Testimonials
It is an international programme and class so the students are mostly international.
- Previous education
- English and Italian language and literature, University of Rijeka
- Programme
- Language Variation and Multilingualism
- Country of previous education
- Croatia
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme and why?
After getting my BA degree, I decided to continue my studies in the Netherlands because it has one of the best educational systems. I was very interested in Radboud University because it is in the top 50 universities in the world when it comes to linguistics. The programme that interested me the most was called Language and Communication Coaching (now with a changed name Language Variation and Multilingualism). The programme itself looked amazing and it turned out to be exactly as you would expect. The classes are all theory mixed with practice which is something I've never had before.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The professors are so lovely and understanding and down to earth. You can always ask anything, anytime and most of the time in class is spent discussing a specific topic. The students really do feel equal to the professors. The programme and the professors are really trying to set you up with the knowledge you will be using in the future. It is an international programme and class so the students are mostly international which is very fun because you get to meet a lot of different people from different cultures.
Have you encountered any obstacles?
There is a lot of research and essay writing. It is very different from my Croatian university. I don't know if I would call that an obstacle, but it is definitely something it takes getting used to.
Are you currently doing an internship or writing you thesis?
Yes, I am doing both at the same time. I have a lot to do but hopefully, I'll be able to finish everything in time. My internship topic is prejudice control when it comes to foreign accents. My master thesis topic is vocabulary size for English reading exams in the Netherlands high school.
Why do you think it is important that there are people out there with this degree?
Knowing different languages always comes in handy, but being able to teach somebody a different language, or help design a programme for a specific language is very rewarding. You are able to share your knowledge and experience to help anyone who wants to learn or is struggling with a new language. I would really like to stay in the Netherlands. I would like to work in designing programmes, exams, and curriculums but also wouldn't mind teaching and sharing what I've learned.
What I love about the programme is that there is so much free choice for electives and that I can create my curriculum based on personal interests.
- Previous education
- BA Taalwetenschap (Radboud University)
- Programme
- Language Variation and Multilingualism
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme and why? How has the programme challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
What I love about the programme is that there is so much free choice for electives and that I can create my curriculum based on personal interests.
Coming from a linguistics background, many concepts were not entirely new to me which made it possible to enrol for more and more challenging courses (also from Research Master programmes).
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The atmosphere in class is really nice, but also different for each course. As most of the study programme consists of electives, class constellations are never the same and I was able to get to know a lot of different people from other programmes as well. Classes are usually not very big and it is very easy to talk to peers or teachers.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s? Have you encountered any obstacles?
I have not encountered any obstacles throughout my Master's but what I found most challenging is probably choosing a topic and supervisor for both my internship and my thesis as so much is possible within and outside our university.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
I am not sure what I will do as soon as I have finished my Master's but I think the broadness of this programme makes it possible for me to look into various work fields.
I always feel proud to talk about my Master's programme at Radboud University.
- Previous education
- Bachelor in Arts (Marrakech University)
- Programme
- Language Variation and Multilingualism
- Study end date
Where do you work now and what does your job entail?
I am working as a speech and language pathologist in Moroccan education. I am self-employed in my own organisation in Rabat specialising in developing language and cognitive skills in early education. At the moment I am preparing for a PhD in neuropedagogy in child and education studies at Leiden University. My field of research is multilingualism and early brain development.
Why did you choose to work in this field?
My study of linguistics at Radboud University, one of the best universities worldwide, gave me the chance to learn about language and cognitive development and also learn more about academic research and academic skills.
What did you learn during your studies that you now use in your work?
The courses I studied in my Master's programme were in the field of language and cognition for example topics in second language acquisition, semantics and pragmatics in Max Planck Institute, global English, translation studies and so forth. All those courses were very interesting to learn about language and cognitive development. They gave me the ability to do a pre-PhD in the field of multilingualism and early brain development at the Institute of Social and Behavioural Science.
How did you experience this programme at Radboud University? In your opinion, what made this programme special?
Linguistics at Radboud University is a very interesting subject because I studied under the supervision of many expert professors in this field. I was lucky enough to have Pieter Muysken as a supervisor in both my thesis and my internship. All the professors at Radboud University are experts in linguistics and great thinkers. Now, I always feel proud to talk about my Master's programme at Radboud University.
What would you recommend to future students when they go to choose a study?
I advise future students to study at Radboud University because it is one of the best places to become critical thinkers and learn skills that can help them feel independent and confident to do their own projects.