CWCTP Language Grant Benefits Student Focusing on the Germanic Language
"This summer I received a grant from the CWCTP to study German, which has been both edifying and rewarding. My discipline (Classics) has a strong place in German intellectual history, and many of the foundational works on the various sub-fields are bound to be in German. As an undergraduate, I asked my department head how to ensure success in Classics; he suggested that I take as much German as possible and, if there is any time left over, some Latin and Greek. I found out later that he was only partially joking. German reading proficiency is a must (not to mention a formal requirement) for meaningful and engaged study of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and I have always seen it as a shortcoming that I had only casual training in the German language. Thanks to CWCTP, I am well on my way to remedying that deficiency.
I approached the study basically in two ways: I am fortunate enough to have a roommate who is fluent in German, so I did my best to create an immersive apartment. I now am able, with only a bit of fumbling, to make it through basic pronunciation and conversation, and, while hardly adept, I now feel that I would be able to make my way through the streets and countryside of Deutschland (I have a trip planned for next summer) and work my way to full proficiency. The second way that I spent my subsidized time focused more on my professional development. So many of the books and articles that I need to read and incorporate in my dissertation are in German. Though I have passed my PhD German exam, I must admit that the task of trying to read that quantity of material in the original seemed daunting to the point of discouragement, and, during the regular semester, scheduling time for such things is difficult if not impossible. I was able this summer to devote an appropriate amount of time to growing my reading ability while coming to grips with the concepts and theories in some of the seminal secondary literature of my field. Without generous grants from the CWCTP, I and others may not have the opportunity to fulfill some of those requirements of our fields that are expected to be completed in the elusive “free time” of graduate school. My sincerest thanks!"
Tyler Denton
CWCTP Summer 2017 Grant Recipient