Showcasing Real-World Linguistics: Student Submissions at COPA by Ellie Dickinson
At the end of each academic year, the School of Culture and Communication at Swansea University hosts COPA (Welsh for ‘summit’): an event that brings together students, faculty, and industry professionals to celebrate innovation, collaboration, and creativity. For students in Applied Linguistics, COPA offers a unique opportunity to present how their academic work applies to the real world.
Whether through projects on language revitalisation, heritage language preservation, or policy development, student submissions show how versatile and essential linguistics is today. From poster presentations to video essays and case studies, their work reveals the relevance of language in shaping identity, inclusion, and community.
This year, a group of students were invited to showcase their exceptional work, including Caitlin, Jessica, and Ellie. Below is a testimonial from each contributor, in which they reflect on their projects, what they learned, and why their work matters.
Caitlin Childs, 3rd year student (BA English Language with a Year Abroad)
“My presentation for Second Language Acquisition focused on heritage languages and their learners. I explored the different types of heritage languages and examined the strengths and weaknesses experienced by learners who use them. I also researched specialist terms related to the field, such as intergenerational language transmission.
I really enjoyed creating this presentation as I discovered that I am actually a heritage language learner myself. It was fascinating to research and learn more about it! Being in Swansea – where there is a lot of multiculturalism – meant there are many heritage languages and learners around, so it was especially interesting to become more knowledgeable about the subject.”
Jessica Waite, 3rd year student (BA English Language)
“The assignment was a PowerPoint presentation on heritage languages for my Second Language Acquisition module. It focused on the challenges heritage speakers face and the importance of creating supportive policies and educational practices to preserve these languages.
I found the topic especially insightful as it highlighted just how crucial it is to maintain linguistic diversity. It also felt personally relevant. Being a Welsh person who doesn’t speak Welsh fluently, I connected with the idea of cultural identity being tied to language, and it made me reflect on the importance of revitalising and valuing minority languages.”
Ellie Dickinson, 3rd year student (BSc Applied Linguistics and English Language with a Year Abroad)
“My poster presentation for Language Policy and Planning focused on the revitalisation of the Hawaiian language, particularly through efforts in education and the media. I used the UNESCO vitality framework to assess the risk of endangerment.
This was a really interesting assignment because it required me to critically evaluate the effectiveness of government programmes, the efforts of grassroots initiatives, and the commitment of the Hawaiian people to revitalise their language. It was both encouraging and rewarding to see the dedication at all levels to revitalise a language that was struggling to maintain relevance in modern day linguistic contexts. Creating this poster presentation reminded me of the importance of preserving endangered languages, rather than allowing them to be marginalised.”
These student projects show that linguistics isn’t just a theoretical discipline, it has real-world applications for preserving identity, shaping inclusive policies, and giving voice to minority communities.
