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Suji Ko and Troy McConachy have published a new article examining how intercultural learning is supported in two English Conversation textbooks used in Korean high schools.

The study analyses the cultural representations presented in the textbooks, alongside the activities they include, to explore how they may support students in developing intercultural understanding and awareness.

The article, published in Language, Culture and Curriculum, is titled:

Ko, S., & McConachy, T. (2026). Examining intercultural learning in Korean high school 鈥楨nglish Conversation鈥� textbooks: The role of cultural representations and textbook activities. Language, Culture and Curriculum.

Dr Jason Anderson travelled to Assam, India on the invitation of the Government of Assam to deliver an invited talk: 鈥淭ranslingual English-medium instruction (EMI): A pathway to multilingual and multidisciplinary efficacy for international higher education institutions鈥�, and signed a research MOU with Padmini Boruah of the University of Gauhati as part of the conference: International Perspectives on Multidisciplinary Education and Attainment of SDGs in Higher Education, Guwahati, Assam, 29-30 Jan, 2026.

See slides here:

Dr Anderson also delivered an invited lecture at the University of Gauhati entitled: "Exploring the potential of AI with project-based learning: Pedagogy for higher education in the 21st century."

Congratulations to Winnie Shum for passing her viva with minor corrections. The title of the thesis was 鈥楧eveloping Tertiary Students鈥� Intercultural Interactional Competences: An Investigation of the Effectiveness of a Conversation Analysis-based Blended Pedagogy鈥�. Winnie鈥檚 examiners were Zhu Hua (external, UCL) and Duncan Lees (internal), and her supervisors were Tony Liddicoat (first) and Fiona Copland (second), replacing Troy McConachy.

Congratulations to Meifang Zhuo for passing her viva with minor corrections. The title of the thesis was 鈥楢 teacher-research intervention to promote language teacher wellbeing and professional development in China: the promise of an EPAR design鈥� Meifang鈥檚 examiners were Judith Hanks ( external, University of Leeds) and Steve Mann (internal), and his supervisors were Annamaria Pinter ( first) and Neil Murray (second).

Congratulations to Junjie Li for passing his viva with minor corrections. The title of the thesis was 鈥楻esearching with children to make sense of emerging language learning motivation in context: An ethnography鈥�.

Junjie鈥檚 examiners were Jane Andrews ( external, UWE) and Ema Ushioda ( internal), and his supervisors were Annamaria Pinter (first) and Richard Smith (second).

Congratulations to Xiaofang Lu for passing her PhD viva with minor corrections. The title of her thesis was Researching and Reconceptualising Language Teacher Identity: Pre-service Chinese Teacher of English鈥檚 teacher identity construction in China. Xiaofang鈥檚 examiners were Yvonne Foley (external, University of Edinburgh) and Annamaria Pinter (internal), and her and her supervisors were Tony Liddicoat (first) and Steve Mann (second).