![[The University of Leicester]](../../images/unilogo.gif)
(Room:34)
21 University Road
The University of Leicester,
School of Education,
21 University Road,
Leicester,
LE1 7RF
Telephone:
+44 (0) 116 252 3706
E-mail:
amls2@le.ac.uk
I am an active member of the Association for Language Awareness. I am particularly interested in the principles which underlie the theory and practice of Language Awareness and how they give coherence to this field. Lately I have done some work on developing 'Engagement with Language' as a concept which I believe to be central to Language Awareness practice and research.
In my role as teacher educator, I draw on both Language Awareness theory and my own theoretical research in Grammar. My PhD research (in the 80's and 90's) was on tense - modality - aspect in English and Modern Greek. I am currently exploring the use of literary texts to raise EFL teachers' awareness of grammar in context.
I continue to take an interest in how grammar constructs meaning and how it can be taught and learnt. I have done some research on how learners perceive the meanings of English verb forms. Some of it has been on Malay speaking learners who are also speakers of a non-standard variety of English, Brunei English. I have also done some research on grammar teaching in a Lebanese Secondary School where both students and teachers enjoyed talking about language and engaging in inductive learning/teaching.
Leicester is a multi-cultural, multi-faith and multi-lingual city. There is an extensive need for and provision of ESOL instruction. With a colleague (Dr Kevin Armstrong) I have looked at how the New Adult ESOL Core Curriculum translates into classroom practice and student engagement.
Another interest is textual borrowing (plagiarism), particularly the process students go through when they use sources to write academic papers, including note taking practices and attitudes to knowledge.
Research Students
I supervise PhD and EdD students. I would particularly welcome applications from aspiring Doctoral researchers interested in the learning/teaching of grammar, or language learner engagement. The topic areas being investigated by some of my recent and current supervisees include: