British Council recognition for Stirling student

A former University of Stirling student has received recognition from the British Council for her Masters dissertation.

Claire Philip was runner-up in the UK-wide British Council Masters Dissertation Award with Best Potential for Impact on English Language Teaching (ELT).

She was commended for her dissertation Positive and negative written corrective feedback: A mixed-method investigation of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) teachers’ word choices - which the awards panel described as “novel and well-executed”.

Claire, who graduated with an MSc Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Applied Linguistics degree in November last year, is now teaching English to a variety of students - including refugees and asylum seekers – in Glasgow. 

She said: “I was surprised but excited to receive recognition for my dissertation.”

It is the second year running that a Stirling student has been recognised in this prestigious award, which was introduced to celebrate the brightest minds in ELT at Masters level.

Lecturer in TESOL and Applied Linguistics Dr Vander Viana, who supervised the dissertation, said: “Claire’s research on the feedback provided by EAP teachers is fascinating in that she approached this timely topic from two different perspectives – what teachers do and what they say they do. 

“I’m pleased that Claire’s first-class dissertation work has received a special commendation from the British Council, which is a well-deserved recognition of her brilliant work.”

More information about the award can be found on the British Council website.