Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics

I have been working at the University of Bedfordshire (formerly University of Luton) since 1994 teaching various modules such as Italian Language and Literature, Applied Linguistics and TEFL as well as Language Acquisition and Stylistics at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

I have been involved in English Language Teacher Training and Applied Linguistics for more than 20 years and I am now also managing, and teaching the MA Applied Linguistics TESOL.

Qualifications

• PhD in Applied Linguistics – Leeds Metropolitan University
• MA in L2 Materials Development with Distinction – University of Luton
• BA (Hons) Modern English Studies – University of Luton
• Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - Trinity College London

Teaching Expertise

• Teaching and managing ELT/TEFL courses: the MA in Applied Linguistics TESOL and the Certificate in ELT programme.
• Teaching and co-ordinating UG units related to Applied Linguistics: ELT/TEFL, Second Language Acquisition and Stylistics
• Conducting research and scholarly activity to support teaching and learning
• Supervising postgraduate, undergraduate and PhD research projects

Research Interests

My academic and research interests lie in the areas of:

• L2 Materials Development for Language Teaching and Learning
• Language Teaching Methodology
• The role of reading in Language Teaching and Learning
• Literary Text Analysis and Reader Response Theory
• Cognitive Stylistics and the Language of storytelling
• Language Acquisition and Bilingualism/Multilingualism

Research Projects

• October 2010 – PhD research project entitled Readings, An Investigation of the Role of Aesthetic Response in the Reading of Narrative Literary Texts – Leeds Metropolitan University.
• The project was based on my research on cognitive stylistics, drawing a link between an analysis of narrative literary texts and reader response theory
• 2012 - I was involved in reviewing Materials Development for Language Teaching published by Continuum, for the production of a new edition
• 2013 to 2014 – I was part of a research project focusing on developing online materials for self-access purposes to be included in the learning resources part of our Language Centre – Department of Language and Communication – University of Bedfordshire
• 2015 to 2016 – I have been part of a research project focusing on Incorporating Culture Awareness Training into Teachers’ Training funded by the University of Bedfordshire, Centre for Learning Excellence.

Publications

• Saraceni, C. (2013) Adapting Courses – A personal View, Tomlinson, B. (ed.) Developing Materials for Language Teaching. London, New York: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Saraceni, C. (2017) Critical Awareness in Language Teacher Development, Banegas, D. (2017) Initial English Language Teacher Education: International Perspectives on Research, Curriculum and Practice. London, New York: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Saraceni, C. (2018) Language Diversity and Language Testing, in Bouckaert, M., Konings, M. and Van Winkelhof, M. (2018 eds.) Meaning-Focused Materials for Language Learning. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars.

Conference Papers

• Aesthetic Response in the Classroom, MATSDA Post-graduate student conference, University of Luton, May 1996
• Brainswitching and Language Teaching MATSDA Post-graduate student research conference, University of Luton, June 1996
• Aesthetic Experience and the Learner The First Teaching and Learning Conference, University of Luton, July 11 2000
• Using Culturally Provocative Texts MATSDA Cultural Aspects of Language Learning, Leeds Metropolitan University, January 20 2001
• Teacher Training or Teacher Development? Weekly Departmental Research Workshops, Internal Research Seminars, University of Bedfordshire, May 2009
• Reading Narrative Texts and Aesthetic Response MATSDA Engaging ELT Learners, University of York, January 30 – 31 2010
• Reading Narrative Texts and Aesthetic Response, Teaching and Learning Conference, CRELLA Internal PhD Research Seminars, University of Bedfordshire, July 6 2010
• Narrative Texts and Literary Awareness Development, English Language Teaching Connections Conference, Leeds Metropolitan University, May 20-21 2011
• Saraceni, C. (2013) Critical Awareness Development & Language Learners and Teachers – A personal view, The MATSDA/University of Liverpool Two Day Conference - Enjoying to Learn: the Best Way to Acquire a Language? University of Liverpool, July 13th-14th 2013
• Saraceni, C. (2014) A Critical Evaluation of the Concepts of Native Speaker and Non-native Speaker in Learner-Centred Teaching and Learning – Implications in Language Acquisition and Materials Development. The MATSDA/University of Liverpool Conference SLA and Materials Development June 28th and 29th 2014
• Saraceni, C. and Narvet, K. (2014) 5th International Conference on Teaching English as a Foreign Language Assessment in ELT – Opportunities and Challenges UNL in Lisbon (Portugal).
• Saraceni, C., Narvet, K., Hancock, A. and Sarii, I. (2015) Ways of Assessing Teaching Practice, The Language and Communication Post-Graduate Research Conference – June 10^th , 2015 at the English Language and Communication Department – University of Bedfordshire
• Saraceni, C. (2015) Rethinking Language Ownership to Create Motivation in Materials Development, The MATSDA / UL PhD TESOL Summer School Conference 2015 Creating Motivation with L2 Materials - June 20th - 21st 2015 - University of Limerick
• Saraceni. C., Hancock, A. and Sarii, I. (2015) Teaching Practice Assessment and Teacher Development. The Language Show Live, October 16^th – 18^th, 2015. Olympia London. 
• Saraceni, C. and Narvet, K. (2016) Ways of Assessing Teaching Practice. HEA Annual Arts and Humanities Conference 2016- 3–4 March, 2016 Brighton
• Saraceni, C. (2016) Use of ‘Englishes’, Culture Awareness Development and L2 Materials Authenticity, The MATSDA/University of Liverpool 2016 Conference - Authenticity and L2 Materials Development, June 18th-19th, 2016
• Saraceni, C. (2016) Rethinking Language Ownership through Culture Awareness Development. The Association for Language Awareness 2016 - Conference: Languages for Life: Educational, Professional and Social Contexts, July 19 – 22, 2016 - WU Wien (Vienna University of Economics and Business)
• Saraceni, C. and Narvet, K. (2017) Teaching Practice: Assessment for Learning in a Multicultural Context. The teaching of languages in the new millennium: the challenges of internationalization IV Congress - Societa’ di Didattica delle Lingue e Linguistica Educativa (DILLE) – Universita’ Ca’Foscari Venezia Italy 2–4 February, 2017
• Saraceni. C. (2017) Language Diversity and Language Assessment. Meaning-Focused Materials for Language Learning. The MATSDA/Fontys University of Applied Sciences - Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts (FHK) - Zwijsenplein 1, Tilburg, the Netherlands - June 10 & 11, 2017
• Saraceni, C. (2018) Developing Critical Awareness for Language Teachers as Citizens of the Classroom Community.14th ALA (Association for Language Awareness) Conference - Towards Language Awareness Citizenship. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands – July 4 - 7, 2018
• Saraceni, C. (2019) Using Materials to Develop Critical Skills and Empower Learner Voice. Using Language Learning Materials: Theory and Practice. The MATSDA/University of Liverpool 2019 Conference – University of Liverpool, Liverpool UK – June 15 and 16, 2019

Contact Details

T: +44 (0)1582 489359 ext 9359
E: claudia.saraceni@beds.ac.uk