Trinity Masters Student of Applied Linguistics With 1st Class Honours Teaches Junior, Leaving Cert and University Level German (A1-C1)

Find out more about Philip

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  Like with other languages, my ability to speak German fluently slowly crept up on me. There was no *click* moment where I granted myself a ceremonious fluency status but rather slow realisations like “Oh… okay I just explained my understanding of actor-network theory to that person in German without even realising I was speaking German” or not remembering which language you had a conversation in or even dreaming in the language. It takes each person a different amount of these realisations to allow themselves fluency status, however, teaching German in a school in Ennis was when I became fully affirmed in my own abilities. Since then I have been chosen to teach German to the buying director of Lidl, which was another moment of honour.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  The obvious answer to this question would be Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the prolific writer and polymath who wrote “Faust”. However, for the sake of resonance, I am going to say Hermann Hesse. Hesse was quite a prolific writer in the 1900s and even received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1946. His works had a profound influence on both German and world literature and were translated into multiple languages worldwide. Hesse's exploration of spiritual and philosophical themes was ahead of its time and is the reason why the three works of his I have read – Steppenwolf, Siddartha and Narzisus und Goldmund, resonated with me so much. His ability to capture the complexities of the human experience, both dark and enlightening, is unmatched by any other existentialist author I have read. He even includes themes of gender and psychology for which there wasn’t even the lexicon during his time, yet is now commonplace in political and psychological discourse today.
  So, indeed, Hermann Hesse is a suitable choice as an emblematic representative of the German language and culture alongside Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and another personal favourite of mine, Franz Kafka.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  Doch! – you can use it in an abundance of situations.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  There are many reasons why my ability to speak the German language is important to me. When I was in transition year, and I heard German speakers on the street, I would talk to them and offer them a tour of the city in exchange for speaking German with me. Some of these people have become dear friends of mine and the German language has allowed me to travel to beautiful places in Switzerland and Germany and maintain the friendships I made all those years ago while also fostering new friendships when travelling to German speaking countries.
  When I was living in Munich, it set me apart from the other exchange students. It felt like a movie that we were all able to watch, but only those who spoke German could interact with the plot. Another thing is that it is tangible proof and assurance for when I am doubting myself in any other endeavours. Doubtful about being able to play a piece by Ludovico Einaudi on piano? You learned German fluently. Afraid of public speaking? You learned German fluently. You get the point.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  Each learner will face their own difficulties when learning the German language depending on whether they are a visual, audible, or kinaesthetic learner. I learn by doing, so the struggle for me was actually finding German speakers with whom I could practice which was absolved by approaching tourists and just talking to them in German; not before I conquered my fear of approaching strangers.
  Another person may struggle with grammar, memorisation or pronunciation which each have an array of different correctional methods. Because language learning is such a holistic, multifaceted discipline, my best advice is to use your strengths to improve your weaknesses, focus on gaining confidence speaking no matter the level and try to relate things you don’t understand to things you do whether they are language-related or not. For example, the German cases could be considered like football players with different coloured jerseys so you know who’s playing for whom (which case the noun takes) or the conjugation of verbs could be like an actress at a one-woman-show changing wigs, so you know whether she’s he/she/it etc.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  When I was in school, German and Art were the only subjects that got me through the day. My love for the language was so deep that I began to relate it to my other subjects which helped me build connections between things where others may not have seen any. Alongside my interest in German came an interest in Linguistics and Etymology which I could use to find meaning in the words in biology class, expand my vocabulary for English, think of Mathematical equations like grammar and so on. I realised that you can use your love for one thing to help create passion for others.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  Living, working, and studying in Munich for a year significantly enhanced my language skills, bringing them to a level of fluency. Immersed in German every day, I made the most of my time there, even to the point of creating a few awkward moments by insisting on not being spoken to in English. During this period, I gained valuable experience working at Urban Outfitters and later at the Irish-German Chamber of Commerce, both of which further deepened my understanding and use of the language in professional settings.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I’ve had a deep interest in languages since primary school, where I started learning Chinese and Japanese on my own and sharing what I learned with friends. My passion for languages continued through school, where I excelled in German and picked up Spanish on the side as well. By the time I reached college, I had already developed a strong foundation in German and other languages, which allowed me to progress quickly. During my Erasmus experience, I noticed that my language skills were particularly strong compared to others who had studied German for a similar length of time. I've also had the opportunity to teach German to professionals, such as the buying director of Lidl and Swiss architects, helping them progress from beginners to confident speakers in a short time. I am planning on doing a masters in applied linguistics as I have recently been studying Ancient Greek and Latin as a hobby hence my desire to have a deeper understanding of languages that stem from Proto-Indo European.