Hi all, I am enrolled in a doctoral programme that doesn't require german, though my dissertation will and the institution does not offer scholarly german - only conversational. Can anyone recommend a good distance learning alternative? Cheers,
I have seen Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary offer Theological German via internet. I am not sure how often it is being offered. http://www.swbts.edu/registrar/schedule/sched.cfm?loc=web&al=gr&sb=sc&tm=05/SP This is the internet schedule for Spring 2005 Hope this helps, cbryant
Intensive alternative Should the DL options not work out... Many schools with doctoral programs in theology offer a summer intensive course in Theological German. I know both The Master's Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary have ones coming up (May 23-June 10 and June 1-14, respectively). I'm sure Harvard and Chicago still do, but haven't looked at their information in some time. Whereabouts are you located?
Many students who are not interested in actually learning to speak the language find that they get by with what they learn from Introduction to Theological German by J.D. Manton. See how far you get in that and then if you feel you need more find a course to enroll in.
Big Al, Here are some other resources that have been mentioned on this site before. Below is a 2003 quote from Ed Komoszewski: I know a handful of doctoral students who have successfully used a program called Easy Translator. Version 4 is available now, and costs just $24.95 at www.nothingbutsoftware.com. The program translates the following languages into English: French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Japanese. One downside to a program like this is that it often doesn't recognize theological jargon. For German (arguably the most important modern language for students of theology), the theological German dictionary in Helmut W. Ziefle's Modern Theological German: A Reader and Dictionary (Baker, 1997) is a lifesaver. It contains over 20,000 words not found in standard German dictionaries. The book costs around $25. So, for about $50, a person can get the gist of just about any theological German work. http://www.degreeinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10526&highlight=theological+dissertation+standards
Hi Dave: You're right about Ziefle: very useful for anyone who doesn't know German. At least I found it so.
As languages just suck the life right outta' me! Ohgod... not German, too -- and theological German, at that! Ugh. Just when I was gettin' my mind wrapped around seminary students having to learn biblical Hebrew and Greek... and maybe some Latin, too... that is, if Martin Luther's admonitions are to be followed! At long last... how many more languages!?! For christsake, can't God speak English? [Just screwin' around!]
Thnx Thank you all for your helpful suggestions - I will look into them. Dave G, in reply to your question - I am based in New Zealand so the intensive options you suggest are not applicable to me. I would prefer the option of doing a course as languages are certainly not my strong point. Anyway, thnx for all yr help.
For more on German for theologians, look up this old thread, http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9240 .
