Catching Up With Alumni | Lisa Olsen (BA LDS/17; CTESL/17)
We caught up with Lisa Olsen, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Combined Honours in Linguistics and Discourse Studies and a minor in Japanese in 2017. Lisa also completed a Certificate in the Teaching of English as a Second Language (CTESL).
During her time as a student in the School of Linguistics and Language Studies (SLaLS), Lisa was a member of the Carleton University Kendo Club and the Carleton University Japanese Association. She was also a First Year Connections Peer Mentor and an ISSO Peer Helper, and participated in the Japanese Language Speech Contest and Japanese/English language exchange.
Read on to learn more about what Lisa has been up to since graduating from Carleton University and how her time with SLaLS helped shape her trajectory.
What Lisa Has Been Up To
After graduating, Lisa put her CTESL to use teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) through a Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program.
“After a couple of years, I transitioned into an Editorial Coordinator role for a scientific journal while concurrently completing the Technical Writer program at Algonquin College,” Lisa shares. “Following that, I undertook a technical writing internship and worked as a freelance editor, copywriter, linguist, and designer.”
“I then spent a couple of years working at a professional language learning app developing course content, which perfectly combined my experience in linguistics, editing, language teaching, and writing.”
In 2020, Lisa took a poetry course through the Washington University in St. Louis’ Summer Writers Institute. She has had a number of poems published as a result (read “When the road is a flat line“).
Most recently, Lisa started a position as an Editorial Coordinator. She continues to do freelance academic editing and the occasional editing project for text-based video games.
Lisa’s Experience in SLaLS
“My career has always centered around language,” Lisa shares. “The CTESL came directly into play as a requirement for teaching with LINC, but both my theoretical and applied linguistics courses have served me well in all my roles.”
“ALDS courses like Second Language Acquisition, Major Structures of English, and Cross-Cultural Communication and LING courses like Phonetics, Morphology, and Syntax have all helped me in jobs involving teaching, writing, editing, communication, and linguistic analysis.”
Words of Advice for SLaLS Students
“My advice is to take full advantage of the Language Requirement; proficiency or even just showing a strong interest in another language can set you apart,” Lisa advises. “I completed a minor in Japanese, which has been valuable for roles seeking experience with foreign language learning.”
“Experiencing a language as a learner yourself is invaluable when it comes to teaching or creating content for learners. Get engaged with language and linguistic pursuits as much as possible: join language associations and research groups for topics that interest you, participate in language exchanges, or volunteer for studies. Leverage your coursework for your career, even if you’re not going directly into the field of linguistics. Many employers value skills you develop in SLaLS courses, such as excellent written and verbal communication, the ability to navigate intercultural environments, and a strong understanding of English grammar.”
“Lastly, take advantage of the Language Learning Resource Centre,” Lisa urges. “I have very fond memories of doing group work and studying there, and it has some great books and computer programs, along with friendly and supportive staff.”
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.