German – A building block for a successful career

Enlarge image (© German Embassy Colombo) COLOMBO, September 4 - Have you ever wondered how German language skills could pave the way to new and exciting career opportunities in Sri Lanka?

The German Section of the Department of Modern Languages at the Kelaniya University held their first career workshop titled “Perspektiven”, to showcase a wide range of occupation fields available for students specializing in German language.

The information session organized by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)  helped students to mix with professionals from different industries like tourism, international aid and development and also with academics and secondary school teachers who have all utilized the German language as an integral part of their careers.

What was special was that many of the resource personnel had themselves graduated from the Kelaniya University, and therefore, were able to give the students practical guidance which could apply in their own lives.

For example, Aruni Jayasena, an alumni of the Kelaniya University, shared her experiences on how she juggled her part-time work and university education and still managed to win a language study scholarship to Germany.

“Behind every risk is an opportunity,” said Jayasena, explaining her dynamic career path. “My language skills have helped me to work easily in a multicultural environment and to venture into a totally new field,” she added, explaining her role in the “Peace Buildingthrough Vocational Training” Project implemented by the German government arm for International Development and Technical Cooperation (GIZ).

Nishan Manawadu, a national tour guide explained how he applied to be an Au Pair with a German family, since living in a country where the language is spoken was the most effective way to master it.

“You must have a fervent desire to learn and a love for the language if you are to speak it fluently,” he said, while highlighting the scope for those who have mastered a foreign language in Sri Lanka’s booming tourism industry.

Other panellists also spoke about options for teaching German at the university level and in secondary schools that have increasingly started to offer the language for both ordinary and advance level pupils.   

Vimansani Pathirana, a third year student specialising in German language studies at the Kelaniya university was among over a 100 students who participated in the workshop. Pathirana, who recently won a language learning scholarship to Germanythrough the German academic exchange program (DAAD) said “you need passion to learn a language. But having a clearer perspective on what one can do with one’s skills helps to sustain that passion.”