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The Department of English offers activities and events for schools and colleges including online resources for teachers and students of English,taster sessions in English Language, English Literature and Creative Writing and an events programme including webinars and teacher events.

Discover the different programmes of study offered at the University and find out more about studying with the Department 

Meet the academic staff from the department who work with schools and colleges and find out about their research and teaching interests.

Paul Flanagan, English Language lecturer

Dr Paul Flanagan, English Language

I am passionate about encouraging young people to study English, and offer taster sessions on such topics as language and magic, the language of Arctic Monkeys songs, and the English lexicon. My research and teaching interests include linguistic typology (comparing languages with one another), language and popular culture (film, TV and popular music), sociolinguistics, and attitudes to variation in English. But I really just love anything to do with language and linguistics, and enjoy convincing people to engage with this fascinating and vital insight into our nature and identities. 

Dr Alex Tankard, English Literature 

I grew up locally, and am passionate about inspiring and welcoming young people who would thrive at university, but don’t yet know it! My special interests are representations of Victorian disease and disability, and LGBTQ+ history in literature. I run the Gothic Literature module, and love teaching texts about monsters – from Romantic poetry to Captain America movies. I also love teaching my students research skills so they can become experts in their own interests. I am beginning to write my second book, which will be about representing asexuality in literature and TV, from the 1890s to the present.

Dr Harry Parkin, English Language

I am committed to improving understanding of the history of the English language, as I believe that it is a subject that can tell us a great deal about our own society and culture. My main research interests lie in the history of place-names and surnames, and I find that students really enjoy learning about these topics, giving them a different yet accessible way to engage with our linguistic history. I offer taster sessions on the origins and development of English and the history of names; please feel free to get in touch with me if you would like to know more.

Join our mailing list to receive regular updates about our activiites and events for schools and colleges.

If you have any questions or would llike any further information about our work with schools and colleges, please email: english.outreach@chester.ac.uk