DEPARTMENT OF GERMAN

Kendall Clark

WCAS: German

Although I only began learning German in college, I had been curious about the language since I was a young child. My uncle, aunt, and first cousin live in a small town in Rheinland-Pfalz, and I remember them coming to visit every so often when I was growing up. We would all talk together in English, but sometimes they would slip into German, and I always wanted to know what they were saying. German courses were not offered in my school, but studying Spanish from 9th through 12th grade made me enthusiastic about learning new languages as a means of forming deeper connections with others. When I took my first German class in Winter 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic sent everyone into isolation. Nevertheless, the German department worked hard to cultivate a strong virtual learning community, which inspired me to practice my new skills every day. In the following year, once travel restrictions were lifted, I was able to spend eleven months studying in Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg. The German language skills I developed at Northwestern became so much stronger during my time abroad, and I am seriously considering moving back to Germany to continue my education (in Computer Science, which was my minor) and start a career!

Eden Stargardt

WCAS: Music, German

I decided to study German at Northwestern after starting to learn the language in high school. Initially, I intended to pursue a minor in German, but after I began taking classes here, my interest and love for the language and appreciation for German culture grew, and I decided to pursue a major through the Dual-Degree Program. I have had such an amazing experience with the German Department and have had the opportunity to take so many amazing courses with wonderful professors. In the last year, I have worked closely with Professor Isabel von Holt on a research project and senior thesis, which has been an incredible experience and has helped me explore the intersection of my two degrees –Music and German. My project focuses on the impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall on the orchestras within the city and explores how the orchestra acts as a microcosm of German society during the period of transition in der Wendezeit. The German Department has been incredibly supportive of my research and through the support of the Friedman-Kline Foundation and the Office of Undergraduate Research, I had the opportunity to travel to Berlin twice to conduct research for my project. I am so grateful for the amazing opportunities and experiences that I have had throughout my time at Northwestern, and I hope to continue to use the language in the future. I have plans to move to Berlin after completing my graduate studies – largely in part because the time I spent there researching led me to fall in love with the city.

Danny Vesurai

WCAS: German

Perhaps like many others, I began studying German on a whim before falling in love with it. I entered Northwestern knowing zero German, yet my whim launched me into the orbit of the department’s amazing faculty. They encouraged me to continue studying German and study abroad, and with their support, I eventually did for an entire year. My year in Freiburg gifted me a plethora of memories and experiences that I will ever cherish. Over the course of my studies, I came to appreciate the particularities of the German language and culture, whether that be genitive prepositions or the Black Forest’s Bollenhut. I acquainted myself with the haunting words of Heinrich von Kleist and Franz Kafka. My studies culminated in a 36-page project (in German) in which I translated contemporary German poetry into English and reflected on translation theory and practice. It astounds me that within the span of a few years, my German skills developed from nonexistent to capable of this project. For this, I am extraordinarily grateful to everyone in the German Department and to everyone who supported and taught me while I was abroad. As I pursue a career in library sciences, the possibility of working as a translator or in Germany remains in the picture. I am certain that I will continue to use my language skills to engage with German media and literature and that I will one day return to Germany.

Garrett Breiner

WCAS: German Minor

Aspiring screenwriter and director studying at Northwestern University. As a filmmaker, my goal is to create impactful stories that shine a light on cultural, social, and economic issues occurring around the globe. My technical proficiencies include an advanced knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro, proficiency in Lightroom, and an extensive knowledge of DSLR cameras. My skills include storyboarding, establishing policies and procedures regarding production best practices, quantitative analysis of film, and film production.

Renan Dennig

WCAS: Business German Minor

I felt like I needed to study German for a long time and college was the perfect opportunity to do so. My father is from Germany, and I have visited often, so I wanted to learn the language. I really enjoyed studying German at Northwestern. The first two years gave me a solid foundation to build from, while the upper-level courses have covered a variety of interesting material and topics in German. Having visited Germany since beginning at Northwestern, I feel like the courses I have taken really improved my language skills and understanding of current affairs in Germany. The professors in the German Department have consistently been passionate, fantastic to work with, and extremely helpful. I think there is a strong sense of community within the German Department, and I have enjoyed getting to meet people through events and classes. I decided to pursue a Business German Minor, because it pairs well with my Economics Major and will be personally useful, since I hope to live in Germany at some point!

Gretchen Faliszek

WCAS: Business German Minor

My German learning journey started in high school when we had to take a foreign language. I took German due to my family's heritage and I fell in love with the language. I was ecstatic to continue with my German studies at Northwestern, entering college with a goal of reaching fluency by the time I graduated. The German department quickly became my favorite thing about Northwestern. The faculty and professors are fantastic and became some of my greatest support systems on campus. It feels like a family here. Throughout college I've been using my German skills at the DANK Haus in Chicago in their bilingual school, working with children aged3-14. It is also through the DANK Haus where I took the DSD II exam and obtained my Deutsches Sprachdiplom at the C1 level -completing my goal of obtaining German fluency during my time at Northwestern. This would not have been possible without the support from the German department. After graduation, I'll be completing a year of grad school at Northwestern and obtaining my Master's degree in secondary education. I will get endorsed in secondary social studies and PK-12 German, and there is a good chance you will find me teaching German in Chicago at some point in my life!

Katie Hickman

WCAS: German Minor

I chose to study German here at Northwestern because I already had a background in German. The courses Northwestern offers provide exciting and new ways to continue to study and learn not only the German language, but also many different aspects of German culture and history. I found my time here to be challenging and quite fun! My courses always pushed me to work hard and stay dedicated. The professors were incredibly supportive and willing to help, which was a great comfort. I hope to use my Germanskills with not only in my travels, but also in the professional world.

Anya Kirsch

WCAS: German minor

I originally wanted to study German in order to learn the language better, because my dad is from Germany and everyone on his side of the family lives there. Through studying German at Northwestern, I’ve not only accomplished this goal, but also learned so much about the history of the country, pop culture, and present-day issues in Germany. Studying abroad in Berlin Winter of my senior year really rounded out my experiences minoring in German, and I immediately fell in love with the city and the culture. Everyone in the German department has been incredibly supportive of my goals over the past four years, whether that be academic or career-related. Some of my favorite classes I’ve taken at Northwestern include German classes. I know I’ll use my language skills throughout my whole life, whether that be talking to family or hopefully visiting Germany (and Berlin) many times again.

Nathan Sowder

WCAS: German Minor

Retrospectively, as one who fell in love with the German language and culture, the path towards my German minor seems quite natural, almost destined to occur. However, arriving as a freshman with no German language experience and two years’ of WCAS language credits demanding to be filled, I can assure you this is not the case. My initial interest in German was spurred during the Department Fair during Wildcat Welcome, in which I was warmly greeted by Professorinnen Meuser and Zeller. Their warm greetings and earnest desire to share their love of German with me drew me in, and I haven’t looked back since. Throughout my Northwestern career, I’ve found no lack of outstanding faculty, but the German Department has always had some of my favorite professors. Professors Meuser, Zeller, and Kerlova all helped me establish a strong foundation from which I began to make sense of the world in German. Professors Paluch, Ryder, and Lys challenged me to accelerate my German to the next level and pushed me to exceed my own expectations of my capabilities. I’m eternally grateful to all the German Department staff and faculty who have helped me on this journey. As my Deutsch Abenteuer moves beyond Northwestern, I find new doors of opportunity waiting for me. Thanks to connections via the German Department, I have an opportunity to live and intern in Berlin this summer. I’m very grateful to have this chance and look forward to what it holds.