*ping* English graduates...

[pozorvlak]

A member of a community I belong to is asking about doing a degree in the UK in the general area of English/Old English/historical linguistics. Any of you have any advice to offer?

http://community.livejournal.com/linguaphiles/3694484.html?view=72163988#t72163988

Comments

[bdunbar.livejournal.com]

Just snarky advice; if the fellow was getting that degree in the US he'll need to practice the following phrase for his post-studies employment:

"Thanks for your order. Would you like fries with that?"

[pozorvlak.livejournal.com]

I'm suspicious of that assumption - particularly as the most employable graduates in the UK (as measured by percentage in full-time employment after three years, or some such) are philosophy graduates.

I've sometimes noticed a tiresome lack of rigour in the thought of my arts-graduate friends; but honestly, that could and should have been fixed at school.

[liminereid.livejournal.com]

My crap circling argument style bears you out operfectly. Consequence opf teachers who were just glad I read the books and did the work and so paid no attention to me. It's bloody hard to fix by university level though.

[bdunbar.livejournal.com]

It wasn't an assumption so much as wise-cracking.

particularly as the most employable graduates in the UK (as measured by percentage in full-time employment after three years, or some such) are philosophy graduates.

Now that's interesting.

[pozorvlak.livejournal.com]

It makes a sort of sense: philosophy teaches you to think logically and clearly, and to write and speak persuasively, which are marketable skills in any line of work. Or, if you're cynical, philosophy teaches you to bullshit and win arguments, which would be very helpful when trying to convince someone to employ you :-)