German

Why Study German at Alma College?


Small Class Sizes

At Alma, small class sizes allow you to have one-on-one contact with professors and fellow students. This intimate atmosphere will give you a greater understanding of the language and a chance for focused assistance and learning.

Learning More Than a Language

Not only will you learn to speak the language, but the German program at Alma College will also introduce you to German culture and history. Art, literature and German popular culture are integrated into the curriculum so you can understand the whole culture of German living.

Interior of a German cathedral

Dedicated Faculty

Associate professor of German Dr. Holly Liu specializes in postwar and contemporary German-speaking literature and culture.

She frequently travels to Germany and Austria to conduct research in her field and on German and Austrian cultures and current events.

Personal Attention

In addition to Dr. Liu, the German program employs a native-speaking language assistant, who works closely with the German Club. The assistant organizes a weekly language table (Stammtisch) for you to practice language skills with the assistant and other students.

The assistant also organizes cultural events such as German movies and festivals to give you a broader scope of life in Germany. The assistant is also available to help you one-on-one and offers a unique perspective into both the German language and the culture.


 

Alma encourages its students to look beyond Michigan’s boundaries. The Posey Global Leadership Scholarship provides opportunities for Alma College students to travel anywhere in the world and complete a self-designed project. Alma students have completed projects on topics ranging from teaching to public policy, in places from the Philippines to South Africa.

 

Faculty Profile

Dr. Holly Liu

Dr. Holly Liu
Departments: German

Holly Liu taught at a variety of colleges and universities around the world before coming to Alma College in 2006.

She was internationally educated and is dedicated to teaching German. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Peking University in Beijing, a master’s degree from Texas Tech University and a doctorate from Vanderbilt University. She also studied for two years at the Free University of Berlin.