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Staff Profile

Dr Elaine Lopez

Lecturer in Applied Linguistics

  • Address: School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences
    King George VI building 1.38
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle
    NE1 7RU
Background

I have established research expertise in second language acquisition and the application of generative linguistic theory to the language classroom, particularly in respect to acquisition of the English article system. I also have a developing interest in how language is used to marginalise groups of people and maintain power and privilege. I am involved in scholarship and citizenship work on peer support for carers and on accessibility, and as a result have developing expertise in issues related to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) including neurodiversity, accessibility and anti-ableism.

I joined Newcastle University as Lecturer in Applied Linguistics in September 2016, having previously worked at the University of Leeds. I became interested in linguistics whilst working as an English language teacher abroad in the early 2000s. On returning to the UK, I first entered Higher Education as a mature UG student and spent a decade studying and working in Yorkshire before moving to the beautiful NE coast. For the last nine years, I have lead modules on Language Awareness and Teaching English for Academic Purposes and co-taught Research Methods on the MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL. From September 2025, I am leading linguistics modules on the BSc (hons) Speech and Language Therapy and the MSc (hons) Speech and Language Sciences.

I hold a Senior Fellowship with Advance HE (previously the HEA), am Acting Director of EDI for the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, and Chair of Board of Examiners for the Applied Linguistics and Communication subject area. I run a peer support group for staff and PGR students who are parents/carers of autistic children and I hold other roles at Newcastle University as part of the university EDI networks. I spend my spare time attending car shows with my son, kickboxing, practising yoga, and reading.

Leadership and mentoring

Current roles

Acting Director of EDI, School of Education Communication and Language Sciences

Chair of Board of Examiners for Applied Linguistics and Communication 

Previous roles

2020– 2022 Mentor on the Newcastle Educational Practice Scheme (NEPS) 

2019-– 2021 Senior Tutor for Applied Linguistics and Communication

2017– 2021 Degree Programme Director for the MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL 

EDI network roles

Disability Interest Group (DIG) steering group member

NU Parents steering group member

Founder and chair of parent/carers of autistic children peer support group

Co-founder and co-chair of the Gingerbread single parents group

Qualifications and accreditations

Senior Fellow of Advance HE (previously the HEA)

PhD Language and Linguistic Science, University of York 2015

LCTL DipTESOL 2011

MA Applied Linguistics with TESOL, University of Sheffield (pass with distinction) 2010

BA English Language and Linguistics, University of Sheffield (first class honours) 2009

Previous Positions

Lecturer in TESOL, University of Leeds (January 2015-September 2016)

Associate Lecturer in TESOL (English for Academic Purposes), Sheffield Hallam University (2009-2013)

Various ELT roles in Indonesia, Mexico, and the UK (2002-2009)


Google scholar: Click here

Research

I have established research expertise in generative approaches to Second Language Acquisition, and the application of linguistic theory to the language classroom, particularly in respect to acquisition of the English article system. My doctoral research was an intervention study which investigated the role of specificity in article instruction in L2 English. I was Co-Investigator on two externally funded projects on the releated topic of theory into practice in language education. These examined Professional Intercultural Communicative Competence (Erasmus+ funded project, PI Tony Young) and Teachers’ Perceptions of Machine Translation as a Pedagogical Tool (AHRC funded project, PI Nick Riches). I have publications across all these areas and have supervised several PhD students to successful completion on related topics.

I have developing research expertise in issues related to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), particularly neurodiversity, accessibility and anti-ableism. At Newcastle University, I am known for my scholarship and citizenship work on peer support for parent carers and on accessibility. I recently led a cross-faculty EDI project on accessibility at an institutional level (Newcastle University EDI Fund) which produced these Guidelines for Accessible Conferences and Events. I am a member of the participatory action research group (PAR) for the Wellcome Trust funded Reimagining Leadership project (£1M, PI Chris Day). The project examines psychological safety and inclusive research leadership and links closely to my other work on accessibility. I am also interested in the linguistic representation of marginalised groups from a wider social justice perspective, as well as linguistic discrimination and how this links to EDI. 

In the near future, I intend to further grow my anti-ableism work alongside my general interest in inclusion. I am exploring ways to connect my background in linguistic theory to this new strand of work. I am interested in hearing from potential collaborators on any of these themes.

PhD completions

I currently supervise PhD students on a range of topics related to criticality and inclusion in Applied Linguistics. My next vacancies for new PhD candidates will be September 2027.

I have supervised the following PhD students to completion as main supervisor:

Asmaa Alshaik. Using CALL Textual Enhanced Input to Develop the Real-time Comprehension of English Generic Articles by Arabic L1 Speakers

Saad Albaqami. The effects of technology-based and non- technology-based vocabulary learning activities on Saudi EFL learners’ pushed output vocabulary learning

Ahlam Alhayak.  L2 motivational self-system and L2 writing anxiety among female English majors in Saudi Arabia

Musa Alghamdi. Exploring non-academic motivational factors which impact English language learning in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study

Steven Heron (EdD). Investigating perceptions of the impact of efficacy at levels of individual, collective and proxy agency in the UK pathway sector

I was second supervisor for the following PhDs:

Abdul Alsulami. Overgeneralisation in L2 morphosyntax and the role of alphabetic literacy

Dhaif Alzahrani. Pen-and-paper versus in-person computer-supported L2 collaborative writing: A multimodal (inter)action analysis

Nada Bin Ghali. Enabling Translanguaging in the Saudi EFL Classroom: Affordances and Reflections of Collaborative Translanguaging Tasks During Reading Lessons 


Teaching

Module Leader

SPE1058 Linguistics I and SPE2055 Linguistics II on the BSc (hons) Speech and Language Therapy

SPE8155 Linguistics the MSc (hons) Speech and Language Sciences.

Previous Teaching

From 2016-2025, I was module leader for ALC8024 Language Awareness and ALC8033 Teaching English for Academic Purposes on the MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL

I have also taught on ALC8020 Research Methods, ALC8026 Language Learning and have supervised a substantial number of MA dissertations

Educational Leadership

2023 – present Chair of Board of Examiners for Applied Linguistics and Communication 

2020– 2022 Mentor on the Newcastle Educational Practice Scheme (NEPS) 

2019-– 2021 Senior Tutor for Applied Linguistics and Communication

2017– 2021 Degree Programme Director for the MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL 


SFHEA Senior Fellow of Advance HE (previously the Higher Education Academy) 



Publications