Introduction

For many students, the process of choosing a topic is fraught with anxiety and indecision. In some contexts, rather than expecting students to arrive at a topic individually, the department provides a list of potential topics. To gain an understanding of how different people may experience the use of different languages or dialects in their social and professional environment, both printed texts and personal informants are invaluable sources of information. Browsing the library bookshelves in the sections for English language, linguistics, translation and education can be an effective way to gather ideas. Most universities require students to submit a research proposal before they begin their research project. This proposal is an official form that will be reviewed and signed by the supervisor. During initial meetings with the supervisor, it is useful to have a plan of how a student intends to structure his/her project.