Carolin Kleinsorge is a first-year student of English Studies. She is pursuing the Bachelor of Arts, Minor degree. The other degree programme Carolin is enrolled in is mathematics.
What made you choose this degree programme?
I have opted for English Studies, because I like the English language and because the combination of English and Mathematics will certainly be in high demand in my chosen profession, namely school teacher.
In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?
I didn't really know what to expect from English Studies, but I was still surprised how much I've been enjoying it. The pace is easy to master, and the workload it much more humane than in other degree courses (e.g. mathematics). I was also pleasantly surprised when I learned that, in the first semester, all lectures resemble seminars: the students sit together in small groups whilst the lecturer reads his lecture, and everyone gets involved and has the chance to contribute to the oral debate, which I consider particularly important when studying languages. My English lecturers, moreover, know me by name, whereas in Mathematics, I am just one number of many. Consequently, the work atmosphere in English is considered to be much more friendly and personal than in Mathematics.
Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?
Personally, I love exchanging opinions on a certain subject with others, which is why I liked Literary Studies best, where we were required to study literary texts in-depth and to analyse their characteristics. But I also very much enjoyed English Sounds and Sound Systems. This subject covers phonetics and phonology, i.e. we studied phonetic transcription as well as the evolution of the English language. You do feel a bit weird when you have to repeat one and the same sound over and over again to ascertain which phonetic symbol might represent it, but it is really funny if everybody has to do that. Moreover, Old English is a funny language that has many similarities to the German language and is therefore quite easy to understand when you read it. This was an interesting fact to discover.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
The major challenge was definitely the first written thesis, because I have never before properly learned how to write an academic text. I did write a thesis in the English in school, but I still found it difficult to cite and paraphrase correctly. Research, too, has been a new and difficult challenge for me, but I think I will get used to it – practice, after all, makes perfect.
What would you like to become after completing your degree?
I would like to work as an English teacher.
Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?
If you are considering reading English Studies, you should definitely enjoy speaking and, if possible, also writing! An affinity for studying literature is likewise a great advantage. Most of the time, you will have to read something and prepare it by the next lecture in such a way that it can be discussed. Generally speaking, though, English Studies is a laid-back and enjoyable programme if you are prepared to show commitment.
Florian Maasz is a third-year student of English Studies. He is pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree. The other degree programme Florian is enrolled in is Geography.
What made you choose this degree programme?
I wanted to study something that reflects my interests and that offers me the opportunity to choose my career path flexibly. Since I didn't want to become a teacher, I decided that the combination of English and Geography would be the most interesting one.
In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?
I have gained a good insight into the main research topics and a new perspective regarding their various aspects. In some instances, I've gained more in-depth knowledge, in others, I've gained new interests. I had, however, expected to be able to specialise much sooner when pursuing the Bachelor's degree in the Minor subject.
Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?
The aspect I enjoy most is learning more about the highly diverse cultural and literary history of the United States. Both the lectures and the seminars dealing with these topics provide new insights.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
It isn't always easy to coordinate elective courses in English with mandatory courses in Geography. Sometimes, compromises are necessary. When it comes to course assignment, you've got to be flexible, too, as your priority requirements cannot always be met.
What would you like to become after completing your degree?
I'm open to the idea of working in the tourism development industry or in urban development.
Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?
When pursuing the Bachelor's degree in the Minor subject, you've got to be aware from the outset that the first two semesters might be quite stressful. But: dedication and motivation will help you to overcome these hurdles.
Anette Hahn is a Bachelor's student of English and Sports.
What made you choose this degree programme?
I always enjoyed languages, and English had long been my favourite subject at school.
In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?
My language skills have definitely improved, and I’ve learned a lot about communication. But my 18-year-old self would’ve probably expected to have a better accent by now.
Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?
Personally, I like the modules linguistics and technical terminology, because that’s where we learn a lot about languages in the social context (e.g. in the business world) and operate with more than simple school English.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Writing my first term paper.
What would you like to become after completing your degree?
Teacher. But many students of American and English studies intend to pursue a career in business, politics or literature.
Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?
Don’t get discouraged if your English isn’t perfect. I used to receive tutoring in school for a long time and didn’t find the degree course too difficult, because I kept at it. Also, the head start that others seem to have after an exchange year becomes pretty much insignificant after you too take part in an exchange programme.
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