"Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation" UCC Ambassador Jordan on finding community in Cork

 

Here’s part one of our two-part piece with Jordan, one of our fantastic UCC CampusConnect ambassadors. Here, we spoke about studying Applied Linguistics, China and challenges, and finding community in Cork!

By Lauren Valentine

  • Name: Jordan

  • Home country: Ireland 

  • Uni: University College Cork

  • Course: MA Applied Linguistics

 

What made you come to UCC for Applied Linguistics? 

“I chose to study Applied Linguistics as it is a relatively broad field with numerous different areas that students can specialise in. Therefore, considering that my research interests are interdisciplinary, I knew that the Applied Linguistics program would provide me with a strong theoretical grounding in the core aspects of linguistics while also allowing me to develop my passions in sociolinguistics, second language acquisition and study abroad research further. 

As the lecturers at UCC are very patient and presume that the students may not have any prior knowledge of the theoretical elements of linguistics, I believe that the Applied Linguistics program at UCC is very beginner-friendly as a result. The program is also a great choice for students who are interested in languages but who may not know what research areas they want to specialise in yet.”

Wow, you speak Chinese! Have you ever visited China? 

“While I graduated with a double major undergraduate degree in Sociology and Chinese Studies from Maynooth University, I have not visited China as of yet. Actually, I was supposed to spend one year studying abroad in a Chinese University during the 3rd year of my undergraduate studies; however, Covid-19 disrupted all of those plans. The story has a happy ending though as I plan to go to China for a holiday during the summer, so I’ll finally spend some time there. The Covid-19 lockdowns gave me plenty of time to think about my future too, so that’s when I eventually made the decision to do a master’s degree at UCC too. So everything worked out in the end.”

 
 

Speaking of challenges, did you overcome any new ones within your master’s? 

“Enrolling at UCC and moving to Cork was the first time I ever lived away from my family. I didn’t really know anybody in Cork before I came here either, so I felt that the most challenging part about arriving in Cork would be adapting to a new city and making entirely new friends. 

However, we’re all only human and every new student attending UCC dreams of making new friends and some are hundreds or thousands of miles away from their home. Once I realised that, I decided that I would just approach people during induction week and try my best to get to know the other new postgraduate students. Everyone seemed happy to be approached and some international students even remarked that I was the first Irish person that had spoken to them on campus and they were nervous about making friends here. So we’re all in the same boat during those first few weeks, don't be afraid to strike up a conversation.”

And now that you’re a UCC CampusConnect ambassador! What have you observed from students who are in the position you were in? 

“Starting a new course or moving to a completely new country can be a daunting experience. Many students are unfamiliar with their new university or how life in Ireland will be. This can certainly feel like jumping into the great unknown. Therefore, I certainly believe that CampusConnect serves an important purpose as incoming students are afforded the opportunity to make friends with their future classmates and other students who are all in the exact same position as themselves. Incoming students can also ask questions to current student ambassadors, ranging from accommodation advice to information about their new course. Not only does meeting people on CampusConnect make UCC and Ireland much more familiar and welcoming to students from the get go, it also allows them to feel confident and well-prepared for their exciting academic journey ahead.” 

And how about your journey ahead, do you have any plans for after your MA?

“I plan to pursue my PhD in Applied Linguistics in the very near future. I will spend the next few months deliberating further, working on my research proposal and publishing a paper. I’ve not decided where I will study yet, but I’m particularly interested in trying a new challenge abroad.”

Lauren Valentine