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Staff Profile

Emeritus Professor Paul Seedhouse

Emeritus Professor (Human Spoken Interaction)

Background


Qualifications

Academic Qualifications

  • 1979 University of Durham. BA(Honours)Class 2:1,German(French subsid.)
  • 1992 University of Aston. MSc in Teaching English.
  • 1996 University of York. D Phil. Title of thesis: ‘Learning Talk: a Study of the Interactional Organisation of the L2 Classroom from a CA Institutional Discourse Perspective.’
  • 2016 缅北禁地. D Litt. Title of thesis: ‘Spoken Interaction as a Complex System’.

Professional Qualifications

  • 1983 International House London. RSA Cert TEFL
  • 1984 Durham University School of Education. PGCE
  • 1989 Centre for British Teachers, Brunei. RSA Dip TEFL


Memberships

I am a member of the British Association of Applied Linguistics, the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society and the British Science Association.


Areas of expertise


The analysis of spoken interaction. Conversation Analysis. Complex Systems. Applied Linguistics. Digital technology for language learning. The IELTS Speaking Test.

 

I research what is universal about human spoken interaction. I argue that human talk emerges from the interplay of two separate complex systems: language and the interaction engine. The aims to provide a universal infrastructure to help people around the world learn language through culture and to appreciate their commonality and diversity. My (2024) book with Aki Siegel demonstrates that talk involves 2 complex adaptive systems – the interaction engine and language(s). Their combination provides talk with both enormous generative power and the stable infrastructure necessary for us to understand each other.

 

Google scholar:

Research

Research Interests


I research what is universal about human spoken interaction. I argue that human talk emerges from the interplay of two separate complex systems: language and the interaction engine. The aims to provide a universal infrastructure to help people around the world learn language through culture and to appreciate their commonality and diversity. My (2024) book with Aki Siegel Human Spoken Interaction as a Complex Adaptive System demonstrates that talk involves 2 complex adaptive systems – the interaction engine and language(s). Their combination provides talk with both enormous generative power and the stable infrastructure necessary for us to understand each other.

The film of the book is on :


LATEST: ‘The Interaction Engine: How Babies Communicate Before Language’. Invited film and podcast for Babyzone: Best Beginnings. Watch the film on  or listen to the podcast on  or  or read the or


To get free electronic access to a number of my publications, please go to

My Google Scholar page is      


The ENACT app


ENACT is a language learning through culture app: 

ENACT and

ENACT book: , published by Bloomsbury


Area of expertise

The analysis of spoken interaction. Applied Linguistics. Digital technology for language learning. The IELTS Speaking Test.

The knowledge which is created by my research is a) what is universal about human spoken interaction b) how people communicate in professional settings. I portray spoken interaction as a complex, holistic, adaptive system. Specifically, I uncover how the organisation of interaction in an institutional setting is related to the institutional goals. Close examination of the detail of the interaction can reveal issues and problems which can then be tackled through policy or training.


A recent book is Seedhouse, P. (Ed.) (2022). Video Enhanced Observation for Language Teaching: Reflection and Professional Development. London: Bloomsbury. It is available on 

 

 

Previous Research Roles

REF Coordinator for Applied Linguistics for the 2013, 2020 and 2029 exercises.

Editorial Board member for the journals: Language Teaching, Classroom Discourse, Novitas Royal, Bellaterra, ARECLS.

Co-editor, Edinburgh University Press Book Series 'Studies in Social Interaction'. 

 ECLS Director, iLAB:Learn 

Chair, Applied Linguistics Research Group


Previous Postgraduate Supervision

PhD students who have completed are Ghaleb Rababah, Aboubaker El-Aswad, Eda Ustunel, Chris Jenks, Navaporn Sanprasert, Kitcha Thepsiri, Buthayna Al-Garawi, Hanan Waer, Olcay Sert, Chen-Ying Li, Saad Al-Mutairi, Dorine Lugendo, Aki Siegel, Sumita Supakorn, Cihat Atar,  Jaeuk Park, Ming-Fen Lo, Monthon Kanokpermpoon, Khansaa Martakush, Andy Harris, Simin Ren, Yiyin Wang, Saziye Savaskan.


Esteem Indicators

The Modern Language Association of America awarded me its twenty-fifth annual Kenneth W. Mildenberger Prize in 2005 for my book The Interactional Architecture of the Language Classroom: A Conversation Analysis Perspective. The prize is awarded annually for an outstanding work in the fields of language, culture, literacy, or literature with strong application to the teaching of languages other than English. The book was also shortlisted for the British Association for Applied Linguistics Book Prize 2005.

The book Conceptualising Learning in Applied Linguistics, for which I was first editor, was runner-up in the  British Association for Applied Linguistics Book Prize 2011.

The French Digital Kitchen project won the 2012 European Language Label prize. 

Linguacuisine was selected for HundrEd’s Spotlight on Bilingual Education 2020 as “one of the world’s most inspiring innovations in Bilingual Education”. 


I have given invited plenary talks at events in Denmark, UK, Italy, Korea, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, Norway, Sweden, Israel and Malaysia.

Here you can watch videos of some of my talks:

 

Invited plenary presentation: Language Learning Round Table, Eurosla 20 Conference, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. 1.9.10. ‘A Holistic Approach to Task-based Interaction’.

 

Invited plenary presentation. ‘Learning a Language through Classroom Interaction’. BAAL Language Learning & Teaching SIG Annual Conference. 2.7.15. University of Edinburgh.

 

Invited plenary presentation. ‘The European Digital Kitchen’. 6.8.16. IAKLE Conference, Seoul, Korea.

 

Invited plenary presentation: 13.10.16. ‘The IELTS Speaking Test: Interactional Design and Practice in a Global Context.’ New Directions in English Language Assessment Conference. Hanoi, Vietnam.

 

Virtual exchange workshop at IVEC conference 缅北禁地 15.9.20

 

Invited masterclass plenary. ‘Learning Languages, Cultures and Cuisines while Cooking: Linguacuisine’. 3.11.20. Bilingual Education Online MasterClass. Helsinki Education Week

 

Invited workshop. ‘Learning Languages, Cultures and Cuisines while Cooking: Linguacuisine Workshop’. 4.11.20. Online workshop, HundrED Innovation Summit.


Invited speaker presentation. ‘Learn Language through Culture: The ENACT Web App’. 15.10.21. Oxford University, Oriental Studies, Hertford College. 


Invited interview with Faculti. 6.2.22 ‘The Linguacuisine Project: A Cooking-based Language Learning Application.’


Invited speaker presentation. ‘Learn Language through Culture: The ENACT Web App’. The Media & Learning Association. 17.2.22.


Invited speaker presentation. ‘Learning Languages through Cultural Activities: The ENACT Web App’. 28.10.22. Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.


Invited plenary presentation. ‘Promoting and Analysing Spoken Interaction in English Classrooms in Thailand’. 22.4.24. International CARDIT Symposium. Prince of Songkla University, Thailand. https://youtu.be/Y59uR3ZUyI0  


Invited plenary presentation. ‘A Universal Infrastructure for Learning Chinese Language through Cultural Activities’. 5.7.24. 21st International Conference on Teaching and Learning Chinese in Higher Education. 缅北禁地. 


I have been external examiner for 24 UK doctorates as well as for theses in Australia (3), Finland, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland. Expert list member, EU Comenius and Erasmus programmes.


Impact


A film summarising the impact of the Linguacuisine and ENACT apps is on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxGZCqprggs&t=10s

Current impact work on ENACT is summarised on


Industrial Relevance


Able to record and analyse communication in institutional settings. Close analysis of details of the interaction can uncover the sources of communication problems and suggest solutions to these.

Applications of digital technology to language learning. 

Teaching

Postgraduate Teaching

I no longer teach.

I was module leader for the following modules : Spoken Interaction in Language Learning and Testing Contexts , Research Methods in Applied Linguistics for Doctoral Students and Dissertation. I also taught on the HASS Faculty research training programme.




Publications

  • Articles

    • Ren S, Seedhouse P. . System 2026, 137, 103914.
    • Siegel A, Seedhouse P. . Research Methods in Applied Linguistics 2025, 4(1), 100169.
    • Seedhouse P. . Language Teaching 2024, 57(1), 101-112.
    • Ren S, Seedhouse P. . Classroom Discourse 2024, 15(4), 317-352.
    • Seedhouse P, Satar M. . Classroom Discourse 2023, 14(1), 1-23.
    • Kharrufa A, Satar M, Bone Dodds C, Seedhouse P. . International Journal of Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Teaching 2022, 12(1), 1-22.
    • Atar C, Seedhouse P, Walsh S. . Croatian Journal of Education 2022, 24(4), 1111-1135.
    • Batlle J, Seedhouse P. . Applied Linguistics Review 2022, 13(6), 1077-1101.
    • Seedhouse P, Satar M. . IELTS Research Reports Online Series 2021, 21(5), 1-58.
    • Seedhouse P, Heslop P, Kharrufa A. . TESL-EJ 2020, 24(1), 1-13.
    • Park J, Choi N, Kiaer J, Seedhouse P. . Asian EFL Journal 2019, 21(1), 110-139.
    • Seedhouse P, Heslop P, Kharrufa A, Ren S, Trang N. . The Eurocall Review 2019, 27(2).
    • Seedhouse P. . English Language Teaching Journal 2019, 73(3), 247–256.
    • Seedhouse P. . Classroom Discourse 2019, 10(1), 10-28.
    • Seedhouse P, Balaman U, Sert O. . Hacettepe University Journal of Education 2018, 33, 1-3.
    • Atar C, Seedhouse P. . International Journal of Instruction 2018, 11(2), 145-166.
    • Seedhouse P, Morales S. . IELTS Research Reports Online Series 2017, 5, 1-43.
    • Park J, Kiaer J, Seedhouse P, Comber R. . International Journal of Korean Language Education 2016, 2(2), 195-222.
    • Seedhouse P, Knight D. . Applied Linguistics 2016, 37(1), 7-32.
    • Seedhouse P, Supakorn S. . Applied Linguistics Review 2015, 6(3), 393-413.
    • Preston A, Balaam M, Seedhouse P, Rafiev A, Jackson D, Olivier P. . Smart Learning Environments 2015, 2(9).
    • Seedhouse P, Harris A, Naeb R, Üstünel E. . IELTS Research Reports Online Series 2014, 2014(2), 1-30.
    • Seedhouse P, Preston A, Olivier P, Jackson D, Heslop P, Balaam M, Rafiev A, Kipling M. . Bellaterra Journal of Teaching & Learning Language & Literature 2014, 7(1), 1-16.
    • Seedhouse P, Preston A, Olivier P, Jackson D, Heslop P, Plötz T, Balaam M, Ali S. . International Journal of Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Teaching 2013, 3(1), 50-72.
    • Seedhouse P. . English Profile Journal 2012, 3(1), e2.
    • Preston A, Seedhouse P, Olivier P, Jackson D, Heslop P, Wagner J, Ploetz T, Ali S. . Francophonie 2012, 46, 3-10.
    • Seedhouse P, Harris A. . IELTS Research Reports 2011, 12, 55-110.
    • Dixon P, Schagen I, Seedhouse P. . School Effectiveness and School Improvement 2011, 22(4), 461-482.
    • Seedhouse P. . Enletawa Journal 2010, 2, 7-22.
    • Seedhouse P. . Classroom Discourse 2010, 1(1), 4-24.
    • Li C-Y, Seedhouse P. . Asian EFL Journal 2010, 12(2), 288-312.
    • Seedhouse P. . Novitas-ROYAL (Research on Youth and Language) 2010, 4(1), 1-15.
    • Young TJ, Sachdev I, Seedhouse P. . Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching 2009, 3(2), 149-169.
    • Seedhouse P, Almutairi S. . International Journal of Applied Linguistics 2009, 19(3), 311-338.
    • Seedhouse P, Egbert M. . IELTS Research Reports 2006, 6(6), 161-205.
    • Seedhouse P. . Revue Française de Linguistique Appliquée 2006, 11(2), 111-122.
    • Ustunel E, Seedhouse P. . International Journal of Applied Linguistics 2005, 15(3), 302-325.
    • Seedhouse P, Yazigi R. . TESL-EJ 2005, 9(3).
    • Seedhouse P. . Language Teaching 2005, 38(4), 165-187.
    • Yazigi R, Seedhouse P. . T E S L - E J (Teaching English as a Second Language Electronic Journal ) 2005, 9(3), A-1.
    • Seedhouse P. . Language Learning 2005, 55(3), 533-570.
    • Seedhouse P. . Language Learning 2001, 51(s1), 347-385.
    • Seedhouse P. . IRAL - International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching 1999, 37(1), 59-80.
    • Seedhouse P. . English Language Teaching Journal 1999, 53(3), 149-156.
    • Seedhouse P. . Journal of Pragmatics 1998, 30(1), 85-102.
    • Seedhouse P. . Language Learning 1997, 47(3), 547-583.
    • Seedhouse P. . English Language Teaching Journal 1997, 51(4), 336-344.
    • Seedhouse P. . Computer Assisted Language Learning 1996, 9(1), 63-74.
    • Seedhouse P. . English Language Teaching Journal 1996, 50(1), 16-24.
    • Seedhouse P. . ELT Journal 1996, 50(1), 16-24.
    • Seedhouse P. . English Language Teaching Journal 1995, 49(1), 59-65.
    • Seedhouse P. . Teaching English as a Second Language Electronic Journal 1995, 1(4), a-1.
    • Seedhouse P. . International Review of Applied Linguistics 1994, 32(4), 309-326.

  • Authored Books

    • Siegel A, Seedhouse P. . Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2024.
    • Seedhouse P, Nakatsuhara F. . Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2018.
    • Richards K, Ross S, Seedhouse P. . Abingdon: Routledge, 2011.
    • Richards K, Seedhouse P. . Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.
    • Seedhouse P. . Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2004.

  • Book Chapters

    • Satar M, Ren S, Whelan A, Seedhouse P. . In: M. Satar; P. Seedhouse, ed. Cultural Tasks for Digital Language Learning. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2026, pp.115-171. In Press.
    • Seedhouse P, Satar M. . In: M. Satar; P. Seedhouse, ed. Cultural Tasks for Digital Language Learning. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2026, pp.341-354. In Press.
    • Satar M, Seedhouse P. . In: M. Satar; P. Seedhouse, ed. Cultural Tasks for Digital Language Learning. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2026, pp.355-362. In Press.
    • Kharrufa A, Bone Dodds C, Satar M, Seedhouse P. . In: M. Satar; P. Seedhouse, ed. Cultural Tasks for Digital Language Learning. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2026, pp.59-81. In Press.
    • Seedhouse P, Satar M. . In: M. Satar; P. Seedhouse, ed. Cultural Tasks for Digital Language Learning. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2026, pp.3-12. In Press.
    • Satar M, Whelan A, Kharrufa A, Seedhouse P. . In: M. Satar; P. Seedhouse, ed. Cultural Tasks for Digital Language Learning. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2026, pp.175-199. In Press.
    • Siegel A, Seedhouse P. . In: Paltridge B; Prior MT, ed. The Routledge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition and Discourse. London: Routledge, 2024, pp.146-161.
    • Koglbauer R, Haines J, Seedhouse P. . In: Thomson, K, ed. Classroom Discourse Competence. Current Issues in Language Teaching and Teacher Education. Tübingen, Germany: Narr Francke Attempto, 2022, pp.161-174.
    • Seedhouse P, Haines J, Miller P. . In: Seedhouse P, ed. Video Enhanced Observation for Language Teaching - Reflection and Professional Development. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2022, pp.217-227.
    • Miller P, Haines J. . In: Seedhouse, P, ed. Video Enhanced Observation for Language Teaching: Reflection and Professional Development. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2022, pp.21-38.
    • Siegel A, Seedhouse P. . In: Chapelle, C, ed. The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics. Oxford: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2019.
    • Seedhouse P. . In: Markee N, ed. The Handbook of Classroom Discourse and Interaction. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2015, pp.373-389.
    • Seedhouse P, Preston A, Olivier P. . In: McCarthy, M, ed. The Cambridge Guide to Blended Learning. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2015, pp.163-175.
    • Seedhouse P, Heslop P, Preston A, Plotz T, Olivier P, Balaam M, Jackson D, Ali S. . In: Computational Linguistics: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2014, pp.968-986.
    • Seedhouse P. . In: Ross, SJ; Kasper, G, ed. Assessing Second Language Pragmatics. Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013, pp.199-219.
    • Seedhouse P. . In: Bayley, R., Cameron, R. & Lucas, C, ed. The Oxford Handbook of Sociolinguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013, pp.91-110.
    • Seedhouse P. . In: Hinkel, E, ed. Handbook of Research in Second Language Teaching and Learning. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2011, pp.345-363.
    • Seedhouse P. . In: Macaro E, ed. The Continuum Companion to Second Language Acquisition. London: Continuum, 2010, pp.220-246.
    • Seedhouse P, Walsh S. . In: Seedhouse, P., Walsh, S., Jenks, C, ed. Conceptualising 'Learning' in Applied Linguistics. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, pp.127-146.
    • Seedhouse P. . In: Seedhouse, P., Walsh, S., Jenks, C, ed. Conceptualising 'Learning' in Applied Linguistics. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, pp.240-256.
    • Seedhouse P. . In: Spreckels, J, ed. Erklären im Kontext – Neue Perspektiven aus der Unterrichts-, Alltags- und Berufspraxis. Schneider Hohengehren: Baltmannsweiler, 2009, pp.66-80.
    • Seedhouse P. . In: Garton S & Richards K, ed. Professional Encounters in TESOL: Discourses of Teachers in Teaching. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008, pp.42-57.
    • Bowles H, Seedhouse P. . In: Bowles, H; Seedhouse, P, ed. Conversation Analysis and Languages for Specific Purposes. Bern: Peter Lang, 2007, pp.305-330.
    • Seedhouse P. . In: Hua Z; Seedhouse P; Wei L; Cook V, ed. Language Learning and Teaching as Social Inter-Action. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007, pp.9-21.
    • Seedhouse P, Richards K. . In: Bowles, H; Seedhouse, P, ed. Conversation Analysis and Languages for Specific Purposes. Bern: Peter Lang, 2007, pp.17-36.
    • Seedhouse P. . In: Richards K; Seedhouse P, ed. Applying Conversation Analysis. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp.251-266.
    • Seedhouse P. . In: Gewehr, W, ed. Aspects of Modern Foreign Language Teaching in Europe. London, UK: Routledge, 1998, pp.108-120.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

    • Preston A, Seedhouse P, Balaam M, Rafiev A, Jackson D, Olivier P. . In: British Educational Research Association Annual Conference 2014. 2014, London.
    • Preston A, Seedhouse P. . In: Global perspectives on Computer-Assisted Language Learning (WorldCALL). 2013, Glasgow, UK.
    • Seedhouse P, Preston A. . In: III European Conference on Information Technology in Education and Society: A Critical Insight (TIES). 2012, Barcelona, Spain: Esbrina, Universitat de Barcelona.
    • Hooper C, Preston A, Balaam M, Seedhouse P, Jackson D, Pham C, Ladha C, Ladha K, Ploetz T, Olivier P. . In: 14th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing (Ubicomp). 2012, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: ACM.
    • Seedhouse P, Ali S, Jackson D, Ploetz T, Olivier P. . In: International Conference of the European Association on Computer-Assisted Language Learning. 2011, Nottingham, UK.

  • Edited Books

    • Satar M, Seedhouse P, ed. . London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2026. In Press.
    • Seedhouse P, ed. . London: Bloomsbury, 2021.
    • Seedhouse P, ed. . London, UK: Bloomsbury Academic, 2017.
    • Jenks CJ, Seedhouse P, ed. . Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015.
    • Seedhouse P, Walsh S, Jenks CJ, ed. . London, UK: Palgrave MacMillan, 2010.
    • Hua Z, Seedhouse P, Wei L, Cook V, ed. . Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.
    • Bowles H, Seedhouse P, ed. . Oxford, UK: Peter Lang, 2007.
    • Richards K, Seedhouse P, ed. . Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.

  • Letter

    • Seedhouse P. . ELT Journal 2019, 73(3), 335-336.

  • Note

    • Seedhouse P. . Modern Language Journal 2007, 91(4), 527-533.

  • Online Publications

    • Satar M, Seedhouse P, Kharrufa A, Bone Dodds C, Ganassin S, Whelan A. . ESOL SIG, 2024. Available at: .
    • Satar M, Seedhouse P, Kharrufa A, Bone Dodds C, Ganassin S, Whelan A. . Auburn, Alabama: International Association for Language Learning Technology, 2022. Available at: .
    • Satar M, Seedhouse P, Kharrufa A, Bone Dodds C, Ganassin S, Whelan A. . Leeds: Babel Magazine Limited, 2021. Available at: .
    • Seedhouse P. . Malden, Massachusetts, USA: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc, 2012. Available at: .

  • Reviews

    • Wang Y, Zhang T, Yao L, Seedhouse P. . Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching 2025, Epub ahead of print.
    • Seedhouse P. . Applied Linguistics 2008, 29(1), 158-160.