Catching Up With Alumni | Olga Makinina (PhD ALDS/18)
We caught up with Olga Makinina, who graduated with a PhD in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies in 2018.
During her time as a graduate student in the School of Linguistics and Language Studies, Olga regularly presented at conferences and was awarded a Graduate Student Open Access Award for her article “Factors Impacting Recognition of False Collocations by Speakers of English as L1 and L2,” which was published in TESL Canada Journal.
Read on to learn more about what Olga has been up to since graduating from Carleton University, some key take-aways from her time with SLaLS, and her thoughtful words of advice for current and future students.
What Olga Has Been Up To
Olga is an Associate Professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (DLLL) and Director of the ESL Open Learning Centre (OLC) at York University.
“As my teaching is largely informed by my research and vice versa, I have been working on various classroom-based research projects aimed at enhancing English language teaching and learning,” Olga shares.
Some of Olga’s most recent projects focus on digital peer review practices to enhance English language learners’ engagement with writing, developing students’ writing, critical thinking, and research skills through AI literacy-focused learning activities, and enriching English for academic purposes (EAP) students’ learning experience with experiential education-based activities and multiliteracies- and multimodalities-embedded pedagogical frameworks.
Olga’s Experience in SLaLS
“Pursuing my doctoral studies at SLaLS has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life,” Olga shares. “It not only grounded me in applied linguistics theory and practice but also inspired a lifelong passion for research in second/additional language acquisition.”
“SLaLS is where my academic journey truly took flight. I still think back fondly on the vibrant, thought-provoking conversations with other students and professors in the context of the Second Language Research Group meetings and Brown Bag events.”
“I truly believe I wouldn’t be where I am today – both academically and professionally – without the experience and mentorship I received at SLaLS.”
Words of Advice for SLaLS Students
“Don’t be afraid to explore and experiment,” Olga advises. “Your research interests will likely evolve as you’re exposed to new ideas and perspectives.”
“Some of the most meaningful growth can happen outside the classroom: attend speaker series, join research group meetings, go to conferences, even if they feel a bit intimidating at first. These spaces are where connections are made, ideas are tested, and confidence slowly builds. Be present, be curious, and remember that everyone started somewhere.”
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.