As a teaching assistant to GRMN Global Career Lab, I was responsible for finding ways to make the course as beneficial as possible for the enrolled students. This course focuses on how students can utilize their language skills in the working world and unveils the plethora of opportunities available to German speakers, both internationally and locally. Each week the students met professionals in various fields who currently or previously used their German language skills in their careers. Below are some photos of our guest speaker, Patrick Wallace, the Program Specialist for World Languages & Global Work Initiatives for the Georgia Department of Education.
One very successful event that I managed was a campus visit and presentation from the VP of Human Resources at Porsche North America, Dr. Erika Burk, and Porsche China, Steffi Soetebier. I was responsible for catering, creating “swag bags” with complementary Georgia Tech paraphernalia, providing the right technological means, and parking for our guests. Originally, this visit was only meant to be for the students enrolled in Global Career Lab, but myself and my supervisor decided to expand it to all German speakers on campus. Dr. Burk shared her experiences as a woman and bilingualist, and how her German skills helped her achieve greater levels of success in the corporate world.
Following her presentation and a small reception, I coordinated a dinner for the students enrolled in the course,Dr. Burk, Ms. Soetebier, and the German department faculty for the chance to have more intimate conversations with the VP’s, have questions answered more deeply, and create a lasting relationship between both the students and the Porsche VP’s, and Porsche and Georgia Tech.
Kestra James 