Alumni stories: Chih-Shan Chuang, MSc Language Education

Chih-Shan, a 2022 graduate from Taiwan, loved the fact the programme covers many languages instead of just one, and particularly enjoyed writing her dissertation.

From Taiwan to Edinburgh

I am Taiwanese, and I had already made plans to complete my Master's degree outside of Taiwan. I prioritised attending a university in the UK since I had previously studied in the US and wanted to learn more about the European educational system.

Before accepting my offer, I looked up reviews and pictures of the University of Edinburgh online, and I was amazed by the city's beauty, its architecture, its culture, and its people. In addition, a relative of mine completed her Master's degree here and adores the location and atmosphere of the School, which made me want to attend the University of Edinburgh even more.

'It allows you to teach whatever language you desire'

When I was seeking a job in Taiwan and the US, it was required for teachers who wanted to teach multiple languages to have at least a Master's degree. Furthermore, after reviewing every course offered by every university, I decided on the MSc in Language Education since it allows you to teach whatever language you desire and offers students a pedagogy that is insightful and effective.

'Working on the dissertation was a fulfilling and rewarding process'

Out of all the learning experiences, the dissertation process is the one I appreciate the best. Working on the dissertation was a fulfilling and rewarding process because the topic I selected for the research is one that interests me and is relevant to my context.

Additionally, all of the courses I did the prior semester helped me advance this paper.

Although it was such a rewarding journey to review the literature and analyse the data to look for the answer, there were times when I felt hopeless and wanted to give up. However, the effort was worthwhile once I finished it.

Developing critical skills

I improved my ability to think critically and collaborate with people from various cultural backgrounds.

The most useful thing I took away from my degree was to confront the preconceived notions that teachers have when they are instructing, such as the monolingual approach to teaching languages.

The main emphasis of language education is on multilingualism, which is a crucial and insightful idea for the global trend of language learning.

In the lectures, the professor will often pose hotly contested problems to which there is no clear answer, allowing the students to debate and come up with their own arguments to present in the workshops. It's a great approach to build critical thinking skills because you're not just taking the teacher's word for it. This approach not only calls into question previously held notions, but also enables the student to arrive at an answer to share with the class.

A safe environment to share, learn, and bond

Language education, in my opinion, is the best programme to help pupils create a multilingual mindset and dispel the monolingual mentality that still predominates in language acquisition.

Want to learn more about our MSc Language Education?

Our highly flexible programme encompasses all languages and is suitable for both experienced and novice language teachers.

Don't be afraid to reach out to others. Asking for assistance from your personal tutors is perfectly acceptable, and the programme staff is always available to assist you whenever you need it.

Additionally, as students come from various cultural backgrounds, individuals can share insightful opinions and ideas with one another. The students I met in our major establish a safe environment where they can bond and share their native tongues and cultures without fear of offending others. As a result, I developed my social skills, learned to appreciate others, and exchanged and integrated views to create stronger arguments.

It was the most amazing and unique experience I have ever had, and it enables me to teach pupils about different cultures and provide a secure environment for them.

'A more professional teacher'

The degree certainly made me a more professional, informed teacher who can effectively apply teaching strategies in the classroom and create a safe zone for students from diverse backgrounds.

Alumni advice: Start your application early, and don't fear studying abroad

If you are an international student like me, I'd encourage you to start working on your application as soon as possible and not to be intimidated by the difficulties of studying abroad. I am aware of your possible fear and anxiety, but if you are persistent, have faith in yourself, you can make it.

The most important thing to keep in mind when studying abroad is to not be afraid to reach out to others. Asking for assistance from your personal tutors or even the professors is perfectly acceptable, and the programme staff is always available to assist you whenever you need it.

Want to learn more about our MSc Language Education programme?