Nicholas Bartlett
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
The idea of pursuing a graduate degree was attractive to me because I knew it would give me the opportunity not only to delve into a topic that I find fascinating, but also to do so in a way that is very personal to me, giving me the freedom to inject a bit of myself into academia. As a very proud member of the queer community and a life-long believer in the power of well-done research, being able to explore that aspect of myself from a rigorous academic perspective is such a joy.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
Having completed both a BA and MA here at UBC, I already knew from experience that the calibre of instruction and scholarship at UBC is top-tier, so the idea of pursuing my doctoral studies here just made good sense! My department had also undergone some major changes, which renewed my excitement for being part of FHIS.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
I would have to say that the main draw for me was the academic diversity of the department. I was lucky enough to be the graduate student representative on two professorial hiring committees, and to see the introduction of many other faculty members with varying and intriguing research interests. I knew that no matter the research topic I decided to pursue, I would have a beautifully diverse group of professors to collaborate with.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
Having been a Vancouver resident for almost 15 years and a UBC student (on and off) for 12, there isn't much left to surprise me! If I think back to when I moved here, though, it was definitely the mild weather and the "chill" attitude that the city has, both of which fit me far better than my home province!
What aspect of your graduate program do you enjoy the most or are looking forward to with the greatest curiosity?
It's definitely the people for me — my colleagues really make the program enjoyable! Not only are they great friends, but they are also happy to discuss ideas, and I really value their feedback and perspectives. I definitely need to give a shoutout to my supervisor, Dr. Anne Salamon, who is an absolute dream to work with! I remind myself very often of how lucky I am to work in an environment with such knowledgable and good people.
What do you see as your biggest challenge(s) in your future career?
My goal has always been to be a language professor, and while I do believe that the person-to-person experience will always have its place in language learning, the advent of (arguably very good) translation and AI software does cause me some worry for the future, as it may make the in-person, academic language-learning experience less attractive to some students. However, I have seen and been a part of some great innovation with respect to this, so I'm still very hopeful for the future.
How do you feel your program is preparing you for those challenges?
My program has presented me with many and various opportunities to explore, develop and employ different pedagogical methods, mostly through my work as a teaching assistant to many different professors (and their different teaching styles) in various levels of language education, from absolute-beginner courses to advanced courses that touch on linguistics and the technical inner workings of the language. This has provided me with a "pedagogical toolbox" of sorts, from which I can pick and choose my approach based on the subject matter and level of the course material, as well as the learning styles of my students. I challenge AI to have that kind of nuanced insight!
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
I've been fortunate enough to test out a few different academic paths before settling on my specialty in French language and literatures; I began as a music student at Wilfrid Laurier University, which taught me a lot about my learning style, my relationship with self-discipline and what I need from my professors in order to succeed. I also hold a diploma in Culinary Arts, which gave me a different and valuable perspective on discipline while also providing insight into and experience in an industry that remains important to me to this day. These forays into two of my deep-seated interests taught me so much about who I am and how I work, which, I think, are absolutely indispensable tools for anyone pursuing a graduate degree.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
I love to bike; Vancouver is such a bike-friendly city, and it's a great way to get to know the city through a different lens, as most of the bike paths are away from the main areas. I also love to bake; I've had a sourdough starter since before it was the thing to have, and I love to experiment with new bread recipes and flavour combinations. I also really enjoy making cakes for friends and family, which serves not only as a love language of sorts but as a much-needed creative outlet.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Prioritize your mental health; maintaining good mental health can be a challenge at the best of times, but a graduate program can really exacerbate that challenge. Be patient and kind with yourself and learn what works best for you; poor mental health affects all aspects of your life (both personal and professional), so getting ahead of it can only mean good things for you and your experience. Learn how you work best; learn what do you need in order to thrive. For me, I work best if I have multiple projects on the go, so that I can switch between them depending on how I'm feeling from one day to another. Some of them are more mundane, repetitive projects, while others are more engaged and require more mental focus; on days where I have the mental energy, I work on the latter, and on days where I need to be a bit more relaxed, I work on the former. Despite the seemingly-rigid nature of a graduate degree program, it's important to be flexible and allow yourself some wiggle room.
