Language Institute in Holzkirchen, Germany
- Study advanced German language and culture in Bavaria.
- Live with a local German host family.
- Includes excursions to Cologne, Berlin, and Bonn.
- KU students are eligible for scholarships up to $4000 with the Krehbiel German Language Summer Institute Scholarship. See Further Reading below for more information.
Immerse yourself in the 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 Bonn, Mayschoss, and others. 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) courses including GERM 350 and two additional courses based on preparation for a total of 9 KU credits.
Students now completing the fourth semester of college German (GERM 202 Intermediate German II) should enroll in GERM 333, GERM 334, and GERM 350. More advanced students (two or more courses beyond fourth-semester college German) should take GERM 350 plus GERM 375 and GERM 400. Please consult with Professor Keel if you have any questions concerning your course selection. Class selection may not be changed after July 1.
Each student will have two classes in the morning Tuesday through Friday as well as on some Mondays. GERM 350 will meet on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
Language of instruction in all classes is German. Outside of classes students are expected to use German for all everyday purposes when engaged in group activities (meals, excursions, etc.). Classes meet mornings Tuesday through Friday and afternoons Tuesday through Thursday. Mondays are reserved for day-long excursions. Lunch is provided for the group at a local restaurant on instructional days.
- 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.
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 excursions students eat meals together as a group. A meal stipend is provided for additional meals in the evening and on weekends.
June 10 Depart US
June 11 Arrive in Munich
June 12 Orientation in Holzkirchen
June 13-20 Travel by train around Germany, staying overnight in Cologne and Berlin. Highlights include:
- Daytrips to Bonn and Mayschoss
- Römisch-Germanisches, Checkpoint Charlie, and contemporary German history museums
- Visits to points of interest and places of historical significance including Beethoven’s birthplace, Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, the Reichstag building, and many more
June 21 - July 28 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 28 Depart Munich for US
Open to students from any accredited U.S. college or university who have completed four semesters of college-level German or the equivalent (four years of high school German, etc). Minimum 2.50 GPA 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:
Professor William Keel
Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures
Wescoe Hall
1445 Jayhawk Blvd, Room 2080
Lawrence, KS 66045-7590
phone: 785-864-4657
fax: 785-864-4298
email: wkeel@ku.edu
Program Director
Dr. William Keel, Chair and Professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures at the University of Kansas. Dr. Keel studied at the University of Bonn for three semesters and has directed over 30 summer institutes for KU since 1980.
Course instruction is provided by Dr. Keel and faculty of the Volkshochschule with training in Deutsch als Fremdsprache and traditional German studies.
