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Dr Diana Freeman

Based in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Education

My main research interest is in language teaching materials.

Title of my PhD: It's a Question of Questions: A taxonomy of reading question-types and an investigation into these question-types accompanying the reading activities in global ELT course books.

My study focused on the intermediate level of 4 different course book series and their revised editions and I am interested in expanding this to incorporate other proficiency levels and other course book series.

I supervise MA Dissertations and PhD Theses. Topics related to the teaching and studying of TESOL.

I am the director of the taught portion of the MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

I am the director of the Contemporary Language Studies programme.

I have taught on and directed courses on teacher training and I teach on the General English Language programme, both general English and EAP.

I have worked at The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston where I taught MA modules on Introduction to Language (grammar and lexis), Second Language Teaching and Learning and Language Teaching Observation and Practice.

I taught some BA and MA Modules at The University of Essex while studying for my PhD. The undergraduate modules were on English Language Teaching and the postgraduate teaching focused mainly on modules on Vocabulary Learning and Teaching and modules on Reading.

I was an EFL teacher for many years, mainly in the UK and Italy before embarking on my academic studies.

  • I am a qualified CELTA Teacher Trainer.
  • I am a fellow of the HEA.

I am currently supervising six PhD students (co-supervising one) on a range of topics

  • International Students` Affective Responses while doing a PhD in UK
  • Exploring Algerian University Teachers of English’ Perspectives towards Engaging in Action Research as a form of Continuing Professional Development
  • Intercultural Sensitivity and Social Anxiety Among International Students in study-abroad context
  • Investigating EFL Learners’ Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies in an Algerian Context
  • Multilingualism effects on academic English writing
  • Investigating student attitude toward integrating an ICT based approach to the teaching of intercultural communicative competence to Algerian EFL students

Research Projects

  • A Case Study of The Attitudes of Chinese English Learners Towards Blended Learning in Higher Education: Exploring the Potential for Enhancing Learner Autonomy. Researcher(s): Ms Huiwen Wang. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Kevin Balchin. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Comparative analysis of English teachers’ roles in a university blended learning environment from both teachers and students’ perspectives. Researcher(s): Ms Lu Li. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Kevin Balchin. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • 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]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Ms Asmaa Madagh. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Pamela Aboshiha. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Exploring Students’ attitude towards developing their intercultural communication in the process of learning English as a foreign language. Researcher(s): Ms Rofida Benmansour. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Christopher Anderson. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Investigating EFL students’ use of vocabulary learning strategies in an Algerian context. Researcher(s): Miss Chahira Fortas. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Kevin Balchin. [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]
  • Is it a Transformation? Exploring the English Academic Writing Experience at UK Universities among the Algerian Multilingual PhD Students and Me as a Participant-researcher. Researcher(s): Ms Naoual Rahmani. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Christopher Anderson. [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]
  • 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 Implication of Socio-Cultural Theory to Incorporate the 4C's Skills; Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration and Creativity in the EFL Context. Researcher(s): Miss ASMAA Zitouni. Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Freeman, Dr Christopher Anderson. [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)]

I have presented the following papers:

  • 2012 IATEFL, Glasgow: It's a Question of Questions - Questions and tasks accompanying intermediate level EFL coursebook reading texts
  • 2013 AAAL, Dallas: Reading comprehension questions - the distribution of different types in global EFL coursebooks
  • 2016 ITELIC, Malaysia: Using authentic materials in the EFL classroom
People search

Contact me

diana.freeman@canterbury.ac.uk
01227921768

Based in

Faculty of Arts Humanities and Education
Centre for Language and Linguistics