Each year, the department interviews 2-4 graduates for its alumni newsletter. We are sharing some of these interviews here so prospective and current students can better understand the variety of careers English graduates go on to pursue.
What are you up to now?
I completed my thesis in September and have since been working in a maternity leave substitute position at Aarhus HF and VUC. I teach English and my minor subject, philosophy. In fact, I've just conducted the first oral philosophy exams. So, it doesn't get much more official than that.
How has your education prepared you?
I think I've primarily been prepared by having my curiosity nurtured. I've learned that reading the curriculum is one thing, but another thing is delving into your interests and chasing the things you find exciting, reading more about them independently.
What's the most important thing you've learned?
Taking responsibility for your own learning – if I were to give a politician's answer. But in academic terms, it's one of the most important things I've learned. I've also gained a lot socially from my studies, but academically, taking responsibility for your own learning is crucial. If you find something exciting, it's up to you to utilize the university's databases, which you'll lose access to once you've graduated. Perhaps one should think more about that than one initially does. You must remember to make the most of all the access to knowledge you have.
What do you aspire to do in the future?
I would like to continue teaching, but I've also realized that in times when there may not be much funding for education, one must be open to exploring other avenues. When my maternity leave substitute position ends, and if a pedagogical education is not on the horizon, maybe I should look into the consultancy sector. I can see myself in that role, perhaps as a communications consultant for a company. However, I haven't put too much thought into it, as I always wanted to teach.
What would you like to say to future students?
Enjoy it! Embrace how challenging it can be. Frustration is the path to learning. Terrible exams and difficult times are not what you'll remember afterward. You'll remember the ones that you struggled with and all the knowledge you carry with you. It's invaluable. I have no doubt that the five years I've spent studying English have been the best five years of my life. So, what I'd like to say to future graduates is: Enjoy it, even when it's tough, because your studies are something you'll look back on with fond memories.
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What are you doing now? And what have you been up to since university?
I started an internship at a small publishing house shortly after graduating last summer, where I was subsequently hired full-time. I work as a project manager and coordinator at the publishing house, and I also get to play the role of an editor from time to time.
How did your time at university prepare you for your current job?
One thing I, perhaps unconsciously, became very good at was structuring. Suddenly, you have responsibility for your own learning and time at university, which can be a bit challenging at first but really prepares you for having a "real" job. More specifically, I learned a lot about literature and language, which I use daily when evaluating manuscripts or editing a book. Even though my work is in Danish, much of what I learned at university is applicable.
What is the most important thing you took away from your time at university?
Where to start? Besides the social aspect, it's probably that it's okay not to have a fixed plan for the future. I had always thought I would become a high school teacher, but I quickly realized how much you can actually do with a Master's degree in the humanities, and I've hardly applied for teaching jobs.
What are your hopes for the future?
My work is exclusively in Danish, so I hope to have the opportunity to use my language skills more in the near future.
What is your fondest memory from your time in the English program?
As cliché as it may sound, it's the social aspect. There are so many different people in the English program, and many share the same interests. What I miss the most is undoubtedly the Yule Ball.
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What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
(I’ll answer those questions in reverse order.) First of all, I was very unemployed for a while. I did a bit of linguistic work here and there and then worked as a (less than part-time) translator for a while, primarily translating technical manuals for agricultural machines (– riveting, I know...). Then in May 2019, almost a year after I’d handed in my thesis, I got offered a job as an NLU Language Specialist for Nuance Communications, an international tech company, where I would be part of a team developing language technology for automotive customers (so, cars). This is technically still the role that I’m in – however, on October 1st 2019 my division (Nuance Automotive) became its own spin-off company (Cerence Inc.) but I’m working on the same project and with the same people as when I was hired back in May. NLU stands for Natural Language Understanding, and this is the subcomponent of speech technology that focuses on understanding and interpreting human language. I work from home, I am the Danish (one-woman-) team on the project, and I love the freedom that this gives me. In the language tech field, we’re rarely offered stability, in the sense that most positions are short-term and project-based, but what’s lacking in stability, the companies usually make up for in flexibility. Most days I really enjoy my work and most importantly, I’m learning and have learned so much from this employment, especially because it’s so “tech heavy” and all the technical stuff is just learning-by-doing for me. So yeah, it paid off after all, being able to analyze sentences. Who’d have thought.
(Oh, and this spring, I’m running a bit faster than usual as I’m also teaching a BA course (Advanced Syntax, yay) at the university. Good times only.)
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
Well, everything linguistics has laid a pretty good (and completely essential) foundation, I would say. Also, patience (– and then crying in fetal position when patience is just too ambitious a strategy). “Self-discipline” should probably be on this list too, seeing that I actively have to choose to sit down in front of my computer and actually work for 7-8 hours-ish every day (instead of, say, just watching Netflix in my PJs all day).
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
Hard work pays off but never enough to make up for a lack of self-care. There was one semester in particular where the academic situation made me very frustrated but I kept telling myself that I had to make it through, no matter what, and so I just ignored all the physical symptoms of stress that began to appear and quite forcefully so. Although I got out of that situation relatively unscathed, it’s evident that the strain has had a long-lasting effect on my nervous system and the way my body reacts to stress today, so self-care first and foremost. Definitely.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
It would be great to be able to keep paying my bills. Also, Anne Mette Nyvad from the Department of English (is the boss and) has been awarded a Sapere Aude Starting Grant from the Independent Research Fund Denmark for a research project (“At the Edge of Language – An Investigation into the Limits of Human Grammar”), and as part of this project, she has offered me a PhD position which will begin on September 1st this year. I’m currently walking the fine line between excitement and terror so I would say my ‘hopes and dreams for the future’ currently are 1) to become less terrified, 2) to survive, and 3) to be able to thrive and make the most of a pretty amazing opportunity.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
At the risk of sounding like a big nerd (perhaps it’s too late for that anyway), one of my best memories is returning to English (after having endured way too much time at my tilvalg) and taking The Psychology of English Syntax with Johannes Kizach. This was by far the most interesting and challenging course throughout my time at the university, and it somehow managed to spark my inner drive again – a drive, which, at this point in time, had weakened to the point of oblivion. I remember spending several days trying to get through a 16-page article, and I almost cried with joy when it finally dawned on me what the words meant. And then, being a tutor. I loved being a student at the Department of English, and the department thrives when the new students feel integrated and engaged, both in the social life, in committees, and in the academic part of the study. I’m very happy that I got a chance to make others feel just as included, just as happy about their choice, as I came to feel during my own first semester when the Department of English became my, at least temporary, home.
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What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
Right now, I have a permanent position at College360 in Silkeborg where I work as a Danish and English teacher at a technical high school (HTX). Though, it is a small high school, and we are only two English teachers and four Danish teachers. This means that there is not much sparring between my colleagues, but it also means that I have a lot of responsibility – and as the youngest and freshest out of university (and therefore obviously coolest), my other colleagues look to me to know, understand, and share the newest research in our field.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
Much of my time at university has helped me develop excellent time management skills and a (most of the time) excellent work ethic. This helps me structure my time, so I do not burn out or lose track on important deadlines. As someone who primarily chose literature electives, the amount of fiction that I had to read has given me a huge catalogue of references to draw on in my teaching. But most importantly, my time at university has provided me with incredible friends who are interested in and work in the same field as I do – they are always willing to give advice and share their thoughts on whatever issue I might encounter (even though it is such a cliché, remember to network).
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
Always be kind to people. Though it sounds like an utterly boring truism, you never know whether you need to work with them at a point in time, or you need their help with something later on.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
In the future, I have my eye on a bigger bookshelf, a subscription to Amazon Prime, and even more plants for my apartment. A puppy is definitely in the cards too. But on a professional level, I want to work with more graduates from our department.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
I have so many good memories from my time. Creating, writing and featuring in the revue with my friends are definitely on the top of my list. Being chosen to become a tutor and then climbing the ranks while meeting new friends and strengthening old friendships along the way is also one of my favorite memories. Relaxing in the Friday bar and talking with professors and students alike surely deserves an honorable mention. However, writing my thesis is probably my best memory. Do not get me wrong – it was tough, but the community amongst the people at the “speciale sal” was so (pardon my pun) special. Throughout a whole semester, we helped, supported, and care for each other every day. That is something I will always treasure.
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What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
You learn best through working with others (and should not fear peer-review) and I thank my study
group for the hours of studying together and everything in between. On the same note, #theschwaisneverstressed
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
I have learned to organise, plan and co-work through my time in Anglia, tasted teaching as an instructor and found that I enjoyed guiding young people as tutor. Oh, and I studied my languages, especially their cultural connection to their speakers, which I went abroad several times to experience. All the above are skills I use every day as a teacher.
What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
This year, I was offered a full-time position at Stenhus Gymnasium in Holbæk where I have been the past year as a part time årsvikar in both my subjects (Minor in Spanish). During my first year at the school I also taught adults at FOF on weeknights which was a very instructive teaching experience and a lot of fun! I am right now in the exciting maelstrom they call Pædagogikum. Here, I paddle my way through theory and try to swim in the ocean of practice, where I teach both my own and my mentors’ classes. I have the full palette of STX, HF and Pre-IB, where in the latter, everything – even grammar – is in English, which is awesome. I have also continued my volunteer work as ambassador for Swap Language where I practice my languages in an informal environment and meet new people. In my first year after finishing Uni I applied for jobs and found an internship at Egaa Gymnasium which reassured me of my wish to teach. While there, I was offered a temporary position at Aarhus Katedralskole, which was extended, and I ended my stay in Aarhus by examining my first students that summer. By then I had moved to Zealand and commuted to and from Aarhus on weekends.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
I want to keep teaching, but my hope is that in the future there will be more time for immersion and developing great courses rather than running to classes and grading papers. This is something you might not remember everyday as a student, but the opportunity to immerse oneself in the material you love is golden.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
It is hard to name one, so I won’t, but it might be when we won the Limerick Contest at Yule Ball writing from the perspective of the duck or dressing up in costumes whenever we could!
Astrid is currently employed at an international high school in Florence, and will be applying for jobs in Denmark in the coming school year.
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What are you doing now? And what haveyou been doing since finishing uni?
I have gotten a job as a teacher at the HF department of SCU – Skanderborg Odder Center for Uddannelse. After finishing uni, I took a much needed break, andstarted the infamous ‘dagpenge’ life, which wasenjoyable, but also kind of stressful because you haveno idea what the future brings, and I have always liked having at least some idea of what the near futureholds. I could not believe my luck when I was offered afull time job teaching English and Danish.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
Other than providing me with academic knowledge and skills, I think my time at uni has taught me discipline, and the importance of a good work-life balance. I know it’s kind of a cliché, but my friends at the department and in my study group were really a big part of motivating me to challenge myself, and a big help when things felt like they were falling apart.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
That hard work pays off. That applies to academic work, of course, but also volunteer work at, for example, the Friday bar, the orientation week committee, Anglia, or exciting organizations outside of uni. Grades matter, but experience and social skills matter just as much.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
I don’t really plan that far ahead, but right now I really hope to get tenure at my job this summer. At some point I would like to live abroad for a while - it was such a great experience when I studied abroad in Chicago, so that has really inspired me to do something like it again. And, of course, I hope that we will soon get rid of this stupid virus so that we can wave a proper goodbye to social distancing.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
It’s really hard to pick just one, but I think one of them is the feeling of belonging to a special and fun community, which I got from the moment my rusuge started. I just felt so welcome, and I have enjoyed every social and academic aspect of my years at the department. I already miss it dearly, and will definitely be back for a beer or ten when Esperanto finally opens again.
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What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
I am currently working with BLAST, an organization that hosts esports tournaments in different video games. I mainly work with BLAST Premier, which is a Counter-Strike tournament. I got headhunted for the job before I turned in my thesis, so I did not really have anything in between finishing uni and my current job. I do Social Media, Community Management and Digital Communications on behalf of BLAST Premier and sometimes BLAST as an overall organization. (TL;DR I post memes on Twitter. A lot of Squid Game memes at the moment.)
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
I get to use the English language to communicate something that I am passionate about to like-minded people all over the world. I think my entire degree added to the skillset I use today. Though if I have to highlight specific courses, I’d say CCI probably prepared me the most for entering the entertainment industry. I also did an internship with Astralis, another esports organization, as part of my MA degree, that’s how I got started.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
That knowledge is never wasted. I can change my mind and go in a different direction at any point. It might take time to readjust to a new path, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it, or that the things I have learned before aren’t useful. For context, I started uni in 2014, studying Japanese for a year. It wasn’t for me. During my English BA I also thought I was going to work with literature and write my MA thesis on poetry. I wrote my thesis on video games and the (lack of) cultural acceptance of the medium.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
I think I’d like to stay in esports, but I’d love to work more internationally, see how the industry takes shape outside of Denmark. And the industry is still very young, I’d like to assist in its overall development.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
I just love the people there, teachers and students alike. We always felt like one big, weird family to me. I miss it quite a lot.
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What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
I’m currently teaching English and Danish at IBC Kolding while taking weekend classes at AU to Minor in Danish (in order to teach more than C-level Danish). Since graduating two years ago, I’ve also worked at Lagkagehuset and Skolen Online, where I developed teaching materials
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
Obviously, the courses at AU taught me so much about English (and Film studies and Danish). They helped me gain knowledge and skills that make me confident when I teach my students. My internship at a high school likely taught me the most, truly validating my choice to become a teacher. Finally, the social experiences I had, particularly as a tutor and head tutor, prepared me for the task of talking in front of large groups of people. I figured if I could talk in front of 150+ people, I could easily talk to 25 students.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
As cheesy as it sounds, the most important lesson I learned is that I’m good enough. Good enough to get accepted into the university. Good enough to pass the courses. Good enough to write a master’s thesis. And good enough to eventually teach.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
My hopes and dreams are certainly to find permanent employment as a high school teacher. For every year that went by at the university, I became surer than ever that I was on the right path, and as a first-time high school teacher, I truly hope that this is the new normal for me, and that I will be allowed to teach until I retire.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
Limitation has never been my strong suit, so picking just one memory is difficult. Yet above all the Friday bars, Yule Balls, orientation weeks, Clasen lectures, camp weekends, and (even to my own surprise) writing my master’s thesis, lies the memory of a particular camping trip during which I won a ruthless game of Werewolf and made friends that I consider my best friends to this day (unrelated events, of course).
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What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
I was lucky enough to get hired before graduating. I had no intentions of applying for jobs before graduation, but then one day, by accident, I stumbled upon a job ad in a uni Facebook group: Søstrene Grene is looking for a Communication & Language Specialist for German. That’s what I’m up to at the moment: Translating our texts to German, proofreading our English social media texts, and copywriting creative product texts for our webshop.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
Apart from the linguistic and analytical skills required to do my job, I have also benefited from the volunteer work I have done in Anglia, our student council. Working as a team, communicating openly, and knowing when to say “no” to tasks has definitely been relevant preparation for my work. Luckily, I work at a company where community, the so-called Sister Spirit, is prioritised and my team lead and my boss always make sure we are doing well and are not feeling like we are taking on too much. It makes for a healthy work environment where I thrive mentally and professionally.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
To say yes! I am by nature a little timid and flip-floppy. I always have the worst-case scenario painted in my head, and that has often stopped me from doing things I probably would have loved. I even procrastinated the application for Søstrene Grene for ages and almost gave up on it. At uni, I slowly learned to say yes to “scary” things; that this is how you grow. I hope to challenge myself by saying “yes” more often in the future.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
The People! Everyone will say this about their degree, but English truly has the best social life on campus. The happiest memories are the ones surrounded by amazing people: having a blast at Revy, Esperanto nights, beach days, being a tutor, Yule Ball, suffering together during exam season, lots of laughter. I am glad there are too many happy memories to count.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
I feel very content with the work I do right now. Having wonderful colleagues is definitely a plus. However, I never really saw my future in the corporate world, even one that usually feels like a small family business. I think, at some point, I’d like to enter the publishing industry - it has been a life-long dream of mine. As for my personal life, I am really just settling in and doing what feels right and makes me happy.
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What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
I am currently employed at Aarhus HF & VUC as a high school teacher. I was remarkably lucky to land a gig in August following the completion of my MA thesis – shout out to Dale, supervisor and trusted confidant – so I didn’t really enjoy too much free time before skiddling into the shark cage. Life is wild, folks.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
I can say in no uncertain terms that the uni experience played such a crucial role in how things have shaped out for me so far. The academic and social lessons and experiences from my time at the English department are to a significant extent applicable to the microcosm of high school life, at least with the age group in the 16-55 scope that I teach at HF.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
During my stay at the English department, I experienced a bunch of lovely faces that were nonetheless worried about what fate had in store for them in the future. We all asked tedious questions such as “what can I do with this degree” and “is it good for anything at all”. In my experience, these woes are best lifted when we approach each other at eye-level and push forward – together – under the credo “who cares, we’re all in this together” *Cue Zac Efron in a tracksuit*
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
In all simplicity, the personnel, and the peers. Maybe add the tremendous Yule Balls to that list too.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
The overarching philosophy that I will forever cherish is that it is healthy to seek nourishment and enrichment in life, whatever that might mean for you. Maybe a year-long trip to a coding camp in Malaysia or just a precious partner, some boxed wine, and a cat, who knows. Care for and love yourself, you deserve it.
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What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
At the moment of writing this I have been unemployed for 36 hours, so now my day is filled to the brim with online courses as to how one makes the most effective resume and how not to botch an interview. Before those 36 hours started, I worked as a Publishing Coordinator for one of the largest linkbuilding companies in Europe. I had been with the company for three years (the last year of my BA degree and all throughout my Masters), and when I handed in my thesis they offered me a position in their team in southern Spain and I accepted. However, you never know what life throws at you, and after almost three months in the position I decided to move back to Denmark.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
I am now capable of organising and administering very large amounts of data, information and tasks in my work. Uni taught me how to sort and prioritise the different factors of my work, whether it be a smaller essay or a larger scale project for a client who spends thousands of euros on a well-made product. They taught me that it is not possible to do everything, every time, so you have to be able to localise what needs to be done ASAP and what might wait until there is again a bit more room to breathe. These are invaluable skills without which I would not have been able to function as effectively in my position without.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
One of the first, and perhaps one of the most important, lessons I learned at uni is that it is okay to shift perspectives, change your course and find another way to become fulfilled. Uni creates the best and most flexible frames in which you can decide what you would like to do and be, and they do so by assuring you that it is okay and sometimes even encouraged to question what you believe to be the path set in stone.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
I think one of the most memorable ones was on my second semester. We had our linguistics exam, which meant three days of (to me at least) unending panic. However, during the last 24 hours before having to hand in the paper, almost my entire class met in Esperanto, and we all studied for the exam together. We piled snacks, blankets and notes from our lectures and we camped there until 3 in the morning. It was almost 30 students in that hall, all working towards the same goal.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
My dreams and hopes for the future are very mundane. I would like to live in an apartment suitable for me (and the golden retriever I would love to have). I would like to work within the publishing industry and perhaps be a part of the team that one day discovers the new Harry Potter. Either that, or work in marketing. And I would love to start studying again some day.
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What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
I was lucky enough to get offered the first job I applied for after handing in my thesis, which means I’m currently working in Barcelona as a Computational Linguist. Linguistics has since the start been the “leg” that I’ve been the most interested in while studying English, so when I came across M47 Labs who were looking to recruit a Danish linguist in Barcelona, I simply had to go for it! The job consists of improving a cutting-edge Personal Voice Assistant software that is used by millions of people worldwide. This means I’m responsible for helping the Voice Assistant understand and speak Danish by focusing on the phonetics and phonology. As someone who’s been very passionate about phonetics since the 1st semester of the BA, I couldn't be more excited about what I’m doing.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
This is one of those jobs where I actually feel like it’s very clear what knowledge and which competencies I’m using from the degree in my job. I’m not allowed to share many details about the specifics of my job (nondisclosure agreements and all that), but it’s very much about the phonetics and phonology of Danish. Even though I’ve been used to transcribing English, I’ve still acquired a broad enough understanding of IPA conventions that I’m able to transcribe Danish as well. I also use my knowledge of other linguistic-related fields in my day-to-day tasks.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
To just go for it! I’ve always been an overthinker, and I’m not good with change, but my time at uni has definitely taught me that good things often comes from stepping out of your comfort zone. I learned this, for example, by going on exchange in England, which was one of the best experience I’ve ever had. I felt at home straight away, and I had so much fun stepping out of that comfort zone - as is the case right now in Barcelona.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
It has to be the Friday bars, Yule Ball and just all the friends I made from studying English. The social life at the English Department is truly the best, and I believe I’ve made friends for life during those five years. Fantastic teachers and being able to be super nerdy and passionate about linguistics is, of course, not to be forgotten either!
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
I’m quite happy and content with where I’m at as of right now, but being abroad has once again just made me wonder which destination is next. Especially if I want to continue working as a linguist. But I’m open to anything and I enjoy just taking it day by day, so who knows? Maybe I’ll be back in Denmark in 5 months, maybe I’ll be someplace else.
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What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
I am currently in my first year of a two-year professional postgraduate teaching training programme at GUX Nuuk, where I teach English and History. I started working at GUX Nuuk shortly after finishing my MA degree.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
My time at uni definitely taught me how to structure and prioritise my time. I also realised that asking for help is not an admittance of defeat, and I believe that that is a valuable lesson when you are new in any job. Furthermore, my time as an instructor at the English Department helped me confirm that I wanted to teach.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
I learned a lot of lessons during my time at the university, but I think the most important one was understanding that sometimes, you need a break from studying, and that is okay. Allowing yourself to take a break can actually help you to work more efficiently.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
I have a lot of great memories from my time at the English Department, but very few of them are as truly magical as the ones from the annual Yule Ball. The Yule Balls themselves are always amazing, but being a part of the months of planning and preparing that goes into the Yule Balls was just as fantastic.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
I love learning new things, and at the moment, I am constantly learning new things. Therefore, I hope that I can continue learning and evolving for the rest of my life. Besides that, the ultimate dream is to work at a small high school in Southern Jutland surrounded by family and friends.
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What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
After getting my degree in January last year, I enjoyed a few months of unemployment and the benefits that can entail (getting into a good work-out routine, and shopping for groceries at odd hours of the day). I then got a 3-month internship at a small start-up, which eventually hired me to do some freelance work. After a few months, I landed a job as copywriter for SELECTED FEMME / HOMME, which is a part of BESTSELLER. That’s what I am up to as of now - mostly collaborating on ideas for content, writing short and sweet texts for Social Media, Newsletters, SELECTED stores etc.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
I’ve asked myself this many times, seeing as my degree and previous experience differ quite a lot compared to my colleagues’. The obvious answer would be that the linguistic and communicative skills have been pretty important. Meanwhile, the way my working life is structured is actually pretty close to the way uni works in terms of exams and deadlines. As a DEEPLY unorganized person, I think uni has prepared me for handling deadlines and getting an overview of the tasks at hand. During my time at uni, I was also involved in a lot of volunteer work which has also benefitted me, as I am continuously communicating and engaging with many different people and departments.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
Not to sound like a broken record, but I think an important lesson is that it is okay to make mistakes. I have always been a bit perfectionist at heart (quite a cocktail when you’re also pretty unstructured), so if I make a mistake I can literally lie awake at night thinking about it. But I have learned and am still learning that mistakes happen all the time and that no one will die from them (unless you’re a doctor or something).
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
Honestly, while I wouldn’t want to go through it again, I think some of the times I reminisce the most about are the exam periods. There was something really special about the collective suffering during the exam periods, the late nights at the library and the whole “brothers-in-arms” vibe that really tied some of us together. To me, many friendships have been strengthened during these times, as morbid as it sounds!
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
I am pretty content where I’m at right now. I enjoy working at a big corporation, and I think there are some exciting aspects to working in the fashion industry in terms of sustainability. They’re facing some big challenges if they want to stay in business and that’s pretty exciting to be part of!
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What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
Right now I am working at the Department of Technical Services and Environment, which is a part of the Municipality of Aarhus. I work as a climate officer and deal with the part of Aarhus' climate strategy that focuses on the industrial sector and agriculture in the municipality. When I graduated, I was convinced that I wanted to work in the cultural sector, having done an internship, while at uni, at a theatre in the UK and pursuing an MA in English and Theatre Studies (Dramaturgy). However, Covid really put a stop to that and then I thought, "Okay. If I have to do something completely different, then I might work with the green transition". After different internships and a position as an editor of the journal Peripeti, I eventually found my way to a course called The Green Academy. Here, I learned how to work strategically with carbon accounting, circular economy and sustainable business models. I was then asked if I wanted to help lead The Green Academy, which is what I do today, as well as helping businesses with their green transition alongside a number of other things, counting communications, project management and eventplanning.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
It has prepared me in a number of different ways. For instance being good with deadlines, consuming a lot of material and then being able to communicate about it, discipline in writing, i.e. understanding a style guide and sticking to it, being a mean researcher and the ability to analyse and interpret a vast amount of text. I also really feel that my studies at the English Department has helped broaden my horizon in terms of sheer general education. However, I wish we had been exposed to more different job descriptions and that the university helped close the gap between education and the job market. In hindsight, I think that would’ve helped a lot of students, including myself, being more aware of our opportunities, and our skillset, after we finished our studies.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
Grades aren’t everything and don’t stress about not necessarily having a plan for the future. Of course it doesn’t hurt to be strategic when for example choosing the topic for your Master’s Thesis, but I wrote about WWI, cultural memory studies and modernist literature and still got a job. So do you! You can do way more than you think.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
The people. Absolutely. I’ve met so many great people at my time at the English Department and it has been such a pleasure to share my passion for various niches with people who felt the same way. And then especially being a part of Apollo and working as a Head Tutor, has been great. I loved planning the ‘RUS-uge’ with my fellow tutors and making sure that every new student had a great experience, starting off their studies at the English Department.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
I have a dream of one day working abroad with English as the main language, but until then, I would like to continue to grow and keep learning!
What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
I am currently an English teacher at EUX Gymnasiet, Aarhus Business College in Viby, in my second year. I really enjoy teaching, but at times it can be challenging cooperating with business-related subjects that I am not familiar with. I am an old STX-student, you see. However, even though the learning curve is steep at times, I find myself having a great time. Currently, I am preparing the next couple of weeks, where I will be having parent consultations. Next summer I will find out if they can keep me and hire me permanently.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
My university experience really set me up for my job as an English teacher. It gave me a solid understanding of the English language, its literature, and culture, which I now share with my students. During my university days, I learned to think critically and analyze things deeply. These skills help me create lessons and tailor my teaching to fit my students’ learning style. Plus, the research and presentation skills I picked up now come in handy when preparing lessons and materials. I use a lot of the materials that I was taught – especially by Mathias Clasen and Peter Mortensen. Horror and Nature are simply just great subjects. I will fight anyone who disagrees.
Moreover, my time at university improved my communication skills, both in writing and speaking. This is essential for explaining tricky concepts and giving helpful feedback to my students.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
University was a time when I faced academic and personal challenges, but it also provided me with the opportunity to overcome them and grow. I think that we are especially good at adapting to our surroundings at the English Department. I find that what I have learned at university makes me a great fit in many different occasions besides teaching English. There are for instance all the social aspects of being a teacher and working with other people. Often in non-teaching context as well, such as preparing their Friday bar. E-S-P-E-R-A-N-T-O S-K-I-L-L-S U-N-L-O-C-K-E-D!
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
Somehow, this is the hardest question. I was a tutor several times. I was a part of Esperanto (and a frequent visitor). I attended as many Yule Balls as possible. I enjoyed the classes and the diversity that English culture and language offered us as students.
However, as I look at this list now, I realize what my favorite memory was not a particular grand event, but rather a normal late night in December or whatever. Everyone used to meet up in Esperanto before Covid-19, and we all sat there and wrote our exams in a mixture of all kinds of feelings – and a lot of takeaway. The atmosphere was mostly friendly, but I do remember someone crying occasionally, because they wanted to finish before Christmas. I know… it’s a f---ing cliché, but the friends and acquaintances I made along the way that made those five years beyond enjoyable.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
I love teaching, but I can also see myself work with more administrative tasks in the future – while teaching! I have seen my current principal and educational coordinator do it. They both used to be English teachers.
What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
I am currently enjoying life as a part-time English teacher at Marselisborg High School, Aarhus. In the beginning of August last year, only a few weeks after having begun seriously looking for my first adult job, I got a positive response on one of my MANY emails to principals in the area: “We might have something. Could you pass on your diploma?” Two days later, I was hired and began the work straight away. From August to January, I filled in for one teacher on sick leave, and since March, I am filling in for a teacher on maternity leave. A few weeks ago, they told me that they’d like me to continue as a substitute teacher next school year as well, so I am one happy camper.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
Obviously, in terms of pedagogy and didactics, the English degree hasn’t prepared me at all for the teacher’s life. It has, however, given me the necessary academic toolbox: A very useful combination of 1) an incredibly broad understanding of the English-speaking world and 2) in-depth knowledge of a list of more niche topics in the field, e.g. Media Convergence, Celebrity and Fandom Studies, and Recreational Fear. The former can be learned in the typical trial-by-fire introduction to the high school life that most of us new teachers will experience, but the latter is vitally important for creating inspiring and contemporary teaching material that the students will relate to and care about. There is the challenge that the level of abstraction of university analyses and discussion is often simply too high for high schoolers, but this can be helped by “translating” the material, and that process takes a little bit of getting used to but is excellent practice. Overall, I feel well-prepared to teach anything from grammatical rules about English commas to divisions in American politics or Irish fiction short stories due to the general and abstract feeling of knowing a lot about the overall field.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
My thesis advisor and internship boss Mathias Clasen taught me this concept of invaluable importance: The Shitty First Draft™. You simply start by writing a shitty first draft of your research paper and save any criticism or editing for later. This way, it’s much easier both to get started and to maintain a modicum of calm throughout the process. Personally, as a chronic overthinker, this is applicable to many more aspects of life than just writing and has almost entirely overwritten my tendency to procrastinate. Professionally, it would be my learned ability to analyze and think critically about a given topic – probably the most important and useful skill I have gained from my university studies.
What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?
I did a million things during my time as a student in Nobelparken, so there’s no shortage of wonderful memories, but a specific repetitive event was my gang (study group) staying up all night to bang out the final exams of each semester. This was especially a thing in the beginning of our study years, and these are still, several years later, my dearest friends. Through thick and thin… and viking influences on the English language – right?
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
For now, I am very happy to try to make my way as a high school English teacher. In order to someday secure a tenured position, I probably need to acquire a full minor degree, so more uni time is likely on the cards for me soon. Additionally, I have taken the first stab at a textbook that I hope to make a conversion of my MA thesis into a high school course book, so we can make more high school students and teachers talk about recreational fear. I love to get nerdy, so I hope and plan to include more creative outlets like this during my career.
What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?
After finishing uni, I did what most new grads do and traded my textbooks for cover letters. Most days were spent typing my CV details into online forms despite their presence on the CV itself, optimizing my LinkedIn profile, or enjoying my newfound free time. During this time, I volunteered as an English tutor and started bouldering - a nice break from the at-times-discouraging job hunt jungle. After a few months, with no bites on my applications, I decided to sign up for a Digital Coordinator course. On the course, we spent three weeks going over the ins and outs of the role, and we also got the opportunity to take two Google courses – The Fundamentals of Digital Marketing and Google Analytics 4. I was pretty busy during this time due to it being a turbo course, so naturally, that is when the universe decided to bring on the job interviews. After multiple rounds of interviews and offers from two companies, I landed a job at Semantix, where I work today.
How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?
My time at uni provided me with a great foundation for my current job at Semantix. Semantix is the largest translation agency in the Nordics, so learning about language, its history, and its culture has helped me explore and understand client needs on a deeper level to ensure that their message gets across in the best way, no matter the audience. The semesters on corporate communication, including some amusing lessons on negotiation tactics, have also proved useful in navigating business and language nuances in an international business landscape.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?
Like many others, the excitement of university life was unexpectedly clouded by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we turned to online classes over Zoom, the isolation and uncertainty, like many others experienced, definitely took a toll on my motivation and performance. Looking back, I think an invaluable lesson I learned was prioritizing the courage to try over the fear of failure. I think Mathias Clasen’s classes on recreational fear and embracing manageable risks played a big role in that. In addition to that, I learned that uni can be a great place to find a community of friends you can lean on when the going gets tough.
What is your best memory at the English Department?
That would 100% have to be the Yule Ball before COVID hit. It was Harry Potter-themed that year, which made me less sad about the next one being canceled. However, reflecting on the friendships I formed during those early university years brings me the most lasting joy. I'm incredibly grateful to still be close with some of those connections today. It’s wholesome to look back on where we started, and I’m excited to see where life takes us.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
My personal hopes for the future are simple: more sunshine, camping adventures, mountain exploration, and maybe even a few backyard chickens. Career-wise, the language industry feels like home. I see myself building a long and fulfilling career here. I get a lot of joy out of connecting with people across the globe and feel fortunate for the constant opportunity to learn about diverse cultures and perspectives. Ultimately, my greatest hope is to always use my skills to connect people and remain a part of this sphere.
