The Second Age
of Planet Deutsch

February 18, 2008

Welcome! And Welcome again. Planets do have cycles, planets have ages — we herewith enter the Second Age of Planet Deutsch! Here you will find newly cultivated regions, and some of the Grand Regions of the First Age, created and cultivated by my excellent colleague Dr. Freddie A. Bowles. So if you seek the Lesesaal, with such topics as Weimar, this you will find — look to the left for the appropriate link! If you seek explanations of Accusative and Dative cases, these too shall you find.

You will find even more resources for German grammar, and for our students, writing guidelines and practice tests for the second year — you must but follow the links under "German Language Learning Resources."

But I have not yet said all! Our three most exciting newly-cultivated regions will take you into and beyond German grammar and literature. No literature exists in a vacuum, no region is closed off completely.

Two Exciting New Projects

For the enjoyment and edification of our colleagues, we present:       — Poetry as Pedagogy, and
      — Teaching German with the Simpsons!

These exciting projects are the work of two of our remarkable and energetic TAs at the University of Arkansas: Ms. Annie Gordon, and Mr. Alex Ganz. Poetry as Pedagogy is the project of Ms. Gordon, who is creating a series of lesson plans that introduce and expand chapter topics and grammar topics using German poetry from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. Teaching German with The Simpsons is Mr. Ganz's project, combining a unique approach to German culture and grammar with favorite American (and German!) TV family, "The Simpsons."

Finally, the region "a Plank in Me Eye" is a developing venue for essays and meditations on the poetics of British singer and songwriter Kate Bush, whose body of work over the past thirty years has achieved critical acclaim and is deserving of, and as yet still lacking in, scholarly attention from a literary standpoint. These meditations will, I hope, cut a path in that direction.

A Beautiful Immersion!

Don't forget to check out our link to the DEUTSCHE SOMMERSCHULE in Taos Ski Valley! A month in the mountains, speaking only German, experiencing a wide variety of culture and language classes and events, enjoying the natural beauty of the ski valley, and meeting students, professors, and artists from around the world! Come along! We have a blast!

Welcome to the Second Age!

Jennifer M. Hoyer
Assistant Professor of German
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
425 Kimpel Hall
Fayetteville, AR 72701
jhoyer@uark.edu