Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures University of Toronto

We are thrilled to co-organize the 10th Annual DAAD German Language Teaching and Learning Conference with McGill University on December 9th and 10th! Sponsored by DAAD, this year’s workshop will focus on student engagement and motivation. Registered participants can look forward to engaging research presentations, interactive workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Enhance your teaching skills and connect with fellow educators in a collaborative and inspiring environment! Read More »

Miriam Borden, PhD student in the Yiddish Stream of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, is excited to announce her first peer-reviewed publication in the 38th volume of Canadian Jewish Studies, titled “Joshua, King David, and the Flying Nun: Doodles and Reader Annotations in Post-Holocaust Yiddish Primers for Children”. Miriam’s article is a part of a special volume dedicated to Jewish Education in Canada. The article explores the humourous and insightful children’s doodles and reader annotations in Yiddish textbooks used by students at Yiddish schools in Toronto in the 1950s -70s. These annotations offer a window into children’s experiences in developing their relationship between Yiddish and Jewishness. Read the full article HERE. Read More »

Prof. Willi Goetschel has been elected to the fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Membership in the Royal Society of Canada is one of the most prestigious honours that a Canadian academic can receive. This distinction recognizes Prof. Goetschel’s many scholarly contributions, particularly his impactful work in the fields of Jewish thought, and German Enlightenment and idealism. As an internationally acclaimed philosopher, literary historian, and leader in the field of German Jewish thought, Prof. Goetschel has advanced research on the deep nexus between thought and literary imagination. Situated at the interface between philosophy and literature, in particular in modern Jewish thought, his work has helped to recover marginalized approaches to critical thinking thereby articulating emancipatory strategies that reimagine the terms of difference, alterity, and identity anew. Discover more about Prof. Goetschel’s research and achievements. Read More »

Join Us for Language & Culture Day! The Global Languages Initiative is thrilled to invite you to Language & Culture Day, the biggest outreach event showcasing the rich diversity of language programs and cultural offerings at UofT’s St. George campus! When: Friday, January 24, 2025, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PMWhere: Lobby of Sidney Smith Hall Why attend?Whether you’re eager to expand your language skills, deepen your connection to cultural roots, or explore foreign languages and cultures, this event is for you! What to Expect: Engaging language and culture-based activitiesOpportunities to connect with professors, graduate students, and peers from over 10 programsInsights into study and internship opportunities abroad Bring your friends and join us for this vibrant celebration of languages at UofT. Discover the incredible variety of languages you can learn—all in one place! Read More »

The Canadian Summer School in Germany (CSSG) is a renowned program that offers students an immersive experience to enhance their German language skills while exploring the rich cultural and historical heritage of Germany. Each year, students learning German with the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures at UofT travel to Kassel to take part in intensive language courses, cultural excursions, and unique living experiences with host families. In 2024, five outstanding participants shared their transformative journeys through CSSG. These stories highlight not only the academic and linguistic growth achieved during their time in Germany but also the personal connections and unforgettable memories that shaped their experiences. Join us as we celebrate their journeys through interviews and videos that capture the essence of the CSSG experience. Whether you’re a prospective participant or simply curious about life and learning in Germany, these stories are sure to inspire. Elizabeth Frynta is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto’s Peace, Conflict and Justice Studies Program who also minored in German Studies and Political Science. Elizabeth is a two-time CSSG participant who took some time to share her German language journey with us while preparing for graduate school. This year, Elizabeth was awarded the ... Read More »

Letter from the ChairStefan Soldovieri Dear Friends of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, It has been another eventful year, and I am just delighted to share with you this 15th edition of our newsletter, highlighting the inspiring work of our students, faculty, and staff. As mandated by the Faculty of Arts and Science, this year we will be collaborating on the development of a strategic plan to guide us through the next five years. The plan follows on the heels of our 2021-22 cyclical review and will build on the initiatives that emerged following a faculty retreat in spring 2023. The plan will also need to respond to a new faculty-wide budget scheme that puts heightened emphasis on expanding enrolments. READ MORE Undergraduate ReportReflections on the 2024-25 Academic YearHang-Sun Kim, Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies From award-winning students to groundbreaking teaching initiatives and collaborative events, 2024–25 was a year of shared success and growth. READ HERE Undergraduate Student ProfileFinding Community Through German StudiesBrian Finn Finn reflects on how the German Department fostered his growth as he built community, explored literature, taught in the Multilingual German Lab, and presented research internationally. READ HERE Graduate Report Intercultural Skills in Strong ... Read More »

We are thrilled to co-organize the 10th Annual DAAD German Language Teaching and Learning Conference with McGill University on December 9th and 10th! Sponsored by DAAD, this year’s workshop will focus on student engagement and motivation. Registered participants can look forward to engaging research presentations, interactive workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Enhance your teaching skills and connect with fellow educators in a collaborative and inspiring environment! Read More »

  The German Federal Parliament (“Bundestag”) has announced a call for applications for the International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) program in Berlin in 2025. The application deadline is August 31, 2024. In collaboration with Berlin’s three major universities, the German Bundestag offers the prestigious IPS program to politically engaged college graduates from around 50 countries, including  Canada, who wish to play an important role in shaping the future of democratic cooperation – in their respective countries, and internationally. Under the patronage of the President of the German Bundestag, the IPS program allows participants to gain first-hand knowledge of Germany’s parliamentary system and political decision-making process during a 3-month work placement with a Member of the German Parliament. Participants also take part in a rich educational program with the German political foundations and have the chance to enroll in university classes, spending a total of five months in the German capital (March 1 through July 31, 2025). IPS is open to college graduates (bachelor’s degree or higher) who are Canadian citizens (or citizens of other participating countries), under 30 years old on March 1, 2025, and have a very good knowledge (B2+) of the German language. Candidates should also be familiar with ... Read More »

The booking sheets for the department library, OH307, OH312, and the lounge are now live online in Outlook. Everyone in the department should have access to view the Outlook calendars for these rooms. To make a booking, please: Check the room’s availability in the Outlook calendar.If the room is available on the desired date and time, please email german.undergradadmin@utoronto.ca to request the booking. In your email, kindly include the following details:   Room booking purposeDesired booking date and timeIf the booking is recurring, please specify the start and end dates, as well as the repeat frequency Any additional notes (if applicable) If you are new to the department and do not have access to the room calendars, please email german.undergradadmin@utoronto.ca to request access. Read More »