Dr Lynn Erler[back]

Lynn contributes as part-time researcher and supervisor for the Master's degree course in Applied Linguistics/Second Language Acquisition course. She is also a University Examiner and examines PhD candidates at other UK universities. She is member of the Applied Linguistics research group. She has taught English, French and German at all levels in 5 countries, worked in UK secondary school teacher training and currently researches language learning at the primary and secondary school level. Her  BA was from the University of California, Los Angeles, MA from the City University of New York, PGCE from Reading University, UK, and her DPhil in Educational Studies from Oxford University . She serves as membership secretary on the Executive Committee of the British Association for Applied Linguistics and is member of the ALL French Committee.

Lynn's principal areas of research are psycholinguistic processes during reading in French as a foreign language, reading strategy development and the role of reading in the foreign language classroom. She is currently working on developing a word-level model of L2 reading in relation to L1. Recent research findings have come from an ESRC-funded nation-wide survey of middle school students' French L2 decoding ability linked to their perceptions self-efficacy with the language and their motivation to continue with it past the compulsory age of 14. Basic L2 literacy skills appear to play a significant role in predicting language learning motivation. Current research project: Oxford University-funded development of a French reading corpus, co-constructed with learners and teachers for interest and cultural learning with an extensive reading programme in mind.

• (1998) ‘In-service training needs in modern foreign languages' with Ernesto Macaro Language Learning Journal 18: 85- 92.
• (2004) 'Near-beginner learners of French are reading at a disability level'. Francophonie 30: 9-15. http://www.hilarymccoll.co.uk/resources/Erler.pdf
• (2006) Getting started on the successful acquisition of a foreign language Gifted and Talented 10:1: 8-10.
• (2007) 'Finding out about learners' approaches to written French through the development of a Strategies Questionnaire' Language Learning Journal 35:2: 141-152.
• (2007) 'Using rhymes to assess students' strategies for deciding how written French words should sound' Francophonie 35:22-29.                 
• (2007) Co-editor of the Special Edition on Language Learning Strategies of Language Learning Journal, journal of the Association for Language Learning, UK. Vol 35 Issues 1 & 2.
• (2007) 'A review of reading strategies: focus on the impact of first language' In A.D. Cohen and E. Macaro (eds) Language Learner Strategies: Thirty years of research and practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press pp 141-152.
• (2008, submitted and being reviewed Modern Language Journal) with E. Macaro 'Decoding ability in French and language learning motivation'.