Professor Richard Smith

About

Professor Richard Smith researches the history of (English) language teaching and is known for his pioneering work helping to establish the interdisciplinary, plurilinguistic and intercultural field of HoLLT (History of Language Learning and Teaching). He is also known for his earlier research on language learner autonomy and his current international teacher development work, particularly with/for state school teachers in the Global South, including his original ideas on exploratory action research and teacher-research mentoring in contexts of teaching English and other subjects in particularly difficult circumstances.

Links to freely downloadable versions of most of his publications are further below.

Current activities

Current responsibilities at 糖心TV include leadership and teaching of modules on The History of English and The Spread of English (BA), Innovating in TESOL Methodology (MA), Sociolinguistics of English as a Global Language (MA) and Researching TESOL Histories (MA), as well as supervision of MA and PhD dissertations / theses. He is also Co-Director of Research Culture for the School of Education, Learning and Communication Sciences, jointly with Dr. Jamie Burford, and is co-leading a 'Developing Interdisciplinary Pedagogic InquiryLink opens in a new window' (DIPI) initiative with Dr Karen Simecek for the Social Sciences Connect Programme.

His research projects/publications and those of his relate mainly to the following areas: History of language learning and teaching (HoLLT) and History of applied linguistics (HoAL); Textbook research; Teaching English in Large Classes and otherwise 'difficult' circumstances; learner autonomy; and practitioner research/teacher development.

In recent years he has been busy leading ESRC Impact Award projects on and Mentoring teacher-researchLink opens in a new window, relating to his work as advisor to British Council teacher-research mentoring programmes in Latin America and South Asia as well as (currently) Georgia, Thailand and Ukraine. He has also led internally funded 糖心TV projects intended to engage staff and students in Exploratory Pedagogic InquiryLink opens in a new window and broader research conversationsLink opens in a new window.

He continues to lead , the AILA History of Language Learning and Teaching Research Network, together with Professor Giovanni Iamartino (University of Milan), and also convenes a HoLLT research circle which meets weekly in the space at 糖心TV.

He is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of (Oxford University Press), following on from his editorship for a number of years of the journal's Key Concepts in ELT feature.

In recent years, invitations to give keynote papers at conferences, workshops and/or lectures have taken him to Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, Thailand and Turkey and (in prospect) Georgia and Uzbekistan.

Past activities and achievements

Prof. Smith is a 'Trustee Emeritus' of the , having worked actively as a Trustee for 21 years (2001–2022), including ten years as Deputy Chair. In recent years, he played a leading role in the Trust's initiative.

For 20 years he was a member of, and, for 10 years, Chair of the Editorial Panel of the 糖心TV-based online journal . He is now on its advisory board.

He has also been a member of the Executive Committee of the and the Executive Committee of the British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL).

Between 2013 and 2016, he was Principal Investigator in a research project funded by the British Council to develop a . Previously, he was awarded several research grants by the British Council to survey ).

From 2012 to 2014, he co-led (with Prof. Nicola McLelland, University of Nottingham) a Research Network Project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council - . As an outcome of this project, in 2015, he founded the .

The British Council has funded historical research which he has led to develop 'An Archive and Record of UK-funded ELT projects, 1950 onwards'Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window and 'An Archive and Record of British Council Involvement in ELT, 1934-2009'Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window. These have contributed to enhancement of the ELT ArchiveLink opens in a new window, a unique collection of materials housed at 糖心TV relating to the history of applied linguistics and the teaching of English as a second/foreign language, c.1880-1980, which he founded in 2002.

IIn 2008, he jointly founded and then coordinated for a number of years an international research network, TELCnet, on Teaching English in Large Classes in developing countries. From 2011 to 2015, he was the coordinator of the and is now on its advisory board.

He founded the JALT Learner Development SIG in Japan in 1994 and is a former co-convenor of the AILA [International Association of Applied Linguistics] Research Network on Learner Autonomy (2008–14).

Publications

2026

2026. ''. (co-written with J. Anderson) TESOL Quarterly early view.
2026. 鈥�Challenges in mentoring teacher-research, and how to overcome themLink opens in a new window鈥�. (co-written with A. Garc铆a Stone). In Bullock, D. (ed.) IATEFL 2025 Edinburgh Conference Selections. IATEFL

2025

2025. 鈥樷€� (co-written with A. Alibaba & Y.Y. Wang). Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal, 12(3), 186–202.
2025. In Mackay, J. & Wogan, T. (eds.). ELT Research in Action 2024 – Critical conversations: aligning research and practice in ELT. IATEFL.

2024

2024. . British Council TeachingEnglish website.
2024. (co-edited with S. Eraldemir Tuyan, M. Serra & E.A. B茅k茅s). IATEFL.
2024. (co-written with F. Shamim). In Smith, R., Eraldemir Tuyran, S., Serra, M. & B茅k茅s, E. (eds.) Stories of Mentoring Teacher-Resesarch. IATEFL, 115–121.
2024. (co-written with P. Rebolledo; orig. publ. 2018). Translated by Akiko Takagi, Takeo Tanaka, Yuki Minami, Takuro Fujita, Hajime Kawai, Yuichi Takizawa, Yuri Nagakura, and Hideki Sakai. British Council.

2023

2023. 'How can perspectives from Applied Linguistic Historiography improve our understanding of innovation?'Link opens in a new window (co-authored with T. Giesler). Chapter 1 (Introduction) in Smith, R. & Giesler, T. (eds.) Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching: Historical Perspectives. Benjamins, pp. 2–22.

2023. (co-edited with T. Giesler). AILA Applied Linguistics Series no. 20. Benjamins
2023. (co-edited with A. Padwad). AINET Association of English Teachers (India) & A.S. Hornby Educational Trust.
2023. (co-edited with A.L. G枚kt眉rk Sa臒lam & Z. Yang). IATEFL.
2023. to Khan, R., Bashir, B., Basu, B.L. & Uddin, Md.E. (eds.) Local Research and Glocal Perspectives in English Language Teaching: Teaching in Changing Times. Springer.

2022

2022. (co-edited with S. Doff). Amsterdam University Press.
2022. 'Valorizing practice in twentieth-century language learning and teaching' (co-authored with S. Doff). Introduction to Doff, S. & Smith, R. (eds.) Policies and Practice in Language Learning and Teaching: 20th-century Historical Perspectives. Amsterdam University Press, 11–21. (temporarily available)
2022. . In Wyatt, M. & Dikilitas, K. (eds.) International Perspectives on Mentoring in English Language Education. Palgrave Macmillan, 229–247
2022. (with P. Rebolledo). London: British Council.
2022. '' (co-authored with D. Banegas, D. Bullock, R. Kiely, K. Kuchah, A. Padwad & M. Wedell). ELT Journal 76/1: 69–76.
2022. Smith, R., Gokturk Saglam, A.L. & Yang, Z. (Eds.) (2022) . IATEFL.
2022. ' (Interview with A.I. Salvi). ELT Research 37: 6–11.
2022. 'Mentoring teacher-research'. In Bullock, D. (Ed.) IATEFL Online 2021 Conference Selections. IATEFL, pp. 20–23.

2021

2021. (co-authored with S. Eraldemir Tuyan, E.A. B茅k茅s & M. Serra). English Language Teacher Education and Development Journal 24: 43–61.
2021. 'Language teaching in difficult circumstances' (co-authored with J. Anderson and A. Padwad). In Coombe, C. & Mohebbi, H. (eds.) Research Questions in Language Education and Applied Linguistics: A Reference Guide. Springer, 111–116.
2021. 'History of language teaching and applied linguistics'. In Coombe, C. & Mohebbi, H. (eds.) Research Questions in Language Education and Applied Linguistics: A Reference Guide. Springer, 743–747.
2021. Foreword to Nattheeraphong, A. A Practical Guide to Designing and Managing English Language Development Projects.
2021. to Gnawali, L., Shrestha, S. & Laudari, S. (eds.) Exploratory Action Research: Stories of Nepalese EFL Teachers. Kathmandu: NELTA.
2021. . ELT Journal 75/1: 4–13.

2020

2020. (co-edited with D.L. Banegas, M. De Stefani, P. Rebolledo & C. Rico Troncoso. Faversham: IATEFL.
2020. (co-authored with L. Aza, L. & D. Balsem茫o Oss) in Banegas, D.L., De Stefani, M., Rebolledo, P., Rico Troncoso, C. & Smith, R. (eds.). Horizontes I: ELT Teacher-research in Latin America. Faversham: IATEFL.
2020. '. British Council Community of Practice for Teacher Educators Research Report. Online.
2020. . New Delhi: British Council.
2020. . (co-authored with R. Lowe). ELT Journal 74/1: 20–28.

2019

2019. to Negi, J.S. (ed.) Exploring for Action, Acting for Change: Stories of Exploratory Action Research in Nepal. Melauli: Support Society Nepal.
2019. Special issue of Language & History, 62(2) (co-edited with R. Mairs).
2019. 'Bilingual English teaching in colonial India: the case of John Murdoch's work in Madras Presidency, 1855–1875';. (co-authored with R. Vennela). Language & History 62(2), 96-118.
2019. 鈥�How can English teachers develop appropriate methodology? How can they have autonomy?鈥�. In Doff, S., Giesler, T. and T枚dter, M. (eds) Die gro脽e Frage. Normen, Konzepte, empirische Befunde und Anwendungsbez眉ge in der aktuellen Fremdsprachendidaktik. Trier: Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Trier, 245–260.
2019. to Sa臒lam, A.L.G. and Dikilita艧, K. (eds) Stories by Teacher Researchers in an Online Research Community. Faversham: IATEFL. Open Access.

2018

(2018). The History of Language Learning and Teaching, (Vol. I: 16th-18th Century Europe Vol. II: 19th-20th Century Europe; Vol. III: Across Cultures). (edited with N. McLelland). Oxford: Legenda (Modern Humanities Research Association). Introduction: , Vol. 1: 1–19.
(2018). . (edited with P. Rebolledo and D. Bullock). London: British Council. Open Access.
(2018) . (co-authored with K. Kuchah). English Language Teacher Education and Development Journal 21: 64–71. Open Access.
(2018) 'Teacher Research 2.0' (co-authored with A.L. Gokturk Saglam and M. Evans). In Pattison, T. (ed.) IATEFL 2017 Conference Selections. Canterbury: IATEFL, pp. 236–238.
(2018) (co-edited with N. McLelland). Guest editorial: , pp. 1–5. Open Access.
(2018) (co-authored with P. Rebolledo). London: British Council. Open Access.
(2018) '"Research by teachers for teachers": Richard Smith on teacher-research'Link opens in a new window (Interviewer: D. Xerri). In Xerri, D. & Pioquinto, Becoming Research Literate: Supporting Teacher Research in English Language Teaching. English Teachers Association Switzerland, 30–34.
(2018) (co-edited with A. Chik and N. Aoki). London: Palgrave Pivot.
(2018) (co-authored with K. Kuchah and M. Lamb). In Chik, A., Aoki, N. and Smith, R. (eds). Open Access.

2017

(2017) '. The Journal of English Language Teaching (India) 59/5: 18-21. Open Access.
(2017) . (edited with A. Padwad and D. Bullock). London: British Council. Open Access.
(2017) . Faversham: IATEFL (edited with Anne Burns, Kenan Dikilitas and Mark Wyatt).
(2017) (with Shelagh Rixon). Faversham: IATEFL.

2016

(2016). ' (with D. Bullock, P. Rebolledo and A. Robles L贸pez). English Language Teacher Education and Development (ELTED) Journal 20: 116–125.
(2016) Special Issue (Volume 20) of ELTED Journal, on '(co-editor with D. Banegas)
(2016). . (Co-authored with A. Pinter and R. Mathew). London: The British Council.
(2016) ' (video materials). British Council.
(2016). (with Kuchah Kuchah). ELT Journal 70/2: 212-221.
(2016). (edited with P. Rebolledo and D. Bullock). London: British Council.
(2016). 鈥楨LT Journal / IATEFL Debate: Language testing does more harm than good鈥� (with A. Green). In Pattison, T. (ed.) IATEFL 2015 Manchester Conference Selections. Faversham: IATEFL, pp. 192-195. .
(2016). by Richard Smith. Applied Linguistics 37/1: 71-87.

2015

(2015). Teachers Research! (edited with Deborah Bullock). Faversham: IATEFL Research SIG. .
(2015). 'The concept, or spirit, of 鈥淭eachers Research!"'. In Bullock, D. and Smith, R. (eds) Teachers Research! Faversham: IATEFL Research SIG.
(2015). '鈥業ntroducing: a new kind of book for teacher-research鈥�. In Bullock, D. and Smith, R. (eds) Teachers Research! Faversham: IATEFL Research SIG.
(2015). Teacher-researchers in Action (edited with K. Dikilitas and W. Trotman). Faversham: IATEFL
(2015). 鈥楨xploratory action research: why, what, and where from?鈥� In Dikilitas, K., Smith, R. and Trotman, W (eds). Teacher-researchers in Action. Faversham: IATEFL, Chapter 3 (pp. 37-45).
(2015) , Cambridge University Press 2013. ELT Journal 69/2: 205-208.
(2015) 鈥楽upporting teacher-research: challenges and opportunities鈥� (with P. Rebolledo, F. Shamim and M. Wyatt). In Pattison, T. (ed.) IATEFL 2014 Harrogate Conference Selections. Faversham: IATEFL, pp. 197-201. Pre-publication versionLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.
(2015) 'The state of ELT research in the UK (Part II)' (roundtable discussion report, with Gosia Sky). ELT Research 30; 21-24.

2014

(2014) Directory of UK ELT Research, 2011–12 (Co-author with S. Choi, I. Liggins and G. Sky). London: The British Council. .
(2014) 'The history of Teaching English as a Foreign Language, from a British and European perspective鈥� (with A.P.R. Howatt). Language and History 57/1: 75-95.
鈥楢n interview with John Trim (1924—2013) on the history of modern language learning and teaching鈥�, by Richard Smith and Nicola McLelland (2014). Language and History57/1: 10-25.
鈥楤uilding the history of language learning and teaching (HoLLT)鈥�, (with N. McLelland). Introduction to special issue on 鈥楬istory of Modern Language Education in Europe鈥�. Language and History 57/1: 1-9.
(2014) 鈥� (with T. Connelly and P. Rebolledo). Chapter 5 in Hayes, D. (ed.) Innovations in the Continuing Professional Development of English Language Teachers. London: The British Council, pp. 111–128.
[2014]. 鈥楾ransformations in ELT: Agents, contexts and opportunities鈥�. In Shrestha, P.N., Dhakal, K.R., Ojha, L.P., Rana, L.B., and Rawal, H. (eds) NELTA Conference Proceedings 2013. Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal English Language Teachers鈥� Association, pp. 12-22.Pre-publication version.
(2014) '"Teacher Association research": An innovative form of teacher-research' [with H. Kuchah Kuchah]. Voices (January-February).

2013

(2013) [Editor]. The 糖心TV ELT Archive Catalogue, 3rd, updated edition (Part 1: Published materials (up to 1979); Part 2: Unpublished / archival items; Part 3: Selected items published from 1980 onwards). Published online:
(2013) 'Harold E. Palmer, IRLT and "historical sense" in ELT鈥�. IRLT Journal 12 (Journal of the Institute for Research in Language Teaching, Tokyo: Special issue to celebrate the Institute's 90th anniversary). Pre-publication versionLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.
(2013) . 鈥楨xploring teacher-learning: Interview with Richard Smith, Learner Development SIG co-founder鈥� [with A. Barfield]. Learning Learning 20/2: 44-49. Online:
(2013). 鈥楻esearching with children鈥� (Online Forum Report) [with A. Pinter and K. Kuchah]. ELT Journal 67/4: 484-487.
(2013). Foreword to Dikilita艧, K. (ed.). Teacher-research Studies: Inquiries from Teacher Perspectives, Volume 2. Ankara: Nobel.
(2013). 鈥楾eacher education and autonomy: Where鈥檚 the real story?鈥� [with G. Barkhuizen and F. Vieira]. In A. Barfield & N.Delgado Alvarado (eds), Autonomy in Language Learning: Stories of Practices. Canterbury, England: IATEFL Learner Autonomy SIG. Pre-publication versionLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.
(2013). 5 short chapters in Strawson, H. et al. 53 Ways to Deal with Large Classes [with M. Ajjan]. Newmarket, Suffolk: The Professional and Higher Partnership.
(2013). 鈥楨LT coursebooks: Past, present and possible鈥� [with Gray, J., Freeman, D., Kiai, A., Tanaka, M. and Banegas, D.]. In Pattison, T. (ed.) IATEFL 2012 Glasgow Conference Selections. Canterbury: IATEFL. Pre-publication versionLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.

2012

(2012). Thematic Bibliography on Large Class Teaching / Teaching in Difficult Circumstances (2002 onwards) . [with M. Ajjan and M. Saleem]. Coventry: Centre for Applied Linguistics, University of 糖心TV. Online:
(2012) . ELT Journal 66/4: 430-439. [Co-authored wiith D. Hunter.]
(2012) ', ELT Journal 66/3: 383-393 [Co-authored with S. Rixon.].
(2012) 鈥楾he state of ELT research in the UK鈥�. [with J. Knagg.]. ELT Research 27: 5-7. Also .
(2012). 'Investigating large classes' (panel discussion). In Pattison, T. (ed.) IATEFL 2011 Brighton Conference Selections. Canterbury: IATEFL. [Co-authored with Negash, N., Fran莽a, V., Wang, Q., Phyak, P., Ajjan, M., Kuchah, H.K., Saleem, M., Sarwar, Z., and Coleman, H.] Pre-publication version hereLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window. Video of original panel discussion hereLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.
(2012) . ELT Journal 66/1: 1-5.
(2012) Preface to Irie, K. & Stewart, A., eds. (2012). Realizing Autonomy: Practice and Reflection in Language Education Contexts. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. [Co-authored with N. Aoki.]

2011

(2011) Autonomy in Language Learning: Opening a Can of Worms. Canterbury, Kent: IATEFL. [Co-edited with Everhard, C.J. and Mynard, J.]. Kindle version available for purchase , pdf version .
(2011) 鈥楬arold E. Palmer鈥檚 alternative "applied linguistics"鈥�. 贬颈蝉迟辞颈谤别&苍诲补蝉丑;贰辫颈蝉迟茅尘辞濒辞驳颈别&苍诲补蝉丑;尝补苍驳补驳别 33/1: 53-67. ).
(2011) Directory of UK ELT Research 2009-10. London: The British Council. [Compiled with S. Choi, S. Reid, G. Sky and D. Hunter.] Accessible via:
(2011) 鈥楶edagogy of autonomy for difficult circumstances: From practice to principles鈥�. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching 5/2: 119-139 [co-authored with K. Kuchah.]
(2011) 'Teaching English in difficult circumstances: A new research agenda'. In Pattison, T. (ed.) IATEFL 2010 Harrogate Conference Selections. Canterbury: IATEFL. Pre-publication version hereLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window. Associated talk .
(2011) 'Promoting teacher-learner autonomy through and beyond initial language teacher education'. Language Teaching 44/1: 118-121. [co-authored with E. Ushioda, S. Mann and P. Brown.]

2010

(2010). [Co-editor]. Thematic Bibliography on Large Class Teaching / Teaching in Difficult Circumstances (2002 onwards) . [with M. Ajjan, M. Saleem and X. Huang.] Coventry: Centre for Applied Linguistics, University of 糖心TV. Online: bit.ly/telcbiblio1
(2010). . London: The British Council. [jointly compiled with S. Rixon.]

2009

(2009). 'Teacher education for learner autonomy: building a knowledge base'. Editorial for special issue of Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching [co-authored / co-edited with F. Vieira]. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching 3/3: 215–220.
(2009). 'Claude Marcel (1793-1876): A neglected applied linguist?'. Language and History 52/2: 173-184.
(2009). 'Chinese learners' strategy use in historical perspective: A cross-generational interview-based study'. System 37/2: 286-299. [co-authored with X. Jiang.]
(2009). 'Autonomy: Under whose control?' [commentary chapter]. In Pemberton, R., Toogood, S. and Barfield, A. (eds), Maintaining Control. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. [co-authored with E. Ushioda.]
(2009). 'Critical approaches to coursebooks'. In Beaven, B. (ed.) IATEFL 2008 Exeter Conference Selections. Canterbury: IATEFL. [co-authored with J. Kullman, J. Gray, S. Wharton, D. Santos and A. Pennycook.]

2008

(2008). 'Taking the bull by its horns: Zakia Sarwar's pro-autonomy approach to large classes in Pakistan (Part I)'. Independence 44: 7-13. PdfLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window
(2008). . ELT Journal 62/4: 395-397.
(2008) A commentary on 'Teacher education for learner and teacher autonomy'. In Jim茅nez Raya, M. and Lamb, T. (eds), Pedagogy for Autonomy in Modern Languages Education: Theory, Practice, and Teacher Education. Dublin: Authentik.
(2008) ' In Dam, L. (ed.) 9th Nordic Conference on Developing Learner Autonomy in Language Learning and Teaching: Status and Ways Ahead after Twenty Years. Copenhagen: CVU.
(2008) 鈥楾eacher-learner autonomy: Programme goals and student-teacher constructs鈥�. In Lamb, T. and Reinders, H. (eds), Learner and Teacher Autonomy: Concepts, Realities and Responses. Amsterdam: Benjamins. [co-authored with S. Erdo臒an].
(2008) 鈥楾aking stock of ELTED (A conversation)鈥� [with J. Kennedy and E. Ushioda]. English Language Teacher Education and Development 13: 52-57. Online:

2007

(2007) 'The origins of ELT Journal'. [on the Oxford University Press ELT Journal website].
(2007) 'The birth and early years of the IATEFL Learner Independence SIG'. Independence 40: 4-12.
(2007) 'Responding to resistance'. In A. Barfield and S. Brown (eds), Reconstructing Autonomy in Language Education: Inquiry and Innovation. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. [co-authored with P. Brown and E. Ushioda.]

Selected pre-2007 publications

Photo of Richard Smith