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.
