Rough guide to MFL postgraduate research (20 Nov 06)

Date: 20 November, 2006
Location: CILT, London
Event type: Workshop

A one-day workshop to support new MFL research postgraduates

Location map | Programme

workshop attendees

Past event summary

This day was aimed at new postgraduate research students in the fields of Modern Foreign Languages and other language and linguistics-related areas. The workshop covered a range of topics, from the services available from CILT and the Subject Centre to online resources and networks, as well as practical advice on carrying out, presenting and writing up your research.

The CILT Resources Library Collection is a national reference resource for language teachers and others working in the fields of language learning and teaching and associated fields of applied linguistics. It comprises several collections including teaching materials, language teaching methodology, an extensive collection of periodicals, abstracting indexes and the Higher Education Resources Collection.

This free information day and workshop enabled postgraduate research students to learn about online resources available for the MFL researcher and how they could be effectively used by research students, they found out how to keep a balance between life and work whilst researching a PhD and received some guidance from experts on how to write up their research as well as how to present it at conferences and elsewhere.

Pre-requisite skills

Delegates should normally be first year postgraduate research students (not taught course) in the fields of Modern Foreign Languages or related disciplines. If in doubt, please contact david.newton@cilt.org.uk or 020 7395 0841 to assess your suitability.

Programme for 20 November 2006
Time Session
10.30 - 11.00 Registration and coffee
11.00 - 11.15 Introduction to CILT and LLAS and their services for postgraduate research students
David E Newton
Higher Education Development Officer, CILT
11.15 - 12.00 Online resources for the MFL Researcher
Dr Shoshannah Holdom
Content Editor (Modern Languages), Intute: Arts and Humanities
12.00 - 12.45 Life, work and doctorates keeping a balance
Dr Cathy Watts
Senior Lecturer, School of Languages, University of Brighton
12.45 - 13.45 Lunch
13.45 - 14.30 How to write
Professor Naomi Segal
Director, Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of London
14.30 - 15.00 Presenting your research
Angela Gallagher-Brett
Academic Coordinator, Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies
15.00 - 15.15 Tour of CILT Resources Library
David E Newton
Higher Education Development Officer, CILT
15.15 - 17.00 Free time in Library
CILT Resources Library duty staff will be on hand if you require information or assistance
17.00 Library closes


Event report: Rough guide to MFL postgraduate research

A one-day workshop to support new MFL research postgraduates

by David Newton

This event was attended by 20 delegates, all research postgraduates in their first (or, in a few cases, second) year of study. Thirteen different HEIs were represented, 11 English and 2 Welsh. Research topics were wide-ranging, including areas such as translation, didactic writing, learners' oral production, teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, Computer-Mediated Communication, ethnography and BSL interpreting.

Following an introduction to the work of both CILT and LLAS and the ways in which the organisations can offer information, advice, support and training, the three main speakers of the day gave their presentations.

Download presentation: Online resources for the Modern Languages researcher (PowerPoint, 125Kb)
Dr Shoshannah Holdom

Download handout: Life, work and doctorates keeping a balance (Word, 36Kb)
Dr Cathy Watts

Download presentation: How to write (Powerpoint, 236Kb)
Professor Naomi Segal

The day concluded with a guided tour of the CILT library, following which the delegates were able to stay and make use of the facilities.

Feedback from the delegates was very positive. Comments on the day included:

"Excellent workshop, friendly staff and helpful suggestions"
"Great nuggets of information"
"Highly relevant and a very positive experience "
"Best course I've been to in a long time"
"Just the right course at just the right time"