German Script Course
Click here to sign up for the German Script Course, to be held June 1 through June 12, 2009.
This intensive course on learning to read German script is now in its 39th year and is the only course of its kind in the country.
Former participants include more than 400 college professors, graduate students, genealogists, curators, archivists and hobbyists from various backgrounds. They represent such academic fields as history and German, American studies, musicology, religion, anthropology, art history, sociology, genealogy, technology and other subjects.
After two weeks of intensive studying, practicing and reading participants will be able to read German manuscripts dating from the 17th through the early 20th centuries. The course has recently been completely redeveloped and includes many new texts and new study methods.
The goal of this course is not to study Moravian history but to read the German script; however, we offer a learning experience that takes advantage of the historical setting of the Bethlehem community. Texts are chosen to illustrate the early history of Bethlehem and the work of the Moravians within their context.
By touring the historic districts of Bethlehem and nearby Nazareth participants will experience the setting in which the events from the study material took place. We are convinced that captivating texts prove helpful in overcoming initial difficulties with German script.
STUDY MATERIAL
We work with color reproductions (not b&w photocopies!) of documents taken from our own collections. The textbook Deciphering Handwriting in German Documents (Woods Cross, Utah 2001) by Roger P. Minert is included in the registration fee.
Some examples of course readings:
• Account of the first Christmas in Bethlehem and the naming of the town, 1741
• Memoir (Lebenslauf) of Marianne Höht, who was captured by American Indians, 1772
• Report about the Liberty Bell passing through Bethlehem, 1777
• Pages from church registers (baptisms, marriages, funerals)
• Pages from account books (18th and 19th centuries)
• Travel diary of John Ettwein about a visit to New England, 1767
• Letter from a missionary in Tanganyika to her young daughter in Germany, 1905
Minutes (20th century)
Each participant is also encouraged to bring along a text that he/she would like to discuss during the course.
STUDY METHOD
The first sessions are devoted to writing the individual script letters and words. Though not the intent of this seminar, learning to write texts in German script helps in recognizing how the individual letters are written.
During the morning sessions texts are read within the group with everyone taking turns deciphering the texts.
There are no organized classes during the afternoons. This time is devoted to preparing for the next day's lessons; most students choose to do their 'homework' in groups. Thus the course combines classroom learning, group study and individual preparation.
The preparation time in the afternoon will take circa four hours. It is not recommended to plan other activities during the course.
Upon successful completion of the course each student will be presented with a certificate of participation.
PREREQUISITES
In order to successfully follow the course a good reading ability of modern German is needed; two years of college German or the equivalent has proven to be a minimum. Conversational German ability is not required and prior knowledge of German script is not necessary. All instruction is conducted in English, but we advise students to bring along a quality German-English dictionary.
TIME & PLACE
The next course takes place from Monday, June 1 through Friday, June 12, 2009.
Classes begin each day at 9:00 am and last until 12:30 pm. There are no lessons on the weekend.
Classes are held in the reading room of the Moravian Archives, located at 41 W. Locust Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. During the course of the seminar the reading room will be closed to all other researchers. The Archives is located on the north campus of Moravian College.
COURSE FEE
The fee for the script course is $535.00 and includes the following instructional materials
• Color reproductions of German texts
• Handouts
• Binder for storing instructional material
• Textbook: Deciphering Handwriting in German Documents by Roger P. Minert (Woods Cross, Utah 2001)
• Coffee, tea during breaks
We require a down payment of $100.00 upon registration; the down payment will be fully refunded towards cancellations prior to May 1, 2009. For cancellations made between May 1 and May 25, 2009, we will return $50.00; the fee for cancellations made after May 25, 2009, is $100.00. Housing costs are not included.
HOUSING
There are various hotels and guesthouses in the Bethlehem area. In the past, many participants have taken advantage of two college dormitories located within 100 yards of the Archives ($180.00 for duration of the course), each with a kitchen.
For more information on these dormitories, contact Dr. Robert Windolph at Moravian College, (610) 861-1503.
Registration deadline for housing is May 15, 2009.
(Note: some dormitories are not air-conditioned; we recommend you bring an electric fan. Some dormitories do not have full kitchen. We recommend you ask the housing department of Moravian College about your particular situation).
REGISTRATION
Click here to register.
To register, print and complete the form, then send it with a deposit of $100 to:
Moravian Archives
41 W. Locust St.
Bethlehem PA 18018-2757.
Make checks payable to Moravian Archives. |
