Hi Durkje! Today you are going to inform our readers about your experience in studying the German language in Germany. You are also going to share your knowledge about the culture of historical Berlin with us, so we are very curious to hear your story. Would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

Yes, of course. My name is Durkje Salman, and I was born and raised in Amsterdam. During my bachelor's degree in History at the University of Amsterdam, I spent an Erasmus year in Berlin. After my Erasmus year, I decided to pursue a subsequent master's programme in Germany. Currently, I live in Potsdam, a small town next to Berlin. Here I am attending the master's programme in International War Studies at the Universität Potsdam in cooperation with University College Dublin (Ireland). So, my mother tongue is Dutch, but I also speak German and English. I speak both languages at about C1 level, but I have to say that listening and reading have always been easier for me. Currently, I am also trying to learn a bit of Italian, but I am not rushing my way through the language.

Interesting! I think many of our readers can imagine how difficult it is to start learning a new language. Now, with our focus on the German language, I am curious to know more about your process of learning German. When did you start learning this language? 

In the Netherlands, German language and literature is a compulsory subject in pre-university education (vwo). I myself was educated at the vwo level, where German is a compulsory subject from the second year onward. After the third year, you can choose between German and French. I am dyslexic, so languages were always very difficult for me. I chose to drop both languages at that time. The way German was taught in high school simply didn't suit me. It was mostly about learning words by heart. A method that genuinely doesn't work for me.

Nevertheless, I already found Germany a fascinating country at that time. I had already fallen in love with Berlin, so I still wanted to take the opportunity to learn German one day. During my bachelor's degree, I decided to start reading German books. I also started watching the German news, listening to German music and I took a number of courses in the German language at the University of Amsterdam. After also taking some additional language courses in Germany itself, I eventually noticed how it became easier to speak German.

Listening to your story, I have to say that I am impressed by the way you did not let yourself be discouraged from learning a language like German. For example, you mentioned that you have dyslexia and that the teaching method at high school was not working for you. So how did you manage to still take that step to learn a whole new language from scratch?

My dyslexia and the teaching method in high school did discourage me a lot. However, I knew from an early age that I really wanted to go to Germany. To study there, but also to be able to put my love of history into practice. I have also cried at times, thinking "I want to do this so badly, but I can't speak German, so how am I ever going to do it?”. Then there were the additional thoughts like "I can't do this because I'm dyslexic and I can't learn languages, it's so hard". In the end, I approached it differently by thinking: what am I capable of doing? For example, I've always had a good feeling for text comprehension. So, I started working on that. I started reading children's books in German and honestly, it was often a matter of solving little puzzles in my mind. "Oh, this word is very similar to Dutch". So eventually you do work it out, which is why I started to enjoy it more and more. I didn't have to memorise endless lists of vocabulary words like in high school, but it was more of a playful exploration by reading books and listening to music. That helped me a lot.

That must be very nice. So, at one point, you are in Germany to pursue your academic career. You said earlier in the interview that you are most attracted to history. Could you tell us more about your love for history?

I would love to. During high school, I noticed that Dutch history didn’t really appeal to me, but world history, as well as German history did. Especially the period around the Second World War, it really spoke to me. And yes, eventually you will end up in Germany as the country in question. It goes without saying that it comes in handy when you speak their respective language. I also really wanted to read a diary in German or read a document from the Schutzstaffel (SS) in German. That just helps me a lot more for (contextual) understanding.

Especially in Berlin, their history is very much alive. You can stroll past certain parts of the Berlin Wall and you might think "Oh, but this is special" because there is a placard explaining the historical context. For example, executions that took place near this particular part of the wall. There are also Stolpersteine, for example. These are small stones placed in front of houses and symbolise the victims of National Socialism. All these pieces of history might be harder to understand if you don't speak German, because then you obviously miss the German perspective. That is what I wanted to get as a History student.

In the Netherlands, we take a very different approach to reflecting on the Second World War. In Amsterdam, for example, the idea was to erect a Holocaust Monument. Now the monument is officially being constructed, but this happened only after years of debate. In Berlin, they also decided to erect a Holocaust Monument and within a few years it was there. For me, this is a clear example of how Germany handles the history of the Second World War differently. In German you have a very nice word for that, called Vergangenheitsbewältigung. This describes the way we deal with history. Germany takes a much more active role in this respect because of the undeniable role it has played in it.

Are there any specific elements from the Second World War period that intrigue you the most?

Yes. I have always found the persecution of the Jews (Shoah) very interesting. Maybe you know the French historian Pierre Nora. Nora is known for his work Les Lieux de Mémoire, which refers to places of memory. In Germany, you have a lot of these places: monuments and memorial sites. One of my personal favourites is at Unter den Linden, in the heart of Berlin. There you have a large square called Bebelplatz. The square is mainly known for the book burnings on the 10th of May 1933 by the National Socialists. More than 25,000 books by Heine, Marx and Mann, among others, were burned. Underneath the square there is a monument commemorating that event. The monument visualises empty bookcases as a symbol for all the knowledge lost as a result of the book burnings.

Lately, I have also been busy with studies on gender. In relation to the Second World War and in particular the Holocaust, there is very little to be found on the subject. It is a subject that is often forgotten. Visiting monuments to LGBT+ minorities provides a historical context for me, but I think there is still a lot to gain here within historiography. So, I would like to contribute to that.

Nice that you want to contribute to this! I am also curious about how you use your practical German language skills to better understand the German perspective.

Maybe very straight-forward, but you can read many German (history) books that don’t have a translation. A translation into English or Dutch often detracts from the connotation. Germans, as I just said, have quite a different idea of history. They conduct their historical research in a different way and look at the past through a different lens. It also helps to read diaries or testimonies. It gives you a better idea of the bigger picture. Without my skills in the German language, I just wouldn't have been able to do that.

You have already mentioned some examples of historical places in Berlin where you can see a lot of German history. Are there any other historical places on the streets of Berlin that are particularly dear to you?

Great question! For me, Bebelplatz is my most favourite place. I find the meaning of it so powerful. I also find the whole idea of the Stolpersteine very interesting, because then you 'stumble' across history, so to speak. In addition, the architecture in Berlin is incredibly diverse. You can come across a building from the time of the Enlightenment, while the building next to it was built by the GDR.

Another special story concerns the Humboldt Forum. It is now a museum in the centre of Berlin in the Mitte district. Before the Second World War, it was the residence of the Count and Prince of Brandenburg and later the residence of the Kings of Prussia and the German Emperors. During the Second World War, the building was heavily damaged. The National Socialists didn’t really bother to reconstruct the building since it was a reflection of the monarchy. After the Second World War, the GDR decided to completely demolish the badly damaged building in order to house a cultural centre (Palast der Republik), which was also demolished after more than 30 years. Finally, it was decided to rebuild the former residence of the kings and emperors. In a slightly more modern way, though. The facade is like the old residence, but inside, the focus is on non-European, ethnological collections. As you can see, all kinds of different historical aspects are brought together in one building. I personally think this is great, because these contrasting aspects of history are also reflected in the Berlin street scene and the varied building styles. 

I can very well agree with that. Perhaps it will also attract new visitors? I can imagine that might happen if you assign several functions to a particular building or place. 

Certainly! It's also about keeping history alive. Not everyone finds history interesting. Then, of course, the question arises of "what do I have to do with this as a person?". If historical elements then become an integral part of the street scene, because it is incorporated into the red line of the city, then you cannot ignore history. In Berlin, this is clearly expressed, and I believe that this is great!