Laura Richards

Profile

I have worked at the University of Leeds since 2014, teaching and leading English for Academic Purposes (EAP) modules in the Language Centre and study skills on International Foundation Year. I have lead various modules including Language for Marketing and Language for Arts and Humanities as well are developing insessional support for students studing Linguistics. As Digital Lead for both the Language Centre and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, I focused on our pivot to remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting staff in the faculty to engage with digital practices and resources. Currently, I teach insessional provision in the school of Performance and Cultural Industries supporting international postgraduates on a range of programmes.

Research interests

My research interests lie in technology-enhanced learning, specifically the use of digital tools to facilitate meaningful collaboration and language development in higher education. I am currently undertaking a funded project investigating international PGT student use of speech-to-text-interpreting software on large cohort Masters programmes in creative disciplines. The aim of this project is to better understand the factors impacting international students’ choice of when and how to use translation software in interactive spoken learning exchanges (e.g. seminars, tutorials, academic meetings), with a view to supporting insessional EAP practioners and disciplinary lecturers to understand and manage these exchanges more effectively. This project is funded by PRiA (Pedagogic Research in the Arts) in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures and the Language Centre.

Qualifications

• MA Linguistics and English Language Teaching
• Cambridge Diploma in English Language teaching to Adults

Professional memberships

• BALEAP

Student education

I teach the insessional provision in the School of Performance and Cultural Industries.

Research groups and institutes

• Language Centre