I undertake research on testing language for specific purposes, the scope and definition of language constructs in particular contexts, speaking assessment, language assessment literacy, test users’ perspectives, and test impact.
More generally, I am interested in the nature of discourse communities and how newcomers gain access to them in terms of language. I study English in medical/healthcare contexts and in academic contexts.
My post at Lancaster University is the Trinity College London Lectureship in Language Testing and I am involved in research and development projects with Trinity College London.
I am interested in supervising research studies on all aspects of language testing. My particular areas of research focus are testing language for specific purposes, the scope and definition of language constructs in particular contexts, speaking assessment, language assessment literacy, test users’ perspectives, and test impact.
This year (2023-24) I am teaching on the MA in Language Testing by distance:
- LING505 Exploring Language Constructs for Language Testing (with Olena Rossi)
- LING506 Issues in Language Testing
Previously, I have taught modules
on the MA in Language Testing (distance):
- LING504 Language Test Construction and Evaluation
- LING506 Issues in Language Testing
and on the MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL:
- LING460 Language Test Construction and Evaluation
I have also taught on the Language Testing at Lancaster summer course.
I undertake research on testing language for specific purposes, the scope and definition of language constructs in particular contexts, speaking assessment, language assessment literacy, test users’ perspectives, and test impact.
From a technical perspective, I consider the theory and practice of test development for a particular domain, the definition of language use in that domain, and the adequacy of tests that allow access to it. From a social perspective, I consider the implications of test use in a particular domain, for example by investigating the views of stakeholders, domain “insiders” and test takers seeking to join them.
More generally, I am interested in the nature of discourse communities and how newcomers gain access to them in terms of language. I study English in medical/healthcare contexts and in academic contexts. I am working with Amy Zenger to complete a research project about the experiences and practices as writers of multilingual faculty at the American University of Beirut.
