Patrick Farren

Biography

Patrick has extensive work experience in a variety of educational and training sectors in national and international contexts. During the 1970s he completed his BA, worked with Secours Catholique social agency in Paris for several months and studied for three years in Italy. During the 1980s and 90s, he taught French, English, Civics and RE in the Abbey Vocational School, Donegal, for approximately thirteen years. In addition, he taught English in Britanny, France, Santiago Di Compostella, Spain, and later, for a short time, in Boston MA. From 1985-87 he taught in Libya and then went to work as a language specialist for Saudi Telecom HQ and Bell Canada in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 1988-89. He taught English and professional development courses for Saudi ARAMCO in Jeddah for three years (1995-98) and was a lecturer in English at the United Arab Emirates University from 1998-99.

Research Interest

Language teacher education (modern languages, English,including EAL, Chinese), bilingualism, plurilingualism, interculturalism, Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and European Language Portfolio (ELP); language policy, practitioner inquiry, autonomous language teaching and learning, curriculum reform, assessment for learning/AfL, history and structure of education, educational policies, and contemporary educational issues.