University of Waterloo Germanic and Slavic Studies
200 University Avenue West N2L 3G1 Waterloo, ON, Canada

Join us Thursday, December 10th @ 6pm EST for a very special presentation of I Am Not Your Negro. https://bit.ly/3nF7R5i Raoul Peck's film documents James Bal...dwin's return to the United States to take up his unique role in the civil rights movement. As he confronts the murder of his friends Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., Baldwin contemplates the futility of hope in a country which continues to use violence, and ignorance of that violence, to segregate and disenfranchise Black communities. Inspired by the international literature festival berlin's call to mark the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Goethe-Institut has asked Dr. Vay, a noted Baldwin scholar, to accompany our screening, contextualizing events and answering your questions. Point of View Magazine I Am Not Your Negro United Nations Human Rights Aptly Outspoken Collective John Ralston Saul Michael Ondaatje Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival Toronto Black Film Festival - TBFF Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Join the first Virtual Transatlantic Symposium hosted by the GSS department! WHEN? Monday, December 7th, 9:00AM 1:00PM (EST) WHERE? The event will be hosted on Zoom. WHAT? Our Canadian and German master’s students will give an insight into their current research, ranging from linguistics to literature to film to cultural studies. ... Visit our website for more information: https://uwaterloo.ca//join-virtual-transatlantic-symposium

Have you thought about learning a new language? Why not take one of our Dutch, Russian or Croatian courses in Fall 2020! DUTCH 101 teaches the basic elements of Dutch grammar with emphasis on oral practice and pronunciation. Students will get an introduction to aspects of Dutch culture. RUSS 101 introduces modern Russian to students. Students will acquire basic grammar, vocabulary, and practical communication skills within the cultural and professional contexts of ...Russian. CROAT 101 teaches the basic elements of Croatian grammar with emphasis on oral practice and pronunciation. Please note that these are beginners classes and not open to students with native, near-native, or similar advanced ability. If you have any prior knowledge of these languages please contact [email protected] for enrollment advice!

The Austrian Cultural Forum offers a free virtual reading in German about the famous Austrian actress and writer of the fin de siècle Vienna, Lina Loos (18821950). For more information, visit our website: https://uwaterloo.ca/germanic-slavic-//encounter-lina-loos

Which role does culture play in the formation, negotiation, and interpretation of individual and group identities? Find out and take one of the CULTURAL IDENTITIES MINOR classes in Fall 2020! CI 100: Cultural Identities Today This course examines the influence of cultural background and affiliations on personal identity. Students gain fundamental skills in understanding, analyzing, and interpreting the role that culture plays in the world today, with special attention paid ...to the Canadian context.Taught in English by Prof. Michael Boehringer. CI 300: Theories of Cultural Identities Students examine the work of various theorists, both historical and modern, who have contributed to the intellectual framework within which culture and cultural expression can be studied in order to deepen their ability to conduct critical inquiry into the formation of cultural identity. Taught in English by Prof. Mario Boido. Find out more about the CI minor: https://uwaterloo.ca/spanish/cultural-identities-minor If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

Thinking about getting to know the German language & culture? Take one of our German classes in Fall 2020! GER 101: Elementary German I aims to bring German language, culture, and everyday life into the online classroom. Students with little or no prior knowledge are introduced to the structure of German and develop their listening/comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills. GER 101 is not open to students with native, near-native, or similar advanced ability. If... you have any prior knowledge of German, please contact [email protected] for enrollment advice. We do offer GER 102, GER 201, GER 202 in Fall 2020 as well! GER 334: Exploring German Literature Love and Death in German Literature explores short, lively works of poetry, prose, and drama in the German language by important German authors that treat enduring questions about the human condition: what is the nature of love and why is it so often in conflict with social conventions and norms? How do human beings make sense of death? All works will be read in German. Taught by Prof. Ann Marie Rasmussen. Pre-requisite: One of GER 211, GER 212, or equivalent knowledge of German (Please contact us to approve an Override form). If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

We have launched the second edition of our departmental e-newsletter! If you have any comments, feedback, ideas, feel free to contact us! Read the newsletter on our website: https://uwaterloo.ca/germanic-slavic-s/newsletter-fall-2020

Are you interested in learning about different cultures? Take one of our culture courses in Fall 2020! GER 271: German Thought and Culture: Objects explores human-made objects that open up perspectives on German-speaking society and culture. Objects to be studied might include the Berlin Wall, the swastika, Luther's Bible, donairs, and Volkswagens. Students acquire skills in cultural analysis and learn about major developments in literature, philosophy, religion, art, arch...itecture, and music. Taught in English by Prof. James Skidmore. GER 272: German Thought and Culture: People explores key figures whose contributions to the arts and intellectual life have shaped German-speaking society and culture. Persons to be studied might include Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, Leni Riefenstahl, and Hannah Arendt. Students acquire skills in cultural analysis and learn about major developments in literature, philosophy, religion, art, architecture, and music. Taught in English by Prof. James Skidmore. GER 230: Vikings! examines the Viking Age cultures, which flourished in Northern Europe and beyond from c. 800 to 1100 CE, and deepens students' understanding of the processes through which peoples in the present give meaning to the past. Taught in English by Prof. Ann Marie Rasmussen. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

Are you thinking about volunteering with a non-profit organization this summer? Apply for the Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG) and you could receive between $1,000 and $5,000 towards your post-secondary education. Register for the CSSG at https://apply.iwanttohelp.org/.