Carnegie Mellon University

Germany

September 17, 2021

New Fall Course: German for the Enlightened Traveler (Joachim Noob)

This course is designed to teach the Enlightened Tourist (i.e., the tourist who also wishes to benefit linguistically from his or her travels) useful German phrases and communications skills. Although it is true that English is understood by most everyone in Germany, it is always advantageous to show that one is making a genuine effort to understand more of the country and its culture than the average traveler: and speaking the language – even at a very basic level – helps one accomplish this. Some of the topics that will be covered are: arriving at the airport; transfer to the hotel by different means of transportation; purchasing tickets for shows, museums; ordering a meal in a restaurant; what to do in case of sickness or an accident. We will also create situations in which you will have to deal with complications (e.g., your hotel room is not what you expected).

Dr. Joachim Noob is originally from Germany where he grew up, went to school, and on to Heidelberg University where he studied German and English Philology. After receiving his B.A.- equivalent, he decided to study in the United States for one year. There, he attended the University of Oregon where he was also given the opportunity to teach his native language for the very first time. After that year, he returned to Heidelberg and completed his M.A. degree. While back in Germany, the University of Oregon had revived its Ph.D. program in German and asked if he wanted to return and obtain a doctorate. He agreed and completed his doctoral degree with a dissertation on suicide committed by adolescent students at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century in German and Austrian literature. While a Ph.D. candidate, he had teaching assignments at Lewis and Clark College and Western Oregon State College. Other universities for which he worked were Vassar College, Humboldt State University, Radford University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Purdue University, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His teaching career spans more than 30 years.