Department of German and Russian Studies

German and Russian Studies @ the

University of Missouri
451 Strickland Hall | Columbia, MO 65211-4170
email: grs@missouri.edu | phone: 573-882-4328 | fax: 573-884-8456

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News and Information

Olaf Schmidt raises a peace sign as he stands alongside the Berlin Wall at Brandenburg Gate in the aftermath of the wall's symbolic fall on Nov. 11, 1989.

Olaf Schmidt recalls life before and after the Berlin Wall came down
(Columbia Missourian, Nov. 9, 2009)
more on the eurokulture blog

New photo galleries added: Fall 2009 events

Blogging the World: The Web in Cultural Context
(German 4005/7005, cross-listed as Russian 4005/7005) is a new course for Fall 2009. It is team taught by German Department Professor Monika Fischer and Journalism Professor Clyde Bentley. The course is taught in English, but employs the special skills of both language students and journalists. The Department of German & Russian Studies has joined with the School of Journalism to offer a unique course that uses digital technology to explore European culture.

We have gone public with our class blog at http://eurokulture.missouri.edu/. Your response is also welcome!

German Newsletter Spring 2009 issue (pdf)

Other Information

Greta Westerwald has been accepted for the Graduate School Experience being held at the Ohio State University this summer. GSE provides an opportunity to experience and learn more about graduate study in the field of German Studies. The Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst/German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Max Kade Foundation have partnered with the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures at Ohio State to offer the event for North American students considering graduate work in German Studies. Fifteen outstanding German majors who have just completed their junior year are accepted.

Paul Bolfing will spend the 2009-2010 year studying fall semester in Moscow, Russia, and spring semester in Bonn, Germany. Summer 2010 he will attend classes at the University of Marburg. In addition to the prestigious David L. Boren Scholarship for 2009-2010, he also received the highly competitive DAAD Undergraduate Scholarship for his studies in Germany.

Rachel Reed (MA in German 2008) was awarded the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Germany: "After six long months of waiting, I have recently been informed that Fulbright is awarding me an English teaching assistantship in Germany during the 2009-2010 academic year. I cannot describe the sense of satisfaction, knowing how much time and energy I devoted to the lengthy application process, but this will surely be an opportunity of a lifetime! The project I will carry out in Germany facilitates an intercultural understanding by rooting language learning in the realm of culture. While bringing facets of American life to German high school students, I will also compile a record of cultural material (with help from members of the school and surrounding community) that I can use in the American classroom later on. This project would not be what it is without the guidance from my Fulbright advisor, Rep. Vicky Riback Wilson, and my recommendation writers, Dr. Sean Ireton, Dr. Monika Fischer, and Ms. Lauri Milburn."

We wish to announce that Marcus Vincent has been accepted to participate in the 2009-2010 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. More information about the program is available at http://www.cdsintl.org/fellowshipsabroad/cbyx.php. Please join us in congratulating Marcus on this achievement.

Please also join us in congratulating Lindsey Foat and Paul Weber as winners of the 2008 and 2009 DAAD interXchange internship. More information about this program is available at http://www.daad.org/?p=internxchange.

Monika Fischer and Megan McKinstry received together with the Center for Distance & Independent Study the 2007 Helen Williams Award for Excellence in Collegiate Independent Study for their University of Missouri-Columbia Elementary German 1 online course. The award is given by American Association for Collegiate Independent Study. Congratulations, Professors Fischer and McKinstry!

Old - New Course Numbers (Word)

Upcoming Events

The Autonomy of the Pheriphal: lecture by Mark Hansen, September 17, 2009

Hansen poster

Recent Events

Midwest Symposium in German Studies, March 6 & 7, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2:15-3:45 pm Panel 1: On Narrative and Empathy
Friday, March 6, 4:00-5:30 pm Panel 2: German Cinema
Saturday, March 7, 9:00-10:30 am Panel 3: Rethinking German Romanticism
Saturday, March 7, 10:45 am-12:15 pm Panel 4: Colonial Questions

Spirituality, Belief, and Time
Dr.William Connolly, Krieger-Eisenhower Professor inpolitical science at Johns Hopkins University, addresses creating a new “resonance machine” and issues raised in his latest book, Capitalism and Christianity, American Style, and engages the critique of secularism presented by Catholic philosopher Charles Taylor. Free and open to the public.

Kaffeepause!
Please join us for food, and drink, and all the best in German!

Russian Tea Room Party
An incredible opportunity to become more culturally aware while supporting social and economic projects in Russia. Join us on September 30 from 5p to 7p at Kayotea (912 E Broadway) for an educational, entertaining program, including:
· Russian music and food · Art by local Russian artists for sale
· Trivia Lite (the non-threatening, fun version!)
· Presentation "Ten Things You Probably Didn't Know About Russia" by Nicole Monnier, PhD, of MU Russian Dept Sponsored by Gren, a local not-for-profit organization.

Proceeds to fund social service projects in Russia. Cost is $35. Please register at Kayotea (912 E Broadway), or follow this link to pay on-line. Seating is limited; please register by September 25.

Visit of Jehanne Dubrow, April 7, 2008
Dubrow poster

Trans-Missouri Symposium, April 18, 2008
symposium poster

German Graduate Students and Faculty participate at Education Fair
See more photos >>