LLS Graduation Ceremony 2022

Posted on 25 May 2022

In-person graduation ceremony for the classes of 2020–2022 and VC teaching award

The Department of Language and Linguistic Science would like to congratulate our students who are graduating in 2022. The first in-person graduation ceremony since the pandemic took place on 3rd May 2022. The event also included the classes of 2020 and 2021 whose ceremonies at the time were held virtually due to the pandemic.

As well as our graduating students, the ceremony also recognised members of staff who were awarded a Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Award in recent years. Dr Julia Kolkmann (Lecturer in Linguistics), Dr Claire Childs (Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics) and Dr George Bailey (Lecturer in Sociolinguistics) were awarded for their excellence in teaching in 2021 and 2022 but only this year could receive their VC award in person at the graduation ceremony. Their awards were presented in order to recognise outstanding teaching and learning support before their colleagues, students, and the students' families.

The VC 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.

Dr Julia Kolkmann joined the department in 2015 and has since taught on a broad range of modules in pragmatics, semantics, interaction and English language. Her award recognised her commitment to and aptitude for teaching, resulting in sustained excellent student feedback, as well as her contribution to embedding employability in the curriculum.

To watch the recording of the ceremony: LLS Graduation Ceremony 2022 (youtube)