German & Slavonic Studies (German, Russian, Croatian, Polish)
Within this Department you will find courses in German, Russian, Croatian and Polish, both language courses and courses which will introduce you to other aspects of the cultures which speak these languages.
German is the native language of more than 90 million people in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. It is an important language of trade, Germany being the third largest economy in the world. In the European context, knowledge of German gives access to a rich literary, intellectual, and cultural tradition that has been a major and integral part of western science, philosophy, theology, music, and art. As well as study of the language, courses can be taken in German film, literature, and the German connection with New Zealand and the Pacific. Bilateral agreements between Germany and New Zealand on working holidays and graduate study mean that the study of German opens up attractive opportunities for New Zealanders. Knowledge of German language and culture can be helpful in a range of careers, including tourism, journalism, commerce, government service, diplomacy and teaching.
Russian is the principal language of the Russian Federation and a widely spoken language in adjacent republics. It is the key to studying one of the world’s richest literatures and cultures. Russian novelists such as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, poets such as Akhmatova and Pasternak, dramatists such as Chekhov, painters such as Kandinsky and Chagall, filmmakers such as Eisenstein, and composers such as Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky are known the world over. The study of Russian improves your language and communication skills, and knowledge of Russian language and society and its place in European culture may be useful in careers in foreign affairs, business, law and many other professions.
Croatian and Polish language courses are available at Stage I level, and introduce students to the respective culture as well as the language. While many students are interested in these languages because of Croatian or Polish heritage or family connections, both are recommended for students wishing to gain a working knowledge of a Latin-script Slavonic language.
The teaching of Croatian is supported by the Croatian community, and the teaching of Polish supported by the Polish community in New Zealand and abroad.
