Research

My research interests include:

• Cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) and its applications to educational technology research;
• Second Language Acquisition, learner autonomy, and sociocultural theories of learning;
• Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and the development of learner autonomy;
• Computer Mediated Communication and collaborative language learning;
• Teaching and learning Language for Science and Technology.

I am particularly interested in finding out more about what language learners do when in the process of becoming autonomous language learners and users in an educational environment supported by Information and Communication Technologies. I am trying to develop principles for the design, implementation and evaluation of technology-rich language learning environments, using the principles and concepts of cultural-historical activity theory. In 2005, I completed a PhD in Educational Technology with the Institute of Educational Technology, Open University, UK, under the supervision of Robin Goodfellow and Ann Jones. The title of my thesis… CALL and the development of learner autonomy – an activity theoretical study. My thesis is available at the British Library but you can also download an electronic version of it (in pdf).

I am a member of various research centres, committees and academic panels:

• Member of the Centre for Translation and Textual Studies (CTTS), DCU
• Vice-President of the European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning (EUROCALL);
• Co-editor (with June Thompson) of the ReCALL Journal (Cambridge University Press)
• Deputy editor of ALSIC (Apprentissage des Langues et Systèmes d’Information et de Communication)

Related links

• To see a list of my publications;
• To learn more about my PhD thesis (2005);