大象传媒

By Nicole North

Congratulations to our two winners of the Becker Essay Prize, Elizabeth Alvarez Alfaro and Carley Carder! The annual Becker Essay Prize commemorates Yvonne Joan Kathleen Becker, in honour of her generous donation to the Department of Linguistics.

Each of the two winning essays, which you can read below, were chosen for the originality of ideas, understanding of linguistic concepts, and the clarity of expression. 

Elizabeth and Carley were each presented the Becker Essay Certificate of Achievement during the Becker Colloquium on May 30th, 2025. The visiting speaker was  of UC Davis. Michelle is a Postdoctoral Fellow at . Her presentation was titled Impact of AI on human language. Michelle discussed her that tests how people talk to, perceive, and learn language from voice-AI. 

Elizabeth Alvarez Alfaro

Please tell us about your academic journey at 大象传媒.

I鈥檝e just completed a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Linguistics at 大象传媒 as part of a career transition. My professional background is in language education (English and Spanish), a field I鈥檝e been dedicated to for over a decade. 

After immigrating to Canada, I found myself needing to requalify in order to continue working professionally in British Columbia. That鈥檚 when I discovered the field of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), a field that feels like both an intercept and extension of my teaching career. Notably both fields are rooted in helping people communicate.

I joined 大象传媒 to complete the and stayed to earn a Post-Bac Diploma in Arts. I enrolled when I was five months pregnant with my second daughter who will turn three years old in a couple of months. Studying has been challenging, exhausting, and very rewarding. 

In addition to my coursework at 大象传媒, I鈥檝e volunteered at the Phonology Processing Lab at the Department of Linguistics, and participated in Spanish-language research in Costa Rica. Overall, my experience has been transformative and has prepared me for graduate school.

鈥淚鈥檓 passion-driven. What fuels me is the opportunity to help others. I am motivated by life-long learning and to use that knowledge to make a difference.鈥�

What are your goals and aspirations?

My main goal is to become a Speech-Language Pathologist. I鈥檓 working toward this by completing the prerequisites at 大象传媒 and gaining relevant experience so I can apply to UBC鈥檚 Master鈥檚 program in SLP. 

Right now, my long-term aspiration is to support individuals and families鈥攅specially those from multilingual or immigrant backgrounds鈥攚ho are navigating communication challenges. This inspiration comes from my experience being a mother of bilingual children and my work with heritage language in the community. 

Though, my mind is not set yet. I am curious by nature and a life-long learner, so I am excited about learning more about all of the specialties in the field of SLP in order to find my best match.

What drives you and gives you motivation?

I鈥檓 passion-driven. What fuels me is the opportunity to help others. That鈥檚 why I became a language teacher in the first place: to empower people with tools to express themselves and connect with the world. I love learning, not just for myself, but as something I can pass on, reframe, and adapt to help others grow.

My children are a constant source of inspiration. Their curiosity and imagination remind me to stay creative, playful and empathetic in all I do. I am motivated by life-long learning and to use that knowledge to make a difference.

What inspired you to write this essay and where did you get the idea for the main argument? 

When Dr. Henny Yeung explained the concept of the assignment that would eventually become my Becker Essay submission, I was instantly excited. It provided an opportunity to design a game, create materials, and draw on my background as an educator. 

I wanted to make something useful, and hopefully something that could go beyond the classroom. As I began writing, I experimented with tone and structure, aiming for a voice that was friendly and evidence-based. Once the written portion was done, I focused on the annexes and formatting, thinking: If I were the lab assistant or the parent, would this be clear and ready to use?

I had heard of the Becker Prize before, but it was Dr. Yeung who encouraged me to submit the project. His belief in my work was a big motivation. I believe that writing is easy when you鈥檙e invested, and this project combined creativity, usefulness, and passion in a way that felt meaningful.
 

Carley Carder

Please describe your motivations as a person and what drives you.

At the heart of what drives me is the motivation and desire to make a meaningful impact on people鈥檚 lives. This is why I鈥檝e been drawn to career and academic goals that centre on accessibility and the diverse ways people express themselves. 

I鈥檓 passionate about creating spaces where individuals can communicate authentically and confidently in whatever mode that may be. I鈥檓 also driven by curiosity, wanting to understand not just how things work, but how they can be improved. 

I think this is a big reason why I pursued linguistics: to understand how language functions and the many factors that influence communication. I鈥檓 motivated by opportunities to learn and to apply that learning, contributing to impactful research and meaningful work. 

Beyond academic or career goals, these two core drives shape how I engage with and approach personal experiences. They were also central to how I approached the development of this literature review for the Becker Essay Prize. 

鈥淚鈥檝e been fortunate to learn the value of interdisciplinary thinking, and I鈥檒l carry that, along with many other skills, in both my career and life more broadly.鈥�

What inspired you to submit to the Becker Prize and where did you get the idea for the main argument? 

This literature review was my final paper for Psychology of Language (LING 315), an assignment in which we were invited to write a paper on any topic of interest from the course. In one of the units in the course, we were taught about the mechanisms behind monitoring and repairing speech. 

My first thought was how or if these mechanisms would differ and be affected by someone who uses a device separate from their physical voice to communicate. Being that I work with many neurodivergent children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), I was curious to see what research there was that discusses potential physical or cognitive barriers these individuals face when communicating. 

Dr. Margaret Grant, the professor for LING 315, mentioned the Becker Prize at the beginning of that semester. After the semester was over, I realized that I was proud of my paper, and Dr. Margaret Grant encouraged me to submit it. She was able to provide wonderful feedback and support throughout the application process as I finalized my paper for submission. 

Please tell us about your program of study and highlights of your journey at 大象传媒.

I鈥檓 currently in my last semester of my undergraduate degree in Linguistics, with a minor in Psychology and another minor in Learning and Developmental Disabilities. I鈥檓 also pursuing the Certificate in the Linguistics of Speech Science (CLSS). 

Over the last year, I鈥檝e become involved in 大象传媒鈥檚 research labs, including the Language and Brain Lab and the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Lab. These experiences have been so beneficial to my academic journey. They introduced me to research, which definitely helped motivate this literature review's direction. 

For most of my Linguistics degree, I was focused on coursework and theoretical learning. However, now that I鈥檓 participating in a Linguistics Lab, I鈥檓 able to apply that knowledge and see it come to life in real-world contexts, which has greatly helped. 

Beyond learning course content, my Linguistics degree has taught me how to approach problems, communicate effectively, and think critically. I鈥檝e been fortunate to learn the value of interdisciplinary thinking, and I鈥檒l carry that, along with many other skills, in both my career and life more broadly.

What are your goals for the future, in terms of academics and career aspirations?

My academic goal is to begin my master鈥檚 degree in speech-language pathology next year. My main career aspirations are to work with the pediatric population and be an advocate for communication accessibility. 

Everyone deserves the ability to express themselves and be heard. I am passionate about supporting individuals in finding and using their voice, no matter the format or modality that works best for them.