Dr Thuy Thai

Profile

I am a lecturer in English for Academic Purposes at the Language Centre, School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Leeds. I bring a strong background in academic language instruction, test and assessment development and student support. I previously worked at Leeds Trinity University as a student achievement adviser, where I supported diverse student cohorts in navigating academic challenges and developing effective study strategies. Earlier in my career, I served as a test development researcher at the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University-Hanoi. Alongside my research role, I also developed and taught EAP courses, helping students gain the academic language needed for success in Vietnam’s higher education.

Responsibilities

• Assessment Lead and Academic Integrity Lead

Research interests

My PhD thesis on the factors influencing examiners’ rating decisions in a high-stake English proficiency speaking test received the best poster prize in the UK’s Language Testing Forum in 2018, the best student paper prize in the annual conference of Asian Association of Language Assessment in 2019, and the British Council’s Assessment Research Award in 2019. My scholarship interests focus on the intersection between language assessment literacy, classroom-based assessment, highstakes tests and language policy.

Publications

Sheehan, S. and Thai, T. (2025) [forthcoming]. LAL training in Vietnam: A teacher-centred approach to resource development. In: Yan, X. and Giraldo, F. ed(s). Towards Pedagogies of/for Language Assessment Literacy London: Rougtledge

Nguyen, Q. T. N., Sheehan, S., Nguyen, C. T., Nguyen, H. Q., Nguyen, T. T. P., Thai, T., Nguyen, Y. T. Q., Tran, H. T. T., & Bui, S. (2023). English Language Assessment Practice in Vietnam: Interplay between Macro and Micro Context. PASAA, 66, 127-167. https://www.culi.chula.ac.th/Images/asset/pasaa_journal/file-71-889-cx2zn7776159.pdf

Thai, T., Sheehan, S., Nguyen, Q., Nguyen, Y., Tran, H., Nguyen, T., Nguyen, C., Nguyen, H., & Bui, S. (2023). Digital Assessment Literacy: English assessment practice in Vietnam. In A. L. Gokturk-Saglam & E. Sevgi-Sole (Ed.), Emerging Practices for Online Language Assessment, Exams, Evaluation, and Feedback. IGI Global.

Thai, T., & Sheehan, S. (2022). The processes of rating L2 speaking performance using an analytic rating scale – A qualitative exploration. Language Education and Assessment, 5(1), 34–51. https://doi.org/10.29140/lea.v5n1.777

Dunlea, J., Spiby, R., Nguyen, T. N. Q., Nguyen, T. Q. Y., Nguyen, T. M. H., Nguyen, T. P. T., Thai, T., & Sao, B. T. (2018). APTIS-VSTEP comparability study: Investigating the usage of two EFL tests in the context of higher education in Vietnam. British Council Validation Series, VS/2018, 1.

Qualifications

• Ph.D Language Testing and Assessment (University of Huddersfield)
• M.Ed in Education (specialising in applied linguistic) (University of New South Wales, Australia
• B.A. in English language teaching (Vietnam National University)
• CELTA

Professional memberships

• FHEA
• British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes
• BAAL TEA SIG

Research groups and institutes

• Language Centre