Catching Up With Alumni | Julia Kosoralo (BA ALDS/24; CTESL/24)
We caught up with Julia Kosoralo, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies and a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (CTESL) in 2024. Julia received a Senate Medal for Outstanding Academic Achievement at her convocation ceremony.
During her time at Carleton University, Julia was an active member of the Carleton Applied and Theoretical Linguistics Society (CATL) executive team and was involved in a number of fun student events including trivia, bingo, and paint nights.
In her fourth-year, Julia completed placements at Algonquin College and the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization as part of the Practicum in Teaching ESL course.
Learn more about what Julia has been up to and what’s in store next, and find some words of advice for SLaLS students below.
What Julia Has Been Up To
Julia is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Education in the Primary and Junior Division at the University of Ottawa.
“I am grateful that I brought knowledge of and experience with English Language Learners (ELLs) from my Bachelor of Arts in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies (ALDS), as well as my Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (CTESL),” Julia shares.
“This background supported my learning in B.Ed. courses where ELLs were addressed and allowed me to pursue self-directed projects that reflected my interests and experience – such as exploring strategies for supporting ELLs in content areas like math and science.”
“It also prepared me for my practicum in a grade 1 and 2 classroom at Riverview Alternative School,” Julia notes. “Although there were few ELLs in the class, which is increasingly uncommon in today’s classrooms, the strategies I had learned, such as using visuals, modeling language, and scaffolding tasks, proved valuable for supporting all students.”
What’s Next?
Julia started her second year of the B.Ed. in September, and looks forward to a placement in a junior classroom.
“Having taught adult learners during my CTESL placements and six- to eight-year-old learners during my first B.Ed. practicum, I am excited to gain experience teaching nine- to twelve-year-old learners. This next step will allow me to further develop my teaching practice across age groups.”
Words of Advice for SLaLS Students
“The field of applied linguistics is broad and can lead to many different opportunities – don’t shy away from exploring them,” Julia advises. “SLaLS students have the opportunity to take courses that are quite different from each other, and they should really take advantage of that because it can help them discover their true interests.”
“The key is to stay curious, pay attention to what excites you, and be willing to try new things. Everyone’s path through ALDS is unique, and that’s what makes it so exciting.”
“After taking several different courses myself, I noticed that the common thread in what I enjoyed most was anything related to education,” Julia shares. “I also became interested in library science, which I’m considering pursuing a master’s degree in after finishing my B.Ed.”
Interested in learning more about our programs?
Visit our Programs and Course Offerings page to learn about the undergraduate and graduate programs that we offer here in the School of Linguistics and Language Studies.
Are you a SLaLS graduate?
We would love to know what you have been up to! Check out our Alumni page to meet our amazing graduates and to learn more about how to stay connected with the SLaLS community.