Vice Chancellor's Teaching Awards 2021

Posted on 23 June 2021

Triple success for the LLS department at this year’s awards for excellence in teaching

We are delighted to announce that the Department of Language and Linguistic Science has been successful in receiving three prestigious Vice Chancellor's Teaching Awards in the latest round. This is the third multiple award in a row for our department following on from the success in the 2019 and 2020 Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Awards.

This year, Dr Claire Childs (Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics), Dr George Bailey (Lecturer in Phonetics and Phonology) and Heather Turner (GTA in Linguistics and PGR student researching Language Attitudes in Baku, Azerbaijan) were recognized for their excellence in teaching.

The awards go to those who demonstrate:

sustained excellence across a range of teaching and support activities
creative approach to teaching and/or learning support, focused on student learning needs
evidence of an impact on colleagues as well as students

Dr Claire Childs joined the department in 2017 and has taught modules in sociolinguistics and language variation and change. She has also contributed to CPD provision for A-Level English Language teachers and the MOOC ‘An Introduction to Sociolinguistics: Accents, Attitudes and Identity’. Claire’s award recognised the excellent contributions she has made across a wide range of learning and teaching activities, the outstanding feedback received from students/staff, and her delivery of high quality teaching that engages students.

Dr George Bailey joined the department in 2018 and has taught a range of modules in phonetics and phonology at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as contributing to the department’s provision of statistics support for students. George’s award was in the ‘Covid response’ category, highlighting his creative approach to online teaching and the innovative methods he has used to deliver an engaging learning experience for students.

Heather Turner has worked as a GTA in the department since 2018 and has taught on modules in sociolinguistics and bilingualism. She has also contributed to the York English Language Toolkit and has created classroom material for A Level English language teachers to use. Her Early Career teaching award recognises her commitment to delivering high quality and innovative teaching which has resulted in excellent feedback from both colleagues and students.

The awards will be presented at the in person graduation ceremonies in order to recognise outstanding teaching and learning support before their colleagues, students, and the students' families.