To broaden her appreciation and understanding of international culture and language, Emily Nelson of Minocqua, a May 2007 graduate, is pursuing a master’s degree at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

“I decided to go to Germany because I knew that I wanted to get a master’s degree for quite some time,” Nelson said.  “I wanted to continually improve my German-speaking skills, and the best way I could imagine to do that was to complete my education in a German-speaking environment.”

One week after graduation, Nelson moved to Germany and began looking for work. Since she had prior experience teaching English to Japanese children, she decided to apply to language schools in Frankfurt. After applying to more than 20 schools, she chose to work for Talk Talk Sprachschule, a small language school that caters to Frankfurt’s surprisingly large Japanese community.

In winter 2007 she began her master’s degree program in international studies with an emphasis in peace and conflict research. She is the only international student among six participants in the program.

Nelson has been involved in United Nations simulations and research on culture and development in Malawi, Africa.

“Emily was a model student at UW-Whitewater,” said Matthew Lange, a professor of language and literatures. “She was intellectually engaged and curious as well as open to new experiences and adventurous. She also involved herself in many aspects of the international offerings at UW-Whitewater.”

During her time at UW-Whitewater, Nelson majored in German and international studies with an emphasis on Asian language and area studies. During the summer of her freshman year, she learned about Asian culture by spending several months traveling in Japan and teaching English to children at summer camps.

In Japan, Nelson improved her language skills, but she wanted to further develop her understanding of German language and culture. She applied for the Hessen-Wisconsin Student Exchange program, a student exchange agreement between Wisconsin and Hessen, Germany, and was accepted. She spent her sixth semester studying in Germany and returned able to speak the language fluently.

“I really have to credit Emily personally for taking advantage of these exchange programs, which are often underutilized by our students,” Lange said. “Study abroad requires fortitude, flexibility and tolerance of extended absence from a familiar setting that many are unable to muster.”

When Nelson returned to UW-Whitewater, she decided to declare a second major rather than a minor. “Since I was very interested in languages and culture, the international studies program was perfect for me as a second major,” she said.

“It can be difficult to balance work and school, but I know it will be worth it,” Nelson said.  “I have everything I need:  I use my German skills for daily life and studies, I practice my Japanese by working in a Japanese-speaking environment, and I am satisfying my desire to learn new languages, having just enrolled in a French course outside the university.”