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Staff Profile

Dr Katherina Walper

Lecturer in Applied Linguistics

Background

I work within the Applied Linguistics and Communication subject area. I am a Multimodal Conversation Analyst, and I teach and research in the areas of classroom interaction and applied linguistics in TESOL. Currently, I am module leader for Language Awareness and TESOL for Young Learners. I also collaborate in Research Portfolio (MA CCC) and Research Methods (TESOL) alongside other colleagues.


I am reaching the final stage of my Initiation in Research Project (funded by the Chilean Agency for Research ANID/Fondecyt de Iniciación 11230986). In this project I explored ways to do teacher training through Conversation Analysis to enhance the interactional awareness of Pre-Service Teachers in the south and extreme south of Chile (from Valdivia to Punta Arenas).


I became a teacher of English as a Foreign Language and BA in Humanities and Social Sciences in 2009 (Universidad Austral de Chile, UACh). In my UG Dissertation I explored practices to enhance students’ communicative competence in public Chilean EFL classrooms. I then went on to obtain my MA in Communication in the same institution and my MA Thesis continued to develop my interest in embodied practices and how we use language and our bodies to communicate. I decided to pursue my PhD on this topic, so I moved to the UK to do my PhD in Language and Communication at the University of York, UK. I conducted a study of Chilean public secondary EFL teachers’ verbal end embodied practices to mobilise participation. Part of this study was published in the Classroom Discourse Journal. At York, I also completed the YLTA training and became an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).


Qualifications

2014 – 2019 PhD Language and Communication, University of York, UK. “Multimodal elicitations in Chilean secondary EFL classrooms”. Supervisors: Dr Heather Marsden (Linguistics) and Dr Darren Reed (Sociology). External Examiner: Dr Spencer Hazel, Newcastle University.

2016 – 2017 Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), York Learning and Teaching Award (YLTA).

 2010 – 2013 MA in Communication, UACh. “Exploration of embodied practices in student-actors of the TESOL UGT Programme”. Maximum Distinction.

2005 – 2009 Professional Degree of English as a Foreign Language Teacher (TESOL), BA in Humanities and Social Sciences, UACh. Maximum Distinction.


Memberships

  • British Association for Applied Linguistics, Member.
  • International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, Member. I also actively participate in the Teacher Development (TD), Teacher Training and Education (TtEd) and the Research Special Interest Groups (SIG).
  • International Society for Conversation Analysis (ICCA), Member.
  • International Society for Conversation Analysis, Member and Newsletter Editor.
  • Chilean Network of Teacher Trainers


Peer Review Experience

I have peer reviewed submissions to the following academic journals:

  • Learning, culture and social interaction, Elsevier
  • Linguistics and Education, Wiley
  • Classroom Discourse Journal, TANDF
  • Colombian Applied Linguistics Journal, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas
  • Language Learning, Wiley
  • Grant review for FONDECYT: Initiation in Research Gants, Senior Research Grants
  • Encyclopaedia of Applied Linguistics 2nd Edition, Wiley
  • Conference proposals review: events in Latin America and the UK.
Research

Areas of Research Interest

  • Classroom interaction
  • Participation in the classroom
  • Multimodal practices in the classroom
  • Conversation analysis
  • Teacher training
  • Reflective practices for teacher training 
  • Personal Narratives of Teachers’ Professional/Identity Development
  • Decolonial Education: Ventana, meaning Window in Spanish, is a network I funded while a PhD student at York. Its goal is to connect researchers who are currently exploring decolonial studies in Latin America and Africa. Our current goal is to explore how we can work towards a decolonial education for the future. I am keen to explore this topic further, especially how we can reimagine knowledge production by centring the body as a vital source of learning and resistance to established colonial.


Supervision of Dissertations and Theses


UG Dissertation supervision: TESOL Programme, Universidad Austral de Chile.

  • (2024). Observational and Reflective Practices as Tools for Pre-service Teachers' Continuous Professional Development: Interactional Awareness in the EFL Classroom
  • (2024). Oral presentation skill: Improving Business Administration in Tourism Students’ awareness of verbal and embodied practices.
  • (2024). Exploring students’ Interactional Resources in Chilean EFL Classrooms through Conversation Analysis.
  • (2023). Techniques to deal with Panic Attacks inside the classroom.
  • (2022). Building Tolerance in the EFL classroom: The use of social media to develop intercultural competence.
  • (2022). The Use of Role-Play to Foster 10th-grade Students’ Speaking Skills in the Chilean EFL Classroom.
  • (2022). Fully Aware: A Mindfulness Based Booklet for Adolescents Inside the EFL Classroom.
  • (2018). Embodied Resources in Oral Presentations: Identifying guidelines for improving EFL learners’ delivery.
  • (2016). The role of embodied behaviour and classroom management in instances of Co-Teaching Practice Sessions.
  • (2016). Teacher and student-centred education: The cases of Chile and China.
  • (2016). Co-teaching practice sessions: EFL trainee teachers' classroom interactional competence and reflective practices through SETT at UACh.
  • (2014). Reading comprehension for twelve graders: Using reading comprehension techniques to foster vocabulary acquisition.
  • (2013). National teacher evaluation system: A case study on its effects in the well-being of teachers of English from Osorno's PIAP network.
  • (2013). Sociocultural approach: The inclusion of alternative oral assessment in second-year language courses of the ELT training program at UACh.


PG Thesis supervision and examining:

  • (2025). Teachers' Personal Narratives. MA Education, Unversidad Austral de Chile. (As part of Anid/Fondecyt Project)
  • (2024). La Discapacidad intelectual al Des-cubierto: Sentir y sentido de las Madres cuidadoras. MA in Communication. Universidad Austral de Chile. MA Thesis Supervisor.
  • (2024). Análisis de la evolución del programa radial Fuego Violeta. Aportes desde la comunicación comunitaria a la Educación Sexual Integral y Educación no Sexista en la región de Los Ríos. MA in Communication. Universidad Austral de Chile. MA Internal Examiner.
  • (2024). Ruidos interculturales: Representación de inmigrantes latinoamericanos y pueblos originarios. Análisis crítico del discurso en noticias de diarios digitales chilenos. MA in Communication. Universidad Austral de Chile. MA Internal Examiner.
  • (2023). Representación visual de la mujer en Instagram: Análisis de los estereotipos de género presentes en la publicidad de moda infantil y juvenil. MA in Communication. Universidad Austral de Chile. MA Internal Examiner.
  • (2022). Training Non-verbal communication through drama techniques. MA in Communication. Universidad Austral de Chile. MA Internal Examiner.
  • (2023). Interactive Listening & Interactional Competence in Oral Exams: A CA Approach. Masterarbeit, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany. MA External Co-Advisor.


PhD Thesis examining:

  • 2021, 2022 PhD, University of Newcastle, UK. School of Education, Communication, and Language Sciences. PhD External Examiner.
  • 2022 Doutorado no Programa de Pos-Gradua o em Linguistica Aplicada, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, Brazil (UNISINOS). PhD Viva External Examiner.
  • 2021 Doutorado no Programa de Pos-Gradua o em Linguistica Aplicada, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, Brazil (UNISINOS). PhD Candidacy Exam, External Examiner.


Research Projects and Grants

I am currenty working on the last stages of a project to promote TESOL Pre-Service Teachers' interactional awareness: 2023-2025 ANID/FONDECYT Chilean Research Agency: Initiation in Research Grant 11230986: "A Multimodal Conversation Analytic study of Pre-Service Teachers' Turns to Promote Interaction in Chilean Public and Subsidised EFL classrooms” as Principal Investigator.


Past projects:

  • 2021-2022 Research Project: Pedagogical material for the development of oral communication skills of students in the initial stage of Teacher Training at UACh. National Funding Agent ANID/UACh. Principal Investigator.
  • 2020 Collaborative International Learning (COIL) Virtual Exchange (VE) Partnership Project with University of Göttingen and Instituto Ivoti, Brazil. Training by Florida International University & Learn Chile. Lecturer and Transnational Partner. 
  • 2016 University of York Humanities Research Centre (HRC): Collaborative Project Grant to host the first Ventana Conference: A Window onto Latin America. Lead Applicant and Funder.
  • 2014 – 2015 DID-S-2014-22. “Oral Verbal and Nonverbal Communicative Competence of the Students of the English Language Teacher Training Programme at UACh”. Research Development Unit, UACh. Research Assistant.
  • 2009 – 2010 DID S-2009-16: “English: Acting Out Language. Methodological Approaches to create a favourable climate in the EFL classroom”. Undergraduate Research Assistant.


Esteem Indicators

  • 2025 Invited Speaker at RICELT Chile Red de Investigadores Chilenos en ELT.
  • 2025 Guest lecturer at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Workshop for academics and MA and PhD students on the methods to carry out a CA project; lecture on CA for classroom interaction for UG students.
  • 2025 Invited speaker at Universidad de Los Lagos and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso to share the findings of my Research Initiation Project.
  • 2024 Invited Data Session: “Classroom Interaction: Chilean English Language Pre-Service teachers’ verbal and embodied resources to promote interaction.” Stockholm University Research Forum for Interaction and Learning (ReFIL). Invited by Dr Ali Reza Majlesi.
  • 2024 Visiting Lecturer: Universidad de Guadalajara. Jan-Feb 2024. UG module: “Applying Multimodal Conversation Analysis in TESOL: Examples of interactional competences and oral assessment instruments”. PGR module: “Multimodal CA’s methodological approach: how to design, execute and complete a social interaction research project”. Data sessions. Mexico.
  • 2023 Invited Plenary speaker. IV Encontro da Análise da Conversa Etnometodológica (EnACe): Multimodalidade na interação humana. CA in the classroom: Interactional Practices in the language teaching-learning process. UNIFESP & Unisinos, 22-24 March 2023. Brazil.
  • 2022 Invited speaker. Introduction to Conversation Analysis. PhD in Language Studies and Applied Linguistics. Universidad Veracruzana, México. 27 Oct. 2022. Online.
  • 2022 Research visit: Data Collection, project with Dr Chris Leyland. Newcastle, UK.
  • 2022 Research visit: Data session with ILLM group. University of York, UK. August 2022
  • 2022 Promoting participation in Chilean secondary EFL classrooms; an insight into teachers’ verbal and embodied practices. Ciclo de charlas online Universidad Central de Santiago.
  • 2021 How to Thrive and Survive in your PhD. Research Development, University of York, UK.
  • 2021 Conversation Analysis in the exploration of classroom interaction. Seminario Permanente de la Conversación (SPAC). Research group network CA in Latin-America. Online.
  • 2021 Applied Linguistics and Communication Seminar Series, Newcastle University. Using Conversation Analysis to explore teachers’ and pre-service teachers’ interactional resources in Chilean classrooms. Invitation by Dr Spencer Hazel. Newcastle, UK.
  • 2020 Multimodal resources in mobilising and pursuing responses in Chilean secondary EFL classrooms. Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), São Leopoldo, Brazil. Online.


Outreach

  • 2025 Classroom Interaction Practices by TESOL Pre-Service Teachers: Presentation of Findings ANID/Fondecyt Project 11230986.
  • 2023-2024 Classroom interaction workshops for TESOL Pre-Service Teachers in the south and extreme south of Chile: Valdivia, Osorno, Puerto Montt, Coyhaique and Punta Arenas. 
  • 2023 Well-being sessions for students and staff members at UACh Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (mindfulness, reiki, stress management).
  • 2023 Classroom interaction workshops for state-run school teachers. 
  • 2022 Encounter and collaboration among TESOL trainers in HE. Colloquia organiser.
  • 2019 Communicating with Female Scientists: presenter. Outreach Ministry of Education.
  • 2019 Project evaluator: School science fair project evaluator: XVI Regional School Congress of Science and Technology. Explora. Ministry of Education regional office.
  • 2010-13 Spanglish Theatre en tu Colegio project co-director (2012) and director (2013). Implementing drama techniques at schools in the city. 


Conference Organisation

  • 2022 and 23 Ventana 4 and 5: A conference on Latin America. Co-organiser. Univ. of York, UK. 
  • 2021 Encounter and collaboration among TESOL trainers in HE. Co-organiser.
  • 2016 A Window on Latin America I: A conference on Latin America at York. Founder, Chair.
  • 2014 PARLAY: Postgraduate Academic Researchers in Linguistics at York. Co-chair.
  • 2011, 2013 Regional conference organiser TESOL and IATEFL Chile organisations. Co-chair.
Teaching

Current teaching

At Newcastle, I currently teach on the MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL:

  • ALC8024 Language Awareness. Module Leader
  • ALC8029 TESOL for Young Learners. Module Leader
  • ALC8020 Research Methods. Lecturer

In 2025-2026 I will also collaborate in the MA Cross-Cultural Communication + pathways:

  • ALC8033 Research Portfolio. Lecturer


Previous teaching experience

At Universidad Austral, I taught a wide range of courses:


MA in Communication:


  • PGT. MA in Communication, 2nd year: ICOM 398 Research Methods. 2025. Guest Lecturer
  • PGT. MA in Communication, 1st year: ICOM 365 Communication and Culture. 2023, 2024. Collaborator
  • PGT. Faculty MA and PhD programmes: ICOM 311 Análisis de la Conversación. 2016 until 2024. Module Leader


UG Programmes:


Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching courses:

  • 5th year UG TESOL. Understanding Classroom Interaction (ILIN 290): CA elective. Module Leader
  • 4th year UG TESOL. Educational Linguistics (ILIN 173): Teaching Approaches, Classroom Interaction and Language Assessment. Module Leader
  • 2nd year UG TESOL. Language & Education (ILIN 085): Language Teaching Methods and Theories. Module Leader
  • 4th year UG Nursery Teacher Training Programme. TESOL for Young Learners (ILLI 195). Collaborator
  • 4th year UG Spanish Teacher Training Programme. Applied Linguistic Methods. Invited Lecture.


Research Methodology courses:

  • 5th year UG TESOL. Research Project Seminar (ILIN 296): Research methods and projects.
  • 5th year UG TESOL. Research Paper Seminar (ILIN 298): Dissertation project guidance.


Writing courses:

  • 3rd year UG TESOL. Academic Writing I: Texts, Styles and Registers (ILIN 127). Module Leader
  • 4th year UG TESOL. Academic Writing II: Vocabulary, References and Themes (ILIN 165). Module Leader
  • 4th year UG TESOL. Academic Writing III: Research Writing (ILIN 176). Module Leader
  • 1st year UG TESOL, Developing Writing Skills I and II (PLAC 069, PLAC 077). Module Leader


Other Scholarship activities:

  • First year UG Tutor. Pedagogical project Research and Development Unit. Personal tutor.
  • Conversation Analysis and Teacher Training. Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico.
  • Conversation Analysis and Applied Linguistics Methods. Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico.
Publications