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Cathy Clarkson

@cathywint.bsky.social
156 followers 72 following 53 posts

FE. Teacher Ed. CertTESOL. CELTA. PSET. ESOL. EdD: observing to learn, learning to observe. Co-convene ESOL research community | padlet.com/kathrynsidaway/your-esol…

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Reposted by Cathy Clarkson
naeemalanguages.bsky.social @naeemalanguages.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
What works in ESOL? Evidence from Research. Cathy and Katharine aced this ! #natecla25
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
Fade or flourish. Is it useful to have cross-sector discussions about language education. #BigQuestion
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
Inspiring discussions from Coalition for Language Education event, a reminder of the importance of translanguaging and a helpful reminder of this fabulous resource ourlanguages.co.uk
ourlanguages.co.uk
Our Languages
ESOL research project
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
#loveESOL
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
Coalition for language education. Amazing turnout for this launch event. #ESOL
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Reposted by Cathy Clarkson
Kathryn Sidaway @kathrynsidaway.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Join us online on Thurs 24th April when Amy Jowett (Xenia), Becky Winstanley (English for Action London) & Mel Cooke (King's College, London) will present their research on participatory ESOL teaching. It’s free to attend, all welcome! forms.office.com/Pages/Respon... @cathywint.bsky.social
forms.office.com
Microsoft Forms
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
Oh the irony of an article talking about sixth form college’s being neglected in favour of schools - with no mention of FE colleges www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on teachers’ pay: colleges don’t deserve second-class status | Editorial
Editorial: College staff deserve a pay rise along with their peers. Widening the gap with schools would be a serious mistake
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
Really looking forward to this session. There’s still time to register …… #ESOL #amplifyFE
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
#100daysofphd Some reading on action research today. Pondering the relationship between doing the (good) research and writing (well) about the research - and how these are intertwined in AR.
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
#100daysofphd Have enjoyed a 1st class upgrade for my train ride home, the bliss of a double table all to myself as I continue the read through my final draft, coloured highlighters fully exploited. #EdDlife #phdlife
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Love a bit of train travel for some focused study time. Time for a re-read, have highlighter pens at the ready. #phdlife #edlife London here I come.
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
Day 24 #researchadvent I am looking forward to an action packed 2025, both professionally and personally. There’s the ESOL research community events, the Yorkshire ESOL ITE meetings, NATECLA national conference. And most excited to have tix for Lloyd Cole, Pulp and Alannis Morissette 🎶
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
Day 23 #ResearchAdvent Dare I say it, in six months I may well have graduated! Yep, it is tantalisingly close. And I need to Dig Dip and get get a paper together to submit to ……. Well, step 1 is to choose a journal to submit to!
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
Day 22 #ResearchAdvent The perfect gift for a researcher is some Lovely Stationary. A nice dotted notebook that can be used as a bullet journal, a nice pen and a couple of highlighters. Oh, and a desk by a window and a log burner to write in said journal. 😜
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
Day 21 #ResearchAdvent my theoretical framework is an under explored aspect of CoP, I used the four dualities of the Learning Architecture to explore the back channel environment created by the text-chat while-observing. #CELTA #ESOL #UKFE
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Good luck to Bradford College, a finalist for the #ESOL Beacon Award www.aoc.co.uk/awards/beaco... #FE
aoc.co.uk
Beacon Awards 2024/25
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Day 20 #researchAdvent I would like to meet other ESOL teacher educators in #FE Not just CELTA and CertTESOL, but those doing other English & ESOL specialist pathways. What is our signature pedagogy?
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Day 19 #ResearchAdvent my approach to analysis was Reflexive Thematic Analysis, with a twist of Action Research. There was an extended ‘familiarisation’ stage through each cycle, before coding started once all data was collected and transcribed. And I didn’t present my ‘findings’ by theme ….
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Day 18 #ResearchAdvent having to dig deep this late in the year to think of inspiration and motivation. I talk about my EdD as my ‘at home adventure’, it’s my Everest. That has carried me through this last 6 years. And I get inspiration from all my fellow doctoral travellers.
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
@natecla proposal submitted 🤞 @kathrynsidaway.bsky.social and I hope to be doing a session linked to our ESOL Research Community. It’s the Must Attend Event of the ESOL calendar www.natecla.org.uk/news/natecla...
natecla.org.uk
NATECLA’s Annual Conference 2025: Submit your workshop proposal — NATECLA
NATECLA is currently inviting applications from workshop leaders with an interest in ESOL and English Language Teaching to deliver relevant sessions at our 2025 Annual Conference on 27th and 28th June...
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Day 17 #ResearchAdvent I get professional nourishment from my action research www.bera.ac.uk/blog/the-act.... Rest - well. As a peri-menopausal woman need I say more? Health - tennis, swimming, woodland walks and batch cooking of veggie goodness (and the occasional *hic* 🍪 🍫 🍷)
bera.ac.uk
The action research gardener: How doing action research restores my emotional energy
A central question to my action research (AR) asks how a teacher-educator can improve her practice to support trainee-teacher learning during teaching practice (TP). My research was prompted by...
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Day 16 #ResearchAdvent Public engagement has been vital throughout my EdD. Selfishly it’s helped move my thinking forward at all stages of my research & im a huge advocate of practitioner research being systematic enquiry made public.
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
Day 15 #ResearchAdvent 1st favourite place to study is on my small ikea desk by the bay window overlooking the garden. But I’m also partial to a good train journey, it’s a real treat to go 1st class to London on the Grand Central line.
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
Day 14 #ReaearchAdvent In three years I’ll look back and think ‘I’ll never get tired of people calling me Dr Cathy’ 😆
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Day 13 #ResearchAdvent The thing I love most about doing my EdD is the joy of creating something. The struggles of the blank page rewarded by words that become a thesis.
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Day 12 #ResearchAdvent Appreciation for Big Sis as she does the heavy lifting in caring for our parents, for Husband who lets me hog the wood burning stove where my desk is, for Son for being his best Teenage Self.
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Day 11 ResearchAdvent I am excited for the January meeting of the ESOL Research Community, where @steve11brown.bsky.social will be exploring the relevance & application of current literature for ESOL. Deets and sign up here padlet.com/kathrynsidaw...
padlet.com
Your ESOL Research Community
Connecting ESOL teachers with research through online events - co-ordinated by Cathy Clarkson and Kathryn Sidaway
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Day 10 #ResearchAdvent Amazingly not so freaked out about methodology anymore. What are you doing and more importantly why are you doing it that way. What does the methodology allow us to know (and what doesn’t it allow). More intrigued by the philosophical discussion than I thought I would be!
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Day 9 #ResearchAdvent I have attended conferences more than published through my EdD. I’ve had an article in RaPAL, and a couple of blog posts, here’s the one for BERA on the awesomeness of action research www.bera.ac.uk/person/cathy...
bera.ac.uk
Cathy Clarkson
Cathy Clarkson started teaching English as a Foreign Language in China, before returning to England where she has worked in further education, firstly to teach ESOL before moving into initial...
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Reposted by Cathy Clarkson
Sam Shepherd @samshep.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
First blog post I've shared here, thinking about how emergent language works with beginner ESOL students. samuelshep.wordpress.com/2024/12/07/e...
samuelshep.wordpress.com
Emergent Beginners
A question I’ve been asked a lot while banging the drum for emergent language in an ESOL context is “what about beginners?” It’s a fair point – a lot of the research (…
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Day 8 #ResearchAdvent Challenges have been personal more than research tbh, I’ve lost both my in-laws. Both sudden & unexpected, & my parents deteriorating health has meant I’ve become a carer for both. Dementia is a cruel disease. Couldn’t do any of this without support of my partner and Big Sis
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Day 7. #ResearchAdvent I think everyone should watch Tara Babazon’s channel, but especially her three vlogs on ontology, epistemology and methodology youtu.be/75cmEkiZk08
youtu.be
Vlog 78 - Ontology
YouTube video by Tara Brabazon's Legacy Content
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Day 5 #ResearchAdvent I want others to know that action research is a valid and empowering form of research, and would highly recommend this ETF guide www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/u...
et-foundation.co.uk
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Reposted by Cathy Clarkson
Emily Bryson @emilybrysonelt.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Looking for a creative, fun, winter/festive/Christmas themed lesson? I have a FREE activity idea for you! This was inspired by #NotAGingerbreadMan. Students create something that IS NOT a candle, snowman, bell, santa, etc. www.emilybrysonelt.com/its-not-a-sn... #TEFL #Teachingideas #ESOL #YLTsig
Image of a free festive activity created by EmilyBrysonELT.com. There are six hand drawn images of half a candle, half a santa, half a stocking, half a snowman, half a Christmas tree and half a bell. Students draw the other half to make the object look like something it is not. Perfect activity for critical thinking. Available to download via the link in the post.
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Day 4 #ResearchAdvent My best conference experience was NATECLA24, giving a 3-min pitch for the ESOLResearch community at the Teachmeet, and seeing so many hands raised when I asked who’d attended any of our events, and then people coming up to me afterwards to chat. @kathrynsidaway.bsky.social
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Day 3 #ResearchAdvent This year I have really valued the opportunity to present my research, for the discussions that helped move my thinking forward, and all the fabulous people that have influenced my journey.
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Day 2 #ResearchAdvent Why? Well, because it’s there. This is my Everest. It’s my ‘at home adventure’. To live my values as a Lifelong Learner, because learning to teach is a lifelong pursuit.
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
Day 1 #ResearchAdvent I am an FE teacher educator, my specialism is ESOL. I’m in my final year EdD, interested in how we learn to teach through observation using Wenger’s concepts of Learning Architecture and action research to explore synchronous text-chat while peer observing. #CELTA #ESOL
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Reposted by Cathy Clarkson
Jo FletcherSaxon 🎙️ 👩🏻‍🎓 🐑 📚 💄 💻 @jofletchersaxon.bsky.social · 30/11/2024
Are you ready for this year’s #ResearchAdvent? Get ready! #phdsky #phdchat #edusky #educationalresearch
Coming soon
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Reposted by Cathy Clarkson
michael veale @michae.lv · 15/11/2024
In response to OpenAI’s recent ‘A Student’s Guide to Writing with ChatGPT’, Arthur Perret (maître de conferénces, Jean Moulin Lyon 3) writes a line-by-line rebuttal — A Student’s Guide to Not Writing with ChatGPT www.arthurperret.fr/blog/2024-11...
arthurperret.fr
A Student’s Guide to Not Writing with ChatGPT
Site web d’Arthur Perret, enseignant-chercheur en SIC.
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Reposted by Cathy Clarkson
Lynne Taylerson, Real Time Education @realtimeedu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Thought provoking study on learner v staff perceptions of #AI presented by Earle Abrahamson at DEE webinars. Shows a worrying divide emerging regarding friend v fear perceptions. I'd be happy if we cut point 5 from the students' list and replaced it with 3 from staff! #EduSky #AmplifyFE
A diagram titled "It's not what we see, but what we fail to see" comparing student and staff perspectives on AI in education.

Student Perspective:

AI as a digital platform for supporting learning
AI as a provider of ideas
AI as a critical friend
AI as a mentor enhancing work
AI as a platform for heavy thinking
AI as technology advancement and future work readiness
Staff Perspective:

AI as a threat to education equity
AI as a replacement or distraction from learning
AI as technology needing ethical and responsible consideration
AI as an opportunity to rewire higher education and design better assessments
AI as a barrier
AI as a remover of humanness and provider of false information
AI as a partner in academic misconduct cases
The diagram highlights the contrasting viewpoints of students and staff regarding the potential impact of AI on education.
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Reposted by Cathy Clarkson
James Kieft @james-kieft.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
New, #Edtech video, this time I have a look at #Bluesky a relatively new social media platform, Here is my beginner guide #Socialmedia #networking youtu.be/V-866DtH0P4?...
youtu.be
Beginners guide to getting started on using Bluesky social media platform
YouTube video by James Kieft - Edtech Reviews
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Reposted by Cathy Clarkson
Edge Foundation @edgeuk.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
As the consultation on the Curriculum and Assessment Review closes today, Edge’s policy team reflect on the key messages of our submission and how the Review could go further. www.edge.co.uk/news-and-eve...
edge.co.uk
Edge submits evidence to the Curriculum and Assessment Review
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
While working through the curriculum review I shared Bradford College's involvement in the RSC's New Generation Backstage program and their recent trip to Stratford. #ESOL www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/news/bringin...
bradfordcollege.ac.uk
Bringing theatre alive at Shakespeare birthplace - Bradford College
Eight students have travelled to Shakespeare’s birthplace to help bring a magical theatre production to life.
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Reposted by Cathy Clarkson
AmplifyFE @amplifyfe.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
Thinking of making changes to your #FE social media presence? Many people are! Join Chloe Hynes and Lynne Taylerson for an @AmplifyFE webinar on 13th December at 12 to discuss 'Where Next After Twitter?' Which platform/s work best and how do we choose? buff.ly/3YZGf0j #loveFE #AmplifyFE
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Got a bit of time this morning to look at the govt curriculum review, helpful advise from #NATECLA on this #FE #ESOL www.natecla.org.uk/news/curricu...
natecla.org.uk
Curriculum & Assessment Review - are you planning your response yet? — NATECLA
As you may know, the Labour government has set up an independent review of the curriculum for children and young people aged 5-19 in England, led by Prof Becky Francis. They are calling for evidence...
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Cathy Clarkson @cathywint.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Join us on 16th January to hear @steve11brown.bsky.social discuss how recent ELT publications connect to adult ESOL. Click here to register - shorturl.at/4Ml4d and more details on our padlet - shorturl.at/yjfov @kathrynsidaway.bsky.social #NATECLA #ESOL #research
shorturl.at
Microsoft Forms
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