Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1886 [PAGE 176]

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168

MODERN LANGUAGES.

PROFESSOR EDWARD SNYDER, M. A.

LL. D., Regent: DEAR SIR—The instruction in the Department of Modern Languages extends over two years of German and two of French. In the course of Literature and Science, one year of French and two of German are required. In the Engineering courses two years of either are prescribed, and in the other courses the requirements vary somewhat. The first year's German, in two divisions; the second year's German, and the second year's French—four classes—are taught by me. Miss Helen Gregory has charge of the first year's French, which is also divided in two classes. The first two terms of the first year in French and German are spent in a thorough study of the grammar (Cook-Otto's German Grammar and Bocher's-Otto's French Grammar). In the third term the reader (Evans-Ofcto's German and Bocher's-Otto's French) is used, a good review of grammar by topics is had, and weekly translations are required. • In the first term of the second year's German, "Klemm's Deutsche Literaturgeschichte" is read, containing a synopsis of German literature, biographies of leading authors (in German) and specimens of their writings. In the second and third terms Korner's "Zriny," Schiller's "Wilhelm Tell," Goethe's "Sphigenie anf Tanris." and Lessing's "Nathan der Weise" were read. * In the first term of the second year's French, Pilodet's "Literature Franchise Contemporaine" is used; Corneille's "Cid," Bacine's "Athalie," Moliere's "Le Misanthrope," and about two-thirds of Laboulaye's "Paris in Amerique," were read in the second and third terms. In both the second year's classes weekly translations or compositions are required through the year, and one recitation is given to their correction and analysis. As to the methods of instruction in the first year, all that the time allows is done to make the study of grammar a thorough discipline, not only in the language studied, but also m its analogies, differences and relations to English grammar and syntax. A strenuous effort is made to give to the students, through the medium of these languages, the analytical and synthetical drill and discipline aimed at in the study of Latin and Greek. In the second year special attention is given to translation, which means to express in good English what Goethe or Corneille, Schiller or Moliere, said in classic German or French. The authors furnish the thought or idea, the student's task being to render it as nearly and fully as his command of language may permit.

PEABODY,

S. H.

*