Finally, I am done with writing my integrative paper! Yes. I wrote the last sentence last night, and I am now in the process of collating all the references I read. It’s like a hundred of them.
Now that I’m done with it, I am now on the polishing stage of a 30+-page review of related literature. I need to weed out what’s not necessary. After which, I’ll go and see my adviser. Dr. Dayag, here I come! 
Writing an IP is quite challenging. And the most challenging part is the reading stage. Imagine me reading like a hundred technical articles in apllied linguistics of almost the same topic everynight. What a boring thing to do, indeed! Mind you, this reading I did for 3 monhts! See? Well, reading and writing are relatives, so I need to read a lot in order to write something.
Another challenging part is the requirement posed on us, would-be-doctors-of-philosophy-in-applied-linguistics. The expected output is the comprehensive critical review of literature in our field of interest in applied linguistics. Indicentally, mine is English in the workplace.
After the so many readings I did, I am now quite settled with the dissertation topic that I’ll delve into. I am now settled to work on language pedagogy in the workplace, especially in the call center industry. As an educator, I want to see if there is a big gap between academic instruction and industry practice, and bridge the gap if there is by way curricular reengineering and instructional reforms. Hey! the concept is becoming clearer, huh!
Wish me luck!
The school where I would like to earn my PhD in Applied Linguistics. De La Salle University-Manila. August 2008.
