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Simon Coffey

Dr Simon Coffey

Reader in Languages Education

Research interests

  • Languages

Biography

Dr Simon Coffey is an applied linguist and teacher educator at King’s, where he is Subject Director of the PGCE Modern Languages and Deputy Director of the MA Languages & Cultural Diversity.

After teaching English as a foreign language in France, Spain and England, Simon trained to become a secondary school (11-18) teacher of modern languages (French and Spanish), before later moving into teacher education and research.

Simon’s research focuses on learners’ motivations to learn languages, and the social and cultural discourses that shape learner identities, including through the lens of historical research, with a particular focus on learning French in England. The overarching aim of his work is to broaden conceptions of what learning a language can mean, as well of course as to promote enjoyment of language learning.

Research interests

His interests include:

  • French teaching in England (current and historical aspects)
  • Language learners' autobiographies / life narratives
  • Emotional investment in language learning
  • Teaching methodology

Teaching

PhD supervision

Simon is happy to supervise students in the following areas:

  • French teaching in England (current and historical aspects)
  • Language learners' autobiographies / life narratives
  • Emotional investment in language learning / learner motivation
  • Teaching methodology (including CLIL, the inter/cultural dimension, approaches to grammar teaching, film in the classroom)

Further information

For further information about his research and publications please visit Simon's Research Staff Profile.

    Research

    books-1204029_1920
    Centre for Language, Discourse & Communication (LDC)

    The Centre for Language, Discourse & Communication is a major centre for descriptive linguistics, applied linguistics and language in education.

    International hero 1903x558
    King’s International Education Research Network

    The King’s International Education Research Network explores key areas of international education.

    Events

    21Seplanguage

    Comparing realities in different contexts of school language learning and teaching: Brazil and England

    Hosted by the STEM Education Hub, this event will see experts Simon Coffey and Andrea Machado de Almeida Mattos explore the intricacies of school language...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    The importance of emotions and creativity in teaching languages

    PGCE students in modern foreign languages (MFL) at the School of Education, Communication & Society took part in a two-day interactive workshop designed to...

    MFL creative workshop_1903x558

      Research

      books-1204029_1920
      Centre for Language, Discourse & Communication (LDC)

      The Centre for Language, Discourse & Communication is a major centre for descriptive linguistics, applied linguistics and language in education.

      International hero 1903x558
      King’s International Education Research Network

      The King’s International Education Research Network explores key areas of international education.

      Events

      21Seplanguage

      Comparing realities in different contexts of school language learning and teaching: Brazil and England

      Hosted by the STEM Education Hub, this event will see experts Simon Coffey and Andrea Machado de Almeida Mattos explore the intricacies of school language...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      The importance of emotions and creativity in teaching languages

      PGCE students in modern foreign languages (MFL) at the School of Education, Communication & Society took part in a two-day interactive workshop designed to...

      MFL creative workshop_1903x558