Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures University of Toronto
Finding Community Through German Studies
by Brian Finn
It’s hard to believe that I’ve only been studying for two years in the German Department at the University of Toronto. I feel incredibly sad to be leaving this wonderful department in pursuit of further education. The connections I’ve made here have been so impactful, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities afforded me here.
I recall my first day at U of T as a transfer student, nervous about how I would be welcomed. It was my German classes that made me immediately feel welcomed into the campus German community, and enabled me continue growing within it, taking part in working-research groups under the supervision of Dr. Markus Stock, teaching at the Multilingual German Lab with German learners at every level, and helping with the organisation of a symposium on the subject of Medieval Undergrounds.
I not only deepened my language skills, I also learned so much about the literature of the German-speaking world from medieval times to contemporary debates in literature and linguistic spheres. Viewing manuscripts from the early modern period in the Fischer Rare Books Library and analysing media biases from German-speaking news outlets have to be among my favourite memories within my German classes here. I was also extremely humbled to have the opportunity to present my research at a conference at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum titled “Narrating Truth: Vermittlung und Aushandlung von Wahrheit in den Medien in der Vormoderne”, where I presented on tattoos and other markings on the skin as a form of media which displays certain “truths”.
Most important, however, were the people that made all of this possible. The connections I’ve made will transcend the walls of Odette Hall and I already look forward to remaining in contact with faculty, current graduate students, and my undergraduate peers. I will always hold a special place in my heart for those who impacted me so deeply. Thank you to everyone who made my time here so outstanding!
