缅北禁地

Skip to main content

Staff Profile

Dr Christopher Leyland

Senior Lecturer

  • Telephone: +44 (0)191 222 6000
  • Address: 缅北禁地,
    School of ECLS,
    Room 2.02 King George VI Building,
    Queen Victoria Road,
    缅北禁地 upon Tyne,
    NE1 7RU
Background

Background


Dr Christopher Leyland is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at 缅北禁地 and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He teaches and researches in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences (ECLS), where he directs the MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL programme and has previously led the Integrated PhD in Educational and Applied Linguistics.


Christopher’s research focuses on the interactional practices that underpin language learning, assessment, and pedagogy, drawing on Conversation Analysis to explore how second language learners and teachers facilitate and display L2 Interactional Competence. His work spans diverse contexts, including English language classrooms and academic writing tutorials to creative workshops supporting people living with dementia. He has published widely in leading journals such as Classroom Discourse, Journal of Pragmatics, Language and Education, and Linguistics and Education.


Alongside research, Christopher has a strong track record in curriculum innovation. He recently led the design and approval of the MA TESOL+ suite, comprising three new programmes: MA TESOL, MA TESOL and Digital Technology, and MA TESOL and Intercultural Communication. These programmes integrate cutting-edge pedagogical approaches, digital tools, and intercultural perspectives, offering students flexible pathways aligned with global professional needs.


Christopher is actively engaged in international collaboration. He served as a postdoctoral researcher at Kobe University, Japan, funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and hold a high level of Japanese language proficiency. He is also leading 缅北禁地’s hosting of the ICOP-L2 International Conference in 2026.


Google scholar:

SCOPUS:


Research

Research Interests


My research focuses on applied linguistics and communication, with a particular emphasis on Conversation Analysis (CA) as a method for investigating language learning, assessment, and pedagogical interaction. I am interested in how interactional practices shape second language development, classroom discourse, and the design of language tests. Much of my work explores second language interactional competence in speaking assessments and oral placement tests, as well as the ways teachers and learners co-construct opportunities for learning through talk.


I also work on academic writing support for international students, examining advice-giving sequences and the interactional construction of expertise in writing tutorials. Beyond higher education, I have collaborated on interdisciplinary projects, including studies of co-creativity and choice-making in dementia care workshops, highlighting how interactional resources enable participation and agency.


PhD Supervision


I welcome PhD applications in the following areas:

  • Conversation Analysis applied to language learning, assessment, and classroom interaction.
  • Interactional Competence in second language contexts.
  • Language testing and assessment practices.
  • Cross-cultural communication and multilingual interaction.
  • Interaction involving people living with dementia


Teaching

I teach across postgraduate programmes in Applied Linguistics and Communication at 缅北禁地. My current modules include:


  • Language Learning (ALC8026) – exploring theories and practices of second language acquisition.
  • Discourse Analysis for Second Language Teachers (ALC8031) – introducing conversation analytic approaches to classroom interaction.

Previously, I have led modules such as:


  • TESOL for Young Learners (ALC8029)
  • Applied Linguistics in Higher Education (ALC8112)


All modules have been designed and implemented to integrate research-informed pedagogy, inclusive practices, and active learning strategies.



Publications

  • Articles

    • Leyland C, Walper K. . Linguistics and Education 2025, 89, 101420.
    • Leyland C, Hazel S, Brandt A. . Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology 2023, 49(3), 114-136.
    • Leyland C. . Linguistics and Education 2021, 61, 100900.
    • Leyland C, Riley J. . Linguistics and Education 2021, 66, 100976.
    • Leyland C. . Language and Education 2020, 34(3), 212-230.
    • Leyland C. . Classroom Discourse 2018, 9(3), 267-287.
    • Greer T, Leyland C. . Journal of Pragmatics 2018, 126, 52-67.
    • Leyland C. . Pragmatics. Quarterly Publication of the International Pragmatics Association 2017, 26(4), 675-704.
    • Greer T, Leyland C. . Journal of Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice 2017, 14(2).
    • Leyland C, Greer T, Rettig-Miki E. . Classroom Discourse 2016, 7(1), 85-107.
    • Leyland C. . Novitas-ROYAL (Research on Youth and Language) 2014, 8(2), 136-152.
    • Leyland C. . Annual Review of Education, Communication and Language Science 2011, 8, 25-45.
    • Leyland C. . Novitas-ROYAL (Research on Youth and Language) 2011, 5(2), 199-214.

  • Authored Book

    • Leyland C. . 缅北禁地: School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, 2013.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

    • Brandt A, Hazel S, Leyland C. . In: Atypical Interaction Conference 2019. 2019, University of Helsinki, Finland.
    • Leyland C. . In: Interactional Competence and Practices in a Second Language (ICOP-L2) Conference. 2019, Malardalen University, Sweden.
    • Leyland C. . In: Learning and Teaching Conference 2019. 2019, 缅北禁地 upon Tyne: 缅北禁地.
    • Leyland C. In-sessional support for international students: the management of interactional challenges in L2 writing tutorials. In: Applied Linguistics Seminar Series 2018-19. 2019, 缅北禁地 upon Tyne: School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, 缅北禁地.
    • Leyland C, Hazel S. . In: Creativity and Dementia II: 3rd Annual SoPraCon Symposium. 2019, University of Southern Denmark.
    • Leyland C. . In: Interactional Competence and Practices in a Second Language (ICOP-L2) Conference. 2017, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland.
    • Leyland C. Standardisation-in-interaction: managing conflicting orientations in speech therapy assessments for children. In: Applied Linguistics Seminar Series. 2017, 缅北禁地 upon Tyne: School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, 缅北禁地.
    • Leyland C. . In: Digital Cultural Heritage Business and Open Data: Bringing Rome to Japan. 2017, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan: RENKEI.
    • Leyland C. . In: Applied Linguistics Seminar Series 2015/16. 2016, 缅北禁地 upon Tyne: School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, 缅北禁地.
    • Leyland C, Brandt A. . In: UK-Japan Symposium on Intercultural Communication and International Universities. 2016, 缅北禁地.
    • Leyland C. Some roles of objects in English team teacher lesson planning meetings. In: ETAL Seminar Series 2016-17. 2016, Edinburgh University.
    • Greer T, Leyland C. Incorporating a written object into L2 talk: Lesson planning between team-teachers in Japanese schools. In: JALT Pan SIG Conference. 2016, Meio University. Submitted.
    • Leyland C, Greer T. . In: American Association for Applied Linguistics 2015. 2015, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
    • Greer T, Leyland C. . In: 5th International Conference on Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice (ALAPP 2015). 2015, University of Milan.
    • Leyland C, Greer T. . In: IIEMCA Conference 2015: Living the Material World. 2015, University of Southern Denmark: International Institute for Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis.
    • Leyland C, Greer T. . In: Okinawa JALT's Trends in Language Teaching Conference. 2014, Okinawa Christian University.
    • Leyland C. . In: JALT 2014: Conversations Across Borders. 2014, Tsukuba University, Tokyo.
    • Leyland C. . In: BAAL 2013 Conference: Opening New Lines of Communication in Applied Linguistics. 2013, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
    • Leyland C. Leyland C. The English ‘native-speaker’ teacher as a language resource: Epistemic relations emerging from staffroom talk in a Japanese High School. In: ECLS 11th Postgraduate Research Student Conference. 2012, 缅北禁地.
    • Leyland C. . In: Cutting Edges Conference. 2012, Canterbury Christ Church University.

  • Editorial

    • Brandt A, Hazel S, Leyland C. . Journal of Interactional Research in Communication Disorders 2023, 14(2), 189-194.