The Department of Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies (CENES) is thrilled to host an exciting array of courses in Summer 2023.
Summer is the time for sun and friends, but it’s also a time to learn new things and get to know new people. Come join one of our unforgettable language and culture courses in CENES — whether fully online asynchronous, in-person on UBC’s Point Grey campus, or hybrid to suit your busy summer schedule!
Central, Eastern and Northern European Courses
CENS 201 921 (Term 1)
An introduction to the cultural history of the peoples of Central, Eastern and Northern Europe as reflected in their literature, art and music.
CENS 303B 921 (Term 2)
The Nazi Holocaust in film and literature from Central, Eastern, and Northern European Countries.
CENS 303B 923, (Term 1)
The Holocaust (Shoah), an event of importance for the general human condition, came to be part of the European and global heritage. This course focuses on studying representations rather than the history of the Shoah. We will however explore key historical facts regarding the Holocaust and related aspects of the Nazi Germany (Third Reich) to the degree that is necessary for a meaningful engagement with the examined representations.
The course will explore various issues of representation by analysing a set of diverse texts including first-hand accounts (by victims, survivors, and other eyewitnesses to the Holocaust), interviews, documentaries, feature films and literary fictionalization in addition to scholarly discussions of the Holocaust and its repercussions.
German Courses
GERM 100 921 (Term 1)
Meant for absolute beginners, this small and experiential workshop-style course introduces students to the sounds, shapes, pleasures, and unique features involved in beginning to use the German language. Emphasizes creative oral expression, no high-stakes in-class tests.
Cultural topics include: Germanophone countries, new and classic films and music, German colonialism and ethnic diversity, The Holocaust / Shoah, gender and non-binary identities, Indigenous land acknowledgements in German.
Book: Sag Mal (3rd Edition, online version), Chapters 1-3.
Welcomes learners from all backgrounds and languages.
GERM 110 921 (Term 2)
Meant for those with a year of high-school German, this class helps students speak articulately about their past experiences and future plans. Cultural aspects focus on multicultural German-speaking societies.
Emphasizes creative oral expression, no high-stakes in-class tests.
Cultural topics include: diverse foods, coffeehouses, multicultural holidays, fashion, history of flags, understanding the word "Heimat" / Homeland, diversity and diaspora, housing and living arrangements.
Book: Sag Mal (3rd Edition, online version), Chapters 4-6.
Welcomes learners from all backgrounds and languages. Students completing this course achieve the equivalent of A1 proficiency on the Common European Framework of Reference.
GERM 200 921 (Term 1)
Meant for those with two years of high-school German, this class helps students practice complex forms of German language and to discuss pressing intellectual and social questions in the contemporary world. Emphasizes creative oral expression, no high-stakes in-class tests.
Cultural topics include: climate emergency, alternative modes of travel, fairy tales, German history, health care and wellness, technology and digital communication.
Book: Sag Mal (3rd Edition, online version), Chapters 7-9.
Welcomes learners from all backgrounds and languages.
GERM 210 921 (Term 2)
Helps students prepare for life-long use of German as an additional language, to participate actively in German-speaking multilingual communities, and to achieve advanced forms of meaningful language use in German. Emphasizes creative oral expression, no high-stakes in-class tests.
Cultural topics include: professions and training, recycling and reuse, social safety nets, urban life, trades and skilled work, job applications and interviews, internships, nature and life outdoors.
Book: Sag Mal (3rd Edition, online version), Chapters 10-12.
Welcomes learners from all backgrounds and languages. Students completing this course achieve the equivalent of B1 proficiency on the Common European Framework of Reference.
Scandinavian Courses
SCAN 333 921 (Term 1)
Nordic literature has impacted the cultural scene both within and outside of Scandinavia since the Viking Age with its blunt provocations and fearless stories. In SCAN 333, we are exploring the major works of Nordic literature through different lenses such as autobiography, historiography and memory, to name a few, in our effort to understand how each work have changed mindsets in their time, and how these stories are still alive and relevant to us today.
Russian Courses
RUSS 303 921 (Term 1)
Exploring Russian values and the assumptions that drive Russian cultures. The class format includes recorded lectures, online discussions, assigned readings from classical Russian literature, films from celebrated Russian directors, and a research component.
This is a blended-learning course, with 3 hours of in-person seminars and lectures and 3 hours of pre-recorded lectures and online activities (discussion and tests) per week, for a total of 6 hours per week. Students who cannot attend the in-person seminars can participate on Canvas in the discussion section.