Can you provide us an insight into your expert career to date?
I was really happy that I was able to study at TU Dortmund University for three semesters in the Winter term 2012/2013, due to the fact that I just found the unique focus of the journalism course in this type at TU Dortmund University. Before my time in Dortmund, I had actually currently spent a year in Germany as a language student. After that year, I understood that I absolutely wished to go back to Germany.
After completing my degree, I was able to use a great deal of what I learned throughout my studies at TU Dortmund University when I started my profession in São Paulo at Folha (note: Brazil’s biggest daily newspaper). I have actually also utilized my language skills a lot: At Folha, I operated in the business department and needed to contribute a lot of my own concepts – I had the ability to cover many subjects related to Brazil and Germany. I also have frequent contact with German companies in Brazil: for example, when I talked to the head of the Daimler Group, it was much easier to establish an individual method since we might talk in German and Portuguese. I was likewise able to use this knowledge during a see by the then German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Advancement.
I now work for Valhor Economico, a business and monetary day-to-day newspaper. I often need to get the viewpoint of foreign economists and experts on Brazilian economic and financial advancements. I constantly conduct these interviews in German. Even if I compose an email in German rather of English, access to the specialists is often easier, because language is a channel to get attention and develop better access to individuals.
What surprised you during your studies at TU Dortmund University?
I was impressed by the useful orientation of my degree course. My knowledge from the cam and recording course alone has helped me many times in the course of my profession – even when I am just taping a video with my mobile phone for work, I still draw on the knowledge from the course. In Brazil, you normally attend a few more technical courses after your studies, however I currently had this knowledge from my studies at TU Dortmund University, which was a benefit for me when I started my career.
How would you explain your working day, like a “common Tuesday”?
My working day starts very early. I enjoy the currency market throughout the day and see whether the Brazilian genuine is losing or gaining value. My job is then to quickly learn the background with my sources of specialists and experts and explain this to our readership. At the same time, I deal with my own subjects and reports, i.e., longer texts with more information and background info. In general, I am absolutely operating in my dream job at the moment!
Which suggestions would you offer to students who would likewise like to come to Germany for an exchange?
In my opinion, discovering German is the most crucial thing, due to the fact that then you can comprehend the lectures, reach other trainees and make more friends. The difference in between daily language and scholastic German is quite big – that was a challenge for me, however likewise a terrific chance to develop myself even more. The most important thing for me at the start was participating in the listening comprehension German course at the university. There I discovered that I needed to prepare thematically for each lecture and read texts beforehand. This was the secret for me to comprehending much more. Studying abroad is not always simple. The entire experience abroad is enriched as quickly as you speak the language better and therefore have more contact with Germans.
Are you still in contact with individuals at TU Dortmund University?
Yes, I am still in contact with a few of them and likewise meet up with friends from that time in Germany and Brazil. We likewise exchange ideas expertly, for instance when I compose a text on a subject with a German connection or my friends have questions about Brazil. I also read a lot about Germany. Some of my previous fellow students now work for media outlets such as “Der Spiegel” or “Die Zeit”, which I like to read or listen to in order to continue practicing my German. I recently listened to a podcast on “Zeit online” and just after a few episodes did I realize that a friend from my time at TU Dortmund University was producing it.
Thank you very much for the interview!