Interview in Switzerland’s Blick Newspaper
Switzerland’s largest nationally sold daily newspaper Blick and Blick.ch interviewed me and here is the article that was released today.
Here is a Google translated version.
Let me know if you’d like a better translation.
Sehhhhr interessant!
Uhuh sneak off to Switzerland and didn’t tell us
Dear all,
)
once again Marina triumphed in the German speaking world! It is then my pleasure to provide a translation which, at least, is definitely better than google (ok I admit it is not that difficult
=============
Marina from Moscow
“That’s how English for beginners should look like”
By Gabriel Brönnimann
She teaches English – and she has 183000 students just on Youtube: BLICK spoke with the most popular teacher in the world.
BLICK: Where does your passion for the English language come from?
Marina Orlova: I have two university degrees: one in Russian and world literature and one in English philology. Philology is about the study of the origin of words – this has always fascinated me. And I learned English because I thought that it is useful, in case I leave Russia.
BLICK: How many languages do you speak then?
Marina Orlova: Only Russian and English. But I know also Latin and Greek – however only reading, not speaking.
BLICK: Why did you move to America?
Marina Orlova: Originally to improve my English. I have applied within an au-pair exchange program and I watched after an autistic child for two years. At the same time I attended universirty here. Now I have been here for five years.
BLICK: You are welcome in Switzerland anytime. We have very special dialects and words with marvellous etymology.
Marina Orlova: I LOVE Switzerland – and what your country represents in history. I want to visit the country at any rate – Youtube has finally incredibly wonderful offices in Zürich, there are stored most of my videos. I have heard that there are fire-brigade poles between floors – you don’t need any lift!
BLICK: Why did you make your Youtube channel? Really to teach people, or to become famous?
Marina Orlova: I always wanted to become a teacher. In Russia I had a class of about 20 children. In December 2006 somebody sent me an e-mail and he told me: “Hey, look this Youtube stuff here!”. I thought, maybe in this way I can reach a couple of thousands instead of just 20 people. I’d had never thought that they would become 165 millions, never in my life!
BLICK: You are now a true Internet celebrity. Why is it? Can you still go around as before, or do you have to hide yourself like many Hollywood stars?
Marina Orlova: Well, I am ALWAYS working. From the morning to the night I am sitting in front of my PC and I answer comments and e-mails. My videos are watched several thousands times a day, therefore I try to answer as many comments as possible. I collect reqeusts and suggestions for new words, I write the script for new videos, I record new videos, I cut them I upload them. Every day there is a new video – this keeps me very bust! Therefore I hardly go out of my house. But if I do, then I get recognized. Yesterday for instance it was the gatekeeper of a club. And in that club a girl said she loves my videos. That’s cool, I should go out more often.
BLICK: How do you go around? Dressed like in your clips?
Marina Orlova: When I am not recording, I wear comfortable shorts, a T-shirt, no make-up and a cup of tea near my PC. But when I go out I wear similarly as I do for my clips.
BLICK: You are certainly aware that many of your fans do not wish primarily to learn English – but rather enjoy you and your outfits.
Marina Orlova: Sure, it is the specific of my channel. The people would hardly click a video if they knew that it is about the origin of words. It sounds quite boring. But if they know that there is a hot cheek to watch, then they click. And when I have their attention, then they notice that the meaning of words is in fact a very exciting thing!
There is also the prejudice, that boys like stupid girls. A lot of girls think so. I try to show that the opposite is true. It is cool to be intelligent, it is cool tu use the brain!
BLICK: Should maybe more teachers dress like you do? As to keep them motivated in the English course for beginners?
Marina Orlova: In the primary school I would say ‘no’, there it is not convenient. But 90% of my fans is beyond 21 and 30% beyond 40! The way I dress attracts people at the beginning. So it is meaningful to dress like I do.
BLICK: Any reaction from angry feminists?
Marina Orlova: No, they do not attack me. Honestly I receive a lot of congratulations from women that thank me for making intelligence sexy! If there were no substance behind what I do, then there would be certainly some critics. The people do think indeed, at the beginning, that I am a sort of silly “babe”, but after a couple of videos they realise what it is all about.
Of course there are a few women that call me a whore on Youtube. But they do so with all women, you learn simply to ignore that and to focus on the positive comments.
BLICK: Talking about bad comments – do you receive many of those? How do you deal with that?
Marina Orlova: One of the most difficult things for women that get famous in Internet is the amount of ‘hate mail’ they get. Because Internet allows the people to comment anonymously – so they can say the nastiest thing, without fearing any consequences. At the beginning this got me down – they called me “old”, “whore”, they said they hated my Russian accent, and so on – but the 14-years-old son of a friend of mine taught me something valuable. He told me that kids of his age would do all that sort of things only to obtain a reaction. They do not even really believe what they say. As I realised that I had to laugh. I read ALL my comments myself. The good and the bad ones.
BLICK: What would you like to do in future?
Marina Orlova: I’d definitely like to continue with the Hotforwords stuff! I simply LOVE it! And I have just written a book at HarperCollins – it is coming out at the end of August. A Game-Show with myself is also planned. As long as I love it, I will continue doing that!
BLICK: If you sit the whole day at the PC and never go out – do you have a boyfriend?
Marina Orlova: I am very single! Since I work so hard and hardly leave my house, it is difficult to meet anybody. So, men, contact me on my webpage http://www.hotforwords.com. Maybe I’ll break my rule and I will date somebody I get in touch with via Internet.
Congratulations Marina! Yet another “oh yeah!” to add to your ever growing portfolio of “oh yeahs!”.
Marina, that was another great, if hard to read interview. People who translate for a living have no fear of computerized translations.
We understanding you shot bird if anyone ask to share your swiss chocolate.
Yes, It’s mine, all mine, get your own.
Congratulations on the interview, Marina! I hope it opens more doors for you.
Thanks so much for all you do.
Always.
Did they give you a box of chocolates?
a huge box of Toblerones
MRL Helper exchange – Bozeman pass…waiting for the warm weather
Bozeman in the dead of winter. Icy snow crunching under the feet. Taxi ride from the airport in a taxi loaded with trays of flower seedlings (they do what they have to make a living). Freeze your nuggies off.
[germination]
Nothing! Google does a excellent transmission of the article Swiss. Why if everyone was this good, we could talk between land parcels with hardly any probabilities. It is a fine chocolate that pours down your mountainsides. And that wordage about breaking your stricture against dating Internet mentals gives us all back here in Hotforwood great hope that someday we may be bitten by your little dog.
Software rulez!
Maruna, Congratulations on getting good publicity from a newspaper in Switzerland. Perhaps this will lead to more subscriptions and more succes.
In the article, it mentions a possible quiz show for television. I hope this succeeds for you and perhaps you’ll be nominated for an “Emmy” or other prestigious award!
Seesixcm6
Good morning Marina!
Here’s a current article about new words in the English language that “spring up” and become popularized by people using the internet. Thought this might be of interest to you… plus there’s some handy reference links in the article.
http://lifewise.canoe.ca/Living/2009/02/27/8557271-cp.html
Those are some pretty photos posted in that slide show.
.
I didn’t read the article cause I don’t understand “Switzerlish or Switzernese”
I. Thats German
II. Here’s a Google Transated version:
BLICK: Woher kommt Ihre Leidenschaft für die englische Sprache? VIEW: Where does your passion for the English language?
Marina Orlova: «Ich habe zwei Uni-Abschlüsse: einen in Russischer und Weltliteratur und einen in englischer Philologie. Marina Orlova: “I have two university degrees: one in Russian and world literature and one in English philology. Bei Philologie geht’s um das Studium der Herkunft von Wörtern – das hat mich immer fasziniert. In philology is about studying the origins of words – that has always fascinated me. Und Englisch habe ich gelernt, weil ich dachte, dass das praktisch sei, falls ich Russland je verlassen sollte. And I have learned English, because I thought that the practice was, if I should leave Russia ever.
Wieviele Sprachen sprechen Sie denn? How many languages do you speak it?
Nur Russisch und Englisch. Only Russian and English. Ich kann auch noch Lateinisch und Griechisch – allerdings nur lesen, nicht sprechen. I can even Latin and Greek – but only read, not speak.
Warum sind Sie nach Amerika gezogen? Why are you drawn to America?
Ursprünglich, um meine Englischkenntnisse zu perfektionieren. Originally, my English language skills to perfection. Ich habe mich bei einem Au-Pair-Programm gemeldet und kümmerte mich zwei Jahre lang um einen autistischen Jungen. I was at an Au Pair program reported to me and cared for two years an autistic boy. Gleichzeitig besuchte ich auch hier die Uni. At the same time I also visited the university. Jetzt bin ich schon fünf Jahre hier. Now I have five years here.
Sie dürfen gerne auch mal in die Schweiz kommen. You may also happy times come to Switzerland. Wir haben ganz seltsame Dialekte und Worte mit wunderbaren Etymologien. We have a very strange dialects and words with a wonderful Etymologies.
Ich LIEBE die Schweiz – und das, was euer Land in der Geschichte repräsentiert. I love Switzerland – and what your country represents in the history. Ich möchte das Land unbedingt mal besuchen – YouTube hat schliesslich unglaublich tolle Büros in Zürich, und dort sind ja die meisten meiner Videos. I want the country necessarily times visit – YouTube has finally unbelievably fantastic offices in Zurich, and there are most of my videos. Ich habe gehört, dort hats Feuerwehrstangen zwischen den Stockwerken – man braucht gar keinen Lift! I’ve heard there hats firemen poles between floors – you need no elevator!
Warum haben Sie ihren YouTube-Channel gemacht? Why did you choose her YouTube channel made? Wirklich um den Leuten etwas beizubringen – oder um berühmt zu werden? Really something to teach the people – or to be famous?
Ich wollte schon immer Lehrerin werden. I always wanted to become a teacher. In Russland hab ich eine Klasse von etwa 20 Kindern unterrichtet. In Russia I have a class of about 20 children taught. Im Dezember 2006 hat mir jemand ein E-Mail geschickt und gesagt – Hey, schau dir mal dieses YouTube-Ding an! In December 2006, someone sent me an e-mailed and said – Hey, look at times this thing on YouTube! Ich dachte, auf diesem Weg erreiche ich vielleicht ein paar Tausend statt nur 20 Leute. I thought this way I reach perhaps a few thousand instead of just 20 people. Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass es am Ende 165 Millionen würden, nie im Leben! I never thought that 165 million at the end would never in life!
Sie sind jetzt eine richtige Internet-Berühmtheit. You are now a true Internet celebrity. Wie ist das so? How is this so? Können Sie sich überhaupt noch bewegen wie früher – oder müssen Sie sich verstecken wie viele Hollywoodstars? Can you still move on as before – or you have to hide how many Hollywood stars?
Nun, ich bin IMMER am arbeiten. Well, I’m ALWAYS at work. Von morgens bis nachts sitze ich am PC und antworte auf Kommentare und E-Mails. From morning to night I sit at the computer and reply to comments and e-mails. Meine Videos werden täglich mehrere tausend Mal angeschaut, also versuche ich, auf so viele Kommentare wie möglich zu antworten. My videos are daily several thousand times, so I try to as many comments as possible to respond. Ich nehme Bitten und Vorschläge für neue Wörter auf, schreibe Scripts für neue Videos, nehme neue Videos auf, schneide sie, uploade sie. I take requests and suggestions for new words to write scripts for new videos, new videos suppose to cut them, upload them. Jeden Tag gibt’s ein neues Video – das gibt viel zu tun! Every day there’s a new video – you can find a lot to do! Deswegen verlasse ich auch kaum mein Haus. That’s why I barely leave my house.
Wenn ich aber mal rausgehe, dann werde ich schon erkannt. But if I go out times, then I will already be recognized. Gestern zum Beispiel vom Türsteher eines Clubs. Yesterday, for example, by a club bouncer. Und im Club hat ein Mädchen gesagt, sie liebe meine Videos. And the club has a girl, they love my videos. Das ist schon cool – ich sollte wohl öfter ausgehen. That’s cool – I should probably expect more.
Wie gehen Sie denn raus? How do you get out? So angezogen wie in ihren Videos? So dressed as in her videos?
Wenn ich nicht am aufnehmen bin, sitze ich in gemütlichen Shorts, einem T-Shirt, ohne Make-Up und einer Tasse Tee am PC. If I’m not at the record, I sit in comfortable shorts, a T-shirt, no makeup and a cup of tea on a PC. Aber wenn ich ausgehe trage ich so ziemlich das gleiche wie in meinen Videos! But if I do I expect pretty much the same as in my videos!
Sie sind sich sicher sehr wohl bewusst, dass viele Ihrer Fans wohl nicht in erster Linie Englisch lernen wollen – sondern einfach Freude an Ihnen und Ihren Outfits haben. They are certainly very well aware that many of your fans probably do not primarily want to learn English – but simply to enjoy yourself and have your outfits.
Klar, das ist ja der Clou meines Channels. Clearly, this is the highlight of my channels. Die Leute würden ja kaum auf ein Video klicken wenn sie wüssten, dass es um den Ursprung von Worten geht. People would hardly click on a video if they knew that it is the origin of words. Das klingt ja ziemlich langweilig. That sounds pretty boring. Wenn sie aber wissen, dass es ein heisses Chick zu sehen gibt, dann klicken sie. However, when they know that there is a hot chick to see, then click. Und wenn ich dann mal ihre Aufmerksamkeit habe, dann merken sie, dass Wortbedeutungen in Tat und Wahrheit eine sehr spannende Sache sind! And then times when I have their attention, then they remember that word meanings in reality a very exciting thing!
Es gibt ja auch dieses Vorurteil, dass Typen dumme Mädchen mögen. There is also this notion that types like silly girls. Viele Mädchen denken das. Ich versuche zu zeigen, dass das Gegenteil wahr ist. Many girls think das I am trying to show that the opposite is true. Es ist cool, gescheit zu sein – cool, das Gehirn zu benutzen! It’s cool to be clever – cool, the brain to use!
Sollten vielleicht mehr Lehrerinnen sich so anziehen wie Sie? Should perhaps more teachers so as to attract you? Etwa, um die Schüler beim Frühenglisch bei Laune zu halten? Around to the students at the Early English happy!
Also in der Primarschule würde ich nein sagen, da ist das nicht angebracht. So in primary school, I would say no, because it is not appropriate. Aber 90 Prozent meiner Zuschauer ist über 21 und 30 Prozent über 40 Jahre alt! But 90 percent of my audience is over 21 and 30 percent over 40 years old! Wie ich mich anziehe, zieht die Leute anfänglich an. As I pull, attracts people to initially. Es macht also Sinn, dass ich mich so anziehe. So it makes sense to me so that I attract.
Haben sich noch nie erboste Feministinnen gemeldet? Have never been reported infuriated feminists?
Nein, die attackieren mich nicht. No, do not attack me. Ehrlich gesagt bekomme ich viel Lob von Frauen, die mir dafür danken, dass ich Intelligenz sexy mache! Honestly I get a lot of praise from women who thank me for that I am doing intelligence sexy! Wenn keine Substanz hinter dem wäre, was ich tue, dann gäbs sicher Kritik. If there is no substance behind would be what I do, then there would certainly criticism. Die Leute denken ja anfänglich ich sei nur ein dummer «Bimbo», aber nach ein paar Videos merken sie, worum es eigentlich geht. The people think so initially I was just a stupid “Bimbo”, but after a few videos they remember what it is.
Klar, es gibt vereinzelte Frauen, die mich «Hure» nennen auf YouTube. Sure, there are a few women, who helped me “whore” call on YouTube. Aber das machen die mit allen Frauen, man lernt, das einfach zu ignorieren und sich auf die positiven Kommentare zu fokussieren. But do it with all women, to learn, easy to ignore and focus on the positive comments about focus.
Apropos schlimme Kommentare – kriegen Sie viel davon? Speaking of nasty comments – you get a lot of it? Und wie gehen Sie damit um? And how do you deal with this?
Etwas vom Schwierigsten für Frauen, die im Internet berühmt werden, ist die Menge von «Hate Mail», die sie bekommen. Something from the most difficult for women who are famous on the Internet, is the set of “Hate Mail”, which they get. Denn das Internet erlaubt es den Leuten, anonym zu kommentieren – so kann man die gemeinsten Dinge sagen, ohne Konsequenzen befürchten zu müssen. Because the Internet allows people to comment anonymously – so can the most common things to say, without fear of consequences. Zuerst machte mich das fertig … die nannten mich «alt», «Hure», sie sagten, sie hassten meinen Russischen Akzent etc. – aber der 14-jährige Sohn eines Freundes hat mir etwas Wertvolles beigebracht. First made me ready … called me the “old”, “whore”, she said, she hated my Russian accent, etc. – but the 14-year-old son of a friend has given me something valuable taught. Er sagte mir, dass die Kids in seinem Alter all diese Dinge nur machen würden, damit eine Reaktion erfolgt! He told me that the kids in his age all these things just make so that a reaction takes place! Sie meinen die Dinge, die sie sagen nicht einmal zwingend. You mean the things they say not even mandatory. Als ich das mal schnallte lachte ich nur noch. When I strapped times, I just laughed. Ich lese ALLE meine Kommentare selbst. Die guten und die schlechten. I read ALL my comments themselves good and the bad.
Was möchten Sie in Zukunft machen? What would you do in the future?
Ich möchte unbedingt weitermachen mit dem HotForWords-Ding! I would absolutely continue with the hotforwords thing! Ich LIEBE es einfach! I LOVE it! Und ich habe grade ein Buch bei HarperCollins geschrieben – das kommt dann im August. And I grade a book for Harper Collins – and that comes in August. Und eine Game-Show mit mir ist auch in Planung. And a game show with me is also being planned. So lange ich das alles liebe, werde ich es tun! As long as everything I love, I’ll do it!
Wenn Sie die ganze Zeit am Computer sitzen und nie rausgehen – haben Sie denn einen Freund? If you have all the time sitting at the computer and never go out – because you have a friend?
Ich bin sehr single! I’m very single! Weil ich so hart arbeite und das Haus kaum verlasse, ist es schwierig für mich, Leute kennenzulernen. Because I worked so hard and barely leave the house, it is difficult for me to get to know people. Ich bin SEHR daran interessiert, jemanden zu treffen. I am VERY keen to meet someone. Also, Männer, kontaktiert mich doch auf meiner Webseite http://www.hotforwords.com Vielleicht brech ich ja sogar meine Regel und geh mit jemandem auf ein Date, den ich im Internet kennengelernt habe… Also, men who contacted me on my website http://www.hotforwords.com Maybe I even breaking my rule and go with someone on a date that I’ve met on the Internet …
Heres my (better)Translation
(ok its not perfect, but i dont have much time^^)
Where does your passion for the English language?
I have two university degrees: one in Russian and world literature and one in English philology.
Philology is about studying the origins of words – that has always fascinated me.
And I have learned English, because I thought that the practice was, if I should leave Russia ever.
How many languages do you speak?
Only Russian and English.
I can even Latin and Greek – but only read, not speak.
Why did you move to America?
Originally, to improve my English language
I was at an Au Pair program reported to me and cared for two years an autistic boy.
At the same time I also visited the university.
Now I have been here for five years.
You may also come to Switzerland.
We have very strange dialects and words with a wonderful Ethymologies.
I love Switzerland – and what your country represents in the history.
I want to visit the country – YouTube has finally unbelievably fantastic offices in Zurich, and there are most of my videos. I’ve heard there hats firemen poles between floors – you need no elevator!(?)
Why did you choose to do Youtube?
Really to teach the people – or to be famous?
I always wanted to become a teacher.
In Russia I had a class of about 20 children .
In December 2006, someone sent me an e-maile and said – Hey, look at this thing on YouTube!
I thought this way I reach perhaps a few thousand instead of just 20 people.
I never thought that it’ll be 165 Million
You are now a true Internet celebrity. How is it?
Can you still move on as before – or do you have to hide how many Hollywood stars?
Well, I’m ALWAYS at work.
From morning to night I sit at the computer and reply to comments and e-mails.
My videos are daily viewed several thousand times, so I try to to respond as many comments as possible .
I take requests and suggestions for new words, write scripts for new videos, cut them, upload them.
Every day there’s a new video – you can find a lot to do!
That’s why I barely leave my house.
But if I go out , then I will be recognized.
Yesterday, for example, by a club bouncer.
And in the club a girl told me she loves my videos.
That’s cool – I should probably go out more often.
Do you go out dressed as in the videos?
If I’m not recording, I wear comfortable shorts, a T-shirt, no makeup and drink a cup of tea in front of the PC.
But if I do I go out, I pretty much wear the same as in my videos!
I think you that many people watch your videos, not to learn, but to see you in your outfits.
Of Course, this is the clue(?) of my channels.
People would hardly click on a video if they knew that it is the origin of words.
That sounds pretty boring.
However, when they know that there is a hot chick to see, they’ll click.
And then when I have their attention, then they recognize that word meanings in reality a very exciting thing!
There is also this stereotype that guys like stupid girls.
Many girls believe that. I am trying to show that the opposite is true. It’s cool to be clever!
Should perhaps more teachers be dressed as you?
So that the studends are more interested?
So in primary school, I would say no, because it is not appropriate.
But 90 percent of my audience is over 21 and 30 percent over 40 years old! The things i wear, attracts people to initially.
So it makes sense ,what i wear.
Have infuriated feministsever messaged you?
No, they do not attack me.
To be Honestly many women thank me for making intelligence sexy!
If there would be no sense in what I do, then there would be criticism.
The people think initially I would be just a stupid “Bimbo”, but after a few videos they recognize what it is.
Sure, there are a few women, who called me “whore” on YouTube.
But they do it with all women, you have to lean to concentrate on the positive comments
Speaking of nasty comments – you get a lot of it?
And how do you deal with them?
Something the most difficult for women who are famous on the Internet, is the set of “Hate Mail”, which they get.
Because the Internet allows people to comment anonymously – so the can say mean things, without fearing consequences.
First it made me sad …they called me “old”, “whore”, they said, they hated my Russian accent, etc. – but the 14-year-old son of a friend has taught me something valuable .
He told me that the kids in his age say all these things just to get attention
They mean the things they say not even mandatory.
As I understood these, I just laughed. I
I read ALL my comments, the good and the bad.
What will you do in the future?
I will absolutely continue with the hotforwords thing!
I LOVE it!
And I wrote a book for Harper Collins – and that comes in August.
And a game show with me is also being planned.
As long as I love this , I’ll do it!
If you sit in front of the computer and never go out – do you have a boyfriend?
I’m single!
Because I work so hard and I barely leave the house, it is difficult for me to get to know people.
I am VERY interested in meeting someone.
So, men, cantact me on my website http://www.hotforwords.com Maybe I’ll even break my rules and go out with someone on a date that I’ve met on the Internet …
Hey vic, you did a great job. I know what you mean about time. It would take me several hours to try to find the right words and sentence construction. Great job!
ok, thanks dude.
)
hm i didn’t looked up one word (wich I’m a bit roud of
I have to say that, Interpreting(?) or Translating Songlyrics (wich i’m doing with every song that i listen to,i don’t know why^^) is VERY helpful in learning the english language, it even helped me in school :]
HAHA,
Under the Article there was an Ad for “Russische Frau für Heirat
Attraktive Frauen aus Russland zum Heiraten finden
http://www.RussianEuro.com”
What means,that you can look for a russian woman to marry there
Well,
I#m still hoping someone will tell something about the word [Harlot] (as i asked in the comments of FTW and Pusillanimous)
By the vic_rattlehead, that is the same company that advertises here on this HFW site also. If you are in DE land, you might see different ads from the ones I see.
Yeah could be so, I can’t see any Russian Girls here
… 
Harlot is a coined word in two parts: first, HAR is an acronym for Hos (slanguage for whores) After Revenue and the second part is lot, meaning a parcel of land. I leave it to you, dear reader, to put them together.
It’s true, I tell you.
cool
March Forth!!!..forthright all marchers
a date and fig [Brown Swiss cow]..not a Jersey farmer…[jersey]
Kudos otra vez
Awesome article, Marina. Loved the interview.
Lots of great wisdom from Marina.
An entertaining and informative article..
&
Pigs might fly!
Hello
hi
FUNEX?