Can you provide us an insight into your professional career to date?
I was really pleased that I had the ability to study at TU Dortmund University for 3 semesters in the Winter season semester 2012/2013, due to the fact that I only discovered the unique focus of the journalism course in this form at TU Dortmund University. Before my time in Dortmund, I had currently invested a year in Germany as a language trainee. After that year, I knew that I certainly wished to return to Germany.
After completing my degree, I had the ability to use a lot of what I found out during my research studies at TU Dortmund University when I began my profession in São Paulo at Folha (note: Brazil’s biggest day-to-day newspaper). I have actually likewise utilized my language abilities a lot: At Folha, I worked in the business department and had to contribute a lot of my own ideas – I had the ability to cover many topics associated with Brazil and Germany. I likewise have frequent contact with German companies in Brazil: for instance, when I interviewed the head of the Daimler Group, it was much easier to establish a personal approach because we might talk in German and Portuguese. I was likewise able to utilize this knowledge during a check out by the then German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Advancement.
I now work for Valhor Economico, an organization and monetary day-to-day newspaper. I often need to get the point of view of foreign financial experts and analysts on Brazilian economic and monetary advancements. I always perform these interviews in German. Even if I write an email in German rather of English, access to the professionals is frequently easier, since language is a channel to gain attention and establish better access to people.
What stunned you during your studies at TU Dortmund University?
I was impressed by the practical orientation of my degree course. My knowledge from the electronic camera and filming course alone has actually assisted me so many times in the course of my profession – even when I am just taping a video with my mobile phone for work, I still make use of the knowledge from the course. In Brazil, you normally attend a couple of more technical courses after your research studies, but I already had this knowledge from my research studies at TU Dortmund University, which was an advantage for me when I began my career.
How would you explain your working day, like a “typical Tuesday”?
My working day begins very early. I see the currency market all the time and see whether the Brazilian real is losing or gaining worth. My job is then to rapidly learn the background with my sources of specialists and experts and discuss this to our readership. At the very same time, I deal with my own subjects and reports, i.e., longer texts with more data and background information. Overall, I am absolutely working in my dream task at the minute!
Which guidance would you provide to trainees who would likewise like to come to Germany for an exchange?
In my opinion, learning German is the most important thing, because then you can understand the lectures, make contact with other students and make more good friends. The distinction between daily language and academic German is rather huge – that was an obstacle for me, however also a terrific chance to establish myself even more. The most important thing for me at the beginning was going to the listening comprehension German course at the university. There I learned that I had to prepare thematically for each lecture and read texts in advance. This was the key for me to comprehending a lot more. Studying abroad is not constantly simple. The entire experience abroad is enriched as soon as you speak the language better and for that reason 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 also meet up with friends from that time in Germany and Brazil. We likewise exchange ideas professionally, for example when I write a text on a subject with a German connection or my friends have questions about Brazil. I likewise read a lot about Germany. A few of my previous fellow students now work for media outlets such as “Der Spiegel” or “Pass away 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 couple of episodes did I realize that a friend from my time at TU Dortmund University was producing it.
Thank you quite for the interview!