Senior Lecturer
I am currently the Programme Leader for MA TESOL and also teach MA Education and MA International Education.
I have taught English as a foreign and second language in Japan and the United States for over 25 years and graduated from the PhD programme in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching at the University of Arizona in 2008. I joined the University of Sunderland in 2016 as Programme Leader for MA TESOL.
Previously, I was Assistant Director responsible for curriculum development in the English Language Institute at Kanda University of International Studies in Chiba, Japan. I was responsible for a curriculum renewal project and contributed to staff development and research. From 2007 until 2011, I was Assistant Professor at the University of Aizu in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Here, I developed and taught a range of English for Specific Purposes courses with a focus on the discourse of Computer Science.
Teaching and supervision
Currently, I am teaching and module leader for the following:
- ELTM11: Theories of Second Language Learning (MA TESOL)
- ELTM05: Dissertation (MA TESOL)
- EPDM105: Leadership, Leader Identity and Educational Organisations (Education)
- EPDM16: Assessment Theory into Pedagogical Practice (International Education)
I also teach Units in LFTM07: Linguistics for Language Education
Research interests for potential research students
My main research interests are in reading and writing pedagogy for second and foreign language students – particularly from a literacy-based perspective.
Relatedly, I recently became interested in the PhD by Published Works route to doctoral qualification, and have successfully supervised students on this track. I am very interested in developing this supervisory work and invite applications from students who meet the general criteria described on our research website.
I am currently developing a research trajectory in the area of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI). EMI is a growing area of concern and interest in Applied Linguistics, and I am interested in examining the impact that a functional awareness of language, from a Hallidayan perspective, can have for teachers who are teaching school content through the medium of English.
Research
Publications
Article
Owens, James and Johnson, Neil (2016) Connecting Reading, Writing, and Culture through a Literacies-based Approach to Narrative. JALT PanSIG Journal. pp. 133-141. ISSN ISBN 978-4-901352-49-9
Johnson, Neil, Lyddon, Paul and Selman, Alex (2016) Redesigning the Freshman English Syllabus: Process and Transformation for the Digital Age. Studies in Linguistics and Language Education,.
Johnson, Neil and Lyddon, Paul (2015) Teaching grammatical voice to computer science majors: The case of less proficient English learners. English for Specific Purposes, 41 (1). ISSN 0889-4906
Johnson, Neil, Nelson, Mark, Lyddon, Paul and Selman, Alex (2015) Reimagining contemporary EFL curricula. JALT Conference Proceedings. pp. 102-118.
Nelson, Mark and Johnson, Neil (2014) The shape of joy, the colour of fear: multimodal abduction in the foreign language classroom. Pedagogies: An International Journal, 9 (1). pp. 45-62. ISSN 1554-480X
Nelson, Mark and Johnson, Neil (2014) Editors’ introduction: multimodality, creativity and language and literacy education. Pedagogies: An International Journal, 9 (1). pp. 1-6.
Johnson, Neil and deHaan, Jonathan (2013) Strategic interaction 2.0 and instructed pragmatics in an EFL setting. International Journal of Strategic Information Technology and Applications., 4 (1). pp. 49-62. ISSN 1947-3095
Rozycki, William and Johnson, Neil (2013) Non-canonical grammar in Best Paper award winners in engineering. English for Specific Purposes, 32 (3). pp. 157-169. ISSN 0889-4906
Johnson, Neil and deHaan, Jonathan (2012) Enhancing the Scenario: Emerging Technologies and Experiential Learning in Second Language Instructional Design. International Journal of Learning, 18 (4). pp. 321-333. ISSN 1447 9494
Johnson, Neil and deHaan, Jonathan (2012) Wiki and digital video use in strategic interaction-based experiential EFL learning. CALICO Journal, 29 (2). pp. 249-268. ISSN 2056-9017
Johnson, Neil and Rozycki, William IEEE Best Papers in science and engineering: Participation and the development of a discourse. JALT OnCUE English for Academic Purposes, 4 (2). pp. 80-100.
Book Section
Hepworth, Michael and Johnson, Neil (2022) Ghosts in the Machine? Exploratory Practice on a distance learning development project. In: Professional Development Through Teacher Research: Stories from Language Teacher Educators. Multilingual Matters, Bristol, UK, pp. 31-50. ISBN 9781788927710
Johnson, Neil and Torpey, Michael (2013) Goffman’s theory of self and the social order: Trust and conflict in an intercultural education workplace. In: Discourses of Trust. Palgrave, pp. 147-164. ISBN 978-0-230-30849-7
Johnson, Neil and deHaan, Jonathan (2012) Second language strategic interactions using emerging technologies and experiential learning. In: Educational Stages and Interactive Learning: From Kindergarten to Workplace Training. IGI Global, pp. 306-333. ISBN 9781466601376
Johnson, Neil (2008) Postcards from the (turbulent) edge (of chaos) – Complexity theory and computer mediated communication. In: Mediated Online Discourse. AILA Applied Linguistics, 3 . John Benjamins, pp. 73-93. ISBN 9789027205193
Thesis
Chong, Sin Wang (2020) Developing English-as-a second- language learners’ feedback literacy: reconceptualizing feedback and rethinking feedback practices. Doctoral thesis, University of Sunderland.
- Academic writing
- Sociocultural theory
- Discourse analysis
- Curriculum development
- Literacy-based instruction
- English as a Medium of Instruction and Content and Language Integrated Learning
Associate Member of Japan Association for Language Teaching