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My Experience

I have worked for many years as a coordinator / trainer of multicultural teams in a university context, with a focus on ESL/EFL and LOTE. This teaching was in the context of life skills training, with an emphasis on language as a crucial aspect of skills training. On returning to Australia, I was involved in a literacy program with migrants in Toowoomba. I gained my Master of Education (TESOL) from USQ in 2004.

 

I have developed a dual focus in my professional development in the area of applied linguistics. Through my active teaching involvement across the applied linguistics masters program at USQ, I have fostered a critical academic approach to the current ESL theory. My focus has not been on research per se, but on exploring how our current understanding of theory applies in the classroom.

 

In order to achieve this focus, I have also fostered a second level of involvement by maintaining an active teaching role in the EAP and other ESL programs at USQ.

 

This broad experience has given me a deep appreciation and understanding of language and language learning. Having learned a second language myself (Turkish), and watched/helped many other people struggle with language acquisition, I have developed a keen interest in observing and enhancing the language learning path of each learner. I enjoy interacting with other language educators in dealing with the many theoretical aspects of language that impact on our teaching methodology.

 

Current and past Teaching Involvement

EDE4012          Cross-cultural Communication in Early Childhood

EDV3551          Vocational and Workplace Literacies

EDX1170           Foundations of Language and Literacies

LIN5000          The Nature of Language

LIN5003          Syllabus Design and Materials Writing

LIN8001           Principles of Second Language Learning

LIN8002          Methodology in Teaching a Second Language

LIN8007          Language Testing

TPP7120           Studying to Succeed

 

This Website

The focus of this website is to develop a collection of working papers on various topics related to language teaching/learning. These papers range from teaching resources ready to be used in the classroom, to comments on current theory in the areas of language testing, CALL, syllabus design etc. The purpose of the working papers is primarily to develop my own online library of resources which I can link to in many teaching contexts such as EAP classes, forum posts, presentations etc. The nature of working papers is that I am constantly adding to the topics, and to the content of existing papers. They are also public documents that other teachers may use and comment on.

 

Other interests

I have a keen interest in photography. I currently use a Pentax K7 with some prime lenses.