Hayriye’s Story

I wanted to get my PhD in a strong interdisciplinary program where I would have the opportunity to work with outstanding faculty members from across the university in the areas of second/foreign language education and applied linguistics. Foreign Language Education program at UT Austin was the best program that fit the description. I was really attracted to the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and I knew that many leaders in language education and applied linguistics had received their graduate degrees from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

As a doctoral student, I always enjoyed close teamwork with my professors on various research projects. For example, my advisor, Prof. Elaine K. Horwitz, provided multiple opportunities for us to work with her while she was working on her own research. I have had the pleasure of collaborating with her in one project. The experience was truly remarkable and rewarding. Dr. Horwitz’s enthusiasm in the project and her willingness to share her knowledge were truly amazing. In another research project, I collaborated with three friends who were also doctoral students in the FLE program, under the supervision of Dr. Diane Schallert who is also an internationally well-known scholar. These collaborative research projects were very unique because our professors never created power differentials between us. In brief, I have always been amazed and inspired by my professors’ research-related activities, productivity, support, and passion. If I was able to write a strong dissertation, it is thanks to the strong support I received from Dr. Horwitz, Dr. Schallert, and Dr. Beth Maloch.

Why UT?

I wanted to get my PhD in a strong interdisciplinary program where I would have the opportunity to work with outstanding faculty members from across the university in the areas of second/foreign language education and applied linguistics. Foreign Language Education program at UT Austin was the best program that fit the description. I was really attracted to the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and I knew that many leaders in language education and applied linguistics had received their graduate degrees from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Life After UT

Providing a high quality education, C & I certainly well prepares its students for the job market. Equipped with extensive knowledge, strong teaching and research experience as well as the experience of an international community, I believe that FLE graduates are much more competitive on the job market than their peers in other institutions. The mock interviews I had in my professors’ offices, strong support from my friends, workshops by the FLE program on academic job interviews as well as publishing played an important role in my job hunting. When I had more than 15 academic interviews for various faculty positions last year, I better understood what it meant to be a “Longhorn”!

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction was very supportive of me for five years I spent in the program, and I could never gotten to where I am now without my professors and friends at UT. As a new assistant professor at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, I look forward to having the kind of positive impact on my students that my professors at UT have had on me. Thank you C & I for the wonderful experience!