Adam Vradenburg

Minor in German

Current Occupation: Researcher & Content Strategist
Current Location: Berlin
Program: BIB/08

Notable Quotable

Why did you choose this particular language?

I had a history teacher who often talked about Germany. It looked tiny on a map, but seemed to have an outsized influence on Europe and the world economy. Its position between Eastern and Western Europe only made me more curious about the country.

Your learning experience

I remember my fellow students most fondly. It was helpful to be on the journey with others, struggling and learning together. Our shared interest in the language and culture created a strong sense of community among both students and teaching staff, and you could feel the positive energy in the room. I also remember visiting academics sharing stories about their home countries and hearing their experiences of Canadian culture, which I found fascinating.

Travel as part of your degree

If you are serious about becoming proficient in a language, I highly recommend university courses. Learning to speak, read and write in a formal and professional context has been essential to my career in Germany. At the same time, having a genuine interest in the language or culture is just as important because it gives you motivation outside the classroom. Use the language as often as you can. Don’t be embarrassed—enjoy making mistakes. That fear of getting things wrong stops many people from ever getting started.

Using language after graduating

After finishing my degree, I moved back to the country where I spent my exchange year, and I’ve been here for two decades. Even when your language skills are not directly relevant to a particular role or project, the fact that you have learned another language and gained cultural knowledge often sets you apart. Having a broader cultural perspective, and the experience of being new in a foreign country, helps you connect with a wide range of people.

Why study a second or additional language?

I don’t remember where I first heard it, but there is a saying that learning a language helps you discover a new self. I think there is some truth in that. Learning a new language has been the most valuable and rewarding thing I took away from university. If you embark on that journey, you will surprise yourself and discover abilities you never knew you had. Technology and instant access to information are no substitute for doing the work yourself. You need to discover what genuinely interests you, not just follow what everyone else is talking about. People in the culture you are engaging with will also recognise the effort you have made, and that changes the dynamic of your interactions in ways that go far beyond communication and comprehension.

Your personal experience of studying a language at university

Learning a new language completely changed the course of my life. My career has been almost entirely in a German-speaking environment. I now have a family, and my children are growing up German. Even in fourth year, I would not have believed that was possible, or even likely. It would not have happened without the structure of an intensive course and the commitment required to complete a four-year program. Achieving fluency and building a life in another culture is immensely rewarding. Once you have done that, you gain confidence that you can take on almost any challenge.