
SCHOOL OF MODERN LANGUAGES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
FOR STUDENTS OF GERMAN
Current full-time staff involved in teaching German include:
Dr Mark Allinson
Head of School of Modern Languages
M.Allinson@bristol.ac.uk
Room 1.74
Dr Anna Carrdus
Senior Lecturer
Anna.carrdus@bristol.ac.uk
Room G103
Frau Yamina Ehrt
DAAD-Lektorin
Room 2.69
Frau Evi Gossner
Language Co-ordinator
e.m.gossner@bristol.ac.uk
Room 2.75
Frau Irene Hörndl
Austrian Lektorin
Room 2.72
Prof. Alexander
Košenina
Professor of German
Head of Subject
a.kosenina@bristol.ac.uk
Room 1.68
Dr Nils Langer
Senior Lecturer
(Study leave in TB1)
Nils.Langer@bristol.ac.uk
Room 2.73
Dr Debbie Pinfold
Lecturer
(Study leave in TB2)
Debbie.Pinfold@bristol.ac.uk
Room 2.77
Dr K. A. Simon
Head of Education
a.simon@bristol.ac.uk
Room 1.73
There are currently a small number of postgraduate research students, pursuing research for a
Masters degree or a doctorate, and approximately 200 students on full-time undergraduate
courses: Single Honours German, Modern Languages (German and: Czech, French, Italian,
Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish), Joint Honours (German and: Drama, History of Art, Music,
Philosophy, or Politics), Law and German, and History with Study in German.
The School has Socrates/Erasmus student exchange programmes with six universities in
Germany: Berlin (Humboldt University), Hannover (Bristol’s twin city), Heidelberg, Leipzig,
Mainz, Marburg and Germersheim; and Graz University in Austria. During the session
2006/2007 there will be 20 students from these universities spending two or three terms in the
School.
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Reading Room. Room 1.76, situated on the first floor, has been designated to serve the needs
of students in German for a quiet place in which to work between lectures, tutorials and
seminars. It contains a satellite TV where students can view programmes from German
broadcasters, German newspapers and a basic collection of texts and reference books for
students’ perusal, but these must be returned to the shelves after use.
Extracurricular activities in German: These will be advertised on the notice board. Videos,
films, visiting speakers, German TV news, etc. are arranged for your benefit by the teaching
staff or by the GERMAN SOCIETY. This Society deserves your support and needs your
involvement. Why not help plan its programme to suit your tastes and interests? The highlight
each year is usually the drama production, an experience all the more memorable and
rewarding if you become actively involved!
PRIZES
Each year the School may award prizes for outstanding performance or promise. The
following prizes are open to Honours students of German for the session 2006/07.
August Closs Prize. Awarded to the candidate showing the most promise in German studies
at the end of the second year.
Mike Levene Prize. Awarded to the student who has made the greatest progress.
Achim Wierzejewski Memorial Prize. Awarded to students, normally at the end of the
second year, showing particular promise in German with possible involvement in music,
drama or Italian Studies.
Maria Najdzien Prize. Awarded for outstanding performance, usually by a second-year
student, in Russian and German.
Louise Hamilton Prize. Awarded to the most distinguished finalist in Russian and German.
Mark Mueller Prize. Awarded for outstanding performance by a student in German and
Spanish.
Ken Mills Memorial Prize. The prize will be awarded to the final-year student who achieves
the highest mark in the German language unit.
Hans Reiss Prize for postgraduates.
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Structure of the Academic Year
See the School Handbook for the basic structure of the year. For units in German this is
adapted as follows:
TEACHING BLOCK 1
Weeks 1- 10 (9th Oct – 15th Dec)
Normal teaching weeks
(Christmas Vacation)
Week 11 (15th – 19th Jan)
Language classes: as usual
Other classes: taught revision/essay preparation classes
Week 12 (22nd – 26th Jan)
Language classes: as usual
No other classes: where appropriate, examinations for
TB1 units will be scheduled for this week.
TB1 essay deadlines: week commencing Monday 22nd January, unless stated otherwise in
the unit description. The precise dates will be announced as work is set. Where units are
assessed by two essays, there will be an earlier deadline for the first essay.
TEACHING BLOCK 2
Week 13 (29th Jan – 2nd Feb)
A reading week to prepare for TB2 units.
No classes will run.
Weeks 14-20 (5th Feb – 23rd March)
Normal teaching weeks (but no classes after 1pm on
Thursday 8th Feb – Students’ Union AGM).
(Easter vacation)
Weeks 21-23 (23rd April – 11th May) Normal teaching weeks (but no classes on Bank
Holiday Monday 7th May).
Week 24 (14th-18th May)
Language classes: as usual
Other classes: taught revision for units to be assessed
by examination, or by arrangement with tutor.
TB2 essay deadline: week commencing Monday 14th May 2007, unless stated otherwise in
the unit description.
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Programme outline: First year
Level 1 (First Year) units in German, showing credit points in brackets.
Post A-Level German
First Teaching Block
GERM 10009 Language 1 …. 
GERM 10013: Introduction to German Studies

GERM 10030 Blue Danube and the Third
Man (20)
Second Teaching Block
GERM 10009 Language 1 (20)
GERM 10013: Introduction to German
Studies (40)
GERM 10031 German History and
Society in Film (20)
GERMAN AB INITIO
GERM 19003 German ab initio 1…. 
GERM 10023 Introduction to German
Studies 
GERM 19003 German ab initio 1 (40)
GERM 10023 Introduction to German
Studies (20)
UNITS REQUIRED FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAMMES:
For Single Honours German: all of the units in the Post A-Level German box: totalling 100
credit points.
To make up the required 120 credit points you also take one or more Open Units (see relevant
section of the School handbook, p. 5).
For the BA in Modern Languages: GERM 10009, GERM 10013, totalling 60 credit points.
For the BA in German with Drama, Music, Philosophy, Politics: GERM 10009 plus 40
credit points of other units allocated at registration, normally similarly to those for Modern
Languages.
For German ab initio path: all the units listed in the German ab initio box above, totalling
60 credit points.
For the LLB in Law and German: GERM 10009 plus 20 credit points of other units
allocated at registration.
History with Study in German: GERM 10009 plus 20 credit points of other units allocated
at registration.
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THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PROGRAMMES
Table of Second Year (Level 2) units in the Department of German (showing credit points in
brackets)
First Teaching Block
Second Teaching Block
GERM 20001 German Language 2.... 
GERM 29003 German ab initio 2.... 
GERM 20011 Middle High German (20)
GERM 20017 Bildung (20)
GERM 20018 Love Poetry (20)
GERM 22019 C17th Images of Women (20)
GERM 20001 German Language 2 (20)
GERM 29003 German ab initio 2 (20)
GERM 22029 Modern Socio-linguistics (20)
GERM 22033 Kafka (20)
GERM 22034 History of the GDR (20)
GERM 22035 Independent Study (20) only for ab
initio German students.
GERM 22030 Novels of Society (20)
UNITS REQUIRED FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PROGRAMMES
(Mandatory units are underlined):
Single Honours German: GERM 20001 and 20011, plus 60-80 credit points from
the list of units above. Single Honours students may choose up to 20 credit points
outside the Department. Please note that the Department will accept only Level 2
(Level 'I') Open Units.
Joint Programmes (with Drama, History of Art, Music, Philosophy, or Politics):
GERM 20001, plus: for standard Joint programmes (60 credit points in German), a
further 40 credit points from the list of units above.
Modern Languages: GERM 20001, plus 20 to 60 (normally 40) credit points from
the list of units above.
German ab initio path: GERM 29003 German ab initio 2, plus 20 to 60 credit points
from the list of units above.
History with Study in German: GERM 20001 German Language plus 20 credit
points from the list of units above.
Law and German: GERM 20001 plus 20 credit points from the list of units above.
During the second year of your programme you will need to think about and decide
on your place of residence, study or work placement abroad. A handbook for your
time in a German-speaking country will be distributed before you make your choices.
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THE THIRD YEAR OF THE PROGRAMMES
You will spend either the entire or half of the third academic year of your degree programme
in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. The purpose of residence in one of these countries is:
 to improve your spoken German, especially your active vocabulary and command of
idiom;
 to provide the opportunity for greater acquaintance with the people, culture and history of
a German-speaking country;
 to provide the experience of study or work abroad.
The period may be spent at a university (with an Erasmus/Socrates arrangement), in an
approved work placement, or as an English assistant in a school. Arrangements must be made
during your second year. Further information, rules and advice are given in the separate
booklet: The Year Abroad in a German-speaking Country, which is distributed to students
during their second year.
UNITS REQUIRED FOR THE YEAR ABROAD OF THE PROGRAMMES:
For Modern Languages: GERM 28001: Half the academic year in a German-speaking
country. Assignment: an essay of 3,000-3,500 words in German.
For German ab initio: GERM 28004: Half the academic year in a German-speaking
country. Assignment: an essay of 3,000-3,500 words in German.
For Single Honours German: GERM 28002: The academic year in a German-speaking
country. Assignment: a dissertation of approx. 8,000 - 10,000 words in German.
For Joint Schools with Drama, History of Art, Music, Philosophy, or Politics: GERM
28003: The academic year in a German-speaking country. Assignment: an essay of
approximately 3,000 – 3,500 words in German.
For Law and German: the academic year in Germany under arrangements made by the
Faculty of Law.
For History with Study in German: the academic year in Germany under arrangements
made by the Department of Historical Studies.
There will be full details of the above assignments in your Year Abroad Handbook, but
note the following:
Titles of year abroad essays/dissertations are subject to departmental approval. Students must
choose a supervisor from available tutors and agree on a topic by the date to be announced,
soon after you arrive in Germany or Austria.
Completion and submission of this written assignment are essential for the award of 3rd-year
credit points and progression into the Final Year of your programme
You will also be required to submit a Language portfolio on your return to Bristol – more
details will be given before you leave Bristol.
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THE FOURTH (FINAL) YEAR OF THE PROGRAMMES
Table of Final Year units to be offered in 2006/2007 showing credit points in brackets.
Teaching Block 1
Teaching Block 2
GERM 30001 Language 3 ......
GERM 30001 Language 3 (20)
GERM 30029 Nuremberg (20)
GERM 30047 Modern Sociolinguistics (20)
GERM 30030 Crime Literature (20)
GERM 30048 Brecht in Berlin and in Exile (20)
GERM 30046 17C Women’s Writing (20)
GERM 32050 Constitutional History (20)
GERM 30049 Schreiben nach Auschwitz (20)
GERM 30051 Independent Study......
GERM 30051 Independent Study (20)
UNITS REQUIRED FOR THE FINAL YEAR OF THE PROGRAMMES
(mandatory units are underlined):
Single Honours German: GERM 30001, plus units chosen from the list above totalling 100
credit points for an overall total of 120 credit points.
Joint Programmes: GERM 30001, plus units chosen from the list above totalling 40 credit
points for an overall total of 60 credit points in the Department of German.
Modern Languages: GERM 30001, plus units chosen form the above list,
either unit(s) totalling 20 cp to give an overall total of 40 cp in the Department of German
or units totalling 40 cp to give an overall total of 60 cp in the Department of German
or units totalling 60 cp to give an overall total of 80 cp in the Department of German.
Law and German: GERM 30001 plus units totalling 20 or 40 credit points chosen from the
list above.
History with Study in German: Students can take GERM 30001 German Language 3, or
any other unit from the list above, should they so wish, subject to the approval of the
Historical Studies Department.
A reminder:
If you have not done so already, you should be considering whether to apply for
jobs (consult the Careers Advisory Service. Website http://www.bris.ac.uk/cas/)
or for postgraduate courses. If you are interested in postgraduate study in
German, have a word with your Personal Tutor or with Professor Košenina early
in the year.
Your Personal Tutor will advise you on your CV if you wish. He/she should be
provided with a copy if asked to be a referee.
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WORD PROCESSING FOR GERMANISTS
Most university computers offer word processing packages. To access the word processing
program, turn on the computer, log in if required and use the left hand mouse button to double
click on the ‘Microsoft Word’ icon in the Microsoft Office box. You will need to save your
work onto a floppy disc of your own. Some university computers are linked to printers where
you can print out your work straight away. You may need to buy a printing card from the
computing service to use the university printers. A knowledge of computers and word
processing is a valuable skill in the outside world, particularly if you intend to work during
your year abroad, and so we recommend you to use word processors for as much of your
work as possible, particularly for essays. If you are unfamiliar with word processing, use the
‘Help’ facility within Word, or use the open access self-tutorial systems in the library.
Creating foreign characters:
You will sometimes need to use German characters unavailable on British keyboards. There
are some number codes you can use but here is a short cut:
To produce umlauts in lower case letters: hold down together shift -- and control -Ctrl keys, and press : (colon key), release shift and control keys and type the vowel required.
To produce umlauts on capital letters: hold down the shift key when typing the required
vowel.
To produce ß: hold down shift and Ctrl keys together and press & key, release shift and Ctrl
keys and type s.
Number codes:
Ä = Alt + 142
ä = Alt + 132
Ö = Alt + 153
ö = Alt + 148
Ü = Alt + 154
ü = Alt + 129
ß = Alt + 225
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