Prof Douglas Bell

Expertise summary

My main area of expertise is the teaching of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), particularly the sub-fields of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for International Business (EIB).

In the case of EAP, I am particularly interested in the journey that teachers take when moving from General English language teaching to teaching EAP. As part of this, I am interested in exploring the aspects that make EAP teaching distinct, in defining what constitutes an effective practitioner within EAP contexts, and in understanding how these competencies might then be most effectively measured and evaluated at an institutional level.

In terms of English for International Business, I am particularly interested in the cross-cultural aspects of East-West ventures, with a special focus on how business is conducted in China and Japan.

Research Interests

My most recent research interests have revolved around gaining a better understanding of the status and professional standing of EAP within the broader academic community, and the ways in which different academic disciplines build and then disperse their particular knowledge, credibility, and expertise.

From a broader research perspective, however, I also remain very interested in issues around teacher training and development, and the trajectories that individual teachers take on their journey from novice to expert.

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4319-0380

I am a Professor of English Language Education in the School of Education & English, where I currently also serve as the Director and Admissions Tutor for the MA TESOL.

Before my current roles in the School of Education & English, I was Professor and Head of the School of Education (2017-2019) and prior to me re-joining the University of Nottingham in 2017, I was Professor and Head of the School of Academic Language & Learning (SALL) at Charles Darwin University in northern Australia.

Following an undergraduate degree in German and Italian, and then a series of postgraduate qualifications in English Language Teaching, I have been involved in various aspects of English and modern foreign language education since the 1980s, and now specialize in in the fields of English for Academic and Specific Purposes (EAP and ESP). I have also served, or continue to serve, in roles such as journal editor, academic reviewer, external examiner and co-ordinator of special interest groups focusing on the teaching of English for Specific and Academic Purposes.

My most recent research examines the historical development of EAP, with a particular focus on teacher education/professional development, and the ways in which different disciplines conceive and conceptualize professionalism and practitioner expertise. I also have a long-standing interest in what constitutes effective classroom pedagogy, particularly in Higher Educational contexts.

In addition to China, Australia and the UK, I have worked in both the public and private educational sectors in Austria, Japan, Turkey and the United States.

MA TESOL (Course Director and Admissions Tutor)

Module Convenor for:

• Developments in Language Teaching Methodology
• English for Specific & Academic Purposes
• MA TESOL Dissertation

Orcid Account：http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4319-0380