Dr Robert Blackwood

National Teaching Fellow 2011 Dr Robert Blackwood has taught at the University of Liverpool since 2003. Whilst think tanks, politicians, and other experts have been wringing their hands about the future of modern languages in academe, Robert has placed linguistics and language study at the heart of the curriculum at Liverpool, and exploited the advances in information technology to support both reflective learning and the supervision of undergraduates on their year abroad. At a time when linguistics in modern languages are increasingly popular amongst students, but paradoxically not on offer in every HEI, Robert's introduction of French sociolinguistics at Liverpool comes at a critical time. Robert encourages undergraduates to draw on their own experiences of language use during their year abroad in order to place students at the centre of their own learning experience. As one student commented: "Dr Blackwood teaches in such a way that puts everyone at ease. As a result students are not afraid to speak up which creates a livelier and more relaxed atmosphere in the classroom. There's a reason why there's always a waiting list for his modules!" Robert has pioneered the use of social media to support the student experience during the year abroad, a defining characteristic of a British degree in modern languages. He oversaw the development of an on-line private social network which provides the ideal space for year-abroad supervision in the form of both academic and pastoral support. In exploiting social networking to enhance considerably the supervision of students living and working abroad, Robert identified a technological answer to a pedagogical challenge of which colleagues have long been aware. Robert has also been a key participant in the nationwide discussion to encourage learning by reflection and personal development portfolios (PDPs) amongst students of French. By working closely with the British Council, he has long supported Liverpool students to review and learn from their own personal development during their year abroad. As a National Teaching Fellow, he looks forward to the opportunities to extend the engagement with on-line year-abroad PDPs beyond Liverpool.