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

• MA Language and Cultural Diversity
• PGCE Modern Foreign Languages 
• BA English Language and Linguistics
• Student dissertation supervision (BA, MA)
• Admissions Tutor PGCE Modern Foreign Languages
• Admissions Tutor MA Language and Cultural Diversity
• ECS Erasmus Coordinator

PhD supervision

Simon is happy to supervise students in any topics relating to:

• MFL teaching
• Language learner motivation
• The history of language learning / teaching
• Creative pedagogies
• Narrative and language autobiographies

Further information

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