About
I have worked at the University of Liverpool since 2001. My early roles were those of English for academic purposes language teacher and lecturer within what was then called the Applied English Language Studies Unit, now known as the English Language Centre (ELC). From that time, I have continued my role as lecturer in a range of MA TESOL / Applied Linguistics modules, working both in the ELC and co-opted into Department of English. At one time or another I have lectured and convened post-graduate modules in Methods in English Language Teaching, Lexis and Language Teaching, Course and Materials Design, Classroom Observation and Practical Classroom Techniques. I formally joined the Department of English in September 2016 and I current teach on, and convene the modules, Methods in English Language Teaching, Research Skills and Testing and Assessment of Language Performance.
Prior to joining the Department of English in 2016, I had a number of roles within the English Language Centre, These included Director of the University's International Foundation Year, Deputy Director of the ELC and teacher trainer on the ELC's Cambridge English CELTA courses. For four years from October 2012, I was Director of the ELC.
I started by career as a 'TEFLer' in 1985. I worked in private language schools in Spain and Portugal until 1989 and then, after completing my Masters in Applied Linguistics and ELT at the University of Lancaster, I went to work in China. There I worked on ODA funded, British Council managed teacher training projects for six years, at universities in Beijing, Wuhan, Tangshan and Lanzhou. In 1997 I relocated back to the UK and worked at Bell International as a language teacher and teacher trainer where I remained until being enticed to the delights of the northwest England and its foremost city of humour, culture, footie and pop music.