Welcome! ¡Bienvenidos! Willkommen! Bienvenue!
The programs and courses of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures make accessible to students the languages, literatures, and cultures of France and the Francophone world, Germany and other German-speaking countries, and Spain and Latin America. Studying a foreign language also provides a multitude of benefits that impact many aspects of life and enhance your career opportunities.
On behalf of the faculty of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, I welcome our students to the 2024-2025 academic year! My colleagues and I look forward to working with you! All of us are committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community in which everyone can strive for success. We are committed to acts of kindness to create a supportive learning community in which kindness is a guiding principle. For more information see the United in Kindness-resolution.
President Ming-Tung "Mike" Lee and his wife Fei with Professors Emily Clark & Michaela Grobbel at SSU Decision Day
Announcements
Commemoration of 75 Years of German Basic Law in the Context of Women’s Rights.
Talk and Reception: Tuesday, November 19, 4 p.m., 1300 Stevenson. All are invited!
Deputy Consul Franziska Obermeyer will offer opening remarks, and SSU History Professor Dr. Steve Estes will present his thoughts on the poster exhibition "75 Years of Basic Law – A Look at the German Constitution in the Context of Women’s Rights” and his experiences in Germany.
At that time we will also launch our trivia contest that will remain open until the end of International Week on 11/22. Prizes are donated by the German Consulate General.
Snacks and refreshments will be provided by the Consulate, too. Everybody is welcome!
GERMAN EXHIBITION:
"75 Years of Basic Law – A Look at the German Constitution in the Context of Women’s Rights.” November 12-22, Stevenson Lobby.
Sponsored by the German Consulate General San Francisco
Enjoy a German Film every other Wednesday at 7:15 pm in Darwin 107! All movies have English subtitles.
Informal German Conversation with German exchange students Cellie and Lilia from the University of Heidelberg! Each Tuesday noon-12:50 in the Living Room (Student Center). Everybody is welcome! https://modlang.sonoma.edu/german/kaffeestunde
Sonoma State's Giving Day is back on Thursday, April 4, 2024. For 24 hours, our entire community will come together to transform the future of Sonoma State. The Modern Languages and Literature Department is thrilled to be part of Giving Day!
Alumni, donors, parents, faculty, staff, students, and community members can participate in the celebration and festivities. Donations of all sizes have a huge impact and help support student life initiatives, academic programs, athletics, student scholarships, enhancing research, and so much more!
Support the Modern Languages and Literature Department!
Your support will be used to help SSU participate in the prestigious Fulbright Program. SSU has been the only university in California to host FLTAs who support our language students and serve as cultural ambassadors presenting campus-wide events for the entire university. This marks SSU as unique in the CSU and in the UC, and also provides critical support for our languages.
Donate here!
Learn more and give on April 4, 2024 at givingday.sonoma.edu.
Thursday, March 28, 3:00-4:30 p.m., students from our beginning German class will present original German poetry, art work, a spoken word performance "Autos!" to photographs of race car competitions, and a piece by Johannes Brahms on clarinet.
Weill Hall Lobby will open at 2:00 p.m. to view the displays and stage performances will begin at 3:00 p.m., followed by a reception in Prelude.
Professor of German and Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures Michaela Grobbel recently published "The Nazi Genocide of the Roma Through the Eyes of Ceija Stojka" in Roma Artist Ceija Stojka: What Should I Be Afraid of? (Hirmer Verlag, München, 2023). This monograph was published on the occasion of the exhibition of "What Should I Be Afraid of? Roma Artist Ceija Stojka" that ran from May 23 to September 25, 2023 at the Austrian Cultural Forum New York.
Find out here!
Watch this short video to learn more about language classes at SSU from a student perspective!
Student Testimonials
We bid farewell to Nathan Gerdes, our 2023-2024 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (Fulbright FLTA) from Germany! Nathan earned his Master’s Degree in English, Italian, and Education at the University of Münster. He co-taught German language courses, assisted German language learners in their studies outside the classroom, and offered many German-related events together with the SSU German Club as well Associated Students and other programs on campus. As a Fulbright Cultural Ambassador, he also presented many cultural events on and off campus. The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures greatly appreciates his extraordinary support for our students and his creative projects to promote international awareness at SSU!
-Dr. Michaela Grobbel
Chair, School of Ethnic Studies and Languages, and Department Coordinator, Modern Languages and Literatures
