Reshama Damle

Reshama finished her M.A. in Linguistics (Language and Culture Concentration) in 2007. She shared this update in Spring 2013:

What is your current job?

I work as a Public Speaking Lecturer at the CSULB American Language Institute.  I had been teaching public speaking and working with ESL students for a several years.  This opportunity to teach public speaking skills to International Students was a gift in that it combined the two areas I love the most, international relations and language.

Has your Linguistics degree helped you to pursue your career?

Yes, absolutely!  I am incredibly grateful for that I learned all about data collection and teaching techniques at CSULB. I was able to develop skills that have made me a much better writing professor and public speaking consultant.  The MA program has also helped me hone my cross-cultural skills which have made me more aware of and sensitive to linguistic and cultural cues.

What was your most memorable moment as a student?

When I made a friend at the social event at the start of the year.  She is now one of my closest friends and we talk linguistics, even though both of us are on wildly different paths. In fact, I’m still friends with many of the people I met in the program.

Any advice for current students?

The linguistics program at CSULB is one of a kind.  There is no other Language and Culture program like it in the country.  It’s a gem.   My advice to current or future students is: Go to office hours, go to social events with the Linguistics Students Association, network as much as possible and take every opportunity to study abroad, work abroad, teach abroad, do everything abroad and share what you’ve learned.