Verna Brandford

  • Qualifications and position:
    • MA, MPhil, MIL
    • Lecturer in Education, MFL
  • Faculty:
    • Faculty of Children and Learning
  • Department:
    • Culture, Communications and Media
  • Summary:
    • I am a Lecturer in Education and work as a tutor on the Secondary PGCE in Modern Foreign languages as well as module leader for the B.Ed. Teaching and Learning in Classrooms. I have taught in and trained language teachers for primary and secondary schools as well as adult education. As a consultant MFL (OFSTED trained) advisor and inspector I have worked extensively with several local education authorities giving pre- and post- inspection advice as well as with staff on curriculum review and development in the subject. I have recently initiated a pilot Coaching and Mentoring programme for BME Student Teachers at the Institute also funded by the TDA.
  • Teaching:
    • PGCE MFL
      B.Ed Teaching and Learning in Classrooms elective (module leader)
  • Research Projects:
    • Education through diversity in Europe (2006-2008) funded by Socrates 6.2 Research Programme involving eight European countries to investigate perceptions of and approaches to diversity in primary and secondary schools.

      Working creatively in ITT with schools facing challenging circumstances (2008-2009) funded by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)

      How might acting as Teaching Assistants, help trainees develop their understanding of pupils' learning needs? (2008-2009) funded by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)
  • Postgraduate Research:
    • My research interests include MFL and connective pedagogy, overcoming barriers to pupil achievement and the internationalisation of the PGCE.
  • Professional Activities:
    • External Examiner at:
      • University of York (1997-1999)
      • University of Sheffield (2004-2008)
      • King's College London (2007- )
      • University of Newcastle (2009- )

      Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists
  • Conferences/presentations:
    • 2003-2008 Workshops and conferences as part of European Comenius Creative Dialogues Project in Germany, Finland, Poland and Great Britain
      2008 (Rome) Paper on internationalisation of the PGCE- pilot projects
  • Personal Country Knowledge:
    • France: Teacher Education
      Germany: Teacher Education
  • Languages Spoken:
    • France: Teacher Education
      Germany: Teacher Education
  • Languages Written:
    • French (fluent)
      German (fairly fluent)
      Spanish (basic)
 

Contact details

Contact details

  • Email:

  • Address:
  • Culture, Communications and Media
    Institute of Education
    University of London
    20 Bedford Way
    London WC1H 0AL

  • Office Location:
  • Room 633
    20 Bedford Way, WC1H 0AL

Publications

  • Brandford, V. and Wilson, R. (2003) 'Using Powerpoint to develop pupils' oral skills in MFL', Francophonie Journal
  • Brandford, V. (2006) Use of Storylines to develop reading and writing skills in the modern foreign language, A practical guide to teaching Modern foreign languages in the secondary school. London: Routledge.
  • Brandford,V. and Harder, K. (2006) 'Storyline and CLIL, IATEFL', Young Learners SIG Journal
  • Brandford, V. (2006) 'Storyline – an alternative approach in Modern Foreign Language Teaching', International Journal of Learning