Profile

Biography

I hold a PhD in Applied Linguistics (University of Birmingham), MSc in TESOL (California State University) and Executive MBA (University of Newcastle). Prior to joining the Department of Education at York in 2009, I lectured at the universities of La Trobe (Australia), Newcastle (UK), Birmingham (UK) and University of Technology MARA (Malaysia).

I am currently Chair of Graduate School Board and Director of Graduate Studies. I have responsibility for the leadership and management of the MA and PhD programmes in the Education Department at York. I chair the University’s Postgraduate Taught Special Interest Group that brings together representatives from departments to promote the interests of those on Masters programmes. I am also member of the Staff  Race and Equality Group, the group that shares good practice in relation to race equality and diversity.

I have been involved in the design, delivery and leadership of the following modules: Discourse Analysis and Language Teaching, Language Curriculum Design and Evaluation, Teaching and Learning Language, Planning and Communicating Research, Independent Study Module (MA dissertation) and Research Methods in Applied Linguistics.

Research

Overview

My research interests include:

• Spoken interaction: classroom and intercultural settings
• Classroom pedagogy
• Written discourse analysis
• Language curriculum-based research
• Teacher education

My research into classroom discourse and pedagogy has a strong international dimension and has important implications for educational policy and practice in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. My research approach is highly collaborative and intercultural in focus. 

Current projects

I am involved in the World University Network (WUN) project investigating English language as a factor in skilled migration. This project focuses on an examination of how skilled migrants interact with native English speakers, how different English varieties impinge on workplace relationships and the extent to which skilled migrants’ multilingual skills are brought to bear on intercultural and international interaction. The WUN partners engaged in the project are: Penn State University (project leader), University of York, University of Bristol, University of Leeds, University of Cape Town, Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Sydney and University of Wisconsin at Madison.

I am involved in the UniHEA Internationalisation Change Programme in collaboration with Dr Paul Roberts from the Centre for English Language Teaching (CELT). This is a national initiative to promote the internationalisation of the curriculum in UK universities funded by the Higher Education Academy. The programme provides for staff development in internationalisation of the curriculum and the teaching of home and international students. 

Research group(s)

• University of York
• Language and Identities in Inter-Action Research Unit at the University of York St. John.

Supervision

I have supervised PhD projects to a successful completion in the areas of classroom discourse and pedagogy, intercultural communication and English language teaching. I have also been very active in the examination of PhDs in the UK and overseas.

I am currently supervising:

Nor Haslynda A. Rahman - The English language curriculum in Malaysian primary schools: patterns of classroom interaction as a quality indicator. 

Golebamang Galegane - International patterns in communication and study skills classes for University of Botswana first year students. 

Erdem Akbas - A comparative study of meta-discourse in the academic writing of Turkish (L1 and L2) writers and British (L1) writers.

Clare Wardman - A study of the linguistic and social experiences of isolated English language learners in UK primary schools and their sense of identity. (100%).

David Brining - The experience of teaching English to young learners in international contexts.

Jabar, Farina - Forms and functions of instructor humour in an ESL classroom. 

Publications

Selected publications

All publications are under my maiden name, ABD-KADIR.

Abd-Kadir, J. & Hardman, F (2012) Reforming teacher education in East Africa: the importance of socio-cultural context. In M. Cortazzi & L. Jin (eds.) Researching Cultures of Leaning: International perspectives on language learning and education. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmilan, Chapter 4

Hardman, F., Abd-Kadir, J. & Tibuhinda, A. (2012). Reforming Teacher Education in Tanzania. International Journal of Educational Development 32, 6, pp. 826-834.

Hardman, F. & Abd-Kadir, J. (2010) Classroom discourse: towards a dialogic pedagogy.  In D. Wyse, R. Andrews & J. Hoffman (eds.) The International Handbook of English, Language and Literacy. London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis, pp. 254-264

Hardman, F., Abd-Kadir, J., Agg, C. Migwi, J., Ndambuku, J. & Smith, F. (2009) Changing pedagogical practice in Kenyan primary schools: the impact of school-based training Comparative Education 45, 1, pp. 65 – 86.

Hardman, F., Abd-Kadir, J. & Smith, F. (2008) Pedagogical renewal: improving the quality of classroom interaction in Nigerian Primary Schools, International Journal of Educational Studies 28, 1, pp. 55 – 69.

Abd-Kadir, J. & Hardman, F.  (2007) The discourse of whole class teaching: a comparative study of Kenyan and Nigerian primary English lessons Language and Education 21, 1, pp. 1 – 15.

Abd-Kadir, J. (2007) External Programme Review: English for Academic Purposes, International College, Melbourne, Australia.

Hardman, F. &  Abd-Kadir, J. (2008) The Quality of Teaching and Learning in Tanzanian Primary Schools: a Baseline Study UNICEF, Tanzania.

Abd-Kadir, J., Blaize, J. & Hardman, F. (2003) Dialect Interference in the Writing of Primary School Children in the Commonwealth of Dominica L1. Educational Studies in Language and Literature 3, 3, 225 - 237. 

External activities

Editorial duties

The International Journal of Educational Development

The Asian Journal of University Education

GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies

Economic & Social Research Council grant applications

The British Association of Applied Linguistics

Consultancy

The quality of teaching and learning in Tanzanian primary schools: a baseline study, UNICEF, Tanzania, 2008

A curriculum review of English for Academic Purposes, International College Network, Melbourne, Australia, 2007

An evaluation of the English language teaching methodology in primary schools, Hyderabad, India, Centre for British Teachers (CFBT), 2001

An English language teacher training programme, Chongqing, China, the University of Newcastle and British Council, 1999

International links

La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

University of Technology MARA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The World University Network (WUN)