Heléna Stakounis
Welcome.
Read on to find out more about my experience, qualifications and projects.
Education
PhD Applied Linguistics
(Thesis & Coursework)
Lancaster University, UK
Thesis: The role of language in the student experience at the internationalised university
2024
MSc Smart Ed-Tech, Co-creativity & Technology-enhanced Education
Université Côte d'Azur, France
Merit
2025
MA Applied Linguistics for English Language Teaching
University of Salford, UK
Distinction
2010
BA French and German
2005
University of Leeds, UK
2:1
4 A Levels, 2 AS Levels
Urmston Grammar School, UK
French (A), German (A), English Literature (A), General Studies (B), Information Technology (A), Spanish (B)
2001
Other Qualifications
Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
UK Higher Education Academy, UK
2022
Online Teaching: Creating Courses for Adults
The Open University, UK
2021
CMI Award Level 6 Leadership & Management
2020
Brighton School of Business & Management, UK
Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (DELTA)
2013
International House London, UK
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
Via Lingua, Greece
2006
My Projects
Explore my diverse projects showcasing education, research, and writing.
Research Work
Virtual Reality for language learning: mixed methods research into student teachers' perspectives of the effectiveness of Mondly VR for language learning. See publication here.
BALEAP Covid-19 EAP report: won a tender to conduct a large scale mixed methods investigation into the impact of Covid-19 on the operations and delivery of EAP programmes in the UK public and private sector. See published report here.
Language and internationalisation of Higher Education: Longitudinal, ethnographic research into the role of language in the student experience.
International student speaking practice: qualitative research into international students' English language interactions. See publication here.
Writing Samples
Stakounis, H. (2025). Language matters at the internationalised university: from practice to policy. UK: Routledge. Available here.
Stakounis, H. & Youdale, J. (2025). Perceptions and Potentials of Immersive Virtual Reality Assisted Language Learning (iVRALL). Research in Learning Technology.
Bruce, E. & Stakounis, H. (2022). Emergency Remote Assessment (ERA) Narratives from the UK English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Sector, in Sadeghi, K. (ed). Technology-Assisted Language Assessment in Diverse Contexts, UK: Routledge. Available here.
Bruce, E. & Stakounis, H. (2022). Emergency Remote Assessment in the UK EAP sector: Challenges, innovations and opportunities. TEASIG Today.
Consultancy projects
Council of Europe/Turkish Ministry of Education: English language assessment development for pupils and teachers throughout the public education sector.
NCUK assessment mapping and development: redevelopment of learning outcomes, mapped to Common European Framework; redesign of assessments for test-takers worldwide.
Pearson Education: development of online self-access courses for English language exam training.
Olashore International school: online teacher training and student sessions on English for the 21st century, including digital and academic skills.
Community projects
Réunion multiculturelle: weekly meetings at the local village town hall to help newcomers and migrants integrate and practise spoken French.
Conversation club: bi-weekly lunchtime sessions at the local high school to help pupils practise spoken English. News article here.
International week: holiday club sessions introducing local children to different cultures and languages.
Work Experience
Education Consultant
Language Café Online, France
Specialist education advice and project work, especially related to assessment, internationalisation, intercultural communication, policy and language use
Assistant Professor
Durham University, UK
Development, delivery and assessment of master's modules for MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL e.g. Intercultural communication,Sociolinguistics, Technology-enhanced language education
Master's dissertation supervision, academic advising, digital content and communications, AI policy development
Training teachers for international language education
Co-ordinator
Lancaster University, UK
Recruitment, teacher training and management of 40 staff, in-person and online
Development and delivery of in-person and online EAP programmes for 400 international students
Delivery and assessment of BA English language and linguistics
Associate Lecturer
Salford University, UK
Delivery, development and assessment of MA TESOL and AppliedLinguistics modules, training future language teachers
Company and Academic Director
Language Café Ltd
My own private, British-Council accredited language school
Recruitment, teacher training, CPD, curriculum creation, teaching
Marketing, international relations, administration
Management of 20 staff
Proofreading, document content quality and enhancement, translation
Career Highlights
2025: Won a tender to collaborate with the Council of Europe/ Turkish Ministry of Education on the development of nationwide language assessment
2025: Had my first book published by Routledge for the Society of Research into Higher Education series
2021-2024: Gained the highest student feedback in the department at Durham University
2021: Won a tender to carry out large-scale national research into the impact of Covid-19 on the UK EAP sector
2020: Successfully redeveloped the EAP and teacher training programmes at Lancaster University for online delivery during the pandemic and they are still running today owing to their popularity and success
2016: Won the EAP scholarship to fund my PhD at Lancaster University
2013: Won an entrepreneurship award from Salford University for my work with Language Café
2013: Gained British Council accreditation at my private language school, with points of excellence in materials, teaching and recruitment processes
Other Roles
Assessment Associate/ ELT Digital Content and Assessment Writer Pearson Education, Global
Rapporteur COST Association, EU
EAP Moderator/Assessment Writer/Education consultant NCUK, Global
IELTS Examiner British Council, France
Magazine Article Researcher & Writer French-property.com, France
Online Adjunct Lecturer Open University of Catalunya, Spain
English and French teacher British Embassy School, Italy
French and German teacher Fun French Ltd, UK
English language assistant Lycée Marie Madeleine Fourcade, France
Portfolio
Here are some samples of my digital creations.
In addition to creating test items, I developed storyboards to create a set of online remedial activities for students preparing for the PTE Academic test. The videos and materials produced focussed on speaking skills and exam strategies.
Climate Action
This mircolearning module informs learners about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate action. It also introduces some key English vocabulary for understanding the climate action targets and provides suggestions for how to take climate action.
Technology-enhanced Language Education
This is a Gather conference space I created for my MA Applied Linguistics & TESOL module, Technology-enhanced Language Education. In this virtual space, students gave peer feedback on their e-portfolio entries and accessed resources and videos for teaching language with technology.
This is an interactive infographic I created as part of an assignment for the MSc Smart EdTech. The infographic explains the ADDIE model commonly used in instructional design processes. It makes use of both text and audio to ensure the information is accessible to all.
NATESOL Website
NATESOL is the Northern Association for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. It is an association offering free and low-cost CPD sessions and conferences to language teachers around the world. I created and maintain the website.
Language Café Online
Language Café online is my online language school providing short self-access courses and materials for language learning. Courses are built around 6 principles of community, multiculturalism, technology, gamification, sustainability and accessibility.
ADDIE Model
Pearson PTE Academic
Testimonials
”You are truly my inspiration and you are the reason I got introduced to this subject which ultimately led me to investigate a topic that I am so passionate about. If it wasn't for your guidance throughout the module, I would have never found my passion. Thank you for teaching us every class so enthusiastically and helping us every step of the way while we conducted our first empirical research project. After I complete my PHD, I hope to become a teacher like you."
Student (MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL at Durham University)
”Heléna, you put the "purposes" in EAP. Your humane and immensely kind approach to students and tutors alike has shaped our course in wonderful ways.”
Manager (Lancaster University)
CV
Find my full CV below in English and French.
helenastakounis@gmail.com
(C) 2025 All rights reserved.
