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Dr Alexandra Polyzou

I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Language, Communication and Applied Linguistics and joint Programme Director of the BA(Hons) English Language and Communication, together with Antonia Linehan.

Prior to becoming a Lecturer in Language, Communication and Applied Linguistics at CCCU I worked at the University of Portsmouth, Oxford Brookes University and Lancaster University.

I hold a PhD in Linguistics and an MA in Language Studies from Lancaster University and a BA in English Language and Literature from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

My interests include Critical Discourse Analysis (especially socio-cognitive approaches); Language, Gender and Sexuality; and Pragmatics.

  • Language & Gender and Language & Society (3rd year)
  • Discourse, Text & Genre and Investigating Language & Communication (2nd year)
  • Exploring Communication (1st year) and
  • Research Methods MA/PgDip TESOL

I am also involved in BA Individual Study and MA Dissertation supervision.

I also run the Individual Study and Extended Essay modules.

Other modules I have taught on in CCCU include Group Communication and Intercultural Communication II on the ELC programme.

In the past I have also enjoyed teaching modules on discourse analysis, psychology of communication, sociolinguistics, stylistics and media discourse (BA level), as well as Critical Discourse Analysis (MA level).

Current PhD supervision

1st supervisor

  • Zhu Yu: Empathy and Point of View in Literature: A Stylistic Analysis of ‘Clash Moments’ in Americanah
  • Ibtisam Boutemedjet: Classroom Discourse Analysis: The Impact of Gender on Algerian EFL Classroom Interaction
  • Martin Mielick: Language ideologies of English as a global language in Japan: The effects on Japanese university students’ self-national and self-global identities
  • Jacopo Castaldi
  • Nour Eddine Brahimi

2nd supervisor

  • Amina Kebabi: An ethnographic study of the identity construction of people engaged in university work who have been exposed to different cultural backgrounds: A consideration of the role of language in cultural identity
  • Deanna Demetriou: Immigration Discourse in Britain: Online Representations of the EU ‘Other’
  • Rob Lowe: Resisting native-speakerism in Japanese tertiary education: Towards a more equitable model of course development and design. (completed)
  • 4-6 July 2018. Representations of Gender and Ethnicity in the EU migration debate: An examination of UK (online) right-wing press. (with Deanna Demetriou). Critical Approaches to Discourse Analysis across Disciplines (CADAAD). Aalborg University, Aalbor, Denmark.
  • 24-26 September 2015. Pragmatics, Critical Discourse Analysis and Cognition. DiscourseNet International Congress 1: Discourse, Language, Society, Critique. Unversity of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
  • 3 July 2015. (keynote). Discourse, Gender and Power: Looking at lifestyle magazines' Cutting Edges. Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK.
  • 1-3 September 2014. Gender and class in Greek lifestyle magazines post-crisis. Critical Approaches to Discourse Analysis across Disciplines (CADAAD). Loránd Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary.
  • 10 July 2013. (invited). Running session on The Construction of Gendered and Sexualised Identities in Popular Culture Products (jointly with Irene Theodoropoulou). Workshop on Language, Gender and Sexuality: Discourses of precarious citizenships in precarious times – the Balkan experience. 1-15 July 2013. https://lagesec2013.pns.aegean.gr/ University of the Aegean. Eressos, Greece.
  • 4-6 July 2012. Ideological presuppositions in Greek women’s lifestyle magazines: Post-feminism and sexual health. Paper presentation. Critical Approaches to Discourse Analysis across Disciplines (CADAAD). University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.

Interests

I am interested in researching and supervising postgraduate research in

  • Language, Gender and Sexuality, with a special interest in sexual education discourse and media discourse. I am also very interested in the identity and the intersections of gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, age and other identity constructs.
  • Pragmatics and Stylistics, with a focus on critical applications.
  • Critical Discourse Studies, including pragmatic and cognitive approaches.

I am joint founder and co-ordinator of the Discourse, Power & Society reading and research group, together with Eleni Kapogianni (UKC), which meets twice a month during term-time (https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/discourse-power-society/).

Research Projects

  • “IF THERE WERE MALES IN THE HOUSE, IT WOULD BE HORRIBLE”: EXPLORING THE SOCIAL IDENTITY, ADAPTATION AND ACCULTURATION IN STUDY ABROAD. Researcher(s): Mr Nour Eddine Brahimi. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Dr Christopher Anderson. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • ''Identity' and 'belonging' in the personal lives of high-status professionals living in the UK: racism, and freedom in non-human relations'. Researcher(s): Dr Amina Kebabi. Supervisor(s): Professor Adrian Holliday, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • ‘Language attitudes towards linguistic variations in Greece’ language attitudes towards the Cretan Dialect. Researcher(s): Miss Emily Gkikas. Supervisor(s): Dr Christopher Anderson, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis of China-related Covers in The Economist (2010-2020): An Investigation of People's Perceptions of China. Researcher(s): Ms Cunjie Li. Supervisor(s): Dr Jacopo Castaldi, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • A Sociolinguistic Study of Code-switching Motivations and Language Attitudes among Multilingual Algerians in the UK. Researcher(s): Miss Amel Ben Said. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Professor Adrian Holliday. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • AN ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON LANGUAGE LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM IN A CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT: A STUDY OF LEARNERS’ EXPERIENCES, BELIEFS, AND AUTONOMY. Researcher(s): Dr Moncef Bendebiche. Supervisor(s): Dr Kevin Balchin, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • AN INVESTIGATION OF ISLAMIC ARABIC CULUTRES, IDENTITIES, AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION NEGOTAITION OF ARAB SUNNI MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN BRTIAN:THE CANTERBURY KENT MOSQUE CASE STUDY. Researcher(s): Mrs Chahrazad Drioueche. Supervisor(s): Dr Christopher Anderson, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Applied Linguistics research into the etymology of loan words between the English and French Languages.. Researcher(s): Miss Charlie Worthington. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Dr Christopher Anderson. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • BRIDGING TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: AN EXPLORATION OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN TECHNOLOGY-ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING WITHIN AN ALGERIAN EFL SETTING.. Researcher(s): Miss FAYZA BOUZAKI. Supervisor(s): Dr Kevin Balchin, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Comparisons between Outsider-and Insider- Media Representations of China: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Articles from Chaguan Column in The Economist and a Chinese External News Website Sixth Tone. Researcher(s): Ms Yanqing Liu. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Dr Jacopo Castaldi. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Conceptual metaphor and political myth analysis in the online discourse of the extreme right-wing Romanian parties after the 2018-2019 political crisis. Researcher(s): Mrs RODICA ALIMAN. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Dr Christopher Anderson. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Curriculum development and syllabus design: An investigation and analysis into the teaching and learning processes of English language textbooks in Cameroon.. Researcher(s): Mr Augustine Toko. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Discourses of Immigration: Racist representations of the Eastern European ‘Other’ in the UK. Researcher(s): Dr Deanna Demetriou. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Dr Christopher Anderson. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Miss Imane Boufaden. Supervisor(s): Dr Christopher Anderson, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Dr Ibtisam Boutemedjet. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Dr Christopher Anderson. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Double standards and dehumanization: the disparity of Britain’s responses to refugees.. Researcher(s): Miss Sameena Hoda. Supervisor(s): Dr Dennis Nigbur, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Investigating the materials used in promoting Algerian EFL students' writing skill the case of third-year EFL students at a university in Algeria. Researcher(s): Miss Lilia Mayouf. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Learning Development (LD) professional identity in Higher Education (HE) and its place in Academia.. Researcher(s): Mrs Silvina Bishopp-Martin. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Dr Christopher Anderson. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Peace and Violence in the Framing of The 2019 Algerian Hirak by Aljazeera English, BBC and France 24: a Critical Discourse Study. Researcher(s): Miss IMANE BAHRI. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Professor Adrian Holliday. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • PhD journey in UK universities: International students’ affective responses and type of support needed. Researcher(s): Miss Dounyazad Sour. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Politeness as a Strategy to Overcome Cultural Barriers in Communication: Attitudes and Perceptions of British University Lecturers and International Students. Researcher(s): Ms Khadidja Cherguelaine. Supervisor(s): Dr Christopher Anderson, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Political and cultural hegemony in documentaries: a Critical Analysis of geopolitical issues in travel and cultural documentaries broadcasted on British television. Researcher(s): Dr JACOPO CASTALDI. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Dr Christopher Anderson, Dr Andy Birtwistle. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Reading Literature as a Vehicle to Travel Across the World. Researcher(s): Dr Yu Zhu. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Dr Pamela Aboshiha. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Sensory conceptual metaphors: A comparative study among hearing-impaired, visually-impaired, dual sensory loss writers and sighted people in the use of conceptual metaphors. Researcher(s): Miss Souheyla Boutiba. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Professor Adrian Holliday. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Teachers' Perceptions Towards Research Engagement and its Relation to Their Continuous Professional Development: Case of Algerian University Teachers of English. Researcher(s): Miss Anfal Ould Khessal. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • The Interaction Between Motivational Learning and Distance Language Learning in Universities in Mainland China. Researcher(s): Mr Yifan Ding. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • The Question of Belonging: A Qualitative Study of Algerian Teachers of English Perceptions of the Cultural Representation in Their Textbooks. Researcher(s): Mrs AMEL KETEB. Supervisor(s): Dr Christopher Anderson, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • The Representation of Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton in newspapers and Social Media (Instagram) during their Royal wedding events: A Critical Discourse Analysis Approach (CDA).. Researcher(s): Miss Razika Boukhenoufa. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Professor Adrian Holliday. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • The representation of Muslims in Donald J. Trump's 2015-16 presidential campaign: A discourse-historical analysis. Researcher(s): Mrs Cilya Boucherak. Supervisor(s): Dr Alexandra Polyzou, Professor Adrian Holliday. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • THE REPRESENTATION OF THE ANGLOPHONE CULTURES IN THE ALGERIAN EFL TEXTBOOKS: TEACHER’S BELIEFS AND ATTITUDES.. Researcher(s): Miss FATMA REZIG. Supervisor(s): Dr Christopher Anderson, Dr Alexandra Polyzou. [Postgraduate Research Project]

Publications and research outputs

Polyzou, A. 2018. Pragmatics and Critical Discourse Studies. In Flowerdew, J. and Richardson, J. (eds). The Handbook of Critical Discourse Studies. London: Routledge.

Polyzou, A. 2015. Presupposition in discourse: Theoretical and methodological issues. Critical Discourse Studies. 12 (2), pp. 123-138.

Polyzou, A. 2010. Desires, sexuality and lifestyle. In Canakis, C., Yannakopoulos, K. and Kantsa, V. (eds.) Language and Sexuality through (and beyond) Gender. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publications.

Kosetzi, K. and Polyzou, A. 2009. Ο ΤΕΛΕΙΟΣ ΑΝΤΡΑΣ, Ο ΑΝΤΡΑΣ Ο ΣΩΣΤΟΣ - ‘THE PERFECT MAN, THE PROPER MAN’: Representations of masculinities in Nitro, a Greek men’s lifestyle magazine. Gender and Language. 3 (2), pp. 143-180.

People search

Contact me

alexandra.polyzou@canterbury.ac.uk
01227921687

Based in

Faculty of Arts Humanities and Education
Centre for Language and Linguistics