Bruce Howell

Email:
d.b.howell@reading.ac.uk
Phone:
+44 (0) 118 378 4438
Job title:
Associate Professor

Responsibilities:

School Director of Teaching and Learning (SDTL), 2025/26-2027/28 inclusive
Head of Short Courses
Teaching and assessing EAP (English for Academic Purposes)

Office

229J

Building location

Edith Morley

Areas of interest

My language assessment interests include suitability and fairness from different stakeholders' points of view; propagating good testing practice; exams vs. other forms of assessment; the 'test preparation' effect; online vs in-person tests.

I have a practitioner interest in supporting the University of Reading's internationalisation drive, through language and foundation progression routes for international students, short courses, and Transnational Education (TNE). I am keen to ensure harmony between the institutional or financial drivers for internationalisation activity and the fundamental importance of high quality, directly useful, and inclusive delivery of teaching and learning.

Background

Having previously taught English at the British Council Tokyo, I joined the University of Reading in 2003 as an EAP Tutor. I have since developed my responsibilities in Language Assessment and in leading teaching and programme development in the areas the Global Academy specialises in: EAP, foundation Academic Skills, CPD for English teachers. Between 2017 and 2021 I was the Head of the University of Reading Global Academy section in Malaysia.

Academic qualifications

Diploma in English Teaching to Adults (DELTA), University of Cambridge International Examinations, 2001.
MA English Language Teaching, University of Reading, 2008.

Professional bodies/affiliations

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), UK, 2021.
Member of BALEAP (the Global Forum for English for Academic Purposes Professionals).

Selected Conference Papers and Presentations:

“Introduction of the Thinking Abilities Framework for EFL teachers”, IATEFL, Brighton, 2024. Linked paper: Zhang, X., Howell, B., McIlroy, S., Li, D., Zhou, S., Yan, C., and Liang, X. (2023) The Thinking Abilities Framework: A report by the University of Reading, in collaboration with the Hubei Institute of Education Science and supported by British Council China. Available at https://www.britishcouncil.cn/teach/ria-emada.

“Inclusivity in British International Foundation Year Programme in Malaysia” (Plenary), InForm Conference, University of Reading, 2022.

"Transplanting a British EAP Programme to Malaysia: Not Easy!", Professional Interest Meeting (BALEAP) Assessing the assessors: reviewing assessment practices in (and beyond) EAP, University of Birmingham, 2019.

"Providing a UK IFP experience in Malaysia - successes and challenges" and "'International' delivery of international foundation programmes - an I2FP model?" (Panel discussion), InForm Conference, University of Reading Malaysia, 2019.

"Assessing in English at a British university campus in Malaysia", Plenary Panel Discussion, New Directions in English Language Assessment conference, Kuala Lumpur, 2018

"Valid topic choice in an EAP Speaking test", EALTA conference, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, 2016.

"Finding the Balance: Designing an ESAP course for Chemists", EAP Conference, University of St. Andrews, 2016.

"Success in Implementing Task-Based Assessment in 'English for Food Science'", Potsdam University and English Language Teachers' Association Berlin-Brandenburg EAP conference 2014, Potsdam University, 2014.