About

I took up my post at Sheffield Hallam University in September 2012; having been Head of Modern Foreign Languages in an inner city secondary school for several years .Prior to moving into teacher education, I also worked extensively , in a number of Sheffield primary schools, supporting colleagues in KS2 to incorporate Foreign Languages into their curriculum.

I speak French & Spanish and I use this subject knowledge to support primary trainee teachers to develop their confidence and competence in the teaching of MFLs in the primary phase. I am also a tutor on the PGCE ( secondary ) MFL course, and continue to use my experience in secondary foreign  languages pedagogy  to support and develop trainees working in Key Stage 3 &4.

In September 2014 , I became course for  leader  the PGCE Primary ( 5-11) & Early Years ( 3-7) . In this role I am committed to monitoring ,supporting and guiding  trainees though the 9 months of the PGCE. I am  a tutor on the PGCE  Masters modules,  the professional Studies module.  My current dissertation ( M.Ed.)  is centred on  an action research project which is closely linked to my PGCE responsibilities. I am researching into the emotional dimension of primary teaching, with a view to further supporting trainees in their professional transformation into qualified teachers. Moreover ,in the process I hope to gain a deeper understanding of student teacher wellbeing, which can support future PGCE trainees.

A further dimension of my work is my role as coordinator for the international specialism placements for 2nd year undergraduate teachers. I has been a privilege to work with international partners for the last 4 years and to see the positive impact which an international placement can have   on developing the skills  and widening the horizons of young trainee teachers.

Developing pedagogies for primary languages

Modern Foreign language learning through Drama

Developing the intercultural /Global dimension in MFL teaching

Behaviour for Learning

Inclusion

Teaching

Department of Teacher Education

College of Social Sciences and Arts

Primary Foreign Languages: support for trainee teachers to facilitate this relatively new statutory element of the KS2 National Curriculum.

EAL : support for trainee teachers in developing their expertise in breaking down barriers to learning for this diverse group of young people.

International ‘specialism’: developing undergraduate trainee teachers’ understanding of the comparative education studies in relation to their international placements in primary schools in the Netherland, USA and South Africa.

Lesson Study :as a rich source of continuing professional development ( introduced to PGCE Primary trainees as part of their 60 credit masters module )

Research

Currently researching’ the emotional demands of primary school teaching’ for final year Educational Enquiry for Masters in Education. Other research interests include : international comparative education (bilingual learning ); Challenges and opportunities for trainee teachers when using  of the ‘target language’ in the secondary Modern Foreign Language classroom ;   understanding and evaluating developing routes into teaching ( School Direct/ Teach First/ SCITTs)

Other activities

Coordinator for the BA2 International Specialism since 2014. Liaise with international partners in the US ( Georgia Southern University ), the Netherlands ( Enkhuizen Bilingual  Primary Schools Project ) and South Africa ( the Calabash Trust, Port Elizabeth ) . Facilitate students’ 4 week international education experience in primary schools in these 3 locations. Deliver related teaching on the module ( Developing Enquiry through a Specialism )

I am in my 3rd year of a 4 year External Examiner contract with the University of Chichester. I am an examiner for the undergraduate and postgraduate QTS + MFL specialism.