MA in Sociocultural Linguistics

Student testimonials

Lauren

My first degree was in Literature and Philosophy, so although I had an interest in Language, I never thought of myself as a linguist, per se. In applying for an MA I wanted something that would challenge from a new intellectual angle, but which would be interesting through its relevance to everyday life. When I saw the MA that Goldsmiths offered I knew immediately that it would be the right course for me, and I wasn't disappointed. Linguistics is such a broad subject and this MA manages to touch on so many aspects yet keeps it all manageable and allows you to follow your interests in whichever direction you wish.

The classes were intimate and very sociable, with excellent tutors who encouraged fantastic discussions and really pushed the boundaries of what I thought I 'knew' about language. We had guest lecturers and were also encouraged to sit in on seminars for the options that we hadn't chosen to help us gain as much knowledge of the wider subject as we possible could. There is a huge emphasis on actively collecting your own data and really getting involved in the world of socio-linguistics. Having come from a more literary and theoretical background, I found this slightly daunting at first, but as soon as I started collecting and analysing data I found it thoroughly satisfying and rewarding. For my dissertation I gathered research in two schools to look at the teaching of literacy is managed within a multilingual classroom in the UK. I now consider myself a linguist and am applying to train as a Speech and Language Therapist!

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Martha

Before studying at Goldsmiths on the MA, I completed a BA in Language and Communication at Cardiff University. The BA course touched on some of the principles of discourse analysis and linguistic and communication research and I was looking for an MA programme that would that would allow me to take a more in depth look into some of the areas we had covered, particularly socio-linguistics and inter-cultural communication. I liked the interdisciplinary nature of the MA programme at Goldsmiths, it offered me a greater understanding of the fundamentals of modern linguistic research through the core course modules whist giving me the opportunity to follow my specific interests in the optional modules. I found the seminars engaging and inspiring and I enjoyed the classroom discussions. While the course was challenging, the class groups were relatively small and there was a really supportive atmosphere created amongst my peers and tutors.

I became particularly interested in second language acquisition and translation studies and wrote my final dissertation on the influence of first language usage on second language acquisition in the classroom. On completion of the course I accepted a post working for the British Council in Colombia, teaching English to adults and business people. I draw on my academic experience regularly in my job and continue to read EFL journals, particularly at the moment as I am studying on a Cambridge diploma course in language teaching.

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Lorena

I graduated from London Metropolitan University with a BA in Applied Translation, while working as a part-time Spanish language tutor. Coming from a linguistic background, I wanted to further my studies in linguistics, so I decided to do an MA in the field.

After being offered a place at several universities, I chose Goldsmiths’ MA because I was looking for a course which offered aspects related to Sociology and Cultural Studies from a linguistic point of view. I was particularly interested in studying modern linguistics, techniques of linguistic analysis, socio-linguistic methodologies, and semantics and pragmatics, and this MA covered all these subjects, and more.

I enjoyed taking the following courses: Theory and Method in the Study of Language in Context; Discourse as Social Interaction; and Language and Meaning in Cultural Analysis; and found that they covered my expectations in terms of what I was looking for. I found it good practice to carry out analysis and interpretation of spoken and written texts, and I really enjoyed the group discussions with peers and lecturers, which were very engaging and thought provoking.

After completing my MA I was offered a job at London South Bank University in the Research and Development Office. At some stage in the future I may continue my postgraduate studies with a PhD degree, as I would like to do research in social communication and cultural issues.