"If you are looking to truly solidify your language skills, I would highly recommend living in a country which speaks the target language, and prioritizing relationships with local friends rather than foreign friends."
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Mathematics, Political Science, International Studies: Global Security; Certificates in African Studies, East Asian Studies
Language(s): Korean, German
Graduation Year: 2021
What motivated you to study this/these languages?
I met a group of Korean students while participating in a high school program, and decided that I wanted to learn my new friends’ native language to better communicate. I ended up registering for Korean classes from my first semester at UW-Madison and continued my studies through participation in the Korean Flagship Program. I’ve studied German since middle school, and wanted to maintain my German proficiency through taking a few classes at UW-Madison.
What do you remember about your UW language classes? How were they different from other classes you took?
One of the things I appreciated the most about my language courses were the amount of extracurricular resources available for language study. I was able to access my TAs outside of classes for dedicated tutoring time, as well as participate in GUTS language tutoring. It felt less like I was studying for a class, and more like I was simply learning to communicate with new people.
Was there value to your out-of-classroom experiences? How did they add to your undergraduate experience/coursework?
My study abroad was in France, so unrelated to my language study, but I would still highly recommend participating in study abroad when possible. It is an excellent way to meet new people and gain new perspectives on various aspects of your life. If you are going to a country whose language you are currently studying, study abroad can help refresh motivation to learn the language or help you overcome the wall you reach in classroom-only education.
What have you done in a professional capacity since graduating from UW-Madison?
After graduating from UW-Madison I worked for TruStage (formerly CUNA Mutual Group) in their Corporate & Legislative Affairs department. In January 2022, I moved to South Korea as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant and have been living in Korea since then.
What are ways, either expected or unexpected, that your language study has benefited you in your career?
As someone now living in rural Korea, my Korean language studies were invaluable in helping me navigate my daily life.
Unexpectedly, my language studies led me to develop an interest in practicing Korea-related law specifically, whereas before I was interested in international law in the broader sense.
How have you maintained or improved your language(s) since graduation?
I am currently living in the country whose language I studied, so I am conducting almost all my work and going through my daily life in my target language.
What advice do you have for students who are studying language(s) about how to incorporate their interests and skills into their future goals?
My first piece of advice is that it can never hurt to speak another language. Even if you don’t pursue a career which requires use of that language, you will never regret learning a foreign language.
If you are looking to truly solidify your language skills, I would highly recommend living in a country which speaks the target language, and prioritizing relationships with local friends rather than foreign friends.
Finally, there are many ways you can use a language in your career, so don’t limit your search to certain fields thinking it won’t relate to your language studies.