MA student Quynh Thi Pham on why she chose Sheffield for her MA

Why did you choose to study at the University of Sheffield?

I have a keen interest in linguistics and plan to pursue a teaching career. I looked for an MA course that would provide me with knowledge about both linguistics and language teaching.

And the MA Applied Linguistics with TESOL at the UoS is exactly what I need. Also, I know the University of Sheffield has excellent teaching quality and a high ranking within the UK and over the world.

What made the University of Sheffield stand out for you?

The University of Sheffield provides me with an inspiring and supportive learning environment. I am given the opportunities to pursue my own interests and supported unconditionally by my lecturers who inspire, motivate and enlighten me.

What do you particularly enjoy about your degree?

I have opportunities to learn from fantastic lecturers and researchers in the field such as Dr Jane Mulderrig and Professor Nigel Harwood who always share invaluable knowledge and offer me unconditional support.

Significantly, I strongly believe that the knowledge and skills I have learnt from them are important resources for me to become a competent language teacher.

I am given the opportunities to pursue my own interests and supported unconditionally by my lecturers who inspire, motivate and enlighten me.

Quynh Thi Pham

MA Applied Linguistics with TESOL

What are you currently researching as part of your MA?

Because of my love for reasoning and arguments and my future plan, I’m working on practical reasoning and argumentation in discourse, which is the largest project in the MA course.

Personally, doing research on the topic is improving my reasoning and argumentation skills, and therefore I’m becoming more rational, critical, and reasonable.

Also, I’ve learnt from the MA course that reasoning and argumentation are the core elements of academic writing. If students are taught how to reason and develop rational and critical arguments, they have more opportunities to succeed in their academic careers.

So, the understanding of reasoning and arguments through research to some extent could enable me to develop a syllabus to help my future students with reasoning and argumentation skills.

What is it like to be a postgraduate student in the School of English?

My studies in the School of English require me to not only work hard but also to work smart and critically. I have to read books and articles about different topics every week and at the same time analyze and critique this material.

This helps me accumulate invaluable knowledge about the subjects as well as develop analytical and critical reading skills. Also, I can discuss my readings and my points of view with my lectures and classmates.

Sometimes we have different points of view and continue to debate these topics. This forces me to review my knowledge and my own arguments, through which I could advance my understanding.