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English applicants 2017

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Original post by Rhaenys10
Aww, thanks a lot! Best of luck to you too, sweetie!


It's okay and thank you! What country are you from? Just asking out of random curiosity haha

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Original post by littlemix012
It's okay and thank you! What country are you from? Just asking out of random curiosity haha

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You're welcome:smile:I'm from Romania
Finally!

I was beginning to feel kinda lonely ahaha. I'll be applying for English
literature
Original post by thesarcasticone
Finally!

I was beginning to feel kinda lonely ahaha. I'll be applying for English
literature


Haha, that sounds good! Where are you thinking of applying to?
Original post by littlemix012
Haha, that sounds good! Where are you thinking of applying to?


Oxford, UCL, KCL, Durham, haven't decided on the last one yet
Original post by thesarcasticone
Oxford, UCL, KCL, Durham, haven't decided on the last one yet


Wow you sound really smart haha 😂
Original post by littlemix012
Wow you sound really smart haha 😂


lol nah.
Anyway, any chance I'm not the only one whose lagging behind in writing their ps?
Original post by thesarcasticone
lol nah.
Anyway, any chance I'm not the only one whose lagging behind in writing their ps?


You're not the only one, I've barely started haha
Original post by brxvebird
Hello!!
I'm applying to study Literature and Linguistics/Lit & Lang at York, Newcastle and probably QMUL. Queen Mary were my first choice for straight Literature but I've heard horror stories about their English Language/Linguistics department so I'm sceptical. :frown:

How are all your personal statements going?


I'm studying Linguistics at QM. AMA :smile:
I got offers from UCL, KCL and QM too if you have any questions :smile:
Original post by Anna.Karenina
I'm studying Linguistics at QM. AMA :smile:


Is linguistics good at Queen Mary? A lot of people have said it's really bad
Original post by Anna.Karenina
I'm studying Linguistics at QM. AMA :smile:


Would love to hear about the course!! I've seen it get better ratings in recent years, is it as bad as people have said?
I'm a 2016 applicant so I've already got my place for English language/ linguistics. I don't remember there being a thread like this for when I was applying to uni so I'll try and be helpful if anyone has any questions regarding the subject or applications :smile:
Original post by Tsrsarahhhh
I'm a 2016 applicant so I've already got my place for English language/ linguistics. I don't remember there being a thread like this for when I was applying to uni so I'll try and be helpful if anyone has any questions regarding the subject or applications :smile:


What university will you be studying at? :smile:
Original post by littlemix012
What university will you be studying at? :smile:


Manchester
Original post by littlemix012
Is linguistics good at Queen Mary? A lot of people have said it's really bad


Original post by brxvebird
Would love to hear about the course!! I've seen it get better ratings in recent years, is it as bad as people have said?


Linguistics at QM is fantastic! It, unfortunately, gets its bad reputation from the School, who are terrible at administration. The Department of Linguistics is extremely well organised, but the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film isn't so much - they take ages to issue the module directory over the summer, as well as get the timetables ready. You always have plenty of time to sort yourself out, but they are just a lot further behind in terms of other Schools.

For the first year of the course, all modules are compulsory. The Foundations of Linguistics module is really fantastic because you get taught by different specialist lecturers every week, so of which are world-renowned. You never get a phonetician coming to lecture you on semantics. In this module you get introduced to the subfields of linguistics, including language acquisition and neurolinguistics. The remaining six are: Introduction to Syntax, Introduction to Phonology, Introduction to Phonetics, Introduction to Languages in the UK, Introduction to Sociolinguistics, and Introduction to Languages of the World. All really good, well-informed and interesting modules. And as you can see, a nice theoretical-sociolinguistic split. The first year is a really fantastic opportunity to figure out what you're good at - I learnt quickly that my strength is in phonetics and phonology, and not so much in sociolinguistics. You'll also be happy to know that the first year is only worth ten percent of your final degree classification.

The second year is when you get to customise your degree. You have four compulsory modules - Aspects of Meaning, Explaining Grammatical Structure, History of English and Sociolinguistic Variation. Despite sociolinguistics being my weaker point, the lecturers really are excellent, and do research some fascinating stuff -- one of my lecturers is looking at how homosexuals subtly alter their formant values to sound more feminine, and another just returned from eight weeks in the French Alps looking at language endangerment. My personal favourite of the compulsory modules was Aspects of Meaning -- I got full marks for that module and got to look at linguistics in a whole different way. It was quite mathematical (don't fret - I only got a C at GCSE Maths!), and was really distinctive from any of the other modules. History of English you may have touched upon at A-Level, and Explaining Grammatical Structure is really just an intermediate version of Introduction to Syntax. For my optional modules, I chose Acoustic Analysis of Speech (amazingly interesting and a fantastic lecturer who knows everything there is to know), Writing Systems (which looks at Hebrew and hieroglyphics), Language and Ethnicity (great lecturer, interesting techniques, boring module!), and Computers and Language (a really dynamic module with a gorgeous lecturer) No exams in the second year too (only one in the first) - only essays, problem sheets, presentations, with the odd in class test thrown in. I was pregnant in the second year with a newborn in the second half, so the workload is more than manageable!

In the third year, you have to do an 8000 word dissertation and the accompanying Research Methods module -- you pick five more. These include Bilingualism, Philosophy of Language, Language and Health Communication, Introduction to Emojis, Structures of Spoken English, Constructing a Language, and Language, Sex and Gender (and I think two others which I can remember!)

QM Linguistics - definitely 10/10!
Original post by Anna.Karenina
Linguistics at QM is fantastic! It, unfortunately, gets its bad reputation from the School, who are terrible at administration. The Department of Linguistics is extremely well organised, but the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film isn't so much - they take ages to issue the module directory over the summer, as well as get the timetables ready. You always have plenty of time to sort yourself out, but they are just a lot further behind in terms of other Schools.

For the first year of the course, all modules are compulsory. The Foundations of Linguistics module is really fantastic because you get taught by different specialist lecturers every week, so of which are world-renowned. You never get a phonetician coming to lecture you on semantics. In this module you get introduced to the subfields of linguistics, including language acquisition and neurolinguistics. The remaining six are: Introduction to Syntax, Introduction to Phonology, Introduction to Phonetics, Introduction to Languages in the UK, Introduction to Sociolinguistics, and Introduction to Languages of the World. All really good, well-informed and interesting modules. And as you can see, a nice theoretical-sociolinguistic split. The first year is a really fantastic opportunity to figure out what you're good at - I learnt quickly that my strength is in phonetics and phonology, and not so much in sociolinguistics. You'll also be happy to know that the first year is only worth ten percent of your final degree classification.

The second year is when you get to customise your degree. You have four compulsory modules - Aspects of Meaning, Explaining Grammatical Structure, History of English and Sociolinguistic Variation. Despite sociolinguistics being my weaker point, the lecturers really are excellent, and do research some fascinating stuff -- one of my lecturers is looking at how homosexuals subtly alter their formant values to sound more feminine, and another just returned from eight weeks in the French Alps looking at language endangerment. My personal favourite of the compulsory modules was Aspects of Meaning -- I got full marks for that module and got to look at linguistics in a whole different way. It was quite mathematical (don't fret - I only got a C at GCSE Maths!), and was really distinctive from any of the other modules. History of English you may have touched upon at A-Level, and Explaining Grammatical Structure is really just an intermediate version of Introduction to Syntax. For my optional modules, I chose Acoustic Analysis of Speech (amazingly interesting and a fantastic lecturer who knows everything there is to know), Writing Systems (which looks at Hebrew and hieroglyphics), Language and Ethnicity (great lecturer, interesting techniques, boring module!), and Computers and Language (a really dynamic module with a gorgeous lecturer) No exams in the second year too (only one in the first) - only essays, problem sheets, presentations, with the odd in class test thrown in. I was pregnant in the second year with a newborn in the second half, so the workload is more than manageable!

In the third year, you have to do an 8000 word dissertation and the accompanying Research Methods module -- you pick five more. These include Bilingualism, Philosophy of Language, Language and Health Communication, Introduction to Emojis, Structures of Spoken English, Constructing a Language, and Language, Sex and Gender (and I think two others which I can remember!)

QM Linguistics - definitely 10/10!


Thank you for that very detailed reply, I appreciate you putting the time in to give your advice!

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Original post by Tsrsarahhhh
Manchester


Sounds good, I'm thinking of applying there because they do an optional module in forensic linguistics which looks good

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Hi all,


"mature" EU student here! :smile: I'm very happy to have found this thread!


I'm applying to Cambridge, Durham, UCL and Exeter. :smile:
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by dorababy1995
Hi all,


A mature EU student here! :smile: I'm very happy to have found this thread!


I'm applying to Cambridge, Durham, UCL and Exeter. :smile:


Wow you sound so smart! I made this thread because there weren't any like it on the whole of TSR haha

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