University of Bristol graduate Jasrael Stokes recently completed her doctorate, earning a PhD from the School of Education. We caught up with her to discover what encouraged her to continue studying for her PhD at Bristol after completing her Masters in Psychology of Education with us, and where she hopes her academic achievements will take her next.
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
My name is Jasrael. I’m from Seattle, Washington, in the United States, but have now lived in Bristol for eight years with my two lovely cats. Before coming to Bristol for my Master’s, I taught English in public elementary and junior high schools in Osaka, Japan for four years. I’m passionate about language learning and teaching, and I am constantly learning languages as a hobby. I am fluent in Japanese, have a pretty good understanding of Spanish, and can comprehend Korean, Mandarin, and German to varying degrees!
What encouraged you to apply for your PhD here after studying for your MSc at the School of Education?
My MSc research focused on second language proficiency and the impact various psychological factors may have on an individual’s proficiency levels. As I continued to study, read the literature, and conducted research, I realised I didn’t want to end my academic journey there. I wanted to know more! As I further developed my passion for learning, teaching and conducting research, I decided I wanted a career in academia and so I decided to pursue a PhD.
What has been your favourite thing so far about studying with us?
One thing I’ve really enjoyed about studying in the School of Education is the support from the community. I’ve learned so much working with staff teaching on various undergraduate psychology units and have received a ton of support as a member of the PASE research group. Everyone has always been so friendly, kind, and happy to help when I have questions or am seeking advice. I don’t think I would’ve grown so much throughout my degree without being surrounded by such a community.
Tell us more about your research interests. How did you decide on your doctoral thesis title?
My research interests are on the impacts of anxiety on second language oral fluency. I’m interested in the ways anxiety can impact the way language learners speak, and what aspects of the communication context impact anxiety. This is something that caught my interest as I was teaching English in Japan but was also something I noticed among international students at the University of Bristol. As a language learner myself, I realise how debilitating anxiety can be when you’re trying to communicate in a language that is not your mother tongue and wanted to further examine the relationship between anxiety and communication in order to understand and support language learners in their struggles.
My thesis titled; ‘An Exploration of How Anxiety and Working Memory Affect International Students’ English Oral Communication’, examined the relationship between anxiety and oral fluency among international students in the UK, and the mechanisms as to how anxiety impacts speech. I used the Attentional Control Theory as a framework, which states that anxiety impacts performance through the consumption of limited attentional resources. As attention is focused on anxious thoughts, there are fewer resources to allocate to the retrieval of necessary vocabulary and grammar required for speech. My research also investigated the impact of listeners on this relationship among speakers. In particular, it examined whether the presence of a native speaker audience and their non-verbal behaviour led to changes in speaker anxiety, and whether this then led to changes in speech.
Do you have any hopes or goals for your research now that it has been published?
I’m hoping to publish my research in an academic journal soon! I have some plans on where I’d like to publish, but nothing has been set in stone yet. I am really passionate about this topic, so I would love to continue research in this area in the future if possible.
It is my hope that those who read my research will gain an understanding of the struggles some international students in the UK have when attempting to communicate in English, and through this, will use that knowledge to strive to create a more welcoming and supportive classroom environment.
‘Everyone has always been so friendly, kind, and happy to help when I have questions or am seeking advice. I don’t think I would’ve grown so much throughout my degree without being surrounded by such a community.’
Why did you decide to become a Graduate Teacher at the School of Education?
I began teaching during my first year as a PhD student and have continued to teach throughout. As a self-funded international student, having the opportunity to teach has been a great help. I also would love to have a job in academia in the future and wanted to gain as much experience teaching in a university as possible. I’ve studied psychology since my undergraduate degree and still find the subject fascinating. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to assist in teaching various psychology units and be a part of the psych community here at the School of Education. It was sometimes a struggle to balance teaching and PhD research, but it was also a nice break away from my PhD work and it was helpful to focus on something else for a while (and also get out of my house and away from my desk!). Overall, teaching has been a valuable part of my PhD journey, and I have learned a lot through my experience. I am very grateful for all of the students who have been actively engaged in my seminars and have made the experience so rewarding. I really enjoy teaching and hope to continue to do so in the future.
Congratulations on successfully defending your doctoral thesis! What are your plans for the future now that you have completed your Education PhD?
Thank you! I am hoping to secure a position working in a university. I’d love to do a postdoc and continue conducting research if possible, but am also happy to teach psychology as a lecturer if the opportunity arises. There are some applications I am currently working on, but nothing has been decided yet.
Thanks for catching up with us Jasrael! We wish you all the best of luck for the future!
Find out more about our postgraduate programmes, including our MSc in Psychology of Education, which is accredited by the British Psychological Society, on our website.
