Kathryn Sidaway
Profile
I have worked in English Language Teaching since 2007, initially teaching in further education colleges in England. The main focus of my work has been teenage and adult ESOL, teaching students from all over the world who have made their home here in the United Kingdom. In addition to this, I have worked as an examiner for a range of English language examination boards and managed an EFL department in a college. I am a qualified teacher, holding the Postgraduate Diploma in Post-Compulsory Education and Training, Level 5 Subject Specialism in ESOL and CELTA.
Having completed an MA in English Language Teaching (Distinction) and MA in Social Science Research (Distinction), both at the University of Warwick, I am currently a PhD candidate in English Language Teaching.
Current Research
The focus of my research is the language learning motivation of adult ESOL students at the B1/B1+ level and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. I am particularly interested in the small-lens approach to motivation research, with a focus on sharing the voices of students who are often overlooked in the wider ELT literature.
Publications
Chick, M., & Sidaway, K. (2020). " It would be great to feel more valued and invested in...": Exploring ESOL Teacher Working Conditions and Professional Development In England And Wales. Language Issues: The ESOL Journal, 31(1), 35-46.
Sidaway, K. (2018). The effects and perception of low-stakes exams on the motivation of adult ESOL students in the UK. Language Issues: The ESOL Journal, 29(1), 17-29.
Conference Presentations
ESREA triennial conference, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy, Sept/Oct 2022, talk entitled ‘Student and Teacher Resilience and Motivation during the Pandemic – Lessons from a Study into Adult ESOL’ Winner of the Best PhD Paper Award
University of Warwick Applied Linguistics Weekly Seminar Series (online), June 2022, Invited Talk ‘Language learning during the Covid-19 pandemic – stories of motivation from adult ESOL students in England’
IATEFL International Conference, Belfast, May 2022, talk entitled ‘Motivating teenagers during the pandemic: A city of culture project’ – co-presented with Fatima Reszczynski, Coventry College
University of Warwick Education Studies PGR Conference (online), April 2022, talk entitled ‘Reflexive participant
collaboration: Researching language learning motivation ‘with’ adult ESOL learners’
Migration, Identity and Translation Network (online), November 2021, Invited Talk ‘Adult ESOL during the Covid-19 pandemic: Teachers’ perceptions of learners’ motivation’
BAAL 2021 Conference (online), September 2021, poster presentation ‘Teachers’ perspectives of adult ESOL learners’ motivation and resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic’ - Winner of the Best Poster Award
IATEFL International Conference (online), June 2021, ESOLSIG Showcase Day, 'Migrant women in a multilevel class - identity and motivation'
Journal of Languages, Texts and Society, June 2020, Online Conference 'My researcher journey. Researching adult students whilst becoming one myself'
NATECLA, National Conference, July 2019, Aston University ‘Drawing your distance travelled: Getting to know your learners’
IATEFL International Conference, April 2019, Liverpool, ESOL SIG Showcase Day, ‘What are the effects of low-stakes exams?’
FOLLM Doing an MA dissertation on Motivation, February 2019, University of Warwick ‘Writing a Dissertation on Motivation for an MA in English Language Teaching – challenges and opportunities’
Additional Information
I have been awarded an Early Career Fellowship from the University of Warwick Institute of Advanced Studies, April 2023 - March 2024
I was awarded ESRC funding through the Midlands Graduate Scheme on a 1+3 programme (2018 - 2022)
I am the joint co-ordinator of a global, online research community for PhD students researching language learning psychology https://langlearnpsych.wixsite.com/website
I am the joint co-ordinator of the ESOL Research Community, which brings ESOL teachers and researchers together https://padlet.com/kathrynsidaway/your-esol-research-community-ft9b25fqqf15m1xt
I am the co-editor of ESOL Matters, the IATEFL ESOLSIG publication
Prior my career in ELT, I completed an LLB (Hons) and worked for a crime prevention charity for five years, working with disaffected young people across Bradford and Keighley, West Yorkshire, England
