Biography
I have taught English as a second/foreign language and trained language teachers in the UK, Saudi Arabia, Colombia and Brunei. My doctoral thesis explored the mobility of TESOL teachers within currents of globalisation. I am currently senior lecturer and discipline leader in the TESOL/Languages team at Deakin University, Melbourne. I have also coordinated mobility programs for pre-service teachers in China, Malaysia, and Chile, and have researched interculturality in these contexts. I am particularly interested in the links between cross-cultural awareness and effective language teaching and learning. I am currently researching in the areas of bilingual reading development, multilingual approaches to language learning, and pre-service teacher mobility. I am the Chief Editor of the Australian journal, TESOL in Context.
Read more on Rod's profileResearch interests
- Cultural factors affecting language acquisition
- Globalisation of teaching
- Language teacher education
- Multilingual development
- Teacher mobility
Affiliations
Association for Language Awareness
Applied Linguistics Association of Australia
International Association for Language and Intercultural Communication
VicTESOL
Teaching interests
Linguistics for Language Teaching, language Teaching and Assessment, Sociolinguistics, Second Language Acquisition
Knowledge areas
Language Teacher Development, Second Language Acquisition, Second Language Grammar, Sociocultural aspects of Language Teaching, Language testing
Conferences
- Neilsen, R.P. & Weinmann, M.(2018). Cultural (mis)understandings? The role of local buddies as mediators in a global teaching practicum. Association of Language Awareness Conference 14, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Neilsen, R.P. Weinmann, M., & Arber, R. (2018). Navigating the Languages education policy landscape: traversing the gap between contention and practice. Sociolinguistics 22, Auckland, New Zealand.
- Neilsen, R.P. (2017). Demystifying language, demystifying culture: negotiating the third space in teacher education. IALIC (International Association for Language and Intercultural Communication), Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Neilsen, R.P. (2017) Developments on language awareness in teacher education. Educational Role of Language II. Gda??sk, Poland.
- Neilsen, R.P. (2016). Speaking to Diversity: language awareness in the Australian curriculum. Association of Language Awareness Conference 13, Vienna, Austria.
- Neilsen, R.P. (2016) Sonic Traces in Tasmania: The reconstruction of palawa kani, an indigenous language. ISIC 2016, Okinawa, Japan.
- Neilsen, R.P., Weinmann, M., & Arber, R. (2015). The religious dimensions of Asia Literacy. AARE conference, Perth, W.A.
- Neilsen, R.P., (2015). How do we educate new teachers for Knowledge about Language? CAES International Conference, Hong Kong.
- Neilsen, R.P., (2015). The development of Knowledge about Language in Teacher Training: What works? GlobELT international conference, Antalya, Turkey.
- Neilsen, R.P. (2014). Demystifying ‘Grammar’: Rethinking language awareness for teacher training. Association of Language Awareness Conference 12, Hamar, Norway.
Professional activities
- Panel Member for course accreditation, MTESOL (2018): Monash University.
- Member of Advisory board for course accreditation (2014): Holmesglen TAFE language centre.
- Consultant for evaluation of Victorian Certificate of Education (2015) EAL bridging course and EAL study design.
Awards
Projects
• 2018: Evaluation of EAL/D Languages Teaching Professional Development (Chief Investigator; Department of Education Northern Territory; $200,000).
• 2018: Evaluation of Languages Teaching Professional Development (Co-investigator; Department of Education Queensland; $58,795)
• 2018: Adult Literacy program: An evidence-based, multilingual approach to family literacy (State Library Victoria/Whitehorse-Manningham Libraries; $13,669).
• 2017.The role of local buddies as intercultural mediators for pre-service teachers in a global practicum. (Faculty Small Research Grant: $2,998).
• 2016. Multilingual identities: EAL/D families’ experiences of Australian English language education (REDI Research Development Grant: $9000).
• 2015. Demystifying Grammar: rethinking language awareness for teacher training. (Chief Investigator; Office for Learning and Teaching : $50,000.
• 2013. Religious Dimensions of Asia Literacy. Rod Neilsen (Chief Investigator), Michiko Weinmann and Ruth Arber $9,000.'Asia Literacy in Melbourne Schools: Religious Dimensions' (2013)
Publications
M Weinmann, R Neilsen, C Cabezas Benalcázar
(2023), Language Awareness, C1
Civic multiculturalism and the "broken" discourses of Chinese language education
Michiko Weinmann, Sophia Slavich, Rod Neilsen
(2021), pp. 57-75, Multiculturalism in turbulent times, London, Eng., B1
Michiko Weinmann, Ruth Arber, Roderick Neilsen
(2020), pp. 84-84, Rethinking languages education: directions, challenges and innovations, London, Eng., B1
Demystifying 'Grammar': Towards a more language-aware teaching workforce
Roderick Neilsen
(2020), pp. 205-223, Rethinking Languages Education, Abingdon, Eng., B1
Repositioning teacher identities: beyond binaries of Self and Other
R Neilsen, M Weinmann
(2020), Vol. 47, pp. 759-775, Australian Educational Researcher, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, C1
Rod Neilsen, Michiko Weinmann, Ruth Arber
(2020), Vol. 29, pp. 1-13, TESOL in Context, Melbourne, Vic., C1
Juggling selves: navigating pre-service teaching experiences in overseas contexts
Michiko Weinmann, Rod Neilsen, Isabel Martin
(2019), pp. 133-154, Transnational German education and comparative education systems : research and practice, Cham, Switzerland, B1
R Neilsen, R Arber, M Weinmann
(2017), Vol. 7, Education Sciences, C1
Editorial: Australian TESOL contexts; a state of flux
R Neilsen, M Weinmann, R Arber
(2017), Vol. 26, pp. 2-6, TESOL in context, Melbourne, Vic., C1
Putting Grammar in Its Place: Interactions and Identity in a Master of TESOL Course
R Neilsen
(2016), pp. 45-52, Multidisciplinary Research Perspectives in Education, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, B1
Global nomads: TESOL teachers in the shifting world
R Neilsen
(2014), pp. 79-93, Mobile teachers, teacher identity and international schooling, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, B1-1
What can we take home? Action Research for Malaysian pre-service TESOL teachers in Australia
R Neilsen
(2014), Vol. 24, pp. 13-29, Tesol in Context, Australia, C1
Moments of disruption and the development of expatriate TESOL teachers
R Neilsen
(2011), Vol. 27, pp. 18-32, EA journal, Pyrmont, N.S.W, C1-1
Travellers' tales : the expatriate english language teacher in the new global culture
R Neilsen
(2009), Cambridge, England, A1-1
Traveller's tales : ELT teachers in a globalising world
R Neilsen, C Gitsaki, E Honan
(2007), pp. 1-14, Language and languages : global and local tensions, Cambridge, England, B1-1
R Neilsen
(2004), pp. 157-170, Teaching English language in Australia : theoretical perspectives and practical issues, Canberra, A.C.T., B1-1
What is language and how is it learnt?
R Neilsen
(2004), pp. 3-17, Teaching English language in Australia : theoretical perspectives and practical issues, Canberra, A.C.T., B1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Demystifying Gramma: Rethinking language awareness for teach training
A/Prof Rod Neilsen
OLT Seed Projects - Office for Learning and Teaching
- 2013: $50,000
Other Public Sector Funding
Adult literacy innovation program
Hon Prof Ruth Arber, A/Prof Michiko Weinmann, A/Prof Rod Neilsen
Whitehorse Manningham Regional Library Corporation
- 2018: $12,426
Upskilling EAL Pedagogy in the Northern Territory
Hon Prof Ruth Arber, A/Prof Rod Neilsen, A/Prof Michiko Weinmann
Northern Territory Government Department of Education
- 2018: $272,526
Language Teaching Professional Development: Practice-Based Research
A/Prof Michiko Weinmann, Hon Prof Ruth Arber, A/Prof Rod Neilsen
Department of Education (Queensland)
- 2018: $99,519
Upskilling the Languages teaching profession in Queensland.
A/Prof Michiko Weinmann, Hon Prof Ruth Arber, A/Prof Rod Neilsen
Department of Education (Queensland)
- 2020: $93,249
Building capacity in the languages teaching profession in Australia: Teacher perspectives.
A/Prof Michiko Weinmann, A/Prof Rod Neilsen, Hon Prof Ruth Arber
Department of Education (Queensland)
- 2021: $84,155
What is essential learning in Australian and international EAL/D curriculum: A scoping review
A/Prof Michiko Weinmann, A/Prof Rod Neilsen
Australian Curriculum, Assessment & Reporting Authority
- 2023: $3,459
- 2022: $39,145
Industry and Other Funding
Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) Pedagogy in South Australia.
A/Prof Michiko Weinmann, A/Prof Rod Neilsen, Hon Prof Ruth Arber
Catholic Education Office
- 2019: $20,400
EAL Action Research for primary teachers
A/Prof Rod Neilsen, A/Prof Michiko Weinmann, Hon Prof Ruth Arber
Geelong Grammar School
- 2020: $890
- 2019: $9,602
Supervisions
Paul Chi Hong Lip
Thesis entitled: Motivational Characteristics of Gifted and Talented Secondary English Learners in Hong Kong
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Yetti Zainil
Thesis entitled: Stimulated Recall: Unpacking Pedagogical Practice of Code-switching in Indonesia
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Syarifah Dahliana
Thesis entitled: Personality and English as a Foreign Language Learning in Aceh: A Sociocultural Approach
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Hesaam Haji Aboutorab Kashi
Thesis entitled: Critical Thinking and Iranian International Students¿ Academic Writing in Australia
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Elham Mohammadi
Thesis entitled: Identity and expression of selves in Iranian English-as-a-Foreign-Language classrooms
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Yingmei Luo
Thesis entitled: Experiences of Chinese Learners of English in Sino-Australian Programs at Tertiary Level in China
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Ali Safi Hashem Al Yassiry
Thesis entitled: The cultural and educational impacts of study abroad in the context of TESOL programs
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Zelinda Sherlock Dutta
Thesis entitled: Dynamics of Identity: Japanese Language Learners and Discourses of Nihonjinron
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Nicholas Henry Carr
Thesis entitled: Collaboratively Processing Written Corrected Feedback through Co-Constructed Texts
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Kerri Anne Garrard
Thesis entitled: Interculturality and Secondary History Education: A study of contemporary history pedagogy.
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Desvalini Anwar
Thesis entitled: "Finding Myself in Someone Else's Land" Stories by Teachers of Literatures in English in Padang: A Postcolonial Framework
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
David Ian Kasakeijan-Ross
Thesis entitled: Towards a blended ecological pedagogy for advanced EAL academic writing
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Alireza Fard Kashani
Thesis entitled: Language, culture, and identity: An intergenerational study of Iranian migrants' acculturation experiences in Australia
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Laura Gurney
Thesis entitled: EAP teachers' conceptions of and interactions with professional development: A phenomenographic investigation
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education