BA (Combined Honours); PhD; PGCE; Diploma in Special Educational Needs

Research and Projects Interests

My research interests are varied but overlapping; I have always prioritised research ideas which will help enhance my understanding of the educational world in which I work and thus my teaching. I therefore began by looking at the levels of use of ICT in modern foreign language classrooms and the reasons for relatively low usage, in order to support my work with PGCE students and mentors. I also followed up questions which had interested me during my time working in a school for pupils with varying degrees of visual impairment about equality of access to modern foreign languages for pupils with v.i. in a variety of different inclusive, integrated and special school or unit settings.

With the quality of mentoring a key component of success on the PGCE under the new Partnership arrangements, this became an important focus for my work. It has also led into a strong interest in how experienced teachers continue to learn, including what they choose to learn and how. My current work links this with my earlier work in ICT; establishing dialogues with experienced teachers who are experimenting with new aspects of ICT and looking at the kinds of choices they make as well as helping them to identify their own developmental needs. Important issues arise from this, such as a need for highly personalised continuing development opportunities and support, and a need to look much more closely at how ICT such as Interactive Whiteboards really (if at all) affects pupils’ learning in MFL. There is plenty of scope there for future research projects!

Teaching Interests

Since joining the School of Education in 1993 at the start of Partnership in Initial Teacher Education, my teaching has largely focused on the one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education; I work with trainees learning to teach German, German with French and French with German. I have also been heavily involved in the generic mentor training programme for the PGCE course. Over time my teaching profile has become more diverse, with contributions at various times to Postgraduate courses in Mentoring, dissertation and thesis supervision and working as a tutor for the Practitioner Enquiry into Education module which helps prepare M. Ed students for their dissertation work. Since September 2005 I have been working in partnership with CILT, the National Language Centre, to provide a Midlands base for their Graduate Teaching Programme for native speakers of French, German and Spanish.

Publications (selected)

Gray, C, Pilkington, R, Hagger-Vaughan, L and Tomkins, S-A (2007) Integrating ICT into classroom practice in modern foreign language teaching in England: making room for teachers’ voices. European Journal of Teacher Education, 30 (4): 407-429

Gray C, Hagger-Vaughan, L, Pilkington, R and Tomkins, S-A (2005) The pros and cons of interactive whiteboards in relation to the key stage 3 strategy and framework. Language Learning Journal, 32: 38-44

Gray, C (2004) Exploring the language teacher’s mind – helping student teachers see beneath the surface. Language Learning Journal, 29: 23-31

Gray, C (2001) Developing the Modern Languages Mentor. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd

Gray, C, Williams, A and Marr, A (1998) ‘Consistency and quality in the mentoring of student language teachers. Language Learning Journal, 17: 77-84

Gray, C (1997) Coping with the National Curriculum in Modern Foreign Languages: An equal opportunities issue? Part One of Two, British Journal of Visual Impairment, 15 (1): 10-14

Publications 2001 - 2008 [complete, pdf]