As mentioned on the home page How to get started learning theological German, there are a number of ways to learn German.
- You could take a course in Germany.
- You can take German 101 at your local high school, community college, or university.
- You could get a tutor.
- You could teach yourself with some of the resources we recommend. See Audio resources and computer interactive software and Textbooks and Grammars
- You could take an online course. See Online courses.
- But if you want to take a course that is specifically designed for learning to read German quickly, here are some of the options. These examples should also inspire you to inquire with the registrar of your local seminary or divinity school about what students do regarding German.
Middlebury Language School
At least 6 Duke New Testament Ph.D. students (LH, RM, HA, DM, GL, TL) experienced success with the Middlebury German Language School in Middlebury, Vermont–most around 2004. It is an immersion experience where you are not allowed to read, speak or hear anything but German.
There are 3, 6, and 7 week courses. They “strongly recommend that you have completed one year of college-level study.” “Typically fills in May.” The 3 week course costs about $3,000 including room and board. The 6-7 week courses cost about $7,000 including room and board but they award an average of $4,000 in financial aid per student.
Goethe-Institut
People at Duke also recommend looking at the Goethe-Institut
Theological German and Reading German Courses
I have linked to the posted syllabus for a number of the courses.
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Fuller Theological Seminary
LG566: THEOLOGICAL GERMAN
James Keller
Summer 2011
LG566: THEOLOGICAL GERMAN
James Keller
Summer 2009
LG566: THEOLOGICAL GERMAN
Peter Bach
Summer 2008
Pasadena, California
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Offers intensive courses taught in the summer:
LG6000 – Beginning German for Theological Reading
This non-credit course offers an intensive introduction to German grammar, syntax and morphology for reading German at the graduate level. Vocabulary pertinent to the study of theology will be emphasized, and readings will include, in addition to historical, literary and critical discourse, shorter excerpts from works by theologians such as Bonhoeffer, Thielecke, Barth and Moltmann. Open to beginners or intermediate students (i.e. students with fewer than 2 years of recent formal college-level German) with preference given to students enrolled at Luther Seminary.
Non-credit course
LG6005 – Intermediate German for Reading and Translating
This non-credit course is intended as a “bridge” course between basic knowledge of the German language for reading and the graduate level proficiency exam/graduate-level seminary courses on German theological reading. The course goal is proficiency in reading article-length and chapter-length theological writings; vocabulary acquisition and translation strategies will also be emphasized. This course is NOT a grammar review; it is practically focused exclusively on reading and translating.
Prerequisite: LG6000 Beginning German for Theological Reading or two years of recent formal college-level German or permission of instructor
Non-credit course
The current instructor is Thorsten Moritz (adjunct at Luther; Professor of NT at Bethel Seminary).
http://www.theologicalgerman.info/
Readings in Theological German is taught both semesters during the academic year:
LG 4315 (fall); LG 4316 (spring). It assumes intermediate German and is designed to develop and expand reading knowledge.
LG4316: READINGS IN THEOLOGICAL GERMAN
Frederick J. Gaiser
Spring 2009
St. Paul, Minnesota
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Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Miriam Schnabel teaches an introductory German class.
Then the student can take:
Morris Vos
Summer 2009
Deerfield, Illinios
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Harvard Divinity School
German for Reading in Theological and Religious Studies
Karin Grundler-Whitacre
Summer 2009-2012
Cambridge, Massachusetts
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George Fox Evangelical Seminary
Fall 2012
Portland, Oregon
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The Catholic University of America
Christopher Begg
Spring 2009
Washington, DC
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Brite Divinity School
BRLN 90000: THEOLOGICAL GERMAN
Bob Bernard
Summer 2009
Fort Worth, Texas
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Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Deborah M. Gill
Fall 2008
Springfield, Missouri
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April Wilson’s German Reading Courses
Chicago, Illinois
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Duke University
Fall 2009
GERMAN 201 – German for Academic Research I
MW 4:25PM – 5:40PM
08/24/2009 – 11/24/2009
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Summer 2012
LANGUAGES FOR READING PURPOSES—SUMMER 2012
French * German
Do you need to pick up reading skills in one of the above languages? Do you want to use the summer months, rather than the academic year, for this purpose? Do you work during the day and prefer a late afternoon class? Have you wished that someone had your particular needs in mind?
Look no further—we’ve got the course for you! These noncredit courses are intended for graduate students and other researchers who need to consult texts in French or German and/or who need to satisfy reading knowledge requirements for graduate professional programs. Over a six-week period, meeting three times a week for 1.5 hours a session, you will progressively gain reading skills through guided in-class work supplemented by intensive independent study of necessary grammar. The final two weeks are devoted to applying these skills to an individually chosen translation project and meeting with the instructor to discuss that project. Enrollments will typically be limited to 12 students per class. No previous language background is assumed.
Dates: May 16 – June 28 for in-class sessions, Mondays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, 4:30-6:00 p.m.
and July 2 – July 13 for individualized work
Place: On the Duke campus, location to be announced in your confirmation letter
Cost: $650.00 per course, plus materials
Divinity Tuition Incentive Program: Duke Divinity School now offers a $750 language subsidy for their ThD students. Those interested in using the subsidy must have the signature of the Associate Dean for Academic Formation and Programs, as well as the Director of the ThD Program (see below).
Cancellation policy: To receive a full refund you must cancel your registration prior to 5:00 pm on May 15.
To register, complete the form below and return it to our office.
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Name _________________________________ Tel# (day) ________________ (even)_________________
Campus Mailing Address___________________________________________________________________
Email address _________________________________________________
Please register me for the _____________________ Language course.
My proficiency in this language is (check one): none ____ beginner level _____ intermediate level _____ advanced______
Graduate Department/School______________________________________________
This student has permission to enroll under the Divinity Tuition Incentive Program described above.
_________________________________ _________________________________ ________________ Signature, Divinity Academic Dean Print Name Date
_________________________________ _________________________________ ________________ Signature, Director of ThD Program Print Name Date
We will send an electronic confirmation of your registration and provide further details.
Return this portion to: Kim Price, Summer Session
Box 90700, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0059 ** 684-5375 ** Fax: 681-8235
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What other theological German or reading German courses do you know of in North America?
Note from August 2021: This webpage was created in 2009 and has only been sporadically updated since then.
Wise and fascinating data-driven description of what it is like to be a pastor today, June 2, 2009
