Skip to main content

Staff Profile

Dr Elaine Lopez

Lecturer in Applied Linguistics

  • Email: elaine.lopez@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6564
  • Address: 1.38 KGVI
    School of ECLS
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle
    NE1 7RU
Background

Background

I joined Newcastle University as Lecturer in Applied Linguistics and TESOL in September 2016, having previously worked at the University of Leeds. My primary research area is Corpus informed Critical Discourse Analysis and I examine how language is used to marginalise groups of people and maintain power and privilege. Previous research, including my doctoral thesis, focused on formal linguistic (generative) approaches to Second Language Acquisition and the application of this research to the language classroom. I became interested in linguistics while working as an English language teacher abroad in the 2000s. On returning to the UK I spent a decade studying and working in Yorkshire before moving to the beautiful NE coast.

I am a Senior Fellow of the HEA and have previously held a number of leadership roles. I teach modules on Language Awareness, English for Academic Purposes and Research Methods on the MA ALT. I spend my spare time attending car shows my son, kickboxing, and listening to reggaeton and 90s hip hop.

Qualifications

PhD Linguistics, University of York 2015
LCTL DipTESOL 2011
MA Applied Linguistics with TESOL, University of Sheffield (pass with distinction) 2010
BA English Language and Linguistics, University of Sheffield (first class honours) 2009

Areas of expertise

Critical Discourse Analysis 

Corpus Linguistics

Second Language Acquisition of morpho-syntax 

Previous Positions

Lecturer in TESOL, University of Leeds (January 2015-September 2016)
Associate Lecturer in TESOL (English for Academic Purposes), Sheffield Hallam University (2009-2013)
Various ELT roles in Indonesia, Mexico and the UK (2002-2009)

Google scholar: Click here.

Research

I am interested in social justice and the linguistic representation of marginalised groups. My primary research approach is to use mixed methods to combine Corpus Linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis. I am interested in questions surrounding power dynamics and what linguistic choices tell us about the representation, or lack, of any marginalised group, with a tendency to focus on written text. Current projects include an examination of discourses of single parenthood as constructed in mainstream UK media, and the linguistic representation of race and ethnicity in policy documents, underpinned by theories including moral panic and critical race theory.

 

I began my research career at the intersect of linguistics and applied linguistics, applying formal linguistic approaches to Second Language Acquisition (SLA) to language teaching pedagogy. My doctoral research investigated article instruction in L2 English from the theoretical perspective of generative linguistics, and took an interdisciplinary approach by connecting theoretical research with classroom practice, and I have several publications in this area. Following on from a number of collaborative projects and examination of doctoral theses in different areas of applied linguistics, I made a radical shift in direction to work on the language of marginalisation and moved from conducting primarily experimental and quantitative studies to a mixed methods approach. The political stance of my new research area is of personal importance to me, and it makes sense to conduct research which I am deeply passionate about.


Teaching

Module leader for

ALC8024 Language Awareness

ALC8033 English for Academic Purposes

I also teach/have taught on the modules ALC8020 Research Methods and ALC8026 Language Learning


Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

Degree programme director for the MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL 2017- 2021

Senior Tutor 2019- 2021

Mentor on the Newcastle Educational Practice Scheme (NEPS) 2020- 2022

Publications