Written by Vance Redd, Folk of ‘Noke Editor
Professor Susan Duffy is the Roanoke College German language lecturer who received her degree from UVA in ’98 and is a Fulbright scholar. She has been teaching German for 28 years now, and I am very fortunate to have been a part of the German program with her here. She also helped push for the revival of the German Concentration, which some students travel abroad to complete, of whom, Frau* Duffy is very proud of. I sat down with her to talking about academia, education, and her journey with German. Also, I have, for the education of those curious souls, added each question (Frage) in German, in italics.
*(Frau can be used in German in the same sense as the English Ms.)
Q: When did you find that German was the language you wanted to learn? Wann hast du gefunden, dass Deutsch die Sprache ist, die du lernen wolltest?
“I actually discovered German when I was in the fifth grade. I was part of a select group of people who had the opportunity to go to the high school once a week to study German. I immediately became fascinated by both the language and the culture. I had always been interested in English and its grammar, so I found it really interesting to see how those concepts connected to another language. German just clicked with me, and it has stayed with me the rest of my life.”
Q: Why did you pursue teaching German? Warum hast du angefangen, Deutsch zu unterrichten?
“I was very fortunate to have some incredible teachers that kept my intrigue. My high school German teacher was truly inspirational and played a huge role in developing my love for the language. When I went to UVA, I had another phenomenal professor who made language learning feel fun, interesting, and relevant. He made the classroom so inviting, it was okay to make mistakes, I didn’t have to feel fear when learning. It was during that time that I began thinking, I would love to do this for someone else.
I got the opportunity to help my professor (who still works there!) as a sort of conversational partner for students after my fourth year at UVA in an intensive program for graduate students where the language was taught four semesters worth in nine weeks. From there, I began thinking that this is what I want to do, so it was there that my love for German became a want to teach.”
Q: How did your time in Germany help you with the language and build your appreciation for the culture? Wie hat deine Zeit in Deutschland dir mit der Sprache geholfen, und baut deine Wertschätzung für die Kultur?
“My Fulbright summer in Germany was really transformative for my love of the language because of how immersed I was. There was a couple I stayed with from Erfurt (former East Germany) that fully embraced me and made me part of their everyday lives. Germans sort of have this reputation as not being the most interactive, but I saw the exact opposite; I saw a kind of homeliness. Everyone I met was very warm: if they say something, they really mean it, and taking them up on their invitations even resulted in a lifelong friendship with someone I still visit with today.
By this time, I was already considered fluent in the language, so it was so much more than just practice with German. My time there reminded me that language really comes alive when you use it to build relationships and experience another culture firsthand.”
Q: What are you most proud of in your academic career? Worauf bist du stolz in deiner akademischen Laufbahn?
“After 28 years of teaching German, I have had four students go on to become German teachers themselves. To me, that is an incredible measure of success. If something I did in the classroom inspired a student to want to continue learning German and eventually share that passion with others, then I feel I’ve left a lasting impact, especially knowing that German is not the most popular language for learning.
Beyond that, I’m very proud of the relationships I get to build with students, even those that just say hallo! Those connections are probably one of the greatest rewards of being a teacher.”
Q: What is your favorite German word? Was ist dein Lieblingswort auf Deutsch?
“I really like the word, Feierabend. Literally, it translates to something like ‘celebration evening,’ although that doesn’t really capture what the word means. It refers to the time at the end of the workday when your work is finished, and you transition into your own time—relaxing, enjoying yourself, spending time with friends and family, or simply doing what makes you happy.
English doesn’t really have a single word that captures this concept in its entirety, and I love that about German. Sometimes a word tells you something about the culture that created it. I think Feierabend reflects the idea that there should be a clear separation between work and personal life.”
Q: What do you like to do in your free time? Was machst du gern in deiner Freizeit?
“I really enjoy travelling, not just German-speaking places, but places I’ve never been before. I love that feeling of discovery when you arrive somewhere new and see how people live, eat, talk, and just what makes a place unique. There’s actually another great German word for that: Fernweh. Literally, Fern means “far” and weh means “pain.” It is often described as a longing for a faraway place—a kind of wanderlust.
Going with that, I also really enjoy running. I’ve run quite a few marathons and half marathons over the years, and it acts as a great way to clear my head and is of course good for my Gesundheit (health). It’s also just a great way to discover and see things you otherwise might not; there’s something about being outside and putting one foot in front of the other that gives you time to think.”
Q: What would you like to say about the importance of modern language education? Was würdest du gerne über die Bedeutung des modernen Sprachenlernens sagen?
“Learning another language does a lot more than just letting you communicate with someone else. It actually teaches you to be introspective, to look at your own language and culture and better understand it.
You might start to notice things about English and the way you think that you otherwise might not have—how we structure sentences, how we express ideas, even the assumptions that are built into the words we use. You start to realize there isn’t a ‘right’ way to express an idea. Different languages offer different perspectives. Language is one of the most interesting ways to rewire your thinking, almost in the same vein as mathematics, which I find interesting.
And I think studying another culture teaches something equally important. It helps us move beyond our own experiences and become more curious about how others live, think, and experience the world themselves. In today’s world, that type of curiosity and understanding is invaluable.
For me, language education has always been about connection. Yes, students learn vocabulary and grammar, but ultimately, we’re teaching them how to connect with people who may have different backgrounds and understandings of the world around them. And most importantly, language learning teaches you how to be a beginner again, and how to be comfortable with that. You will have to be willing to make mistakes, laugh at yourself, try again and keep going: a lesson that extends far beyond the classroom.”
While it may not be German, Frau Duffy encourages all of us scholars to learn a language, and just how powerful it can be. With the unfortunate upcoming closure of the German program next Fall, I would like to thank Frau Duffy for her time here. She has bolstered my interest in language learning tenfold and is beloved among her many students (my fellow German learners) past and present. We may be saying auf wiedersehen for now, but auf wiedersehen does mean “until we see each other again.”
