In 2020 it’s difficult for anything to avoid the shadow of COVID-19 and university life has proven to be no exception. Thousands of students across the country have spoken of their confusion and worry of returning to university, many have been forced to self-isolate in their halls of residence and things seem to be changing…Continue Reading What’s going on this year for Applied Linguistics students?
Swansea Linguistics Journal
This year’s finalists had a very busy schedule. Working hard on their dissertations and submitting their final pieces of coursework, as well as job-hunting, several of them seemed to find time to set up the first ever student journal for those working in Applied Linguistics and Language-related disciplines. Aptly named the Swansea Linguistics Journal, the…Continue Reading Swansea Linguistics Journal
‘Barking mad’, or embarking on a life changing journey?
I am a non-native English language speaker (bilingual Latvian/Russian), a mature student and a single parent to two busy boys. This is my ‘success story’. As a working-class immigrant and Montessori teacher/nursery nurse, you would be forgiven for thinking this would be a challenging enough pathway. I know I certainly felt that way when I…Continue Reading ‘Barking mad’, or embarking on a life changing journey?
Doing an M.A. in TESOL by Mary Ritchie
My name is Mary Ritchie, and at 48 years old I’m probably the oldest person to have completed the M.A. in TESOL at Swansea University! Before studying at Swansea University I worked as a Speech and Language Therapist in Scotland for 9 years. In the year 2000 my husband and I moved to the Philippines…Continue Reading Doing an M.A. in TESOL by Mary Ritchie
Mature Students in Focus: Neil Roberts
As a forty-seven year old first year undergraduate I’ve been reflecting on life. Well, more accurately I’ve been thinking about how life can be condensed down to a small series of pivotal decisions made at seminal points in our lives. Sometimes consciously, sometimes not, the decisions we make during these times launch us in new…Continue Reading Mature Students in Focus: Neil Roberts
Mature Students in Focus: Rachel Sanders
I had the pleasure of meeting and teaching Rachel Sanders in her first and second year at Swansea and, impressed with her commitment and engagement with her course, her fellow students and the university, we sat down to have a chat about what it was like to be a mature student in the Department of…Continue Reading Mature Students in Focus: Rachel Sanders
Mature Students in Focus – Michaela Hartwell
Michaela Hartwell studies BA (Hons) English Language and TESOL in our English Language and Applied Linguistics department. I got a chance to chat to her about her experience as a mature student, returning to study in the middle of her already successful career and travelling adventures. Here’s what she had to say: What do you…Continue Reading Mature Students in Focus – Michaela Hartwell
Mature Students in Focus – Rhian Lloyd
Rhian Lloyd studies BA (Hons) English Literature but has taken several electives within the English Language and Applied Linguistics department. I got a chance to chat to her about why English Language modules had been of interest to her, as well as her experience as a mature student, returning to study. Here’s what she had…Continue Reading Mature Students in Focus – Rhian Lloyd