I joined York St John University in 2026 as a Lecturer in Applied Linguistics and TESOL. I am Programme Lead for the BA English Language and Linguistics as well as BA English Language, Linguistics and TESOL programmes.
I hold an MA in Applied Linguistics with TESOL and a PhD in English Language and Linguistics from the University of Sheffield. My thesis explored how children and adults interpret plurality in Chinese and English. My postdoctoral research at the Centre for Corpus linguistic and Legal Approaches to Safeguarding Studies (CLASS, Lancaster University) focuses on media portrayals of child abuse and child protection in the UK. Before joining York St John, I also worked in teaching and researcher development at the universities of Bradford and York.
My research interests span first and second language acquisition, learner language and corpus linguistics. I am particularly interested in how people learn and use grammar, including pronouns and expressions of number. My research also examines how language shapes representations of social issues. My work draws on experimental methods, the analysis of large collections of texts, and quantitative analysis.
My teaching focuses on general linguistics, language acquisition and TESOL. The modules I teach include:
- Semantics and Pragmatics
- Second Language Acquisition and TESOL
- Intercultural Communication in TESOL
Recent publications
Member of The Centre for Language and Social Justice Research (LSJ), York St John University.
Member of The Centre for Corpus linguistic and Legal Approaches to Safeguarding Studies (CLASS), Lancaster University.
