Beyond the textbook: Connecting through German short stories

u3a Subject Adviser for German, Alastair, explains the joy of the online German Readers' Circle he runs - and discusses the exciting new collaboration between the group and German university students.

Every month thirty keen readers across the UK meet to engage with the cultural and linguistic wealth of German. But this isn’t your average Zoom meeting. It’s the u3a German Readers’ Circle: a thriving community of German-language enthusiasts who prove that learning - and literature - only get better with age.

With 198 German-focused u3a groups across the country, there’s clearly a strong appetite among members for learning a new language or rekindling a forgotten one. Some are focused on conversation or grammar; others, like ours, take a more literary approach. 

The German Reader's Circle all began with a simple idea a few weeks before Christmas several years ago: to read, discuss, and celebrate German short stories in a friendly, accessible setting. Now, with members from all walks of life, the club has grown into a lively hub of conversation. Members choose between two Zoom sessions: a Wednesday morning or a Thursday afternoon, allowing for flexibility and a manageable pace for those juggling other groups or commitments.

In each one hour session we tackle two short stories, carefully chosen for variety and to spark discussion. Those registered receive the text in advance, then, during the hour, we begin by reading the text aloud - each participant takes a turn. After the reading, we discuss the story and try to analyse it. Zoom has been a game-changer, allowing us to connect from living rooms across the country, from Cornwall to the Highlands. 

Those registered receive the text in advance, then, during the hour, we begin by reading the text aloud - each participant takes a turn, controlled by the leader. After the reading, we discuss the story and try to analyse it.

The stories we read are as varied as our members. From contemporary tales to classic works, each selection sparks a conversation, not just about language, but about history, culture, and universal themes.

Some members are fluent German speakers with years of experience; others are recent enthusiasts who have taken up the language in retirement. Personally, I came to it later in life. I learnt French at school, and thought I was just useless at languages. In 1981 I went to live and work in Munich for 3 years - that's what moved me from stumbling to fluent and I attended a German for Foreigners class at Munich University. So I now think anyone can do it!

We are now starting a co-operation with the Seniorenstudium at the Ludwig-Maximilan-Universität in Munich, whereby we will run a joint seminar once a university semester, on Zoom. Discussions will be half in English, half in German on a subject of mutual interest.  Two topics will be offered when the seminar is announced and those registering for the seminar will be asked to choose one.

If you are interested in joining the German Readers’ Circle (Der Lesekreis), contact Alastair via his Subject Advice page.