Michel Mason
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Email
mmasonb@essex.ac.uk -
Telephone
+44 (0) 1206 873897
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Location
5.414, Colchester Campus
Profile
Biography
I have had a varied career as I have worked in the film and radio industries, taught media in the UK, and English language in Asia-Pacific countries. I worked in film post-production at a time when both analogue and digital formats were being used in filmmaking, I was also training new entrants. It was at this time that I also attained my MA in Film Studies. Eventually I transitioned into teaching about the industry and later became Head of Media Studies in an FE college in Essex. I taught on a range of Humanities and Media Arts subjects including Film Studies, Media and Communications, Media Law, Video Production, Radio Production, and Media Sociology. I was also a freelance radio short documentary-maker for BBC Radio 4. In 2001 I moved to New Zealand and commenced working in the field of English language teaching. As part of my work I taught ESOL, EFL, EAP, and ESP in various Asia-Pacific countries. I eventually became Vice Principal (Operations) and Principal of two English language academies. In addition I was a English Language curriculum designer and international student advisor for the NZ Qualifications Authority. I have been an Academic Skills Tutor at UoE since 2014. My particular research interests lie in two distinct areas: embedding sustainability into education practice; the kinds of education, teaching and learning required to provide future generations with sustainability literacy; and non-traditional student achievement - the academic challenges which students from low participation neighbourhoods face. I am currently researching embedding education for sustainability into TEFL and TESOL teacher-training curricula. For more information please look at my profile on: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelmason ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michel_Mason
Qualifications
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Certificate in Leading for Learning for Equity and Sustainability in Initial Teacher Education Teacher Education for Equity and Sustainability Network (Liverpool Hope University) (2021)
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Certificate in Learning for Equity and Sustainability in Initial Teacher Education Teacher Education for Equity and Sustainability Network (Liverpool Hope University) (2021)
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MA TESOL University of Essex (2020)
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PG Diploma in Visual Arts Unitec Institute of Technology NZ (2013)
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Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) University of Auckland (NZ) (2004)
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Postgraduate Certificate in Education Thames Polytechnic (1992)
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MA Film Studies Polytechnic of Central London (1990)
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BA (Hons) Literature and Sociology University of Essex (1988)
Research and professional activities
Thesis
Education for Sustainable Development: Building the capacity for embedding sustainable development into training teachers of English as a foreign language (TEFL) and as a second language (TESOL).
The role of teacher-training, the development of the education of practising teachers, and the design of instructional materials continue to be at the forefront of discussions about the practicalities of designing a framework for embedding education for sustainable development into the teacher-training curricula. The aim of this project is to explore whether the sustainability development goals can be embedded into BA TEFL and MA TESOL programmes.
Supervisor: Dr Christina Gkonou
Research interests
Embedding the SDGs into TEFL and TESOL: A pilot study
Conference Title: Education as a Pedagogy of Hope and Possibility: The role of teacher education in leading change, Liverpool Hope University / TEESNet
The Multiplier Effect: Embedding the SDGs for transformative sustainable education
Conference Title: The Fierce Urgency of Now: Navigating paradoxes in sustainability education, Canterbury Christ Church and University of Plymouth
Lecturers’ perceptions of student writers: Implications for academic literacy and EAP
Conference Title: Innovation, Exploration and Transformation, University of Leeds
Perspectives on academic writing: L1 and L2 students’ experience within Healthcare and Hospitality Foundation degree programmes
Conference Title: Academic Literacies: Same or Different?, University of Essex
Reflections on Welcome Week: The challenges mature students face when learning and making sense of academic conventions
Conference Title: Academic Literacies: Same or Different?, University of Essex