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
Capman911 on 
star magic on 
neuroway on 
muggins on 
echo on 
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.
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.
You were stationed there while in the military?
Ich lieb HotForWords!
Ich ♥ auch
Marina,
You are not even in Der Spiegel! I wrote a blog entry about HotForWords.
Blog entry
Marina you are taking over the world!!!!!
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.
spiegel?
das ist ‘mirror’, nein?
hi marina. congrats on being interviewed for a german website!
Thanks misscupcake!! Wish you were coming to YouTube live!
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
maybe it will coincide with a gathering or a youtube live if it happens again, whatever it is LOL
heilege scheisse:!:
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
I guess parsing is still a matter of interpretation…
Oops! Ich macht keine sind!
Es macht “Warum sagt sie sind eine Frau?”
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.
You’re probably right, but I didn’t use a translator.
It’s been 30 years , so my German is pretty rusty…
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.
Where did Prudhomme come from?
Did you do the interview in English or Russian or do you speak German also?
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.
Good to know
Oh yea, while I’ve got your attention, thank you for the Teacher’s Pet deal, that was just swell.
im from germany and i must say: HfW is awesome! Many people know it here
excellent…you have worldwide appeal – i’m glad others are beginning to recognize it…
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)
Thank you Marina for making that clear.
Hi PK,
It is now later, and I am reminding you to double check as requested above.
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.”
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!)
I’ve been telling you for a year
that Marina is the greatest.
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.
Have you filled out a TA application?
Get on it…
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
Like my english teacher told us classmates one time”whats in a Name”?
“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.
Thats actually not what she meant.
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.
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
One correction: It is not: “Not unless I have a TV show.”
It is: “Not even if I have a TV show.
Big difference.
Danke für das Helfen. Übersetzen Sie jetzt den Rest.
Sure does take a long time for my gravatar to download. I changed it over an hour ago.
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.
Sometimes, it’s the Gravatar site.
Other times, you may need to clear
your internet temp files cache
Che is impressed with your life before HFW, you are most definitely a person of exceptional character.
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.
Wonderful interview Marina!!!
In the interview Marina says: (my translation)
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.
I’ve been saying that for over one year.
Marina, you are truly amazing.
I guess even with my universities of degrees but, being only a “farm boy” —I had to look up the word “decollete”
Ich bin alleinstehend
lol
very good (no I know why you’re here
)
Lets put my awsome german skills to the test
ok – Wo ist die bibliotek?
LOL!
Well, the interview hit it’s target. I’m a new subscriber from germany.
welcome to a no.1 site
Guten Tag. Check out the pulldown menu bar for some neat stuf!
Schuss, am bis spater.
“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
TV show
Great interview, thanks for posting it here… go girl \o/
peace
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=6F1231B1DE880054
The true mothers of modern American music—bristol
Spiegel didnt this use to be the name of a catalog similar to Sears catalog?
Yes! …from Chicago, Illinois.
(They disappeared along with Roebucks)
http://www.spiegel.com/ is this not the same?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears_Roebuck is that not the same?
John? You change names like women
change SHOES! Oy Gevalt
Well, you seem to be having fun..
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.
….”warum sie Sex nutzt,” Che thinks they just called you a ’sex nut’
I don’t fichte?
Professor HotForWords unglaubliche Abenteuer
yo
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.
anglo dar-hay, the franks did romens[romance]
german comes from Greek for Brother