Spiegel Online Interview


I just did an interview for the German News Magazine, Spiegel!   Check it out!   Of course, it’s in German, so you could run it through the Google translater to get an idea of what I said :-)   Or, perhaps aLx can translate it for you :-)

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  • http://www.youtube.com/CheVolay Che Volay

    yo

  • http://www.youtube.com/CheVolay Che Volay

    Che once saw a flow chart of languages in the back of a dictionary, this flow chart indicated that German was the mother language of English.

  • http://www.bikengruvin.com/ Recycle-logical-1

    I don’t fichte?

  • http://www.bikengruvin.com/ Recycle-logical-1

    Professor HotForWords unglaubliche Abenteuer

  • http://www.youtube.com/CheVolay Che Volay

    ….”warum sie Sex nutzt,” Che thinks they just called you a ‘sex nut’ :shock:

  • stokesjrj1

    Spiegel didnt this use to be the name of a catalog similar to Sears catalog?

  • leonard

    peace

  • BillyB

    “lure and proselytize” … nice.
    Hey, I’m even more impressed with you now Marina.
    My wife is a T/A (teachers assistant) and works with autistic kids, getting them intigrated into the classroom situation & despite setbacks & lack of help from the principals office (whole other story), she has seen the kids that she has worked with, improve immencely. They keep in contact with her years later. They are smart kids & honest as the day is long. Her kid now, hates the principal & says so. Often the teachers pump their arms in agreement when the kid blurts out something inappropriately :lol:
    TV show :shock:
    Great interview, thanks for posting it here… go girl \o/

  • erdknuffel

    Well, the interview hit it’s target. I’m a new subscriber from germany.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/foxbow15 foxbow

    Lets put my awsome german skills to the test :mrgreen:

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/foxbow15 foxbow

    Ich bin alleinstehend :mrgreen: lol

  • stokesjrj1

  • leonard

    The true mothers of modern American music—bristol

  • leonard

    welcome to a no.1 site

  • leonard

    I guess even with my universities of degrees but, being only a “farm boy” —I had to look up the word “decollete”

  • leonard

    anglo dar-hay, the franks did romens[romance] :neutral: german comes from Greek for Brother

  • http://www.youtube.com/pedantickarl pedantickarl

    Wonderful interview Marina!!!

    In the interview Marina says: (my translation)

    Five years ago when I came to the United States I worked as an au pair. In the first year I worked with an autistic child, which was very satisfying. After the job ended, I had no idea what I was going to do with my qualifications. (two degrees in philology)

    The interview confirms what we have already known about you for over one year.

    As BillyB said below, I am now even more impressed.
    How much more can I even be impressed. :smile:
    I’ve been saying that for over one year.
    Marina, you are truly amazing.

  • animalntaz

    I’m part German, but I don’t speak a word of it. I’m also a mix of Swedish and English, but I don’t know rest of my ethnicity.

  • http://www.youtube.com/CheVolay Che Volay

    Che is impressed with your life before HFW, you are most definitely a person of exceptional character.

  • animalntaz

    Sure does take a long time for my gravatar to download. I changed it over an hour ago. :neutral:

  • animalntaz

    Why does it mostly change when I have to shut down the computer for a minute? A couple of times it download within a few short minutes while I was logged on. :???:

  • seesixcm6

    Marina, congratlations on you interview in Der Spiegel. No doubt you have many fans in Germany. Since I know a little German, here’s my translation of their last question:

    Wo sehen Sie sich in einem Jahr?
    Dann mache ich genau das, was ich jetzt mache! Ich tue es gern und würde YouTube niemals verlassen. Nicht mal, wenn ich eine TV-Show habe. Ich mag die Interaktion, die ich jeden Tag durch das Internet erfahre. Und noch dazu würde ich YouTube auch nutzen, um für meine TV-Show zu werben. Alles entwickelt sich in Richtung Internet, ich bin da schon an der richtigen Stelle

    Where do you see yourself a year from now?

    Then, I’ll do exactly what I do now! I’m glad to do it and hope YouTube nevers ends. Not unless I have a TV show. I like the interaction that I get everyday through the Internet. And I would still want to use YouTube to help in my TV show. Everything gravitates towards the Internet, so I’m already in the right place.
    .
    (Sentimental since I knew of Marina when she only had a hundred thousand subscribers, and now she’s an international star!)
    seesixcm6

  • http://www.youtube.com/pedantickarl pedantickarl

    Hello Marina, I’ve been telling all my friends about the article. One of my friends was very impressed with the Spiegel’s translation of your English into German. (I assume the interview was in English?) She also admires you and she’ll be making a comment shortly above here.

  • http://www.youtube.com/pedantickarl pedantickarl

    For those who wonder about the old Spiegel Catalog.
    The Spiegel Catalog still exists online and in stores and I believe it is not related to the German magazine, “Der Spiegle”. (unless related via 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon :smile: )

  • nettehexe

    I just read your interview at “Spiegel Online” and was really excited and impressed. You made my day today!!!

    You did it, Marina….. and I am a “so stolz auf dich”! (I am so proud of you!)

  • http://www.youtube.com/pedantickarl pedantickarl

    What I find interesting is that almost everyone (except me) jumps to the conclusion that Marina “teaches English”. I think even Bill O’Reilly expressed it that way on one of his interviews with Marina. (Remind me to double check later)

    I’m very glad that Marina got the opportunity to be precise about what she does and that it was published.

    In the Interview it said: (my translation)

    SPIEGEL: Isn’t it odd, that as a native Russian speaker that you are teaching the English language.

    Marina: On the surface it may be funny. But since most words are derived from Latin and Greek, my teaching benefits people from other countries. So, I really do not teach English, but teach the [stories] history behind the words.

    Thank you Marina for making that clear.

  • stokesjrj1

    Like my english teacher told us classmates one time”whats in a Name”?

  • http://www.youtube.com/pedantickarl pedantickarl

    I’ve been telling you for a year
    that Marina is the greatest. :grin:
    I’m glad that it made your day.

    Don’t forget, 5 PM this Saturday, Nov 22, You Tube Live.
    I’ll remind you again. :grin:

  • nettehexe

    “Spiegel” means mirror and is similar to the magazine “Time Magazine”, and reflects our daily life in politcics, wisdom, truth, etc.

    It was only founded in 1947, gained its importance in the struggle for “Pressefreiheit” -press freedom (Spiegel Affair) and the unveiling of numerous political scandals.

    And no – it has nothing to do with the Spiegel Catalog.

  • http://www.youtube.com/annuddermale annuddermale

    excellent…you have worldwide appeal – i’m glad others are beginning to recognize it… :cool:

  • erdknuffel

    very good (no I know why you’re here ;) )

  • l3x0s

    im from germany and i must say: HfW is awesome! Many people know it here :mrgreen:

  • http://www.youtube.com/CheVolay Che Volay

    Did you do the interview in English or Russian or do you speak German also?

  • http://toastytech.com/guis/bobboot1.gif Bob

    Word request
    whilst looking up “proselytize”, my dictionary fell open at the word Prudhomme, which means “a good man and true”, “a man of valour and discretion” of which you have many subscribing to this site, Marina, so presumably nothing to do with prudery. :wink:
    Where did Prudhomme come from?

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/DPS670950 melikadothechacha

    Yes! …from Chicago, Illinois. :mrgreen:
    (They disappeared along with Roebucks)

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/DPS670950 melikadothechacha

    Guten Tag. Check out the pulldown menu bar for some neat stuf! :mrgreen:
    Schuss, am bis spater.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/DPS670950 melikadothechacha

    ok – Wo ist die bibliotek?
    LOL! :mrgreen:

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/DPS670950 melikadothechacha

    Sometimes, it’s the Gravatar site.
    Other times, you may need to clear
    your internet temp files cache :mrgreen:

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/DPS670950 melikadothechacha

    Have you filled out a TA application? :mrgreen:
    Get on it… :grin:

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/DPS670950 melikadothechacha

    heilege scheisse:!: :shock:
    Warum sagst sie eine Frau?
    (Why does it say you are married?)
    .
    The Google (literal) translator is a hoot!
    So often backwards is speaking English in it :mrgreen:
    I guess parsing is still a matter of interpretation…

  • stokesjrj1

    Thats actually not what she meant.

  • John

    http://www.spiegel.com/ is this not the same?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears_Roebuck is that not the same?

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/misscupcake1 misscupcake

    spiegel? :eek: das ist ‘mirror’, nein?

    hi marina. congrats on being interviewed for a german website!

    :mrgreen:

  • http://www.hotforwords.com Marina

    Thanks misscupcake!! Wish you were coming to YouTube live!

  • http://www.hotforwords.com Marina

    I did it in English. I think they are going to post a longer version on their English version of the site. I’ll let you know.

  • http://www.youtube.com/CheVolay Che Volay

    Good to know :cool:

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/DPS670950 melikadothechacha

    John? You change names like women
    change SHOES! Oy Gevalt :!:
    Well, you seem to be having fun.. :mrgreen:
    You certainly spend a lot of time playing
    the identity game…
    I didn’t realize they still were around;
    Sears (and Roebuck) was very prominent
    but have, like you, changed identies.
    Spiegels stopped sending out catalogues,
    so, I thought they had vaporized. :grin:

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/misscupcake1 misscupcake

    :oops: i’ll be honest; i dont even know what youtube live is..
    LOL!

    i havent been very active online lately, so i havent figured out what it is.. ahah

    from what i can gather, it sounds like a bit gathering, right?

    one day misscupcake will visit america and do collabs with all her youtube friends, and she will try to meet marina if she is allowed :mrgreen:

    maybe it will coincide with a gathering or a youtube live if it happens again, whatever it is LOL :oops:

  • http://www.youtube.com/CheVolay Che Volay

    Oh yea, while I’ve got your attention, thank you for the Teacher’s Pet deal, that was just swell.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/DPS670950 melikadothechacha

    Oops! Ich macht keine sind!
    Es macht “Warum sagt sie sind eine Frau?”

  • Norbert

    Hi Marina, congratulations for your interview in the german magazine Der Spiegel. I’ve read and enjoyed it very much. I’m very happy about your success, you deserve it indeed. I expect to read your book and watch your TV-show. You are a very beautiful woman and a very nice person. The fact that you haven’t a boyfriend yet, let my heart beat faster!!!

    Love and kisses.

  • bobsully

    Marina you are taking over the world!!!!! :smile:

  • http://www.jhmc.de jhaupt2007

    Marina,

    You are not even in Der Spiegel! I wrote a blog entry about HotForWords. :shock:

    Blog entry

  • http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=8743f055c4696b70a371248cb110ddc89a953023 Fianchetto

    Ich lieb HotForWords! :grin:

  • http://www.youtube.com/pedantickarl pedantickarl

    Ich ♥ auch

  • lexiphile

    One correction: It is not: “Not unless I have a TV show.”
    It is: “Not even if I have a TV show.
    Big difference.

  • seesixcm6

    Danke für das Helfen. Übersetzen Sie jetzt den Rest.

  • pandion

    Internet translation sites are never very good unless you want to do only a single word. Beyond that it can get funny.
    Use one to translate a passage, then have it translate the same passage back into English. It is like a very fast game of telephone.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/DPS670950 melikadothechacha

    You’re probably right, but I didn’t use a translator. :mrgreen:
    It’s been 30 years , so my German is pretty rusty…

  • pandion

    You were stationed there while in the military?

  • gio74

    I know there is Google translater, but I hope the following is slightly more accurate (maybe less funny).
    =============
    “Intelligence is sexy!”

    She is blond, blue-eyed – and clever. Marina Orlova, 27, has become an Internet celebrity with her etymological YouTube channel hotforwords. Her main feature: a very deep décolleté. In an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE she explains why she uses sex to spread education.

    SPIEGEL ONLINE: Ms. Orlova, how did you come to the idea to explain in particular the origin of words on YouTube?

    Orlova: I have two degrees in philology. When I came first to the United States as an au pair girl I worked in the first few years with an autistic child. That was very fulfilling for me. When the job was over, I had no idea what I should do with myself and my qualifications. One day in December 2006, a friend sent me an e-mail: “YouTube.com, look at the times.” That changed everything. I decided to make such videos.

    SPIEGEL ONLINE: Do you produce them on your own?

    Orlova: I research the origin of words, I write my scripts and then I record the videos myself. I believe that people are much more positive with a video, if they are not have produced professionally.

    SPIEGEL ONLINE: The “New York Times” called you “Sexiest Philologist in the world”, “Wired” and declared you to “World’s Sexiest Geek”. Does it disturb you or your boyfriend?

    Orlova: I find it very funny – “Geek” is a kind word. For a boyfriend I have no time at all, because actually I work every day. But if you know any good singles, please let me know!

    SPIEGEL ONLINE: Did you expect such a success?

    Orlova: I’d had never thought that my videos are viewed over 131 mlillion times! It corresponds to roughly half of the population of the United States of America, completely crazy. At the beginning my videos were not being viewed very often. hen I got 1000 views for the first time, I was really excited. Six months later I got 100000 views and I could hardly believe that, because that was more than the population of my hometown.

    SPIEGEL ONLINE: The suspect is that your sexy appearance is on purpose, that you try to become important in that way.

    Orlova: Nowadays it would be definitely not easy to find so many people interested in philology and etymology. Therefore I decided to awake their attention with my look. When they click my videos they learn something and suddenly they get interested in etymology as well. This approach is a mix between appeal and education and it seems it works fine.

    SPIEGEL ONLINE: Isn’t it strange that you, as a Russian, explain to English natives their own language?

    Orlova: At a first glance it might look strange. But since most of the words have their origin in Greek or Latin also people from other countries benefit from my lessons. Moreover, I do not really teach English, I just find out the history behind the words.

    SPIEGEL ONLINE: Do you have any problems when your “students” ask you unpolite questions or do comment only your look?

    Orlova: As soon as you are succesful in Internet you receive a lot of sex oriented comments, or also comments full of hate. Also because people can comment anonymously. You learn to ignore all that and to put your focus on the positive and constructive comments.

    SPIEGEL ONLINE: Now you are reportedly planning a TV show and you are writing a book…

    Orlova: That’s true. I have no idea how the book will be called, but probably the title will contain HotForWords. I publish it with HarperCollins. It will be a funny and entertaining book, with 80 photos of mine and 80 funny word origins and a couple of puzzles.

    SPIEGEL ONLINE: Where do you see yourself in one year time?

    Orlova: I will be doing the same as I do now! I love it and I would never leave Youtube. Not even if I should ever get a TV show. I like the interaction that I experience everyday in internet. Furthermore, I would use Youtube to advertise my TV show. Everything evolves towards internet, I am quite at the right place.

  • darlingj

    Hi PK,

    It is now later, and I am reminding you to double check as requested above. ;-)

  • darlingj

    It’s fun to see the relationship between an article like this and the noticable spike in international traffic to HFW.com on the day it comes out…

    http://www.quantcast.com/hotforwords.com/geo/states?sortby=reach&sortorder=asc&start=32#traffic

    …and then to see a post like this…

    http://www.hotforwords.com/2008/11/19/spiegel-online-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-84127

    Great exposure that builds and builds more and more fans.

  • http://wired.reddit.com/sexygeeks_2008/?s=top pedantickarl

     
    Hey thank you Jody for that reminder.
    Well, it’s only been seven months, but what the hey,
    here is the answer.

    Indeed, Bill O’Reilly did misspeak on the
    “2nd appearance: July 31, 2008 – Political Edition 1″ interview where he said;

    “…because she discusses the English language
    in a rather unique way”

    Of course the word language covers a lot of ground and Marina of course said it the best in the interview;

    Marina said:
    “…since most of the words have their origin in Greek or Latin also people from other countries benefit from my lessons. Moreover, I do not really teach English, I just find out the history behind the words.”

    :grin:

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