Simon R. Nicholls BA (Hons.) PGCE PgCLTHE MA CELTA FHEA
Senior Lecturer in French and Francophone Studies
Summary
I was originally appointed as a Lecturer in French and Francophone Studies at Sheffield Hallam University in 2013, having spent three years as an Associate Lecturer at the University of Nottingham and after having conducted 2 years of research field work on island identities, histories, societies and cultures in the Balearic Islands and Corsica. I have 20 years' experience in teaching and learning in Modern Languages. I assumed the role of Undergraduate Course Leader for Languages and Cultures' degrees in July 2022. Alongside my teaching and research in more general nineteenth and twentieth century French, Hispanic and Mediterranean area studies, I continue to maintain an interest in Catalan language and culture, alongside my teaching duties in French language and civilisation.
About
I was appointed as Senior Lecturer in French and Catalan Studies in 2017, and primarily teach French language and civilisation modules. Moreover, due to the fact that I have taught across the UK education system since 2004, I also lead and (co-)deliver modules in 'Professional Skills in Teaching' and 'Language Learning Development: Theory and Practice' which build upon my nearly two decades of teaching experience. As an academic, I place the student experience at the heart of all my teaching, and in 2021, was the recipient of the Vice Chancellor's Award for such efforts, and for student recognition of my teaching and the support I provide as an Academic Advisor (Personal Tutor). Much of my French civilisation teaching is research-informed. Indeed, as a result of extensive field work and archival study in both France and Spain, I maintain broad research interests in the fields of nineteenth and twentieth century French, Catalan studies, and Mediterranean area studies (more widely). The core of my research relates to regionalism (cultures, politics, societies) in Western Europe and the northern Mediterranean, and to theories of nationalism (ethnosymbolism, modernism) set against the backdrop of regional autonomist and independence movements, particularly in Spain (the Balearic Islands, Catalonia) and France (Corsica, wider 'Occitania'). I have presented research on such areas at international conferences in the past. Since July 2022, I have acted as Undergraduate Course Leader for Languages and Cultures' degrees at Sheffield Hallam University. Moreover, I assumed the role of Admissions Tutor for Languages and Cultures' degrees at Undergraduate level between August 2018 and September 2024.
Teaching expertise
- Area Studies pertaining to the Mediterranean
- Experise in areas such as diglossia, inter-generation transmission and language shift among regional and minority languages
- French language and area studies (Levels 4-6)
- History, society and culture of western European states in the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
- Iberian studies
- Theories of nationalism, regionalism and government systems, as well as both culture and society
Research
- Identities and Societies in the western Mediterranean (Balearics, Corsica, the northern and western Mediterranean basin)
- Theories of nationalism, particularly those of ethno-symbolism and their relationship with politics and society in the 20th and 21st centuries
Teaching
Sheffield Business School
College of Business, Technology and Engineering
Global Business, Tourism and Hospitality Languages & Cultures
BA (Hons.) International Business with French BA (Hons.) Languages with International Business BA (Hons.) Languages with Tourism BA (Hons.) Languages with TESOL BA (Hons.) Business Management Foundation Year programmes (Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University)
Intermediate French (typically First Year UG) Upper Intermediate French (typically Second Year UG) Business & Culture in French-Speaking Societies (typically First Year UG) Contemporary Debates in French-Speaking Societies (typically Final Year UG) Going Global (FD Year) Professional Skills in Teaching (Final Year UG) Understanding People & Cultures (First Year UG)
Research
- Culture and Creativity Research Institute
Catalan language (Extra-curricular)
Other activities
Mediterranean Studies Association (Member)
Widening Participation in Languages Network