"Don't be afraid to try new things with language. It takes practice and work to learn a language and you need to give yourself grace as you try new things out."
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Bachelors in International Relations: West European Studies/Culture; Masters in Educational Psychology (MSPE Program); Teacher Certification in German Pre-K to Grade 12 (I also have an ESL teaching license from another college)
Graduation Year: 1992, 2002, 2005
Language(s): German
What motivated you to study this/these languages?
I studied German in high school and when I got to UW Madison, I wanted to continue learning the language and culture so that I could study abroad. I spent my Junior Year of college at Madison’s partner university in Bonn, Germany.
What do you remember about your UW language classes? How were they different from other classes you took?
The language classes at UW Madison were small and interactive. I was able to practice my speaking in an uninhibited way, which is a big deal for a 19 year old trying on a new language! The language department as a whole was supportive and created a “safe space” to learn and practice with each other. The language instructors were available to help with writing and we had a listening portion of the class that helped us to tune our ears to a new language.
How valuable were your out-of-classroom experiences? How did they add to your undergraduate experience/coursework?
My study abroad experience to Bonn, Germany was a highlight of my college career! When I chose to study abroad, my family and friends were surprised. I was not yet fluent in German and I didn’t know anyone else who would be on the program. I stepped out of my comfort zone and attended university in Germany on the study abroad program for 11 months. I lived in dorm housing with other Germans, I learned to be independent in a new country, and I experienced the language and culture first hand. UW Madison supported the students on the program with an office located near the university, so if I needed to check on a course transferring back or I just had a question of where to find something like a dentist, they helped me out. During my time in Germany, I took 32 credits that transferred back to UW Madison and these fit directly into my International Relations major work. The language and cultural experiences I had during this year were life changing. I was in Berlin when the East and West sides of the country celebrated unification into one united Germany. When I left to return to Wisconsin, I was fluent in the language, and even to this day I am complimented when I return to Germany on the level of my German language – and told that I sound like I am from the Rhein region of Bonn with my dialect. As a language person, this is a huge compliment!
What have you done in a professional capacity since graduating from UW-Madison?
Since graduating from UW Madison, I have worked in Education for 30 years. I returned to UW Madison twice after my original bachelors work in order to become a licensed German teacher and work additionally on my masters of science in education. I also added a license in English as a Second language with additional coursework. I spent 15 years teaching middle and high school including German and ESL in a small community north of Madison, and 12 years teaching elementary ESL in a dual language (Spanish) program in Racine, WI. For the last 3 years, I have supported the Racine Unified School District staff as the Language Acquisition Coordinator for the district. In this role, I work with classroom teachers, coaches, specialist staff, and administrators in order to meet the language needs of our multilingual learners.
What are ways, either expected or unexpected, that your language study has benefited you in your career?
Having my own background as a language learner and knowing how language learning works has been a huge asset in this role as I support staff in my school district. My original intention for study abroad was to learn more about Germany, and in the process of living there for the 11 months, my language developed as well. This combination of language and culture experiences was an asset when I was teaching German. I was able to bring my experiences to my classroom and develop more students who were interested in digging deeper into German. I also was confident in bringing groups of students to Germany in the summers when I taught German and shared my love of the language first hand with these young people.
The methods I learned at UW Madison for teaching language have not gone unnoticed. I am often complemented for my pedagogy and skill in teaching language and I know I received a top notch language teacher education from UW Madison. I also received an award from my school district for creating positive change after sharing my language teaching strategies with other staff in my school.
How have you maintained or improved your language(s) since graduation?
I have maintained my language by traveling regularly to Germany. For 12 years I took students to Germany on the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) with other German teachers and we hosted a group from our partner school in the other years we did not go there. We would spend a month with a host family and submerse ourselves in the language, family, and community culture of our partner school. I have also travelled with my own family and returned over and again to Germany, including visiting my own daughter who was on a study trip there in a recent summer. I watch movies and listen to music in German, and I regularly read German news online. It’s helpful with keeping up with current events and sharpening my language. On a recent family trip, I was purchasing seat reservations at the train station for my family. As I conversed with the agent, she asked for our passports. When I handed her US passports she was amazed – she had not guessed I was American based on our conversation and my dialect, which sounded authentic to her. That was a great compliment to all my language learning work!
What advice do you have for students who are studying language(s) about how to incorporate their interests and skills into their future goals?
Don’t be afraid to try new things with language. It takes practice and work to learn a language and you need to give yourself grace as you try new things out. You will get good at it, so don’t give up!
Whatever you go into for a career, the languages you learn will be an asset for you. Even if you don’t use a specific language in your every day work, the way you look at things as a multilingual person makes you an asset to an employer. You have an open mind to new things, your brain can multi-task, and you understand more than the world in your home community. Being multilingual is an amazing gift!