Karl F Otto Jr
Why did you choose Northwestern?
My undergraduate advisor recommended it, very strongly. I knew that Northwestern had a great program, but without his encouragement, I probably would not have applied.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience? What was it then and/or what it is now?
My research centered around a rather obscure topic—17th-century German Literature. I did a good amount of publishing in that area, but now am more interested in language acquisition, because through language we get to know - and accept - other peoples, other nations, other cultures.
Tell us who or what inspired your research and/or work.
My thesis director, now deceased, who was a visiting professor at NU. He was totally behind me and interested in my research - a real mentor, as were other professors in the Germanic Languages Department. He continued to "push" me after I had completed my PhD, and he remained a life-long mentor.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
My role as a guide, even a mentor, to younger students who are unsure of their plans. I was able to follow through this at both of the institutions where I taught German - language and literature - for some thirty-five years.
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
Languages have always excited me - I am now learning another language (Spanish) and doing family history research that requires several languages (currently Latin, German, and Czech). I am also able to help others who do not speak or know German - helping them gain knowledge of who their German ancestors were.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
Go for it! Take that risk! Without taking risks, you will never - at best very rarely - succeed!