Doing an English Language degree at Sussex: a graduate reflects

Editor’s note: Becky Hunt is a recent graduate of the BA in English Language and Linguistics at Sussex and an incoming student on our MA programme. She is involved in the Undergraduate Linguistics Association of Britain and was writing for them about the experience of studying ELL at Sussex, and so we asked her to share her thoughts with our blog as well. Thank you, Becky! 

The student view of English Language and Linguistics 

I think the student experience of studying English Language & Linguistics at Sussex is summed up pretty well in the 100% overall satisfaction score in this year’s National Student Survey! An ELL degree equips students with a number of essential skills, and graduates continue to careers in publishing, journalism, PR, language teaching, speech & language therapy, and many more. 

Becky with fellow graduand Chloé 

Before getting specific on the course, it’s worth noting the environment that we study in. Coming from Devon, moving to Brighton for university had the potential to be quite a culture shock. And whilst the city itself is much more lively than what I’m used to, the university campus reminds me a lot more of home. Living on campus in first year is a great balance for a lot of students. You can easily and quickly get into town from campus on the train or bus, but you’ve also got the South Downs right on your doorstep. There are also so many different study spots, and lots of options for food if you forget your lunch! 

Something great about the ELL course at Sussex is the ability to customise the degree. The optional ELL modules cover a lot of ground, so there really is something for everyone. As linguistics is such a broad subject, it is somewhat expected that students will have areas which they enjoy more, and those which don’t interest them as much. Once you’ve been taught the building blocks of the subject in first year, you can follow the topics that interest you. For example, I chose Pidgins and Creoles, Semantics, and English in the US in second year, and Phonology and Child Language in my final year. 

Alongside the ELL modules, students also choose elective modules. There is a huge range of modules; my friends took classes like Global Cinema, From Quarks to the Cosmos, and British Political History. You take one elective module each term throughout your first and second years, so you have the opportunity to get insight into four different subjects.

Sussex also offers pathways: set courses of electives from a single-subject area. For me, before I decided I wanted to study ELL at university, I was going to do a Psychology degree. I therefore chose to do the Psychology pathway, which gave me the chance to still explore this interest at degree level. I was able to make a lot of links to my ELL modules, which encouraged me to engage in more critical thinking when it came to theories, as I was being taught from a different perspective. Since linguistics is so interdisciplinary, I wouldn’t be surprised if the same went for many other pathways! 

Students also have the opportunity to explore another country, if they elect to study abroad for a year. Sussex has partnerships with over 60 universities in 23 countries, including Australia, Hong Kong, and Spain (see this link for the full list: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/study-abroad/destinations). 

We will have a new Linguistics Society in the new academic year, with hopes to host events to encourage socialising between year groups. Pub quizzes and game nights can be expected regularly, alongside some one offs, like pottery painting or attempting an escape room! Whilst the social aspect is essential, we want to provide academic support to students as well. This could involve presentations from the library and careers hub, tips on topics such as note-taking and peer reviewing, and shut-up-and-write sessions. 

Our society will also promote ULAB, the Undergraduate Linguistics Association of Britain. Run entirely by students, ULAB connects students interested in linguistics across the country. A main event in the ULAB calendar is their annual conference. Final-year undergraduates have the opportunity to showcase their dissertations and get useful feedback before the deadline. And for first and second years…it’s never too early to start thinking of dissertation topics, and the conference is a great place to be inspired! Additionally, ULAB has both a journal and a magazine, providing the opportunity for students to publish their work, or even gain some experience on an editorial board. More information on ULAB and their activities can be found here: https://www.ulab.org.uk.

Something I think all ELL students will agree on is how fantastic our faculty are. It is so common for students to be lost in a sea of faces in a huge lecture theatre – that has never been the case for us. Being a student rep this year and attending department meetings gave me a new appreciation for the work that our lecturers do. Whilst I knew they’re all very good at their jobs, I hadn’t a clue how much was going on behind the scenes to make sure everything keeps running smoothly; they made it look so easy! They are really keen to hear from students, and if (on the incredibly rare occasion) something isn’t working as well as they had intended, they are very responsive to feedback - which really makes students feel heard and valued. Alongside their teaching, they are all working on research projects, summarised in the following: 

• Dr Lynne Cahill: “As part of my research into how people express emotions in social media, I have done a survey asking people how they use 'x' (as a 'kiss'). The results suggest that many people follow detailed rules about when to use them, and how many, although not everyone follows the same rules, which can lead to confusion and even offence. Comparing the results with a similar survey done by a student in 2014 shows that they are used less now and that they are now used more to show friendship than affection.”

  

  From left: Dr Lynne Cahill, Prof Lynne Murphy,
  Becky Hunt, Dr Melanie Green

• Dr Melanie Green: “My research focuses on Cameroon Pidgin English (CPE), a language created through contact between English and local African languages, with some added influence from French, the other colonial language spoken in Cameroon. Currently, I am interested in determining the proportions of CPE’s words coming from English (or French) versus the indigenous languages of the area, and if there are any patterns in the types of words that come from each source.”
• Prof Lynne Murphy: “My main project right now is working on a book about what the function words (the ‘small’ words, the ‘glue’ words) can tell us about language, about ourselves and about other people. In addition, I have smaller projects going on polite words (please, thanks) and on British–American vocabulary differences.”
• Dr Roberta Piazza: “I am interested in any form of marginality and diversity in opposition to mainstream culture. I study how marginal individuals construct their identity and how media represent marginal groups. I'm working on a project on the notion of ‘dirt’ as an identity marker among Romani and Travellers ethnic minorities and settled society and another on 'Homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic: homeless migrants in a global crisis'.”
• Dr Justyna Robinson: “I’ve been recently studying conceptual variation in the Mass Observation archive. I use linguistic methods to focus on concepts related to energy use consumption recycling and sustainability in general.”
• Dr Charlotte Taylor: “My recent research has focussed on the role of nostalgia in contemporary migration discourses and how this helps create a rhetorical distinction between static host populations and mobile Others. I am also developing a project, with student research assistants, which investigates the most frequent metaphor source domains in the press.” 

To sum up the student experience of studying English Language & Linguistics at Sussex, here’s what some students have said are their highlights: 

 “The ELL course at Sussex gives students a solid grounding in the field of linguistics, whilst allowing them to discover their specific interests. The faculty are always happy to help, and really go out of their way to support students. They also provide clear, thoughtful feedback. It’s a great environment to study in!” – Becky, 2022 ELL graduate 

“Unlike many university courses, the BA ELL course had a sense of community that felt unmatched. The faculty are extremely supportive and leaders in their field, which makes them both fantastic mentors and wonderful people.” – Charity, 2022 ELL graduate 

“I really enjoyed the interesting approaches that we learnt to language - there wasn’t just one approach, discipline or theory!” – Elin, 2022 ELL graduate 

“Studying linguistics at Sussex is unique. The university allows you to choose from modules from inside and outside linguistics, allowing you to develop your understanding and widen your perspectives. The teaching team are active researchers within the field, so we're always learning about the newest trends within linguistics.” – Fran, 3rd year ELL student 

“Over the past two years, studying English Language and Linguistics at Sussex has not only equipped me with key knowledge in various disciplines of Linguistics, but allowed me to dive further into the subjects I’m most interested in, such as Phonology and Language and Gender, through the opportunities to select our modules. As part of a small cohort that’s taught by such friendly lecturers, it’s much easier to feel both recognised and supported every step of the way.” – Lailani, 3rd year ELL student 

“My first year at Sussex was so interesting and I've learnt so much more than I expected to. I finished A-level English language with a passion for sociolinguistics and the ideas surrounding language and gender but studying here gave me a much stronger understanding of everything surrounding linguistics and I’ve really enjoyed developing my skills here.” – Mae, 2nd year ELL student 

“Both the University of Sussex & Brighton boast a rich culture and openness that creates acceptance for all, making it the best setting for a linguistics degree. The course celebrates diversity and allows you to customise your learning experience.” – Kate, 2022 ELL graduate