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Joan McCormack

Unknown

Programme Director Pre-sessional, year-round programme.

In my role at ISLI I oversee the year-round Pre-sessional Programme, which involves development of the syllabus, working with co-ordinators and tutors to deliver an effective programme, and ensuring students needs are met in preparing them to embark on their academic programmes, mainly post-graduate academic programmes.

Areas of interest

My particular areas of interest are Intercultural Competence, Extended Writing, Assessment of speaking, and Learner Autonomy.

Teaching

Extended writing and Research skills.

Listening and Speaking.

Research projects

Intercultural competency - student and staff development, materials development. 

Assessment of speaking, and development of fluency in speaking.

Background

I started my teaching career in Japan, as a secondary school teacher of French, European History and Drama. I have also taught English in Japan, followed by 2 years teaching English in Arequipa Peru, and then Spain. I first came to the University of Reading to do an MA in TEFL, and from this became involved in EAP teaching. 

I enjoy the outdoors, walking and hiking, as well as theatre and travel.

Academic qualifications

MA TEFL (Reading)

RSA Diploma in TEFL (International House)

Diploma in Higher Education (Trinity College Dublin)

SFHEA (Reading)

Selected publications

Tavakoli, P. Campbell, C. & McCormack, J. (2015). Development of Speech Fluency over a short period of time: a pedagogic intervention. TESOL Quarterly http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/tesq.244/abstract

McCormack, J. and Slaght, J. (2005). Extended Writing and Research Skills Lebanon: Garnet Education (new edition 2012)

McCormack, J. and Watkins, S. (2007). Speaking Lebanon: Garnet Education. (new edition 2012)

Conferences attended

BALEAP bi-annual conference, April 2017 Bristol
BALEAP PIM November 2017 on Intercultural Communication University of Nottingham.

Publications