AUT - Heather Richards

Heather Richards

Senior lecturer; Programme coordinator

Phone: 64 9 921 9999 ext 6046

Email: heather.richards@aut.ac.nz

Physical Address:
Room 612, Level 6, AUT Tower, corner of Wakefield and Rutland streets, Auckland Central.

Qualifications:

• Dip English Language Teaching, Auckland
• Dip Teaching, Wellington
• NZ Certified Specialist teacher in Deaf Education.

Memberships and Affiliations:

• TESOLANZ (Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages, New Zealand)
• AKTESOL (Auckland Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages)
• Examiner for English as Foreign Language Oral Exams:  University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate.

Biography:

Heather Richards came to AUT University after working in Deaf Education and Language Teaching in the private sector. She has had experience teaching languages in Australia, Japan, China, and New Zealand.

At AUT University her teaching experience includes papers on the Masters and Graduate Diploma and undergraduate papers on the BA English and New Media Studies, as well as Academic Literacies, English for Business Studies, English for Hospitality Management and general English language at all levels.

Her contributions to the community include writing and editing for Password Magazine, a magazine for new speakers of English, and as an examiner for University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

Research areas:

• Language teacher education
• Teachers perceptions of learning
• Transfer of learning

Current Research Projects:

Heather Richards and Beverley Roser are the recipients of a 2008 Resources to Enhance Learning and Teaching Grant: Developing ESOL Writing Skills an AUT online resource.

Publications:

Presentations

• Conway. C., Richards, H, Harvey, S. & Roskvist, A. (July, 2008). Learning Languages: Motivation from three perspectives. Paper presented at NZALT Biennial International Conference. Wellington.
  
• Richards, H. Stacey, K. & Harvey, S. (November 2007). Establishing an evidence base from which to improve ESOL PP practices in NZ schools: a case study of years 7-8. Paper presented at AARE International Education Research Conference. Freemantle Western Australia.
  
• Richards, H & Conway, C. (September, 2006). Chinese EFL teachers perceptions of the effects of a teacher development course in New Zealand on their teaching in China. Joint paper presented at Origins and Connections: Linking Theory, Research and Practice, Tenth National Conference for Community Languages and ESOL, Napier.
  
• Conway, C. & Richards, H. (June 2005). Chinese EFL/ESOL Teachers Perceptions of Offshore Professional Development. Joint paper presented at Voice and Vision in Language Teacher Education: Fourth International Conference University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States. 

Publications

• Richards, H., Harvey, S. & Stacey, K.  ‘Have you seen a cotton plant, Romila?’ An examination of paraprofessionals’ questioning practices in initial ESOL reading programmes. The New Zealand Studies in Applied Linguistics Journal (accepted forthcoming) 
  
• Richards, H., Conway, C., Roskvist, A., & Harvey, S. Provision of Opportunities for Intercultural Language Learning (IcLL) in new Zealand schools: awareness and practice of in-service language teachers on a professional development programme. The New Zealand Studies in Applied Linguistics Journal (accepted forthcoming) 
  
• Harvey, S., Conway, C., Richards, H., & Roskvist, A. (2009) Evaluation of Teacher Professional Development Languages (TPDL) in Years 7-10 and the Impact on Language Learning Opportunities and Outcomes for Students.  Report for New Zealand Ministry of Education.
  
• Harvey, S., Richards, H., & Stacey, K. (2008) Evaluation of para-professional English language Assistants professional development programme.  Report for New Zealand Ministry of Education. Migrant, Refugee and International Education Team. Auckland. (128 pages) http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/schooling/57890
  
• Conway, C & Richards, H. (2007). Meeting the needs of visiting in-service EFL teachers from China. The TESOLANZ Journal, 15, 71-87
  
• Conway & Richards, H. (2007). Was it really worth it? Chinese EFL teachers perceptions of the effects of an offshore development course on their teaching. In Voice and Vision in Language Teacher Education: Selected Papers from the Fourth International Conference on Language Teacher Education.  CARLA working paper #25.
  
• Conway, C. & Richards, H. (2007).  Teaching notes: The best of Password 7. Puriri Press: Auckland, New Zealand.
  
• Richards, H (2010) Password. (Editor) Volume 34, No 1
  
• Richards, H (2009) Password. ( Editor) Volume 33, No 1
  
• Richards, H. (2008). Password. (Editor)  Volume 32, No 2
  
• Richards, H. (2007).  Password, (Editor)  Volume 31, No 1.
  
• Richards, H. (2006).  Password, (Editor)  Volume 30, No 1.
  
• Richards, H. (2005).  Password, (Editor)  Volume 29, No 1.