Here are some comments from previous students:
Jaime, BA English Language before studying for the MA at Swansea (2012-2013)
Video from Jaime as he was about to start his MA at Swansea after teaching English for several years in Japan.
Question and Answer session with Graham (2012, 1st class)
- What did you enjoy about studying your degree?
I thoroughly enjoyed the wide variety of modules that were on offer, not just those based around the subject that I was specializing in i.e. English Language with TEFL but also the fact that if I wanted to take modules from other places that interested me, I was able to do so.
The most important thing was the level of support from my tutors and lecturers. They all worked exceptionally hard, not just on a professional level, but also on a personal level to make sure I was comfortable, understood everything and was working to the best of my potential. In the end the hard work paid off and I received the degree that I came to Swansea to achieve. - What did you enjoy about studying at Swansea in general?
I never felt overwhelmed by the work that was set. It was always set at a pace that was comfortable to complete and was always reviewed in class. The lecturers were the most approachable that I have had while studying on a degree course and it wasn’t just academic issues I could discuss, they were interested to know that I was happy and successful in what I was doing and if not, what advice could they offer to help me.
For me that was the most important aspect, to get the degree I aspired to achieve, i didn’t just have to work hard at the subject, i had to live the subject. My lecturers helped me do this. - What you are doing now?
I have reprised my role as an English teacher in China. I have also opened my own English school using the advice and training I received on my course. Although small at the moment, each week we have a new intake of students who hear about my school. In my contracted employment I teach middle school and kindergarten, two jobs which before my degree I did not have the confidence to teach, however since returning to China, armed with the knowledge I acquired, teaching is much easier and meaningful for both myself and my students. - How your degree helps you in your current job?
I knowledge I received on the course was the most current up to date knowledge for that year (2012). As a result I am able to educate seasoned, veteran teachers who perhaps did not have the chances that I have had, to bring them ‘up to speed’ as to current trends in English Language Teaching. I also feel that my teaching has more of a purpose and that rather than just ‘teaching on the fly’ i can make informed decisions as to how best to facilitate my students’ requirements, all of which would not have been possible without studying at Swansea.
Natasha, English Language: 2009-2012.
I am a first-class honours graduate of English Language Studies from Swansea University. Since graduating in July 2012, I have enrolled on a PGCE in Primary Education and am currently training to become a primary school teacher. I am still studying in Swansea after falling in love with it whilst studying here for my degree! Swansea is a great place to study; it is full of students, has a good shopping centre and let’s not forget it’s the closest university to the beach in the world.
I really enjoyed studying English Language and gained an insight into how language is learned, how to teach English, how English has and continues to develop and how language can have a powerful impact on the media to name just a few areas of study. I was also able to undertake my own research into an area that interested me and I really enjoyed the opportunity to explore a certain aspect of English language in greater depth. The knowledge I have gained from my degree is proving very useful in my ability to explore and teach English. Studying at degree level, writing assignments and particularly learning how to research has also proved to be invaluable for studying at post-graduate level.
Samantha, English Language: 2008-2011
My undergraduate degree at Swansea University has been extremely beneficial to me in gaining a place on a Speech and Language Therapy course. Several modules that I studied are very similar to the modules that I will be studying in September and so it will give me a great advantage. I also believe that having a degree in English Language has contributed to me gaining a place on the SLT course as places are very limited and competitive.
Daniel, English Language: 2008-2011
Swansea University provided me with a fantastic foundation for further study. The support of the lecturers, the fantastic resources and opening times of the library and challenging course content made me into a much better student. Communication skills, both written and verbal, are highly sought after by employers and my English Language BA helped nurture those skills. An English Language degree provides students with core competencies that all employers value and opens up career options in a multitude of sectors. I am now a Graduate entry law student at Cardiff University, hoping to qualify as a solicitor.
Alexandra, English Language
I remember my very first visit to Swansea University… what struck me straight away was the stunning location of the campus, nestled in beautiful Singleton Park, and overlooking Swansea Bay. A truly inspiring setting! And I also loved the idea of a single campus with all services and everything you need in one place. When I started on my programme,I certainly wasn’t disappointed: all of the lecturers were knowledgeable, approachable and friendly, always ready to help. The study pace was intense, but it felt empowering to start learning about different aspects of linguistics, and seeing how it all fits together in a wider picture. What a satisfaction! Swansea will always have a special place in my heart. I am now employed as an English Language Teacher.
Some anonymous quotes
I couldn’t imagine a better department to have studied in. Not only do the staff in Applied Linguistics possess both academic expertise and exceptional teaching skills, but they are friendly, approachable and take a genuine personal interest in their students’ welfare.
Our classes were always designed to be interesting, enjoyable and a challenge to popular opinion. The course content in each module was updated each year to ensure that we had the most current information on changing research and theories, and this in itself meant that classes were never dull. My interest in the subject quickly led to my decision to pursue a career in Speech Therapy, and I was even able to write some final-year papers on topics that particularly fascinated me. For example, I was able to merge my fascination with linguistics with my voluntary work with autistic children and look at an autistic child’s perceptions of simile, metaphor and irony.
One of the things I appreciated about Applied Linguistics was its size; our small lecture groups meant that I quickly became part of a close-knit group of friends, and you definitely weren’t just another student number to the staff. English Language Studies really is one of those degrees where you can apply what you’ve learnt to everyday life – which is something not many university graduates are able to say with confidence. I had a fascinating and inspiring three years with Applied Linguistics, and I have nothing but admiration for the staff and students who helped make my university experience so rewarding.
