About

I have over 18 years' experience in lecturing in my specialist field which is Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Teaching English as a Second Language. During my time at the University of Derby, I have managed our International courses and overseen the care of International students on our programmes. I have extensive experience of teaching across the four skills of reading writing speaking and listening as well as specialising in pronunciation and vocabulary work. I have also taught English for Academic Purposes at several levels from level 3 to level 7.

Teaching responsibilities

I am a senior lecturer on the BA Education Studies and am the TESOL pathway leader. I am the module leader for our internationally focused modules, including Comparative Education, Introduction to TESOL, Principles and Practices of TESOL 1, Education and Globalisation and Education and Global Inequality.

I also lecture on the MA Education both on campus and online and am responsible for the Principles of English Language Teaching and Language Learning: Theory and Practice modules.

Research interests

My research interests centre around learner autonomy and how to promote a sense of individual responsibility for learning, particularly amongst international students.

Membership of professional bodies

International Association for the Educational Role of the English Language (ERLA)

FHEA

Qualifications

• BA (Hons) French and German
• MA Education 
• Cambridge CELTA
• Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector

Experience in industry

Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes at the University of Derby

ESOL Lecturer Derby Adult Learning Service

English tutor - Istanbul Lisan Merkezi

International experience

I have taught English in Turkey, France and Germany. I also have extensive experience in dealing with the complex needs of International students at UK Higher Education institutes.

Recent publications

Muir, K. (2020) A Virtual Conference: the first of its kind for ERLA - a personal account. Educational Role of Language Journal-Examining Learner and Teacher Language Identity, 1 (3) pp. 124-125

Nijjar, B., Winder, N. & Muir, K. (2014) Edexcel International GCSE English as a Second Language, (2^ndEdition), London: Edexcel Pearson

Courses

• Education MA (online)
• Education (Leadership and Management) MA (online)
• Education (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) MA (online)