German Advising Contact Information With Office Hours From Tuesday, January 14 - Wednesday, January 22

You can reach the German advisors through a general email: germanadvising@umich.edu

We have two advisors for German undergraduates:

* Mary Rodena-Krasan (MLB 3128; mkrasan@umich.edu)

Her office hours this week are:

Tuesday, January 14: 2-4:30 p.m.,

Wednesday, January 15: 2-4:30 p.m.,

Thursday, January 16: 2-4:30 p.m.,

and by appointment.

Mary's Link for Office Hours: https://umich.zoom.us/j/92765512004

* Karl-Georg Federhofer (MLB 3422; kallimz@umich.edu)
My office hours this week are:

Tuesday, January 14: 9-12:30 p.m., 

Wednesday, January 15: 1-4 p.m.,

Thursday, January 16: 9-12, 1-5 p.m.,

Friday, January 17: 9-11:30, 1-5 p.m.,

Tuesday, January 21: 9-12:30 p.m.,

Wednesday, January 22: 1-5 p.m.,

and by appointment.

My Zoom Link for Office Hours: https://umich.zoom.us/j/909147087

It is best to schedule appointments, which you have to do by 4 p.m. on the previous day. You can schedule appointments with us here: https://myadvising.lsa.umich.edu/appointments/offices/GERM

If you would like to get in contact with a peer mentor in our Department, please write to: germanmentors@umich.edu

German Conversation Opportunities: "German Convo on the Go" (Tuesday, January 14, 4-5 p.m., Burton Tower), "Schokoladenstunde" (Wednesday, January 15, 3-4 p.m., MLB 3110), and "Kreativwerkstatt" (Friday, January 17, 1-2 p.m., MLB 3308)

We have three weekly and informal conversation opportunities for all students who want to speak German:

"German Convo on the Go" meets on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. sharp at Burton Tower for a 1-hour walk and talk with Mary Gell (magell@umich.edu). This event happens 'rain or ice or snow.'

"Schokoladenstunde" convenes on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. in the German Department Lounge (MLB 3110.) There will be some German chocolate to snack on. Silvia Grzeskowiak (sgrzesko@umich.edu) will bring games, and the hour will be spent chatting and playing games in German (e.g. Tabu.)

"Kreativwerkstatt:" Chat in German and express yourself creatively. Crafting, coloring, painting, drawing, knitting, sewing, crochet, embroidery, origami? At the weekly German “Kreativwerkstatt,” which takes place on Fridays at 1 p.m., you will combine speaking German (any level welcome, beginners included!!) and creatively expressing yourself. You are encouraged to bring your own materials or (ongoing) projects, but we will also provide some materials and prompts each week. If you have questions about "Kreativwerkstatt" please contact Laura Okkema (lokkema@umich.edu) or Iris Zapf-Garcia (iriszaga@umich.edu.)

Intern Abroad Information Session - CGIS Programs: Wednesday, January 15, 4-5 p.m., Remote

Curious about interning abroad this summer? Join our upcoming info session on CGIS' International Internship Program! Learn about financial aid, academics, costs, and get a sneak peek into each of six unique internship offerings. Whether you're planning for the future or ready to jump in, this session has everything you need to know to make your international internship experience a reality. Don’t miss out!

https://lsa.umich.edu/scholarships/news-events/all-events.detail.html/128515-21861071.html

Academic Year in Freiburg 2025-2026 - Information Session: Wednesday, January 15 4 p.m., MLB 3308 (Conference Room, Middle Aisle)

If you consider studying abroad in Freiburg next year where you will receive regular University of Michigan credits (without paying Michigan tuition), we invite you to come to an information session on Wednesday, January 15, 4 p.m., MLB 3308.

A 2023-2024 participant will be present to answer your questions, and you may meet next year's Academic Director.

Mary and I will be able to answer administrative questions.

Max Kade Events - "Deutschtisch:" Wednesday, January 15, 6-7 p.m., North Quad Dining Hall; and "Kaffeestunde:" Friday, January 17, 5-6 p.m., North Quad 2450 (Edward Said Lounge)

"Deutschtisch" is a weekly event in the North Quad Dining Hall for Max Kade residents and visitors from outside of Max Kade Haus to speak German during a meal. Visitors should look for a table with German/Swiss/Austrian flags and a bunch of students speaking German.

Max Kade "Kaffeestunde" is a weekly opportunity to mingle and unwind "auf Deutsch". It is a place to connect with other Max Kade residents, chat informally in German and participate in activities prepared by facilitators. The "Kaffeestunde" is open to the wider German-speaking community at the University of Michigan.

German students at all levels (101 and up) are welcome at all Max Kade events.

If you have any questions, please ask Viola Tietje (vtietje@umich.edu) and Vera Irwin (veremeev@umich.edu.)

ThinkSwiss Research Scholarships 2025: Wednesday, January 15 (Application Deadline)

ThinkSwiss is a scholarship program managed by the Science Office at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C. The program is funded by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Ottawa, Canada. The aim of the program is to promote research opportunities in Switzerland for American and Canadian students and to foster exchange between Swiss, U.S., and Canadian universities and research institutions.

Eligibility Requirements
To apply for a ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship you must:
* Currently be enrolled at an accredited U.S. or Canadian university/college,
* Be a graduate student or an undergraduate student who will have completed their sophomore year by the time the research stay in Switzerland begins, and
* Provide a written confirmation from a professor at a Swiss university that they will accept you for a research stay in their group.

In order to apply, please fill out the online contact form on https://thinkswiss.org/apply-now/ and upload all supporting documents in PDF format by January 15, 2025. 

Each application must contain:
* The completed application online form
* A research project outline (e.g. an overview of the tasks and milestones of your project that you agreed on with your host professor, max. 2 pages)
* A letter of motivation/explanation of why you should be awarded the ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship, why you would make an excellent “student ambassador” in the future, and why you choose Switzerland as your research destination (please keep this within 2 pages)
* A CV (no more than two pages)
* A copy of your current university transcripts and diplomas (if applicable)
* A letter of acceptance from the host professor and/or hosting institution in Switzerland (this letter should highlight the relevance of your research)
* A letter of recommendation from a current professor who can attest to the applicant’s abilities

The ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship provides a prorated amount according to the length of your stay: a monthly scholarship of CHF 1,800 (approx. USD 1,800) for a period of two to three months (CHF 5,400 maximum). Please note that this amount covers only a portion of the average student’s living expenses and that you will be asked to prove sufficient financial means to the Swiss Cantonal authorities before a visa can be issued.

Website: https://thinkswiss.org/apply-now/

US Teaching Assistantship Program (for English) in Austria 2025-2026: Wednesday, January 15 (Application Deadline)

Description of Position:
As a US teaching assistant in Austria, you will work in one or two Austrian secondary schools, teaching 13 hours every week. Specific duties differ from school to school, but in general you can expect to:* Team-teach with English teachers working at your school(s)* Prepare engaging lesson plans focused on topics in collaboration with teachers* Facilitate one-on-one and group discussions* Help students prepare for upcoming English exams* Talk to your classes about US culture and current events* Plan activities to get your students actively speaking the language

Given that teaching assistants are placed at schools in Austrian communities large and small, each teaching assistant job in Austria is a truly unique experience. However, no matter where your assignment takes you, the ability to negotiate cultural differences and to solve day-to-day problems will be a significant asset—both in the classroom and in everyday life. Previous teaching experience is beneficial but not a requirement.

If you have at least an undergraduate degree (or are currently in your final year), have a working knowledge of German (“intermediate mid” or above based on ACTFL guidelines), and are interested in a career in education, Fulbright Austria encourages you to apply online to teach English in Austria.

As a teaching assistant in Austria, you will earn a monthly gross salary of around €1,944. Once deductions are made for your compulsory health and accident insurance and for Austrian income taxes, you end up with a net monthly salary of approximately €1,575 (about $1,730). Your monthly salary will be the only money you receive in connection with your English teaching job in Austria.

Website: https://www.fulbright.at/programs/in-austria/teaching-assistants/grant-details/us-teaching-assistant-program

Job Posting - Receptionist/Administrative Assistant at Goethe-Institut New York (Part-Time): Wednesday, January 15 (Application Deadline)

Starting Date: February 1, 2025

The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach. With a network of six institutes in the US, it promotes knowledge of the German language abroad and fosters international cultural cooperation. The Goethe-Institut conveys a comprehensive image of Germany by providing information about cultural, social and political life. Its cultural and educational programs encourage intercultural dialogue and enable cultural involvement.

Responsibilities:
* Welcome visitors and partners at the reception
* Answer general questions about language courses, exams, events and services of the Goethe-Institut
* Assist library patrons with issuing library cards and answering general questions about the library services
* Support general marketing and communication activities
* Act as point of reference for questions regarding internships and assist in the organization of internships
* Assist with the organization of events in coordination with all departments of the Institute
* Organize office and manage calendars
* Coordinate business travel arrangements
* Prepare mailings
* Help prepare and organize meetings and visits
* Organize kitchen supplies
* Research for projects

Requirements:
* Excellent written and spoken language skills in both German and English
* Strong organizational and communication skills
* Attention to detail
* Flexibility, dependability, self-motivation
* Extensive knowledge of MS Office software
* Authorization to work in the United States
* Willingness to work occasional night and weekend shifts
* The ideal candidate is available to work 4 hours/day Monday-Friday or 5 hours/day Monday-Thursday.

Benefits:
* Employment: part-time (20 hours/week)
* Salary $28/hour, non-exempt, paid bi-weekly
* The Goethe-Institut offers a competitive benefits package, which includes vacation time, sick leave and 401(k) payments. Employees have the opportunity to apply for paid, in-house professional development. 

The Goethe-Institut is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and guarantees gender equality. It especially encourages people from diverse backgrounds (LGBTQI, PoC) to apply. The Goethe-Institut will not sponsor applicants for work visas. Applications will be accepted until January 15, 2025.

Due to the high volume of responses, no confirmations will be sent. Interviews will be held the week of January 20, 2025. Please email your written application (ideally as a single PDF of max 10 MB) to jobsnewyork@goethe.de with the following documents: motivation letter, resume and 2-3 references.

Website: https://www.goethe.de/resources/files/pdf341/2024-job-opening---gi-new-york---reception2.pdf

Glimpses of the Black American Experience in Germany 1860-1960: Tuesday, January 21, 4-6 p.m., North Quad Space 2435

A digital exhibit in honor of MLK Week.

Website: https://lsa.umich.edu/german/news-events/all-events.detail.html/130736-21866610.html

Demarre McGill Performs Mozart: Saturday, January 25, 8 p.m., Michigan Theater

Winner of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Sphinx Organization’s Medal of Excellence, flutist Demarre McGill appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as soloist aged just 15. Since then he’s gone on to establish himself at the forefront of his craft, here joining Music Director Earl Lee and the A2SO for Mozart’s dazzling flute concerto.

Website: https://marquee-arts.org/live-events/

Tamar Menashe (Emory University), "Jewish Women as Litigants Before a German Imperial Supreme Court": Thursday, January 30, 1-2:30 p.m., Institute for the Humanities, 202 S Thayer, Room 2022

In 1495, Germany’s Imperial Chamber Court (Reichskammergericht) was founded as the institution that oversaw the adoption of Roman law as Germany’s imperial civil law. In 1511, a Jewish woman named Elena, who sued her husband and his lover for violating Jewish law (halakha), became the first Jewish litigant before this new tribunal, opening the doors of the highest level of the imperial legal system to many Jews who would follow suit. Focusing on the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, this lecture will explore the experiences of Jewish women who traversed legal and religious boundaries to litigate before this supreme imperial court and other competing imperial courts. This talk will consider previously untapped court cases from this period as invaluable sources for illuminating the lives of these women, the ways in which they navigated Jewish, imperial, and local laws, and how their litigation helped fashion Jews’ legal standing in the eyes of imperial jurists.

Tamar Menashe is the Jay and Leslie Cohen assistant professor in Emory University’s history department and the Tam institute for Jewish Studies. Menashe’s work focuses on the intersections of the law with gender, culture, and Christian-Jewish relations, primarily in the German Lands in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. She holds a BA from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and MA, Mphil and PhD from Columbia University (2022). Her dissertation “The Imperial Supreme Court and Jews in Cross-Confessional Legal Cultures in Germany, 1495–1690” won the 2022 Fritz Stern Dissertation Prize for the best doctoral dissertation on a topic in German history written at a North American university. She is currently revising her dissertation for a publication as a book titled People of the Law: Jewish Litigation and Minority Belonging in Early Modern Germany. Prior to joining the Emory faculty in 2023, Menashe was a Fellow at the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She was the 2023 Preyer scholar of the American Society for Legal history and the 2023-2024 Gerald Westheimer Early Career Fellow at the Leo Baeck Institute New York-Berlin.

Website: https://events.umich.edu/event/129592

AATG Study Abroad Scholarship for College Students (Spring/Summer 2025 Programs): Saturday, February 1 (Application Deadline)

The brand-new AATG Study Abroad Scholarship for College Students supports full-time undergraduate students on their study abroad journey. Scholarships of up to $1250 are awarded in the Spring and Fall to support study abroad travel during different times of the academic year or during the summer.

The Spring/Summer application deadline is February 1, 2025, for programs commencing in the first half of the calendar year (January-July) of 2025. Recipients will be notified in early March.

The application deadline for programs commencing in the second half of the calendar year (August-December) is July 1, 2025. Recipients will be notified in late July.

This program is supported by donations to the AATG.

Website: https://www.aatg.org/study-abroad-grant

International Internships with IES Abroad: Saturday, February 1 (Application Deadline)

IES Abroad provides independent, hands-on learning opportunities through a variety of internship offerings. Rather than scroll through countless listings and submit application after application, work with IES’s career services team to discuss your career goals and IES will guarantee you a placement in the field of your choice.

Career fields vary by internship site. Some popular fields include:
Arts, Business, Climate Change, Communications, Computer Science, Education, Fashion, Health (non-clinical), International Relations, IT, Journalism, Law, Marketing, Public Health, Technology, Tourism. & more!

Michigan students may apply to any of the following locations:
* Australia: Sydney
* Austria: Vienna
* Chile: Santiago
* Germany: Berlin
* Italy: Milan
* South Africa: Cape Town
* United Kingdom: London

Website: https://mcompass.umich.edu/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=12289

To defray costs, students who are applying to internship programs in Berlin and Vienna through CGIS are strongly encouraged to also apply for Departmental and LSA scholarships. The department may support up to $3,500 for individual students.

Please fill out this form when you apply for departmental funding.

Academic Year in Freiburg 2025-2026: Saturday, February 1 (Application Deadline)

The best way to get to know Germany really well is to live there for an extended time.

By studying in Freiburg for a year, you can practically earn all credits required for a German major and may possibly get distribution credits and credits towards a second major; and you will live in one of the most attractive and desired places in Germany. This program is open to all University of Michigan undergraduate students.

Eligibility:
* Minimum 3.0 GPA
* Good academic standing
* Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing by Fall 2025
* Completion of German 232 or equivalent prior to September 2025

Tuition for this year-long program is covered by a program fee (currently $7,700/term), and students receive University of Michigan in-residence credit for the courses they take during the Academic Year in Freiburg. Students will not pay University of Michigan tuition during the year abroad. Additional costs include travel, room, and board. The latter two are considerably cheaper than housing in Ann Arbor is. You will live in a single in a student dorm in Freiburg.

Students remain eligible for financial aid. In addition, the German Department will reduce the program fee for all applicants by up to $1,000 this year. Further funding opportunities are available from the department as well; to inquire, please contact germandept@umich.edu.

For more information, see the AYF website at https://www.ayf.uni-freiburg.de/

You can find out more on Instagram.

Here is the link to the application website from CGIS (Center for Global and Intercultural Study): https://mcompass.umich.edu/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=10247

Fund for Education Abroad - Summer/Fall 2025 and Academic Year 2025-26 Scholarships: Wednesday, February 5, 12 p.m. (Application Deadline)

The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) scholarships are available for undergraduate students planning to study or intern abroad in Summer/Fall 2024 and the Academic Year 2024-25. A complete list of FEA eligibility requirements can be found here.

More details about the application and descriptions of all available scholarships, including Access Partner scholarships, can be found here.

FEA scholarships are awarded with a preference for underrepresented students and those with a demonstrated financial need.

Apply here!

International Programs in Engineering - Engineering Laboratory Experience at TUB in Berlin, Germany: Thursday, February 6 (Application Deadline)

This program at the Technische Universität Berlin TUB helps students gain insight into German culture, engineering and industry. The program combines intensive German language training with ENGR 350: International Laboratory Experience for Engineers. Participants will join a TUB research laboratory and work on a small project team led by German graduate students. Lab work is complemented by visits to relevant scientific and industrial sites near Berlin. Students earn academic credit for their engineering degrees and establish useful connections for future internships or employment. This program has also earned the seal of quality from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The credits for this program will count towards a German minor.

Summer 2025 Details:
* Program Dates: May 10 - June 21
* Program Cost: SU25 TBD (SU24 $5,260)
* Housing Options: Off-Campus Apartments
* Application Deadline: February 6

Website: https://mcompass.umich.edu/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=10101

$5,000 - $20,000 Walter & Florence E. Aupperle Scholarships for German Majors/Minors at the University of Michigan: Tuesday, February 13, 3 p.m. (Application Deadline)

Established in 2003 by Walter and Florence Aupperle to provide four-year scholarships annually to students studying the German language, history and culture at the University of Michigan or Eastern Michigan University.

The scholarship amounts to $5,000 for each academic year that you are still enrolled here. If you are a first-year student with a German major or minor, you can renew the scholarship up to three times. The total amount will ultimately be $20,000.

Number of available awards: 2-3

Recipients may automatically renew their scholarship up to three times, to receive four years of scholarship support, as long as they continue to meet the Scholarship Fund criteria.

Scholarship criteria:
* You must demonstrate financial need
* You must be a full-time undergraduate student pursuing a German major (history, language, culture, etc.) or minor at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor or Eastern Michigan University
* You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0

To renew a scholarship, you must be enrolled at the University of Michigan or EMU, maintain a 3.0 or above GPA, and submit your transcript showing your German major/minor, and verification of fall enrollment to AAACF for review each summer.

Required materials:
* Online scholarship application
* Latest transcript
* Scholarship Recommendation Form, which must be completed by someone who is not a relative or family member
* Short essay, composed in English, answering the question: How did you become interested in German Studies? (Uploaded as an attachment)

The scholarship will be reported to the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Michigan, which will then be reassessing your financial needs.

You can begin your application for the Walter & Florence E. Aupperle Scholarship by visiting this website to read more: https://www.aaacf.org/students/scholarships

You will then need to create an account to log in and access the application: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=aaacfs

Contact information:
Maryellen Ferro
Community Investment Officer
301 N Main Street, Suite 300
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Email: mferro@aaacf.org
Telephone: (734) 436-7586

International Internships with Sage Corps: Saturday, March 1 (Application Deadline)

Sage Corps sends college students to work with startups. Work full-time alongside CEOs, CMOs, and CTOs to build real solutions to real problems. They provide opportunities for specializations including, but not limited to, business strategy, data analytics, graphic design, marketing, software development, and UI/UX design.

Career fields will vary by internship site. Please follow this link for a list of internship career fields by location.

Michigan students may apply to any of the following locations:
* Amsterdam
* Barcelona
* Berlin
* Dublin
* Lisbon
* Madrid
* Milan
* Paris
* Sydney

Website: https://mcompass.umich.edu/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=12286

To defray costs, students who are applying to internship programs in Berlin through the Sage Corps Program (CGIS) are strongly encouraged to also apply for Departmental and LSA scholarships. The department may support up to $3,500 for individual students.

Please fill out this form when you apply for departmental funding.