GermanLinx :: German and Careers

Über den Himmel Wolken ziehen
Über die Felder geht der Wind
...Irgendwo über den Bergen
Muss meine ferne Heimat sein.
- Hermann Hesse, German poet.

Ich bin Emma Sutherland und ich bin 25 Jahre alt...I'm a final year Honours Law student at the University of Western Australia with a passion for German, Germany and the Germans. I recently spent 2 years living and working in the German language in Europe and I've just been awarded a scholarship to study for an LL.M. at a German university, all thanks to my high school and university studies of German.

I began studying German in 1989, a year rich in history for Germany and followed my German language studies through to my school leaving. Then I spent a year as a Rotary Exchange Student in Germany, where I lived and breathed German culture. Following my brilliant experiences as an exchange student, I began a combined Arts/Law degree at the University of Western Australia, where I studied French, German and Law. After completing my Arts degree, I went back to Germany to study law at the University of Passau and after that at the University of Aix-en-Provence in the beautiful south of France.

Germany is the powerhouse of the European Union and speaking German is a fantastic asset if you want to work in Europe. After my university studies in France and Germany, I began working in the capital of Europe, Brussels, where I spent 15 months working as a paralegal in a German-speaking law firm and later as a trainee in the prestigious European Commission internship programme. During all of these experiences in Europe, my knowledge of German helped me to open new doors, complete challenging professional tasks and meet fascinating people. I've also done some work as a German-speaking tour guide and taken groups of German businessmen to the United States and Canada - all expenses paid, of course!

Studying a foreign language and then immersing yourself in the culture, lifestyle, history, economics and politics of a country will enrich your life - I've met some of my bestest, closest friends in Germany; I've been able to develop professionally and personally; I have a deeper understanding of foreign events and political manoeuvring in the European Union and being able to read German literature or see German films in their original version is a wonderful, fulfilling asset.

My advice to students wanting to take their knowledge of German to Europe and to find an opportunity to use their language skills in the European environment is to take every opportunity that is offered to you - watch every German film; read every German magazine; travel as much as you can; don't be afraid to make mistakes or to laugh at yourself; grab hold of your chances with both hands and apply for every interesting traineeship or scholarship - although the Germans tend to say 'No risk, no fun', I prefer: