Crisis management is in place following flooding in Auckland. More information.

Contact details +6469517445
Dr Karen Ashton PhD, MA, BA, BCA
Senior Lecturer in Linguistics
Doctoral Supervisor School of Humanities Media and Creative CommKaren is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics and Language Education. Her expertise include: language teaching and learning, teaching pedagogy, teacher agency, teacher professional development, language assessment, language education policy and implementation. Her research aims to be inclusive of a diverse range of learners, languages, cultures and contexts.
Karen has a PhD in language assessment (Cambridge University) and a MA in Forensic Linguistics (Cardiff University). She worked on the development of Asset Languages and was Project Manager for the European Survey on Language Competences.
Karen was President of ALANZ (Applied Linguistics in Aotearoa New Zealand) 2020-2021.
Professional
Contact details
-
Location: SGP 4.20, Sir Geoffrey Peren Building
Campus: Turitea
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy - University of Cambridge (2009)
- Master of Arts (Distinction) - University of Wales (2004)
- Bachelor of Arts - Victoria University (1997)
- Bachelor of Commerce and Administration - Victoria University (1998)
Certifications and Registrations
- Licence, Supervisor, Massey University
Research Expertise
Research Interests
- Language learning and teaching
- Diverse learners and contexts
- Language education policy
- Language assessment (particularly classroom-based assessment, large-scale assessment development projects)
- Policy borrowing and learning (particularly Western pedagogical and assessment practices in Asian cultures)
- Teacher agency
- Forensic linguistics
Karen has published and presented widely in this field including on the following areas: teacher agency, multi-level language teaching, refugee learner experiences, classroom-based assessment, policy borrowing and learning, comparability of language assessments, alignment of assessments to the CEFR, assessment of non-Latin script and community languages, cross-language comparison of learner reading strategies.
Projects
- MURF funded project titled Court interpreting: Lost in translation [2021]
- Massey Strategic Research Excellence Fund project titled Accomodating diversity of New Zealand language learners [2020-2021]
- MURF funded project titled Multi-level languages classrooms: What are the challenges and how do teachers cope? [2016]
- Project titled A case study of the Japanese programme at Massey University: enrolment patterns and concomitant environmental factors. [2015]
- A New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) funded project titled Investing in Educational Success model: Critical Evidence review. [2014-2015]
- A Sasakawa Fellowship Foundation project titled Japanese language education in New Zealand: An evaluative literature review of the decline in students since 2005. [2012-2013]
- Project Manager for the European Survey on Language Competences (UK), (initiated and funded by the European Commission), which tested the language skills of 55,000 secondary school pupils in 14 European countries. [2008-2012]
- Research lead for Asset Languages, a multilingual assessment project (UK) derived from the UK's National Languages Strategy. Her role included test validation and managing a research agenda including cross-language and framework comparability. [2004-2008]
Thematics
21st Century Citizenship
Area of Expertise
Field of research codes
Applied Linguistics and Educational Linguistics (200401):
Comparative and Cross-Cultural Education (130302):
Curriculum and Pedagogy (130200):
Education (130000):
Education Systems (130100):
Languages, Communication And Culture (200000):
Linguistics (200400):
LOTE, ESL and TESOL Curriculum and Pedagogy (excl. Maori) (130207):
Specialist Studies in Education (130300):
Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators (130313)
Research Projects
Summary of Research Projects
Position | Current | Completed |
---|---|---|
Project Leader | 0 | 2 |
Research Outputs
Journal
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K., Kearney, A.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K., Carusi Jr, F., Rawlins, P.
[Book Review]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Book Review]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ashton, K.
Book
[Chapter]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Chapter]Authored by: Ashton, K., Shino, P.
[Chapter]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Chapter]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Chapter]Authored by: Ashton, K.
Report
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Ashton, K., Hartnett, M., Rawlins, P.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Ashton, K., Carusi Jr, F., Rawlins, P.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Ashton, K.

Conference
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K., Qi, Y.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K., Qi, Y.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K., Qi, Y.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Conference Poster]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
Other
[Other]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ashton, K.

Thesis
[Doctoral Thesis]Authored by: Ashton, K.

[Masters Thesis]Authored by: Ashton, K.

Teaching and Supervision
Teaching Statement
Karen teaches and contributes to a range of applied linguistics, language education and TESOL courses. She also contributes her expertise to tailored programmes for international groups.
Courses Coordinated
Summary of Doctoral Supervision
Position | Current | Completed |
---|---|---|
Main Supervisor | 3 | 1 |
Co-supervisor | 2 | 3 |
Current Doctoral Supervision
Main Supervisor of:
-
~ Yuliandri
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Secondary school English Language teacher agency in the aftermath of COVID 19 Crises: a study from a West Sumatran region, Indonesia -
Fangshu Wang
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Miao Language, Culture and Identity Maintenance in Rural Families: Case Studies in Guizhou Province, China -
Jingwen Gu
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Exploring Primary School Teacher Perceptions and Practices Integrating Technology in a Chinese EFL Context
Co-supervisor of:
-
Kanokphan Tongpong
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Language Teacher Agency in English for Medical Purposes in the Thai Tertiary Context -
Hong Nguyen
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Positive emotions in English language learning in the Vietnamese tertiary contexts
Completed Doctoral Supervision
Main Supervisor of:
-
2020
-
Ong-Art Namwong
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Learner-centred Approaches in Teaching English in Thailand
Co-supervisor of:
-
2022
-
Timu-O-Te-Rangi Niwa
-
Doctor of Education
Problematizing Māori Achievement in Education Policy: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study on Teacher Enactment of Ka Hikitia -
2019
-
Thi Dang
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Changes in beliefs of pre-service teachers in an ESP teacher education program in Vietnam -
2017
-
Fareeha Javed
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Pakistani Learners' Transition into University
Media and Links
Media
-
30 Jun 2012 - Newspaper
Call to make learning languages compulsory
Article for the Manwatu Standard -
20 Jul 2012 - Other
Study encourages early language lessons for kiwis
Massey University news story -
20 Aug 2016 - Magazine
Language learning: Speak to me
The Listener -
17 May 2016 - Radio
Maths, science and global competence?
Radio New Zealand -
07 May 2015 - Online
NZ policy silent on language learning
Massey University news story - view more...
-
02 Jul 2012 - Newspaper
Broaden kids horizons by learning languages
Newspaper column for The Tribune -
01 May 2014 - Newspaper
Going places with languages
Newspaper column for The Tribune - view less...