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I am a part-time PhD student at Lancaster University. This is the website of my study. I finally submitted my PhD thesis on 2nd July and I expect to defend it in September. Here you can read some background information about the study and its aims.

If you don't find the information that you are looking for do drop me a line!

I welcome comments, on this site, or on my project. Please use the contact form. You can also comment directly on any of the posts in my blog.

Glyn Jones

Replicating the validation of the CEFR illustrative descriptors

I am studying part-time for a PhD at Lancaster University. The title is Replicating the validation of the CEFR illustrative descriptors. Its general aim is to replicate the study undertaken by Brian North and Günther Schneider in the course of developing the CEFR descriptors.

In practice this meant asking teachers to use CEFR descriptors to rate actual learners. This happened in two phases.

In the first phase participants were asked to rate two learners whom they knew very well (two of their own students). In the second phase they rated samples of writing produced by learners whom they have never met. Both phases were implemented by means of online surveys which can be completed in the participants' own time.

News, views, announcements

This is the blog for my project. This is where I'll post occasional updates. I'm also happy to post announcements on behalf om participants, and I'll be very glad to receive comments and questions (in reply to blog posts of via my contact page).

Doctor sum

Fri 22 Sep 2023

Yesterday I successfully defended my PhD thesis in Lancaster, subject to minor typographical corrections. Thank you to all who have helped and encouraged me on the way.

Submissa est!

Mon 10 Jul 2023

A week ago today, nearly ten years after I started, I submitted my thesis. It is now out of my hands (such a relief!) until my viva, provisionally scheduled for 21st September. A big thank you to all who contributed by completing my surveys.

Sill onward, still upward!

Tue 14 Mar 2023

Now busy writing with the aim of submitting my thesis this summer. Keep right on to the end of the road!

Onwards and upwards in 2022

Tue 04 Jan 2022

With the New Year I have finally closed the data collection phase of my study. It has taken a long time, but now, at last, I have enough data to be able to move on to the next phase: analysis. A Happy New Year to one and all, and a huge Thankyou to all you gallant teachers who have participated in my study.

I shall continue to post news here, and I am always glad to receive comments and questions via my contact page.

One last push!

Fri 19 Nov 2021

Thanks to Trinity College London I am now close to having enough responses for my study (at last!). But I would like to make one final push, to get as many responses as possible before the end of this year. So if you are teaching English (anywhere in the world, at any level except to children under 12) please consider participating in my study. A reward of an Amazon gift voucher worth £15 will be yours once you have submitted valid responses to all my online surveys. And do pass on the link to this site to any colleagues who may be interested.