Very sound advice! I'm a language learner and my PhD's on acquisition. When you do listen to the radio / watch TV / or take some time abroad do remember that you're not going to understand everything first time. Full on exposure after a year is fantastic but more daunting than if you were an advanced learner! So try not to let it knock your progression or enthusiasm!

It's great that people doing PhD's find the time to enrich their lives with foreign languages!

Good luck

I'd like to add that I'm really into my PhD too, I'm only a month or two in though - but it's still great!

Very good question, Verdy!
I have never had anyone proof-read any of my work (yet), but I probably will. However, not a 'professional' proof-reader. I proof-read one of my supervisor's publications, and I made sure that I knew what she wanted from me as a proof-reader. I know the discipline so it made sense - I think this is key!!

When you're getting people to proof-read academic work they need to know what they're reading. My advice would be to ask a fellow PhD in a related area and pay them accordingly. This is what I will do, then they won't correct what they think are mistakes!

I, too, am not in your field, but I am an Arts and Humanities PhD. I did a BA, MA and finally proceeded onto a PhD this year. I wanted to skip the MA, but I'm so glad I didn't. Without an MA the AHRC won't consider an application for PhD funding. The MA was very useful to me and I learnt a real lot. It's a shame you gave up on your MA, because although it appeared just like your BA, you will have done research training and a dissertation which are highly valuable foundations for a PhD and when applying for funding.

I studied Modern Languages for my BA and it was only after my BA and school education that I was able to write critically in a foreign language. It will be difficult. Just take your time: mastering a foreign language whilst researching for a PhD will not be easy!

I'm doing second language acquisition for my PhD and I'm looking at the acquisition of verbal meaning in Romance from non-Romance first language learners.

This all seems good to me. This is about my 2nd week in now, in the A&H. Definitely agree with what's been said. I have two supervisors on 50% roles, and was a little daunted of what's expected as part of the PhD. I don't feel as I've achieved much, but saying that I've got loads of faculty research training, and I'm auditing some taught modules. Although they will not progress my PhD in themselves, it all contributes I think. I'm enjoying it all!

I don't have quite the response I guess you're looking for as I got a 2.1 and I've just completed an MA. But, just having a 2.1 or a 1st class doesn't ensure that you'll be (1) accepted and (2) funded. I applied to the AHRC and did not get funding, as many excellent-graded applicants also find.

I'm starting a PhD in linguistics next week. Good look with your search and doing something that other people haven't is a good start!

Some interesting points made about MA/MSc results.

Although I'm not a scientist, I have found that the MA result isn't all that useful when applying especially when most MAs take 12 months and you're applying for PhD places and funding half-way through the MA. In this situation, you don't have your MA and are considered for funding based on references and your BA result. However, if unsuccessful you can reapply in your 2nd year.

I think you've been given a lifeline with an MA. I would imagine that not many supervisors and depts would take somebody on with a 3rd.

Good luck though

Quite a few times, which must be annoying for those who don't.

Ah, I see what you mean. Most non-linguists are confused from the beginning, which is good I supppose, because then the questions stop. As for pronunciation, maybe you could layer it in jargon, along the lines of: acquisitonal prosody or something! Ha ha. Which language(s) are you doing in SLA?

That's a good question. I usually start then quickly discover that I wish I hadn't! I too need to discover an efficient way, but I sometimes tell them it's about grammar, which soon stops them asking questions! Ha ha!

SLA too, - the expression of verbal morphology/semantics

Hiya - Congratulations on getting started on the PhD! I'm in linguistics and I know that funding is scarce, but that's quite the norm in humanities, as far as I know! What aspect of linguistics are you doing?

I work in linguistics (semantics & syntax is language acquisition). What area are you working in?

I worked quite a bit with my supervisor. I approached him with the original ideas, I wrote it up and then he made some suggestions. My project is linked with my MA dissertation, so it was a logical step really.

I wrote my own research proposal for a humanities-based subject. I think it's good to do it this way.