Language expert to lecture at the University of Auckland   24 Oct 2014

International language expert to lecture at the University of Auckland

Professor Jack Richards - a world renowned specialist in second and foreign language teaching - will present his inaugural lecture at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education next Friday.

Professor Richards will also receive the title of Honorary Professor during his visit to the University.

Born and raised in Gisborne, Professor Richards completed his PhD at Laval University in Quebec, and has taught in Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong, where he was awarded a chair professorship in 1989. In 1996 Professor Richards returned to New Zealand to develop the Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics at the University of Auckland. He has been bestowed numerous academic and personal accolades for his continued work in the field of applied linguistics and education including Honorary Professor at Sydney University, Adjunct Professor at the Regional Language Centre in Singapore and visiting Distinguished Professor at City University, Hong Kong.

At his inaugural lecture “What does it take to be a language teacher? Exploring teacher knowledge skill and cognition”, Professor Richards will discuss and explore the implications for teacher professional development in language teaching.

“The expansion of English language teaching, as a consequence of the role of English as an international language, has created increasing demand worldwide for competent English teachers, and for more effective approaches to their preparation and professional development,” Professor Richards says.

“Learning to teach is not simply a process of translating knowledge and theories into practice, but involves constructing new knowledge, theory and practice, through engaging in the process of language teaching.”

Professor Richards has worked throughout the world and is internationally recognised as a specialist in second and foreign language teaching. He is the author and co-author of more than 150 books and articles on language teaching methodology and teacher training. Many of these have been translated into a number of languages including Korean, Chinese, Spanish and Arabic. Professor Richard’s popular classroom texts Interchange and the Four Corners series have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.

While in Auckland Professor Richards will also be presented this year’s Arts Foundation of New Zealand Award for Patronage. The Award recognises a significant philanthropic contribution to the arts and was last presented to the well-known Todd Family.
Professor Richards jointly funds the Composer in Residence programme at the New Zealand School of Music with Creative New Zealand, is a Patron of the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation, and offers annual scholarships to students in the Toihoukura School of Contemporary Arts.

Professor Richards’ inaugural lecture is on Friday 31 October, 4 – 5pm at the J1 lecture theatre, Epsom Campus, 74 Epsom Ave.

ENDS

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