Student Profile

Liesje Stevens

BA

"My interest in linguistics developed while growing up in a Dutch immigrant family who took great delight in analysing idiosyncrasies in language. How we translate thoughts and concepts from one culture to another through language was something I always wanted to investigate. While marriage and raising a family took priority for many years, the yearn to study at university never left. So, as a relatively late starter, I have spent the last few years at Victoria doing a BA in Linguistics and Second Language Education. I am currently undertaking Honours focusing on sociolinguistics.

"A background in educational administration led to working with Dr Averil Coxhead researching vocabulary teaching and learning in schools. This also provided the inspiration to investigate the language of educational reporting through the sociolinguistic perspectives of discourse analysis and social constructionism as part of my Honours project.

"Further work as a research assistant over the last two summers, and the sheer joy of continuing study and learning, has encouraged me to consider an academic career in the future."