Course Catalogue
On this page you will find the current course catalogue and more detailed information on some of our courses. You can find previous semesters' course catalogues in our course catalogue archive. Please refer to STiNE for binding information! Please note that all information is provided without guarantee. Current changes can be found in the STiNE information. Bachelor's and Master's students must register in STiNE to participate in courses!
CURRENT COURSE CATALOGUE Summer Term 2024
You can also find all our currently offered courses online in the course search of the STiNE course catalogue: In the "Course catalogue" box, select the current term (for Summer Term 2024: "SuSe 24 SuSe 24" = "Summer Semester 2024"), and in the "Org-unit" box, select "Sprachen und Kulturen Südostasiens (5705)" (= "Languages and Cultures of Souteast Asia (5705)"); after clicking on "Search", you will get an overview of all the courses offered by our department (Please note: multi-page list!). After clicking on one of these courses, you will find more detailed information about it, and if you are logged into STiNE you can register for the respective course directly from there.
Insight into courses from the current course catalogue
Insight into courses from the current course catalogue
Filipino 2 (Tagalog)
Filipino 2 (Tagalog)
Course number: 57-337
Vincent Wongaiham-Petersen
Thursday, 10 – 12 h, ESA-O, room O-118
The history of the Philippines under Spanish and American colonial rule has made it a unique place in Southeast Asia. Both have had a lasting impact not only on Filipino culture, but also on the national language. Filipino, which is based mainly on Tagalog, is thus a wonderful and colorful blend of all these influences.
Listening to Filipino as it is spoken colloquially, one would immediately hear the abundance of Spanish and English loan words. This leaves the casual listener with the perception that Filipino would be easy to master. This is, however, misleadingly deceptive because the underlying structure on which all of this is constructed and cohesively held is still the intricate Tagalog language with its complex grammar and sophisticated verb system.
It is worth noting that the United States Foreign Language Institute categorizes Tagalog as a Category III language, placing it in the company of languages known for their varying degrees of difficulty for English speakers to acquire. This classification aligns Tagalog with languages such as Russian, Thai, Laotian, and Vietnamese, indicating the level of dedication and perseverance required to master its complexities.
Although the use of the Latin alphabet simplifies the learning process for those familiar with English or German, delving deeper into the linguistic intricacies of Filipino reveals a fascinating yet formidable journey for language learners. Despite these challenges, learning Filipino is a rewarding endeavor that unveils a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and a profound connection to the country's history.
This second course in Filipino (Tagalog) is open throughout the university to students of various disciplines. Participants must have at least a B1 level in German, as the concepts and learning materials will be in German.
After exploring the basics of sentence structure in Filipino 1, getting acquainted with ANG and NG forms, and MAG verb forms with actor focus, you will now delve deeper into the language and culture of the Philippines in Filipino 2.
We will look at SA forms, the use of may and meron, and the UM verb (actor-focus). We will talk about family and other daily activities in simple Tagalog.
In addition, we will show two films during the course that will give a brief insight into the socio-cultural aspects of Philippine society. You will then be asked to write a reflective essay on the content and message of the films. Screening schedules for the films will be announced.
Please note: This course requires the skills taught in Filipino 1, and it is essential that participants have a command of the fundamentals conveyed therein.
You can register for this course number 57-337 directly on STiNE.
Marami pong salamat!
Contact:
- Vincent Wongaiham-Petersen:
vincent"AT"lingolese.de
Filipino 4 (Tagalog)
Filipino 4 (Tagalog)
Course number: 57-339
Vincent Wongaiham-Petersen
Thursday, 14 – 16 h, ESA-O, room O-233
This fourth course in Filipino (Tagalog) is open throughout the university to students of various disciplines. Participants must have at least a B1 level in German, as the concepts and learning materials will be in German.
In the Filipino 4 course, we will delve more deeply into the various aspects of the Filipino language and culture. We will deal with more complex sentence structures and learn additional grammatical concepts. In addition, we will further develop our language skills in everyday situations and learn to navigate simple Tagalog communication. Throughout the course, we will explore more verb-forms and further expand our vocabulary.
As in the previous course, there will be two films that give a brief insight into the socio-cultural aspects of Philippine society. You will then be asked to write a brief reflective essay on the content and message of the films. Screening schedules for the films will be announced.
Please note: This course builds on the skills taught in Filipino 1, 2 and 3, and it is essential that students have a command of the fundamentals covered in those.
You can register for this course number 57-339 directly on STiNE.
Marami pong salamat!
Contact:
- Vincent Wongaiham-Petersen:
vincent"AT"lingolese.de
Exploring the Tapestry of Contemporary Filipino – Module B
Filipino – Entdeckungsreise in die Vielfalt des zeitgenössischen Filipino – Teil B
(Exploring the Tapestry of Contemporary Filipino – Module B)
Course number: 57-341
Vincent Wongaiham-Petersen
Thursday, 12 – 14 h, ESA-O, room O-233
This intermediate course in Filipino (Tagalog) is open throughout the university to students of various disciplines. Participants must have at least B1 level in German, as the materials will be explained and discussed in German.
This course, "Filipino – Entdeckungsreise in die Vielfalt des zeitgenössischen Filipino – Teil B" ("Exploring the Tapestry of Contemporary Filipino – Part B"), is designed for students who have completed the Filipino 2 course or higher and wish to deepen their understanding and practical application of Filipino. It is an ideal continuation for those who have completed Part A of the course but is also open to new learners looking to enhance their language skills. This course goes beyond basic knowledge and focuses on exploring contemporary everyday Filipino language through various media such as songs, stories, news, and advertisements.
Participants in this course will strengthen their language skills through interactive methods, including discussions, multimedia presentations, and practical activities. These approaches allow students to engage intensively and authentically with Filipino, leading to a profound understanding of the language's vibrant nature in everyday contexts. Engaging with various linguistic nuances, an expanded vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and cultural aspects of the material provides learners with deeper insights into the diversity and cultural richness of Filipino.
You can register for this course number 57-341 directly on STiNE.
Marami pong salamat!
Contact:
- Vincent Wongaiham-Petersen:
vincent"AT"lingolese.de
Khmer II
photo: Jan van der Putten, cropped
Einführung ins Khmer (Khmer II) – Introduction to Khmer (Khmer II)
Course number: 57-332
Savuth Prum
Monday, 16 – 19 h, ESA-O, room O-233
The Kingdom of Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country bordered by Thailand, Vietnam and Laos – and bounded by a coastline to the south. The country, with a total area of 181,035 km², is divided into 24 provinces and one special administrative region, namely the country's capital, Phnom Penh. Cambodia is therefore about half the size of Germany or a little more than twice the size of Austria.
Cambodia's official language is Khmer – also known as Cambodian – and belongs to the Austroasiatic language family. It was influenced by Sanskrit and Pali through Hinduism and Buddhism and is spoken by 17–20 million Cambodians inside and outside of Cambodia.
The Khmer language has a script of its own. It consists of 33 consonants, 24 vowels and 14 initial vowels. Unlike the neighboring countries' languages – Thai, Lao and Vietnamese – Khmer is not a tonal language.
graphics: S. Pech and S. Prum
This Khmer II language seminar (advanced course) is aimed at interested students from all departments at the University of Hamburg who want to learn the Khmer language or refresh or deepen their Khmer language skills and who are interested in the culture and history of Cambodia.
In order to take part in the Khmer II course (advanced course) in the summer semester of 2024, successful completion of the course "Introduction to Khmer I" in the winter semester of 2023 or comparable language skills is required.
Learning objectives: Through this seminar you will be able to acquire the most important basics of the Khmer language and understand and use familiar, everyday expressions as well as various types of sentences both orally and in writing. You will also be able to write simple personal letters, postcards and emails.
Registration for this course number 57-332 is possible on STiNE.
If you have any problems with the registration, please contact Mr. Prum(Savuth.Prum"AT"uni-hamburg.de), who will be happy to help you unbureaucratically! More information about this and other courses can be found in our current course catalog (see box on top of this webpage), and you might also be interested in our "Khmer II"-flyer.
Contact:
- Prof. Dr. Volker Grabowsky:
Volker.Grabowsky"AT"uni-hamburg.de - Savuth Prum:
Savuth.Prum"AT"uni-hamburg.de
Demographics of Mainland Southeast Asia
Demographics of Mainland Southeast Asia
Course number: 57-303
Prof. Anthony Waters
Wednesday, 16–18 h, ESA-O, room O-232
Please note: This seminar will be held in English!
"The Demographics of Mainland Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam)" is about how economic, political, and social change is driven by demographic change in Southeast Asia. Demographic processes discussed will include fertility (births), mortality (deaths), and migration.
Two periods will be discussed. The modern era (late twentieth century) will be about the demographic transition in Southeast Asia which is the time when population grew rapidly after child and infant mortality decreased, and births rates dropped in response. During this transition, there was a rapid growth in population, as rural populations moved from the countryside to the rapidly growing mega-urban areas like Bangkok, Yangon, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and elsewhere. The change in demographic context correlated with technological advancement, economic development, war, famine, and even genocide.
The second part of the seminar will discuss the long-term demographic history of Mainland Southeast Asia and describe the origins of the rice-based agricultural kingdoms, highland peripheries, ethnic groups, and the difficult emergence of nation-states with complex economies. There will be a comparison between how Thailand dealt with these issues in the last 150 years to create the modern Thai nation out of diverse origins. Notably this is a goal that Myanmar, and Laos are wrestling with today.
The conclusion will be about what the emergence of new low fertility demographics will mean for the future societies and economics of Mainland Southeast Asia.
This course aims at MA students of Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia with the track Thai Studies. It is also suitable for MA students of Buddhist Studies with the track Thai Studies. It is also open for BA students as a course of the "Fachspezifischer Wahlbereich".
The lecturer is Tony Waters. He is a Professor of Sociology who has taught in Thailand, California, and Germany. His current research interests are in Myanmar goverance and politics, and Thai literature.
You can register for this course directly on STiNE.
Information on this course can also be found on our flyer.
Contact:
- Prof. Anthony Waters:
anthony.waters"AT"leuphana.de
From Tribal Societies to Nation-Building in West Papua (Indonesia)
From Tribal Societies to Nation-Building in West Papua (Indonesia)
Course number: 57-314
Marion Struck-Garbe
Friday, 10–12 h, ESA-O, room O-233
Please note: This seminar will be held in English!
The seminar focusses on the development of the idea of nationalism in West Papua, the western half of the Island of New Guinea and the eastern-most part of Indonesia. Made up of 260 different tribes with different languages and different cultures, in partly inaccessible mountain forest and marshland with little to no contact with each other the indigenous people had no idea that they were part of a larger coherent area that would unite them one day as West Papua. Until today there is no ethnic homogeneity.
Despite this: Over the last 60 years the Papuan people have embraced the concept of a nation state, including nationalism and internalised the concept of Melanesianess. How did this come about? To answer this question, we go back in history, we look at ethnographic and colonial reports and at recent research work and we pursue the following trail:
Based on the assumption that social structures influence thinking and ideas about living together now and in future we analyse what socio-political and economic structures existed before colonisation and what causes their on-going changes, when, how and why
a) during the missionary phase,
b) during the Dutch colonisation,
c) during the Second World War,
d) since integration into the Indonesian state.
Finally, we analyse the conflict between Indonesia and West Papua, which arises from the latter's desire for a nation of its own.
Learning Objectives:
Knowledge about
a) the history of West Papua and ethnographic aspects of West Papuan tribes,
b) the history of the political conflict between Indonesia and West Papua.
The ability to transfer the theoretical model of ethnonationalism to the development of the idea of nationalism in West Papua.
Joint draft of a fact sheet on the topic – for publication by the West Papua Network.
You can register for this course number 57-314 directly on STiNE.
Contact:
- Marion Struck-Garbe:
marion.struck-garbe"AT"hamburg.de
Exploring Regional and Local Histories in 19th and 20th Century Thailand
MA Thai Culture and Society – A: "Exploring Regional and Local Histories in 19th and 20th Century Thailand"
Course number: 57-307
Prof. Dr. Volker Grabowsky
Wednesday, 2 – 4 p.m., ESA-O, room O-232
This course is designed to impart to attendees a fundamental understanding of how people in different regions and sub-regions in Thailand look at their own histories and how their fate is connedcted with that of modern nation-state and beyond. The course shall furthermore introduce students to relevant, but for a long time neglected source material reflecting regional and local perspectives on historical developments in Thailand during the last two centuries. This includes the method of oral history. The course material will consist primarily of English language literature and translations of primary sources. Knowledge of Thai, French or German is not required, but might prove advantageous.
For a long time, Thai history has been taught from the perspective of successive Siamese kingdoms and their respective capitals: Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Thonburi, and Bangkok. The modern Thai nation-state was seen just as a logical continuation of these Siamese kingdoms. Thai historiography heavily relied on written sources in Thai (Siamese) language, such as the royal chronicles of the Ayutthaya and Bangkok periods (discussed in course 57-308), but largely neglected the rich source material of the the Upper North (Lan Na), the Northeast (Isan) and the South (both the Thai and the Malay South). These regions comprising more than half of Thailand’s territories had belonged to independent or autonomous polities before their integration into the Thai/Siamese state since the late eighteenth century and have an historiography of their own. During the last three or four decades Thai historians have challenged the official paradigm by rediscovering regional and local histories, including the history of provinces and localities within the the central region of Thailand. Apart from local written sources, many of which were transcribed from manuscripts written in local scripts (Dhamma, Lao, Jawi etc.), also oral history (i.e., interviews with elderly people) was used as a research tool.
Volker Grabowsky is Professor of Thai Studies at the AAI since 2009. He has published extensively on the Thai and Lao history and manuscript cultures.
You can register for this course number 57-307 directly on STiNE.
This course information can also be found on our flyer.
Contact:
- Prof. Dr. Volker Grabowsky:
volker.grabowsky"AT"uni-hamburg.de
Thailand in the Thonburi and Early Bangkok Periods (1767–1855)
MA Thai Culture and Society – B: "Thailand in the Thonburi and Early Bangkok Periods (1767–1855)"
Course number: 57-308
Prof. Dr. Volker Grabowsky and Jan Dreßler, M.A.
Thursday, 2 – 4 p.m., ESA-O, room O-233
After the defeat and destruction of the old Siamese kingdom of Ayutthaya in the wake of a Burmese invasion (1767) the premodern Siamese polity was temporarily reconstituted in Thonburi. This first attempt at national consolidation under the leadership of a general of Chinese descent, King Taksin (r. 1769-1782), ended, however, in social and political unrest, which ultimately propelled a well-established aristocratic Siamese family into power (1782). The rulers of the Chakri Dynasty succeeded in restoring order and stability and henceforth ruled the kingdom from the city of Bangkok. Subsequent decades witnessed the restoration of institutions like the traditional monarchy and the Buddhist clergy, the promulgation of a unified legal code, the expansion of agricultural production and trade, as well as the creation of works of art and literature, which came to define Siamese culture prior to the large-scale influx of Western ideas and models. The end of the period under investigation is marked by the Bowring Treaty of 1855 which triggered the opening of Siam to the world economy. This course will familiarize attendees with the political, legal, social and economic history of Siam since the fall of the Ayutthaya kingdom (1767) until the conclusion of the Bowring Treaty (1855).
Volker Grabowsky is Professor of Thai Studies at the AAI since 2009. He has published extensively on the Thai and Lao history and manuscript cultures.
Jan Dreßler holds a master’s degree in Southeast Asian Studies from Thammasat University and the University of Hamburg. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the History of Southeast Asia, his research focuses on the interrelation between traditional political institutions, Theravada Buddhism, and historiography.
You can register for this course number 57-308 directly on STiNE.
This course information can also be found on our flyer.
Contact:
- Prof. Dr. Volker Grabowsky:
volker.grabowsky"AT"uni-hamburg.de
University College Writing Center
The courses of the University College Writing Center ("Schreibzentrum des Universitätskollegs") are intended to teach students the skills of academic writing and to assist them with it. Every semester, there are different formats to support students, such as workshops or advice.
You will find all further information about the Writing Center and its courses here.
Training Courses by the CrossAsia Specialist Information Service
CrossAsia, the specialist information service for Asia, is a portal for printed and electronic resources on East, Southeast, Central and South Asia. The portal enables students and other interested parties to access relevant resources on the subject of Asian Studies in Latin and Asian scripts centrally and free of charge.
CrossAsia regularly holds introductory events to familiarize first-time users with the portal's functionalities. More information about CrossAsia and upcoming events can be found here.