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Dr Lada Smirnova

Dr Lada Smirnova

  • Position: Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes
  • Areas of expertise: Language Teacher Education, Training and Development; Sociocultural research; Activity Theory; Narrative Methodology; Artificial Intelligence; custom AI agents.
  • Email: L.Smirnova@leeds.ac.uk
  • Website: Googlescholar | Researchgate | ORCID

Profile

Lada Smirnova is a Senior Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes. She has been at Leeds since 2021, following earlier postgraduate study at the University of Manchester and teaching and leadership in the capacity of a Deputy Director of the MA in Digital Transformation in Education at HSE University in Moscow. Her transnational teaching experience includes teaching EAP in several universities in China, Russia, and the UK, and designing modules for several BA and MA programmes.

Research interests

Dr Smirnova’s study is currently focused on the impact of AI-powered custom agents on EAP teaching and learning. Her broader research is interdisciplinary and spans TESOL, EAP, and Artificial Intelligence, where she uses sociocultural theory as a lens for understanding language education, higher education, language teacher education, and development.

Dr Smirnova supervises postgraduate work, and if you are interested in conducting PhD research in the above areas, she would be happy to hear from you. To help her better understand your strengths and interests, please attach a 600–800-word proposal and a CV.

Recent Publications

Books

Smirnova, L. (2021). Exploring perezhivanie: a new tool for teacher development in the digital transformation in education. Peter Lang: Оxford.

Smirnova, L. (2019). Integrating technology 
into the university language classroom: a study of complexities and perezhivanie in teachers’ experience. (Unpublished PhD thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education). The University of Manchester.

Edited book

Smirnova, L. (2022). (Ed.). Using Activity Theory in the Digital Transformation in Education. Uright: Moscow. In Russian.

Book Chapters

Smirnova, L., Sheard, W. & Smith, E. (2025). Using Galperin’s Framework to Develop Students’ Academic Communication Skills in English: A Case of an Online Pre-Sessional Course. In Rosmawati & Verspoor, M., (Eds.), English for Academic and Specific Purposes in the Classroom: From Theory to Practice, Routledge: UK, pp. 191–207.

Smirnova, L., Rasskazova, T. (2024). The development of a reflective language teacher in Russia: from an apprenticeship to a dialogical partnership. In Cirocki A., Gao A., Wyatt M. (Eds), Developing Reflective ELT Practitioners through Teacher Education: Insights from Asian Contexts. Springer Nature Singapore. pp. 303–323.

Smirnova, L. (2022). Theorizing the digital change in education. In Smirnova L. (Ed.). Using Activity Theory in the Digital Transformation in Education. Uright: Moscow, pp. 12–32. In Russian.

Smirnova, L. (2021). Designing individual learning paths in Moodle. In Saphonov A.A., Chastova P.A., Kokaya E.T., Matys O.I. (Eds). Digital education: Methods, Practices, and Tools. A collection of webinars, talks, and research. Uright, Moscow, issue 4, pp. 24–25. In Russian.

Smirnova, L. (2020). Davydov’s Activity Approach for developing a MA in Digital Transformation in Education. In The School of Davydov: traditions and Innovations. FGBOY VOMGPPU: Moscow. pp. 250–252. In Russian.
Smirnova, L. (2016). Language teacher development in integrating technology: mind the gap. 3rd international Conference on ESP/EAP/EMI in the context of Higher Education Internationalization. National University of Science and Technology ‘MISIS’, Russia, November 25, 2016, Proceedings. In Conference proceedings, MISIS. p. 70.

Journal Articles

Smirnova, L. (2025). Developing students’ agency and voice by using generative AI in an online EAP module. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/17501229.2025.2538781

Smirnova, L. (2025). Using the Assistive Role of Generative AI in an Online EAP Module. OASIS Summary of Smirnova (2025) in Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching. https://www.oasis-database.org/details/gnwplzfi2

Smirnova, L. (2024). Teaching with technology: new roles and opportunities or just a new chore? The European Journal of Applied Linguistics and TEFL, 13 (2), 133–150.

Smirnova, L. (2024). A deeper form of reflection: perezhivanie as a tool for teacher development. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 32 (5), 489–500. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2024.2366268

Smirnova, L. (2023). Teachers’ motives, agency and Vygotsky’s notion of perezhivanie. The European Journal of Applied Linguistics and TEFL, 12 (1), 173–189.

Smirnova, L. (2020). Two forms of perezhivanie that work: integrating technology into a Russian university language classroom. The European Journal of Applied Linguistics and TEFL, 9 (2), 65–82.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Education, University of Manchester
  • MA in Educational Technology and TESOL, University of Manchester
  • DELTA, University of Cambridge
  • CELTA, University of Cambridge
  • Specialist Diploma in Programming, National Research Nuclear University (MEPhI)

Professional memberships

  • ISCAR
  • BALEAP
  • Mind, Culture and Activity (xMCA) group
  • BAAL

Research groups and institutes

  • Language Centre
<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>