Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures University of Toronto

Welcome to the latest edition of The View From Here, the 2025 newsletter from the Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures at the University of Toronto. READ THE NEWSLETTER This issue celebrates the vibrant energy of our community – highlighting student achievements, faculty creativity, and our shared commitment to exploring language and culture. It brings together a diverse range of contributions from across the department, including work by Stefan Soldovieri, Angelica Fenner, Hang-Sun Kim, Brian Finn, Elisabeth Lange, Emily Glass, Enrica Piccardo, John Zilcosky, Stefana Gargova, and Walker Horsfall. We hope you enjoy reading about the inspiring work that continues to keep our department thriving. Read More »

Deadline: October 20, 2025 Read More »

We are thrilled to announce the department’s very first Oktoberfest happening next week. Date: Friday, October 3, 2025Time: 2 to 4 pmLocation: Romero Room, Loretto CollegeGet ready for an afternoon full of fun. There will be Bavarian beer, pretzels, sweets, classic German drinks that you can mix yourself, Oktoberfest games, a photo booth, and more.✅ Free entry✅ Free food, drinks, and activities⚠️ Remember to bring your ID if you plan to enjoy the beerBring your friends and join us to experience the authentic German vibe. And of course, feel free to dress up. Lederhose, Dirndl, or your own DIY costume, we cannot wait to see your creativity.We look forward to celebrating with you at this exciting event. Read More »

Deadline: October 12, 2025 Read More »

The 18th Toronto German Studies Symposium will take place October 2–4, 2025. This year’s theme is “Considering Cross-Species Assemblages: Conflict, Collaboration, Kinship”. The symposium will feature a diverse program including a screening of Singing Back the Buffalo by Indigenous Canadian filmmaker Tasha Hubbard, as well as presentations by scholars sharing research in progress. Download the Program Booklet Thursday, October 2, 2025 Location: Media Commons Theatre (3rd floor), Robarts library, 130 St. George Street 18:00 Screening of Singing Back the Buffalo with Tasha Hubbard and Kyra Northwest Virtual introduction by Kyra Northwest (Montana First Nation) and post-screening discussion with filmmaker and University of Alberta professor Tasha Hubbard (Peepeekisis First Nation) Singing Back the Buffalo (dir. Tasha Hubbard, CA, 99 min)A visually rich and compelling story of indigenous kinship with buffalo and how the latter’s return to the Great Plains can restore sustainability and balance to wider ecologies. Friday, October 3, 2025 Location: Room 208N (2nd floor), The Munk School for Global Affairs, 1 Devonshire Place 9:00 Opening Remarks Land Acknowledgement, Dr. Stefan Soldovieri, Chair, Germanic Lang. & Literatures. Opening Remarks, Dr. Angelica Fenner, Prof of German and Cinema Studies 9:15 Figure and Ground: Landscape, Habitat, & Umwelt in the Visual Field ... Read More »

Are you considering graduate study in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures? Join one of our online information sessions to learn more about the MA and PhD programs in German and Yiddish Literature, Culture, and Theory at the University of Toronto. Our sessions will introduce the program’s distinctive interdisciplinary strengths, funding opportunities, research areas, and faculty expertise. Participants will also have the chance to ask questions about the application process and student experience. Online Information Sessions Monday, November 10, 2025 – 1:00 p.m. (EST)Join via ZoomFriday, November 14, 2025 – 2:30 p.m. (EST)Join via Zoom For detailed information about applying to the 2026–2027 graduate program, please visit our Graduate Admissions page. Read More »

International Herder Society Conference: Herder’s GeographySeptember 4–7, 2025 | University of TorontoSenior Common Room, Brennan Hall We are delighted to announce that the bi-annual conference of the International Herder Society will take place from September 4–7, 2025, at the University of Toronto. The conference theme is Herder’s Geography. Professor John Noyes, of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures and President of the Herder Society, will welcome scholars from around the world for this important gathering. The event will bring together researchers and enthusiasts for lively discussions and to explore the question: “What does Geography mean for Herder?” Speakers Nigel DeSouza (Ottawa) · Louise Fischer (Leipzig) · Sarah Goeth (Aachen) · Matteo Garau (Turin) · Rainer Godel (Darmstadt) · Katherine Arens (Austin) · Johannes Schmidt (Clemson) · Catherine Girardin (Paris) · David Takamura (Dickinson) · Daniel Purdy (Penn State) · Sonia Sikka (Ottawa) · Horst Lange (Arkansas) · John Noyes (Toronto) · Marcus Bullock (Wisconsin–Milwaukee) · Carl Niekerk (Urbana–Champaign) Conference Agenda Thursday, September 4, 202513:30 – Welcoming remarks13:45 – John Noyes (University of Toronto): Introduction: What is Geography and Why Does it Matter to Herder?14:00 – Opening PresentationNigel DeSouza (University of Ottawa): Environment/Milieu/Territory: Aristotle, Herder, Merleau-Ponty Section 1: Geography’s Field ... Read More »

Dear undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty of the German Department: I’d like to invite all of you to our Kaffeestunde (coffee hour), the German Department’s social gathering of faculty, graduate and undergraduate students. Let’s meet and mingle over coffee, tea and Keksen for an informal chat in German. The Kaffeestunde will take place every first Thursday of the month at 1-2pm, and every third Friday of the month from 2-3pm in the Lounge of the German Department, Odette Hall 301. Fall 2025 Dates: Sep 4, Thu, 1-2pmSep 19, Fri, 2-3pmOct 2, Thu, 1-2pmOct 17, Fri, 2-3pmNov 6, Thu, 1-2pmNov 21, Fri, 2-3pmDec 4, Thu, 1-2pm This Kaffeestunde will take place outside of Odette Hall, weather permitting! *Please help us protect the environment and bring your own reusable cup* Stefan SoldovieriChair Read More »

The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures will be offering all levels of German language courses in Fall/Winter 2025-26: GER100Y/GER101HS Introduction to German (for absolute beginners, leads to A2.1) SectionTimeInstructorsL0101 OnlineMonday & Wednesday 9:00 AM – 11:00 AMHannah RobinsonStefana GargovaL0201 Monday & Wednesday11:00 AM – 1:00 PMVirginia ShewfeltL0301Monday & Wednesday4:00 PM – 6:00 PMTanya HumeniukL0401Tuesday & Thursday11:00 AM – 1:00 PMTamara SchaadSomaia MostafaL0501Tuesday & Thursday9:00 AM – 11:00 AMErol BoranL0601Tuesday & Thursday4:00 PM – 6:00 PMAndre FlickerVirginia ShewfeltL5101Monday & Wednesday6:00 PM – 8:00 PMAndre FlickerTanya HumeniukL5201 OnlineTuesday & Thursday6:00 PM – 8:00 PMLisa Lackner GER200Y/GER201HS Intermediate German 1 (leads to B1.1) SectionTimeInstructorsL0101Monday & Wednesday9:00 AM – 11:00 AMMaria HarutyunanL0201Tuesday & Thursday9:00 AM – 11:00 AMAndre FlickerLisa LacknerL5101 OnlineMonday & Wednesday6:00 PM – 8:00 PMLisa LacknerStefana Gargova GER300Y/GER301HS Intermediate German 2 (leads to B2.1) SectionTimeInstructorsL0101Monday & Wednesday11:00 AM – 1:00 PMFlorian GeddesL0201Tuesday & Thursday4:00 PM – 6:00 PMFelix RoesslerLandon ReitzL5101Tuesday & Thursday6:00 PM – 8:00 PMRita Laszlo GER400H Advanced German 1 (leads to C1.1) SectionTimeInstructorL0101Tuesday & Thursday1:00 PM – 3:00 PMErol Boran GER401H Advanced German 2 (leads to C1.2) SectionTimeInstructorL0101Tuesday & Thursday9:00 AM – 11:00 AMFlorian Geddes Notes:GER101H, GER201H, and GER301H are the second part of the full-year courses GER100Y, GER200Y, ... Read More »

Congratulations to Hannah Robinson – Winner of the 2025 German Studies Canada Best MA Thesis Prize! We are thrilled to announce that Hannah Robinson, current PhD student and former MA student in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, has been awarded the 2025 German Studies Canada Best MA Thesis Prize! Hannah received this national recognition for her major research paper titled:“Transgressive Translation: Examining Perceptions of Multilinguals as Boundary-Crossers in Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Willehalm.”Her work explores how multilingual individuals are portrayed as figures who cross cultural and linguistic boundaries, offering a compelling analysis of medieval literature through the lens of translation and identity. This achievement also reflects the outstanding guidance Hannah received from her supervisor, Professor Markus Stock, and the valuable support from Professor Enrica Piccardo, affiliate faculty member and expert in multilingualism. Read More »