“The Language Workshop was a fantastic help with my thesis project”

Anyone studying at the Swedish Defence University can can use the services of the Study and Language Workshop at Stockholm University. Margarita Sallinen is a student at the Master's programme in Politics and War. We asked her a few questions about her experiences.

What was it like to get supervision by the teachers at the Study and Language Workshop?

“It's a great opportunity to get help with your essay from another university and hear so many different perspectives from professional educators! How you choose to structure certain parts of a Master's thesis, for example, can of course be a matter of personal preference, but I think you should be open to constructive feedback and be willing to listen even if you have your personal writing style.”

Brainstorming

“For me, the meetings were beyond expectation. My supervisors were very nice, pedagogical and solution-oriented. The sessions felt like brainstorming where we went through their feedback together, and any questions that had not been addressed already we tried to resolve together. A session is about 45 minutes. After the first meeting, I was so pleased with the help I received that I booked two more (you can book a maximum of three meetings for a master thesis).”

Constructive feedback

I also remember that during my last session I received a lot of constructive feedback that made me rethink many aspects of my thesis. For example, the supervisor emailed me examples of essays to use as inspiration. She also pointed out paragraphs that could be improved and gave me concrete tips on how to proceed. This feedback improved my thesis considerably.

How did you find our about the Study and Language Workshop?

It was our student counselor who recommended it when I was just starting my Master's thesis. When I mentioned my expectations and what parts I found challenging, she suggested that I make an appointment.

Why did you decide to consult the Study and Language Workshop?

Firstly, I had specific questions about formality and language that I wanted to address outside of my limited time with my designated supervisor at SEDU. That time is needed for guidance on content, theory and method selection, etc. Secondly, I wanted to have the input of as many people as possible on what I could improve.

Can you describe how it works?

You send an email with some information about yourself and your area of studies, and, of course, information about what you would like to get help with. You will then be assigned a facilitator and book a session. The facilitation sessions are conducted over Zoom so you need a computer and access to the Internet. Then you submit your materials two days before the meeting so your facilitator has time to prepare.

Focus on parts of the thesis

Remember that the supervisor will not go through all details in what you have written, especially if you have a 60-page paper like me. The supervisors will focus on the sections of the paper you said you needed help with and then work from there. You can request the same supervisor for all three sessions if you want, but because I asked for very specific times and dates, I was assigned three different supervisors (which can also be an advantage as you get input from many perspectives).

Would you recommend other students to use the Language Workshop?

I would highly recommend other students to consult the language workshop. It is a fantastic resource that I wish I had discovered earlier on in my education. You can get professional help with academic writing, study techniques, references and get tips on materials to read. I am incredibly grateful that we have this opportunity at SEDU and think everyone should take advantage of it. It's also completely free!

All types of writing

The Language Workshop facilitation is not only for Master students, but for everyone. The Language Workshop offers support for all types of written assignments, ranging from smaller one-page memos to more advanced papers and Master theses. You can choose whether you would like facilitation in English or Swedish. You can even get help with speaking presentations!

Provides a set of tools

It is important to write down exactly what you need help with so that the Language Workshop can decide if it is something they can help you with. The Language Workshop makes sure that you have written an independent piece of work and they do not correct anything for you, but provide tools and tips on how to improve your work.

Read more about the Study and Language Workshop on Stockholm University's website.