The University of Sheffield
The School of Education

Dr Terry Lamb B.Sc, PGCE, M.A., Ph.D., Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques

Senior Lecturer in Education
Director of Teaching
Director, MA in Applied Professional Studies in Education
 

Photography of Terry Lamb

Tel: (+44) (0)114 222 8118
Fax: (+44) (0)114 279 8631
Email: T.Lamb@sheffield.ac.uk
Room: 4.12








Research interests

Learner and Teacher Autonomy in Language Learning

Terry researches ways in which learners can learn to have a voice in what they are learning, and how different educational contexts can support this. This encompasses a range of teaching and learning modes, from classroom-based to self-access and e-learning. He is particularly interested in the relationship between autonomy and motivation in secondary-aged language learners, and in metacognitive knowledge and beliefs about learning. He also researches the implications for the teacher and the teacher´s own autonomy, including teacher-as-learner, action research and critical reflection. Terry convenes the international Research Network in Learner Autonomy in Language Learning under the auspices of AILA (Association Internationale pour la Linguistique Appliquée). Terry is also a member of EuroPAL, a project funded by the European Commission to develop resources for initial and in-service teacher education.

Multilingualism

Terry has a commitment to supporting and promoting linguistic diversity, and a particular research interest in language policy in different contexts. He has carried out research in the field of urban education, focusing on ways in which learners´ plurilingualism can be supported in order to benefit the individual as well as the community as a whole. His research into education for linguistic diversity encompasses areas such as community languages, complementary education, language planning, diversification, language awareness, English as an Additional Language and methodologies for less taught languages.

Subject Associations

Terry has a long history of working with subject associations and is currently President of the Fédération Internationale des Professeurs de Langues Vivantes (FIPLV) He is beginning research into the role of subject associations in member countries, focusing on ways in which they support teacher professionalism and teacher voice in policy.

Teaching

Terry is Director of Teaching in the Department of Educational Studies. He is also Director of the MA in Applied Professional Studies in Education, a programme designed to support teachers at all stages in their careers to enhance their subject knowledge and to develop and disseminate their own classroom practice. The programme enjoys the partnership of nine subject associations. Terry also teaches on the Singapore Distance Learning Programme as well as the EdD in Language Learning and Teaching.

Other Experience

Terry spent 16 years teaching languages in secondary schools. He has also carried out advisory work, taught English in Poland and Turkey, and has been a consultant to the Ministry of Education in Malaysia on the `Learning how to Learn´ curriculum development project. He is an official EU Expert on Intercultural Education, and has worked as a consultant to the Ministry of Youth, Education and Sport, Czech Republic, on projects relating to the development of a European dimension in the curriculum and to the development of positive attitudes towards the Roma population.

Terry plays a major role in the development of language policy nationally. He is former President of the Association for Language Learning, was a member of the government´s National Languages Steering Group, and is a governor of CILT, the National Centre for Languages. In 2008 he was appointed Chair of the Languages Diploma Development Partnership by the Secretary of State for Education, Ed Balls.

In 2009, Terry was awarded the title Chevalier dans l'ordre des Palmes Académiques by the French prime minister for services to languages and European culture, in particular French.

Activities

Indicative publications

Jiménez Raya, M. and Lamb, T.E. (eds.) (2008) Pedagogy for Autonomy in Modern Languages Education: Theory, practice, and teacher education. Dublin: Authentik
Lamb, T.E. (2008) `Learner and teacher autonomy: synthesizing an agenda´. In Lamb, T.E. and Reinders, H. (eds.) Learner and Teacher Autonomy: Concepts, Realities and Responses. Amsterdam: John Benjamin.

Jiménez Raya, M., Lamb, T.E. and Vieira, F. (2007) Pedagogy for Autonomy in Language Education in Europe: a Framework for Learner and Teacher Development. Dublin: Authentik.

Lamb, T.E. (2007) `Backward planning for lifelong language learning´. In Lenguas en Aprendizaje Autodirigido Electronic journal of the Mediateca del CELE – Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico City) Accessed online here

Lamb, T.E. (2006) `Listening to learners´ voices: on task knowledge in language learning´. In Scottish Languages Review. Stirling: SCILT. Accessed online here

Lamb, T.E. (2006) `Supporting independence; students´ perceptions of self-management´. In Lamb, T.E. and Reinders, H. (eds.) (2006) Supporting Independent Learning: Issues and Interventions. Frankfurt-am-Main: Peter Lang: 97-124.

Lamb, T.E. (2003) `Individualising learning: organising a flexible learning environment´. In Jiménez Raya, M. and Lamb, T.E. (eds.) (2003) Differentiation in the Modern Languages Classroom. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang: 177-194.

View a full list of Terry Lamb’s publications

Recent Funded Projects

(with the Modern Languages Teaching Centre, University of Sheffield); national research project funded by the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies (2003-2005).

Innovation Exchange (with the Association for Language Learning); national research project funded by the Innovation Unit, Department for Education and Skills (2003-2005).