How I came into the field

HOW I CAME INTO THE FIELD

I first spent an extended period abroad as an au pair in East Berlin, during the Cold War, then as an exchange student at the University of Kiel in Germany, investigating the North Frisian dialect of Langenhorn village. After graduating in Linguistics from the University of Reading, I travelled across Europe and Asia, where my interest in different languages and cultures was fuelled further.

Arriving in Singapore, I taught English at the British Council for four years. I remained with them for three years, in Kyoto and then in Tokyo where I was an English language specialist and teacher trainer, helping to establish the Tokyo teaching centre.

On returning to the UK, I continued to teach international students from beginners to Masters level at Ealing College of Higher Education, having studied Applied Linguistics and bilingual education at the Institute of Education in London.

During a long career in Leeds I continued my work with international students and, until July 2011, I was Professor of the Internationalisation of Higher Education and International Dean at Leeds Metropolitan University (now Leeds Beckett). There I led the ‘Worldwide Horizons’ drive which saw internationalisation as fundamental for all students and staff. I was successful in being awarded the title of Emerita Professor on taking early retirement.