"My UW language classes really taught me to think differently about cultures, history, and societies as a whole."
Major(s) and Certificate(s): German; Certificate in European Studies
Graduation Year: 2012
Language(s): German, Italian
What motivated you to study this/these languages?
I studied German because I had a really positive study abroad experience in High School. Going to Germany at 16 years old and staying with a host family for three months really piqued my interest in the language/culture and it was something I had fun learning. I wasn’t quite sure how I would use it professionally, but I knew it was something I enjoyed and was good at.
What do you remember about your UW language classes? How were they different from other classes you took?
My UW language classes really taught me to think differently about cultures, history, and societies as a whole. Often times there are stereotypes associated with languages and cultures and we got to investigate these concepts from all different angles. It really broadened my view of the world and forced me to think about things that many people just accept as common-place.
How valuable were your out-of-classroom experiences? How did they add to your undergraduate experience/coursework?
Because I had such a great experience in High School with study abroad, I wanted to do it again in college for a longer duration. Spending a year studying abroad in Germany taught me so much about myself and the world. It forced me to get outside my comfort zone and I met so many new people. It was invaluable for life skills and academically put my language skills to the test on a daily basis. It was a challenging year but the rewards were bountiful – I’m still very close with a lot of the people I met during that time.
What have you done in a professional capacity since graduating from UW-Madison?
Since graduating from UW-Madison, I started a career as a freelance translator. This exposed me to the world of translation and localization. After a few years of freelancing, I joined bigger translation companies to use my language skills from a different angle of the industry. My career has evolved now into a more business-related role as a Director of Sales – but I’m still in the same industry of translation.
What are ways, either expected or unexpected, that your language study has benefited you in your career?
I didn’t realize how much my language skills would be beneficial in the workplace on a daily basis with my colleagues. Many companies are now global and remote. I work for a smaller, close-knit company and my colleagues span four different continents. We all communicate in English – but I’m one of the few native-English speakers. Things still get “lost in translation” when we communicate (due to being remote in addition to the language barriers) – so it forces you to be more intentional with your communication. I also know how exhausting it can be to be constantly communicating in a foreign language so I give my colleagues a lot of credit for their efforts and always encourage them when they’re learning new expressions.
How have you maintained or improved your language(s) since graduation?
Since graduation from UW-Madison, I attended the University of Chicago to get a certificate in translation studies. This furthered my understanding of German in different industries like legal and healthcare. I’m also fortunate to have married someone whose family lives in Germany, so I’m able to dust off my German skills at least once or twice a year when we go to visit them.
What advice do you have for students who are studying language(s) about how to incorporate their interests and skills into their future goals?
Studying languages helps you become successful in so many ways professionally. The soft skills that you learn from being able to communicate in a different way, help you become more versatile as a whole. In the business world, being able to communicate successfully with a wide variety of different people from different backgrounds is a skill that’s highly sought-after. As the world becomes more interconnected and business spans across multiple continents, companies are always looking for strong leaders with good communication skills (in any language). Exploring a language academically helps you build these skills and introduces you to a new way of thinking that a lot of employers find extremely valuable.