Ros Richards
As Head of School, I provide strategic leadership and management of the International Study and Language Institute, which sits at the heart of the University's global engagement activity and at the forefront of language teaching innovation. Our programmes and activities benefit from over 40 years' experience of teaching English for academic study, supporting staff and students at all campuses, and in teaching and research partnerships overseas. We also offer 10 modern foreign languages, encouraging both language development and intercultural awareness to staff and students across the University.
Strategic leadership, internationalisation of the curriculum, TNE, English as a medium of instruction, intercultural communication, academic writing and critical thinking for international students
International experience in previous posts:
20 years EFL/EAP experience including:
London, UK - International Foundation Courses for Overseas Students, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London: EAP teaching and responsibility for teacher support and development
Qatar - Qatar University: EAP teaching and materials development
Zaire - Zaire American Language Institute: Course Director for EAP programme, preparing students for postgraduate study in USA
Switzerland - Berne Canton: EFL teaching and Chief Oral Examiner for Berne Canton, UCLES
Saudi Arabia - King Abdul Aziz University: EAP teaching and materials development
I am an assessor for the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes quality assurance accreditation scheme for pre- sessional English language courses (Executive member 2005-2010).
Association of University Language Centres
University of Reading Language Research and Teaching Forum
Conference Presentations:
English Language Capacity Development in HE, Leadership Programme, Oxford Academy for Education and Development (at University of Reading), June 2015
Learning Outcomes and Course Design, Language Centre, University of Los Andes, Bogota, May 2014
International Student Transition into Higher Education, University of Reading conference for Faculty and School DTLs, September 2008
Responding to the Needs of Chinese Learners in UK HE (Plenary Speaker), University of Portsmouth, July 2004
Meeting the Needs of Chinese Students During the Acculturation Process, Surrey Institute of Design and Technology, March 2004Coping with Diversity: Supporting International Students During the Academic Acculturation Process, TESOL Italy, November 2003
Making the Most of What We Do, BALEAP Conference, University of Southampton, April 2003
Teaching, Learning and Assessment: Meeting the Needs of Chinese Students in UK Higher Education, UK Higher Education and China Seminar for British Council and Universities UK, London, July 2002.
Exploring the Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Academic Writing, European Association for the Teaching of Academic Writing, Groningen, June 2001, and at Christchurch University College, March 2002
Presenting Critical Thinking as a Study Strategy in UK Higher Education, BALEAP Conference, University of Strathclyde, April 2001, and at Christ Church University College, Kent, March 2002 (with Ron White)
Facilitating Cultural Adjustment for International Students, at the Cross Cultural Capability Conference, Leeds Metropolitan University, December 1999
How Does Developing Critical Thinking Relate to the Demands of Academic Writing in Higher Education? BALEAP PIM, Reading, November 1999
Fostering Intercultural Understanding and Communication on EAP Courses, IATEFL Annual Conference, April 1998
Presenting critical thinking as a study strategy for UK higher education In L. Sheldon (ed) 2004 Directions for the Future: Issues in English for Academic Purposes Bern: Peter Lang
How does the development of critical thinking relate to the demands of academic writing in higher education? In P. Thompson (ed) (2000) Patterns and perspectives: Insights into EAP writing practice, Centre for Applied Language Studies, University of Reading.