Hi everyone! My name is Liz (she/her) and I’m studying for my Masters in Psycholinguistics at the University of York.
This is my first year at York and I have really been enjoying delving into all things psycholinguistics! I’ll be doing a rundown of how I find the course and what I think are some key details ✨.
Modules 🖊
Module choice in Psycholinguistics spans over a range of topics in relation to language acquisition and language processing, as well as broader elements like phonetics and syntax. Module options vary depending on your course pathway. Before the course starts, you can discuss option modules in detail. This is so that you can choose ones that align best with your interests and strengths.
Before teaching started, I was feeling unsure about my choices. I got in touch with the Department and was allowed to each of the module sessions I was interested in. After that, choosing my modules felt a lot more straightforward. So if you’re in any doubt or just curious about what a certain module entails, it’s definitely worth reaching out!
Assessments📝
Something I am particularly enjoying about the course is the variety of assessment methods across modules. I find this sense of variety fosters greater motivation and concentration, while also giving the opportunity to learn and showcase a wider range of skills. Just to give an idea, my assessments for this semester include an essay (both formal and informal styles), exercise portfolios and research participation. This involves taking part in an experimental study within the Department. I’m excited to do this assignment and expect it to provide some helpful insight when it comes to considering my own experiment for my dissertation.
Speaking of the dissertation, it’s getting to that time for me now when it’s starting to get mentioned a lot more. This definitely felt a bit daunting at first 😬. However, it’s important to know that there’s a lot of support available. A bunch of content-related info is given out, which really helped me to narrow down my choices. The faculty staff are also more than happy to discuss your ideas with you. This definitely made the process less nerve wracking for me 🙂.
Location📍
This course falls within the Department of Language and Linguistic Science, based in Vanbrugh College (overlooking the lake). Teaching is in Vanbrugh, but also spreads across Campus West.
I personally love the walk to and from classes as you get to pass the campus wildlife, green spaces and say hello to the ducks 🦆!
Time management 🕘
There’s roughly 9 contact hours per week on the full time MSc. The rest of your working hours will be independent study.
I like to use this time to look over readings and complete exercises before classes. I find the library (which is a short walk from Vanbrugh) a great place to work as it has a quiet and calm atmosphere that really helps for getting into a more productive headspace. (It’s also handy to have the library café in such close proximity, so you can grab a drink or snack if you fancy too!)
I’d absolutely recommend trying to get into a good routine within the first few weeks to reinforce focus as well as work-life balance (you’ll thank yourself later!)
To conclude👋
That just about wraps everything up from me. Congratulations if you’ve received an offer to study at York! It’s a beautiful and welcoming campus, with a bunch of exciting opportunities awaiting you✨.
Leave a Reply