German major travels abroad to indulge foreign internship
By Mandi Steele

International Editor

The only thing required to take an internship abroad is the willingness to make mistakes and leave one's comfort zone behind, said Adam Taylor, junior German major.

Taylor recently left for a six-month internship in Germany.

Dr. Sabine Cramer, associate professor of communications, approached Taylor about participating in the second half of an exchange program organized by Missouri Southern and the University of Applied Sciences in Ansbach, Germany.

Cramer said Taylor will be enrolled at the German university, but will actually work an internship at the Bosch Corporation instead of attending classes. In the 2001-2002 school year, two German students came to Southern as the first half of the exchange. Taylor said he was thrilled about participating in the second half.

"This is an opportunity for personal growth, for possible career advancement, for padding my resum  ... and for connecting to another culture in a deep and profound way," he said.

Taylor will work 35 hours a week at Bosch translating English documents, answering telephones and other intern jobs.

"The main reason is to improve his German," Cramer said.

In summer 2001, Taylor visited Germany and participated in a month-long German course hosted by the university in Ansbach and taught by Southern faculty.

"I know firsthand that I gained more mastery over the language during my month-long immersion than in my whole first year of German classes," he said. "There simply is no substitute for immersion learning."

Also majoring in English with a minor in philosophy, Taylor is a member of the National English Honors Society, president of the Philosophy Club and a member of the German Club.

"He's a student who's very eager to learn and to think," Cramer said.

Taylor received a grant from the Institute of International Studies to help cover expenses. The salary from his internship will help with living costs. The university in Ansbach has already agreed to provide him with a place to stay.

Taylor emphasized if he could obtain this opportunity, any student could.

"I think when a person is willing and able to open themselves to new experiences, only good things can ultimately result," he said.