27 June 2013 13:59

Dr Judit Kormos has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship for excellence in higher education teaching and support for learning.

Dr Kormos, from the Department of English Language and Linguistics, becomes the 12th member of staff at Lancaster University to receive the award which is organised by the Higher Education Academy.

Dr Kormos’ approach is to inspire students and equip them with the skills to enable them to become independent life-long learners.

Her research focuses on the basic question of what foreign language learning involves, how learners differ in their approach to language learning, how students can be motivated to learn and how students with learning differences can be fully included in the language classroom.

She co-ordinates the "Dyslexia for teachers of English as a foreign language" project, funded by the European Commission. The project contributes to raising awareness of the difficulties of dyslexic students in foreign language learning and to disseminating good pedagogic practice.

The knowledge obtained from her research, and from previous work experience as a foreign language teacher, has helped her to create a supportive distance learning environment in which students can work as members of a cohesive group.

As one of her students testifies: "Undoubtedly without the support and inspiration given to us by Dr Kormos I do not think that all of us would have continued our studies. Her attention not only to the course, but to individual students, and her ability to bring whatever topic she was teaching to life, stimulated and inspired us all to continue."

Dr Kormos is one of a total of 55 National Teaching Fellows chosen from over 180 nominations from higher education institutions across England, Northern Ireland and Wales.  Each will receive £10,000 which will be used to support their professional development in teaching and learning or aspects of pedagogy.