Alumnus Story: February 2018
Elizabeth Tiesler Emblidge, Class of 1999
1. Please provide a brief description of your path after Dickinson and where you find yourself today.
I was hired by a NY-based translation company (TransPerfect Translations) right out of college, and remain there today (going on 19 years!). I worked for them first in NYC, then spent 3 1/2 years in Hong
Kong, and then moved back to my hometown of Rochester, NY where I work for them remotely.
2. Please describe your studies at Dickinson, in particular your German courses.
I was a double-major in German and French. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with that initially but was hoping something would come along, and it did. I love the liberal arts, and was very fortunate to avoid (for the most part) the subjects I didn't enjoy or excel at, and could instead pursue subjects that appealed to me, even outside of my majors. I was very active with the music department. My favorite classes were German Film and any French classes that focused on literature. I spent lots and lots of time in Bosler.
3. What is your strongest memory of studying on the Dickinson campus?
Lots of late nights at the library furiously working on papers! But always finding a place to relax on campus with friends - I was able to stay balanced socially and academically.
4. Did you study abroad? Where and when?
I studied in Toulouse, France in the summer of 1997, and then after a 3-week break back home, I headed
to Saarbrücken for a one-month immersion program, and finally Bremen for the full 1997-1998 year.
5. What are your memories of studying abroad?
I grew very close with the other students doing the program with me, and I didn't know all of them coming into the year. We spent a lot of time together, and traveled to numerous destinations, as a group with our director Rainer, or just doing side-trips on our own. I loved biking around the city and to/from the University.
6. Do you still speak German on a regular basis? If so, in what way?
I utilize my German fairly regularly. When I was first hired by my company, I remember that at least one of the German linguists I worked with was always challenging me to speak German with her. I work with a wide range of languages on a daily basis, but my German knowledge has definitely given me a leg up when I work with related languages like Dutch or Scandinavian languages. That language foundation has gotten me far. I can also say the same for my French knowledge -- it makes my work with Spanish and
Italian much easier to know something about Romance languages in general.
7. Whether you still use the German language actively in your life or not, what else about your studies in
German or in Germany proved important to you?
I gained huge confidence navigating Germany and other parts of western Europe, sometimes on my own. I took travel risks (stories which I will not share here!) and decided that if I try to use the language, even when I faltered, I could get so much further. I'm not afraid to "wing it", and studying abroad really made me challenge myself.
8. If you have not already, could you provide a specific example of how they have been important to
your life or career?
I'm not sure what my employment situation would be if I wasn't hired by a global translation company -- I've had many opportunities within the company, some I didn't see coming, and I think my language knowledge played a part in giving me the edge I needed to grow within the company.
9. If you could give advice to a current or potential German major/minor, what would it be?
Study abroad, and unless necessary, stay there for the full year! Avoid going home, even when homesickness sets in. Travel as much as possible and challenge yourself with your coursework. I took a
French course while in Germany, and found that to be one of the most difficult (and frustrating) classes I ever took; I was asked to translate things between French and German, and if that doesn't sharpen your language skills, nothing will. In another class, I had to give a presentation to a class full of slightly older students, who were all German, about the French Resistance. It was terrifying, but somehow I did it. Finally (because why not) - try new food, and beer, everywhere you go :)