Language Institute in Holzkirchen, Germany
- Earn 9 credit hours for advanced German language and culture study in Bavaria.
- Live with a local German host family.
- Program includes overnight stays in Berlin and Cologne plus a large number of day trips, group excursions, and cultural activities.
- KU students are eligible for scholarships up to $4000 with the Krehbiel German Language Summer Institute Scholarship. See Further Reading below for more information.
- Review our coronavirus information page for details on how we're planning for study abroad this summer.
Immerse yourself in German language and culture while experiencing a variety of Germany’s landscapes, cities, and points of interest. The program begins with a tour of Germany by train, staying overnight in Berlin and Cologne and enjoying side trips to Potsdam, Bonn, and Mayschoss. Following the travel portion of the program, students will engage in the local culture of Holzkirchen by living with German host families, studying German language at the Volkshochschule, and participating in cultural events. Multiple weekend excursions to nearby points of interest such as Berchtesgaden, Neuschwanstein, Chiemsee, Dachau, and a weekend hiking in the Bavarian Alps are also included.
Holzkirchen (pop. 16,000) is located in the pre-Alpine plain 20 miles south of Munich. Commuter trains provide rapid transportation throughout the metropolitan area and enable access to the many cultural offerings of Munich. Situated near the Bavarian Alps and the border with Austria, there are numerous opportunities for exploration and recreational activities in the surrounding mountains and lakes. Holzkirchen has been welcoming KU students since 1961 and the program is conducted in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Holzkirchen-Otterfing and the Freunde der Universität Kansas in Holzkirchen.
Credit & Courses Offered
Each student enrolls in three 3-credit hour courses for a total of 9 KU credits. All students take GERM 350 plus two additional courses based on preparation. The language of instruction in all classes is German. Outside of classes students are expected to use German for all everyday purposes including group activities, meals, and excursions.
- Students now completing their fourth semester of college German (GERM 202 Intermediate German II or equivalent) should enroll in GERM 333, GERM 334, and GERM 350.
- More advanced students (two or more courses beyond fourth-semester college German) should enroll in GERM 350, GERM 375, and GERM 400.
Please consult with Dr. Meyertholen if you have any questions concerning your course selection.
Course Descriptions
- GERM 333: German Conversation and Idioms (3 credit hours): Intensive practice in conversational German with instruction in proper pronunciation as well as an introduction to idiomatic usage. Only for students in the KU Summer Language Institute in Holzkirchen, Germany. Prerequisite: GERM 202 or equivalent fourth-semester German course.
- GERM 334: Deutsche Grammatik - Review of German Grammar (3 credit hours): Only for students in the KU Summer Language Institute in Holzkirchen, Germany. Intensive review and practice of selected grammar topics. Prerequisite: GERM 202 or equivalent fourth-semester German course.
- GERM 350: Special Studies in German Language, History and Culture (3 credit hours): This course is required of all students at the Deutsche Sommerschule in Holzkirchen. Students will discuss and write reports in German on aspects of German language, culture and history with a focus on the 20th century. Course content will be integrated with excursions to museums and cultural sites in Cologne, Berlin, Munich and other locations during the summer institute. Prerequisite: GERM 202 or fourth semester German course.
- GERM 375: Topics in Film of German-Speaking Countries (3 credit hours): Examination of topics such as Expressionism, Turkish-German culture in contemporary German film, popular filmmaking, post-unification film, German literature as film, German film and national identity. Topics and periods vary. Prerequisite: GERM 302 or equivalent sixth-semester German course.
- GERM 400: Introduction to German Literary Masterpieces (3 credit hours): For students enrolled in the KU Summer Language Institute in Holzkirchen, Germany. Selected works of major German Language writers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Not open to native speakers of German. Prerequisite: GERM 302 or equivalent sixth-semester German course.
Classes meet Tuesday through Friday mornings, with GERM 350 taking place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Mondays are reserved for day-long group excursions. Lunch is provided at a local restaurant on instructional days.
During their stay in Holzkirchen, students will live with German host families. During weekend excursions and the travel portion of the program, students will stay in double occupancy hotel rooms. Breakfast is included with all overnight accommodations. On class days and on many excursions students eat meals together as a group. A meal stipend is provided for additional meals in the evening and on weekends.
Summer 2021 Program Itinerary (Tentative)
June 2 Depart US
June 3 Arrive in Munich
June 4 Orientation in Holzkirchen
June 5-14 Travel by train to Berlin and Cologne. Highlights include:
- Daytrips to Potsdam, Bonn and Mayschoss.
- City tours and world-famous history museums.
- Visits to points of interest and places of historical significance including the Cologne Cathedral, Beethoven’s birthplace, Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, the Reichstag building, the East Side Gallery, and many more.
June 15 - July 23 Study and live in Holzkirchen. Experience the surrounding area through multiple weekend excursions and day trips, including:
- Hiking in the Bavarian Alps and a weekend at an Alpine cabin.
- Visiting the fairytale castle Neuschwanstein.
- Discovering Chiemsee Lake and its island palace.
- Exploring Munich, Germany’s third largest city.
July 24 Program ends
** Program itinerary, travel, excursions, and other arrangements are subject to change or modification in order to respond to the local context regarding COVID-19. **
Open to students from any accredited U.S. college or university who have completed four semesters of college-level German or the equivalent. Minimum 2.50 GPA and strong record of performance in German courses required. (Exceptions considered only after submission of a petition.)
Krehbiel German Language Summer Institute Scholarship
Fund created with the generous contribution of Carl Krehbiel to provide support for KU students attending the German Summer Language Institute programs in Holzkirchen and Eutin, Germany. Amounts up to $4,000. The scholarship application deadline is March 1. Applications are available online: https://ku.studioabroad.com/?go=KrehbielGermanScholarship
For more information, contact:
Andrea Meyertholen
Department of Germanic Studies
Wescoe Hall
1445 Jayhawk Blvd, Room 2088
Email: a948m955@ku.edu
Jenna Hunter-Skidmore
KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement
108 Lippincott Hall
Phone: 785-864-3742
Email: jmhunter@ku.edu
Program Director
Andrea Meyertholen, Assistant Professor of German Studies
Dr. Meyertholen is Assistant Professor of German at KU. She studied abroad in Würzburg and Berlin, interned in Munich, traveled extensively throughout German-speaking Europe, and has served as director of study abroad programs in Krefeld and Eutin, Germany and in Graz, Austria. Course instruction is provided by Dr. Meyertholen and faculty of the Volkshochschule with training in Deutsch als Fremdsprache and traditional German studies.
