An important feature of doctoral studies at The University of Manchester is that at the beginning of our studies we are expected to undertake formal training in research methods, in the form of taught modules offered by the MSc in Educational Research programme. This training, the exact structure of which is generally negotiated with one’s supervisors and the School, is […]
Read moreEljee, Tanya, Viv and myself are all presenting at the NM 2010 conference next week. Details below. wish us luck with volcanic ash as we negotiate the Atlantic 🙂 “Narrative Matters 2010 – Exploring the narrative landscape: Issues, investigations, and interventions” to be hosted by the CIRN in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, May 20th – 22nd 2010: Fay, R., Zhou, […]
Read moreIt may be of interest to know what Supervisors’ needs are perceived to be (as suggested by the following training sessions for them): Two ‘Supervisor Awareness’ workshops run by the Faculty in May. The first will be a half-day workshop on the Supervision Context … The focus of PhD supervision tends to be on completion of the thesis and preparation for […]
Read moreVlora (Albania), September 11-13 This seems to focus more on English linguistics and Anglophone literature, so it’s not immediately relevant to my needs. But it should be an interesting intercultural experience… Izmir (Turkey), October 28-30 Focussing on English as an International Language. Chomsky’s keynote speech should be one of the highlights of the event. I might turn a paper in […]
Read moreHere is a sample (between Richard and Magdalena) of the kind of dialogue that the recent posting about ‘doing research bi-/multi-lingually’ has stimulated. In response to the three prompts, Magdalena identifies her fluency in Spanish and English (Q1), the fact that she not only could she use both languages in her research (Q2) but in fact “used both languages to […]
Read moreThere is something exciting about taking a qualitative approach to understanding the experience of language teachers – exciting and troubling, that is. It is the realisation that, when it comes to methodology, we are making our way in largely uncharted territory. One can always draw on existing social science research manuals, but I think it is fair to say that […]
Read moreHere is an email message I sent to all LTE’s doctoral students recently to find out more about the multilingual possibilities and actualities of their research. Introduction I am sending this message to recent, current, and likely doctoral students with supervisors in the LTE group. Some of you will have heard – e.g. via the main LTE blog and/or […]
Read moreHi All this is my draft abstract for the PRASH conference at Edge Hill University in June. http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/56271-220101/Postgraduate-Research-in-Arts-Social-Sciences-and-Humanities-PRASH-conference-2010.html#pageInfo (Link no longer active) You’re allowed 150 words only, so here they are. I’ll be sending this Thu/Fri so any comments would be most welcome! The title of the presentation is currently “The ‘Interdisciplinary Turn’ and Locating Research”. Hh-hm: “I do not intend […]
Read moreMany of the students in the LTE doctoral community are TESOL practitioners from around the globe. Their research often builds on their research complex contextual, linguistic and cultural resources. One fascinating outcome of this, an outcome which rarely receives much attention, are the possibilities arising for undertaking research bilingually / multilingually even though the overall academic context at LTE / Manchester is English-medium. For example, a […]
Read more**** STOP PRESS **** (June 2010) Gary (Motteram) is involved – as the editor for a special issue of the journal developing the coverage in the recent IATEFL Pre-Conference Event he co-ordinated -with this new journal which may be of interest to the more tech-oriented amongst you: International Journal of Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Teaching (IJCALLT) The mission of the International […]
Read moreApplied Linguistics (AL) English Language Teaching Journal (ELTJ) Foreign Language Annals (FLA) International Review of Applied Linguistics (IRAL) Journal of Applied Linguistics (JAL) Language Learning & Technology (LL&T) — (a referred journal for second and foreign language educators) Language Teaching Language Testing Modern Language Journal (MLJ) Second Language Research (SLR) System (An international journal of educational technology and applied linguistics) TESOL […]
Read moreHow not to write a PhD thesis 28 January 2010 In this guide, Tara Brabazon gives her top ten tips for doctoral failure My teaching break between Christmas and the university’s snowy reopening in January followed in the footsteps of Goldilocks and the three bears. I examined three PhDs: one was too big; one was too small; one was just […]
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