During his time as a German studies major at SLU, Daniel Carter completed a semester of study and an internship abroad. Now, he's bringing his seasoned language skills into a law career.
I graduated from SLU in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in German, Philosophy, and International Studies.
I have such fond memories of Sprachwochenende. It was always a highlight of the fall semester for me. There is nothing better than getting together with everyone at SLU’s retreat center, cooking a big German meal, and speaking German all weekend long!
The opportunities that come with the study of German at SLU are numerous. For example, in the summer after my sophomore year, I was able to complete an internship at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria. I worked in the public affairs section, where I was able to use my language skills every day. Then, during my junior year, I completed a semester abroad at Universität Heidelberg. Beyond these adventures, the German department puts on frequent events, coffees, and movie screenings, where German students were able to get together, have fun, and speak German. The German program is an excellent language-learning community. Moreover, the faculty are second-to-none.
I completed my last semester at Washington University School of Law in spring 2021.
Language is the tool of a lawyer’s trade! Learning a language other than English is great for anyone aspiring to become an attorney, but German is an especially good choice. Unlike English (and French and Spanish), German is an inflected language; this means that learning German teaches one to be particularly meticulous with language and grammar. This is invaluable training for anyone who wants to become a good writer.
Additionally, as a German major, I was steeped in not only the German language, but also in German history and culture. This has been especially helpful when I have had the opportunity to interact with German-speaking colleagues both personally and professionally.