Student Spotlight

The German department attracts about 10 majors per year. With additional students pursuing German as a minor, and a strong cohort of first and second year students, we have a vibrant program that involves more than 40-50 students. Frequently students begin their study of German at Bowdoin, while others build upon their previous language instruction. Students often combine the major in German language, culture, and literature with a major in English, government, economics, or history. Others are pre-med students and/or pursue majors in the sciences.

Current Majors

Elliot Beck, German
Sarah Bernheim, German / Visual Arts
Sarah Broge, German and Biochemistry
Mikyo Butler, German and Music
Rikki Ehrhardt, German / Chemistry
Caroline Ferrari, German and Romance Languages
Keri Forbringer, German and Government & Legal Studies
Ceren Germeyan, German
Will Grunewald, German and History
Han Guo, German and Biochemistry / Economics
Tucker Hermans, German and Computer Science
Christopher Hickey, German
Sally Hudson, German and Government & Legal Studies / Economics
Catherine Jager, German and Government & Legal Studies
John Lehman, German and English / Visual Arts
Nick Manny, German and Philosophy
Ian Merry, German and Government & Legal Studies
Scott Nebel, German / Music
Brenna Nicely, German and English & Theater / Teaching
Nicholas Peddle, German / Economics
Rebecca Schouvieller, German and History / Educational Studies
Molly Seaward, German and Biology
Bryce Spalding, German and Government & Legal Studies / Teaching
Ryan Squillante, German and Biology
Theresa Weaver, German and Math

Abstracts from Students Honors Projects '08

Natalie Dudar, '08
Negotiating the Diaspora: Bleeding Boundaries in Fatih Akin's Dialectical Cinema
Project Summary Coming Soon

Jared Hunt, '08
Towards a Contemporary Brechtian Dramaturgy: Reimagining Gender in Der Gut Mensch von Sezuan
Project Summary Coming Soon

Lana Mathis, '08
Defying Stereotypes of the Migrant Experience: Emine Sevgi Özdamar's Literary Negotiations of Legal, Cultural, and Gendered Identity within Two Worlds
Project Summary Coming Soon

Kathryn Yankura, '08
Not a Chick Flick: Understanding Sommer vorm Balkon in the Context of East German Cinema
Project Summary Coming Soon

Study Away

Study abroad has been very important to our majors. The German department has long-standing connections and affiliations with year-long and semester programs in Germany and Austria, particularly in Berlin, Tübingen, Freiburg, Hamburg and Vienna. Students may also opt for summer programs at either the renowned Goethe-Institut or in cooperation with universities in Germany (Berlin) and Austria (Vienna).
More on the program »

Student Teaching

Students play a crucial role in the Department's teaching. Seniors returning from study-away are selected as Teaching Assistants for the first four semesters of German-language instruction and assist as tutors and graders. They work closely with faculty to develop teaching skills and contribute their ideas and experience to the program. Usually, at least one of our TAs began the study of German at Bowdoin. Their participation in the Department's teaching program prepares them for competitive Fulbright teaching assistantships, as well as for teaching in secondary schools.

Community

German students also play a vital role in the college community. They have been active members of the student government and involved in campus politics, contributors to the /Bowdoin Magazine/ (Alix Roy '07), editors and editors- in-chief of the Orient (Ted Reinert '05 and Kyle Staller '04, respectively), and residential-life advisors and proctors (e.g. Jordan Krechmar '07. They are accomplished musicians, performing solo, in vocal groups, with the Bowdoin chamber choir and band (Peter Rocco '07, Chase Cicchetti '09, Nick Peddle, and Mikyo Butler '10). They are active in dance, theater and Masque & Gown. For example, Theresa Weaver '09 has been involved in the annual production of the /Vagina Monologues/ and a recent M&G production, /The Real Inspector Hound/, featured Jared Hunt '08 and Alex Williams-Belotti '08, a German major and minor, respectively. In addition, like many Bowdoin students, German students volunteer with organizations in the Brunswick community(Joel Presti '06; David Scott '08). Many students are active athletes - playing, among others, lacrosse, soccer, football, basketball, and ultimate Frisbee - or members and leaders of the Outdoor club (Catherine Jager '09).