German

Just as students in the sciences learn various technologies, the true joy of humanities studies lies in students actively learning multiple foreign languages and using them to exchange ideas with people both in Japan and abroad. The world is—far more than we might imagine—vast and diverse. Interacting with people who hold different values through a foreign language is not only meaningful in itself but also an opportunity to enrich your own ideas and ways of thinking.

There are many reasons to study German at the Faculty of Letters, but we will highlight two here. First, German is extremely useful for deepening your knowledge in the specialized fields offered at Faculty of Letters (e.g., philosophy, ethics, art theory for fine arts and music, sociology, history, literature and linguistics, philosophical anthropology, psychology). German is the native language of many academic and scholarly disciplines. For instance, among the fields listed, Freud in psychology, Max Weber in sociology, Nietzsche in philosophy, Burckhardt in history, and Aby Warburg in aesthetics and art history all conducted their thinking in this language. Learning German can therefore greatly expand the possibilities for your studies in specialized courses. By reading German works and papers in these fields, you can gain a precise understanding of important issues currently being debated worldwide.

Second, German is an attractive language to consider given the importance and necessity of learning a foreign language other than English. Looking across the world, particularly in Europe, it is not uncommon to see young people using not only English but also multiple foreign languages to exchange ideas. They seek to build their futures, including their professional careers, through such opportunities. German is highly valued in this context, and learning it provides a chance to broaden your international interactions.

Learning German will help you expand your own potential—far more than is generally imagined in Japan.

As is the case with learning any foreign language, when you begin studying German, you must first learn its basic grammar. In parallel, it is also important to become accustomed to speaking, listening, and writing in German. At the Faculty of Letters, we have designed our German language program with both of these aspects in mind.

In the first year, students take three German classes per week. Two of these classes, taught in Japanese, cover the fundamentals of grammar and the culture of German-speaking regions. The third class, held once a week with a native-speaking instructor, provides practice in speaking and listening to German using the grammar you have acquired. In these sessions, you can set aside the finer points of grammar for the time being and experience the joy of communicating in a language that was completely foreign to you until just a short while ago.

You will improve more than you might expect by studying German diligently three times a week in your first year. You will be able to master the fundamentals of grammar and read a significant number of texts with the help of a dictionary. After one year of studying German, you can achieve a proficiency level equivalent to A2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), or approximately Level 3 of the German Proficiency Examination (Dokken). With more intensive study, it is also possible to reach the B1 level (roughly equivalent to Level 2 of the Dokken).

For second-year students, although course requirements vary by major, the goal is to enhance the German skills acquired in the first year through classes that each have a specific theme (e.g., current affairs, society, literature, art).

Which German skills you acquire, and to what degree, will vary depending on your individual interests and goals. For this reason, detailed syllabi are provided for each German III and IV class. Please read the syllabi carefully to understand the themes and learning opportunities of each class before making your selection. In general, these classes aim to further deepen your knowledge of German through themes such as the literature, society, and culture of German-speaking regions. It is a good idea to aim for the B1 level in your second year. Once you reach B1, studying abroad is just one step away.

We send students on exchange programs through agreements with universities such as the Free University of Berlin, the University of Bonn, TU Dresden, Saarland University, the University of Düsseldorf, the University of Siegen, Leipzig University, and RWTH Aachen University. Some students also study abroad at universities in Austria and Switzerland.

Learning German deepens your understanding of and interest in other Indo-European languages, including English. Why not explore the rich culture of Europe through your German studies?

Ingeborg Bachmann, a leading writer of postwar German literature, wrote, “Without a new language, there is no new world.” Step into a new world by learning German!

German, which strongly retains the characteristics of ancient Germanic languages, is a language that can connect antiquity and the present, much like Japanese. By immersing yourself in it, you will begin to see many things.

Knowing German allows you to understand letters written by Beethoven and Mozart’s *The Magic Flute* in the original language, greatly expanding your world of music. Many great musicians are native German speakers.

Learning German, like any other language in the world, allows you to access the wisdom embedded within it. This is a truly enjoyable pursuit.

German is also an extremely effective language for academic purposes. Anyone wishing to study the humanities in depth—whether in art, history, or philosophy—should definitely acquire this skill!

When the Faculty of Letters students wish to enrich their own areas of interest, information and ideas in German will prove very useful. If you are having trouble deciding which foreign language to take besides English, try choosing German for now. It is sure to benefit you in some way.

Each culture is its own world. Therefore, by learning German, you come to know a new world.

Learning German is recommended for the simple reason that Germany is the second most popular country in the world, after Switzerland. But that's not the only reason. It's also fun because Germans are always amazed when a Japanese person speaks their language. "Amazed?" No, they are so overcome with respect they want to sink into the ground. Why? Because they know that while anyone can speak a little English, only the best can speak German.