Charu Gupta
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I reached a point in my teaching where I realised I needed to spend more time learning about the current discourses around language teaching and learning while also being able to conduct more meaningful research. Pursuing a doctoral degree was the best way for me to achieve this and hopefully help me towards my goal of becoming a teacher educator in the future.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
I was really looking forward to working with the professors who are now my supervisors, as well as many others in the department whom I've had the opportunity to get to know better during my time at UBC. Furthermore, I appreciated the university's approaches towards equity, diversity and inclusion, which is extremely important for me in today's political landscape.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
I was most excited about the direction of research in my department, which really aligns with my own interests that lean towards more critical and inclusive approaches to pedagogy and educational practices in general.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
I'm glad to see how easy it has been to build a community here, particularly within my own department which was very welcoming, but also in graduate housing at St. John's College. This has made the graduate student life more meaningful for me.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
I think it was really helpful to have had the opportunity to study and work in different parts of the world before I came here. It gave me a chance to understand and adapt to different educational spaces and learn how to build relationships with those who had different backgrounds and identities from my own. I also appreciate having had the opportunity to learn other languages, which has been a significant asset in my research and community engagement.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
It can be very overwhelming when the program begins (sometimes even before), and there is pressure to try to do everything and more. However, it doesn't help to compare yourself with others — make the journey at your own pace in a way that's meaningful and best-suited to you.