WMBR3001 Seminar on German Linguistics and Culture Studies A

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Humanities Program

Lecture Code WMBR3001 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name ドイツ語圏言語文化演習Ａ

Subject Name
（Katakana）ドイツゴケンゲンゴブンカエンシュウA

Subject Name in
English Seminar on German Linguistics and Culture Studies A

Instructor SCHELLETTER CHRISTOPHER

Instructor
(Katakana) シェレター　クリストファー

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, First Semester, First Semester

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (1st) Weds3-4：Faculty Office

Lesson Style Seminar Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 2 Language of Instruction O : Others

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 05 : Literature

Eligible Students

Keywords

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline In this course, we will study Goethe’s novel “Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship,” which is regarded as a prototypical Bildungsroman. The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of both the text and its author through close reading and joint discussion. We will read selected passages from the novel as well as secondary literature in German, with particular attention given to Wilhelm’s love interests and the “Tower Society,” which the protagonist Wilhelm joins toward the end of the novel, as well as to its possible real-life models. Although the primary focus of the course is Goethe’s novel, students will also develop their German language skills in a practical way by reading and discussing “Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship” in German. Writing in German will additionally be practiced through homework assignments.

Class Schedule Lesson 1: Introduction to the seminar, the author, and the work
Lesson 2: The love relationships: Mignon, Aurelie, and Philine
Lesson 3: The love relationships: Mariane, Therese, and Natalie
Lesson 4: Reading and interpretation (1)
Lesson 5: Reading and interpretation (2)
Lesson 6: The Tower Society – its depiction in the novel (1)
Lesson 7: The Tower Society – its depiction in the novel (2)
Lesson 8: The Tower Society – its depiction in the novel (3)
Lesson 9: Presentation: Real-life models of the Tower Society (1)
Lesson 10: Presentation: Real-life models of the Tower Society (2)
Lesson 11: Presentation: Real-life models of the Tower Society (3)
Lesson 12: Discussion of secondary literature (1)
Lesson 13: Discussion of secondary literature (2)
Lesson 14: Discussion of secondary literature (3)
Lesson 15: Final session

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Participants may and are encouraged, if they have not yet done so, to read “Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre” alongside the seminar in a Japanese translation. However, in the seminar itself only the original German text, which will be distributed as photocopies, will be read and serve as the basis for discussion.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Text, Handouts, Visual Materials

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Each week, short excerpts from the original text or from secondary literature will be assigned as homework. In some cases, this will be combined with a brief written assignment. Students are expected to give a short presentation in German of approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

Requirements

Grading Method 50% Participation in the discussions/Attitude toward the class
30% Homework
20% A short presentation

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message The course will be conducted exclusively in German. This may seem demanding at first; however, due consideration will naturally be given to the participants’ level of German proficiency. The aim is to create an open and friendly working atmosphere in which students can actively practice their German skills without hesitation.

Other A Japanese–German / German–Japanese dictionary, either in book form or in electronic format, is required.
In case of absence of more than three times, a medical certificate is required to justify the absence. Absence of more than four times without providing a medical certificate will result in failing the course.

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Humanities Program
Lecture Code	WMBR3001	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	ドイツ語圏言語文化演習Ａ
Subject Name （Katakana）	ドイツゴケンゲンゴブンカエンシュウA
Subject Name in English	Seminar on German Linguistics and Culture Studies A
Instructor	SCHELLETTER CHRISTOPHER
Instructor (Katakana)	シェレター　クリストファー
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, First Semester
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(1st) Weds3-4：Faculty Office
Lesson Style	Seminar	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face

Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	2	Language of Instruction	O : Others
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	05 : Literature
Eligible Students
Keywords
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	In this course, we will study Goethe’s novel “Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship,” which is regarded as a prototypical Bildungsroman. The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of both the text and its author through close reading and joint discussion. We will read selected passages from the novel as well as secondary literature in German, with particular attention given to Wilhelm’s love interests and the “Tower Society,” which the protagonist Wilhelm joins toward the end of the novel, as well as to its possible real-life models. Although the primary focus of the course is Goethe’s novel, students will also develop their German language skills in a practical way by reading and discussing “Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship” in German. Writing in German will additionally be practiced through homework assignments.
Class Schedule	Lesson 1: Introduction to the seminar, the author, and the work Lesson 2: The love relationships: Mignon, Aurelie, and Philine Lesson 3: The love relationships: Mariane, Therese, and Natalie Lesson 4: Reading and interpretation (1) Lesson 5: Reading and interpretation (2) Lesson 6: The Tower Society – its depiction in the novel (1) Lesson 7: The Tower Society – its depiction in the novel (2) Lesson 8: The Tower Society – its depiction in the novel (3) Lesson 9: Presentation: Real-life models of the Tower Society (1) Lesson 10: Presentation: Real-life models of the Tower Society (2) Lesson 11: Presentation: Real-life models of the Tower Society (3) Lesson 12: Discussion of secondary literature (1) Lesson 13: Discussion of secondary literature (2) Lesson 14: Discussion of secondary literature (3) Lesson 15: Final session
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Participants may and are encouraged, if they have not yet done so, to read “Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre” alongside the seminar in a Japanese translation. However, in the seminar itself only the original German text, which will be distributed as photocopies, will be read and serve as the basis for discussion.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, Visual Materials
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Each week, short excerpts from the original text or from secondary literature will be assigned as homework. In some cases, this will be combined with a brief written assignment. Students are expected to give a short presentation in German of approximately 5 to 10 minutes.
Requirements
Grading Method	50% Participation in the discussions/Attitude toward the class 30% Homework 20% A short presentation
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	The course will be conducted exclusively in German. This may seem demanding at first; however, due consideration will naturally be given to the participants’ level of German proficiency. The aim is to create an open and friendly working atmosphere in which students can actively practice their German skills without hesitation.
Other	A Japanese–German / German–Japanese dictionary, either in book form or in electronic format, is required. In case of absence of more than three times, a medical certificate is required to justify the absence. Absence of more than four times without providing a medical certificate will result in failing the course.
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Back to syllabus main page