Martin I. Barge

Technical Director of the Language Centre

Qualifications

1. B.A.(Hons), English Literature. University of Exeter. 1988.
2. RSA Certificate, Teaching English as a Foreign Language. 1992.
3. RSA Diploma, Teaching English as a Foreign Language. 1997.
4. LCCI Certificate, Teaching English for Business. 2002.
5. M.Ed., Educational Technology and English Language Teaching. University of Manchester. 2006.

Career background

After training as a teacher of EFL, I taught English in Turkey, Spain and London. During this time I began to develop an interest in computer-assisted language learning (CALL); it was this interest that led me to take my Master's in Educational Technology at the University of Manchester School of Education.

Current Roles

I joined Queen Mary, as Technical Director of the Language Learning Centre, in September 2007. The Language Centre is a facility that provides computer-assisted language learning resources for the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film and the Language and Learning Unit. My roles and responsibilities include directing and developing the use of technologies for language learning, ensuring that the computer facilities and applications are fully functional, and providing training and support for language teachers and learners.

I also currently teach on the undergraduate module SML209:Computers and Languages in the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film.

Professional interests

I'm interested in all aspects of educational technology, including: multimedia computer assisted language learning, computer mediated communication, distance learning, and the evolving relationship between technology, learner, teacher and pedagogy. I'm also interested in materials' authoring, software authoring, scripting languages, Open Source applications and Linux.

Publications

• Martin Barge, William Tweddle and Paul Emmerson (2009). The Business Advanced Teacher's Book. Macmillan.
• Martin Barge (2009). 'Teaching Techniques for Multimedia Language Labs - Final Report.' Centre for Excellence in Multimedia Language Learning. [Available online]
• Barge, M. and Tweddle, W. (with Emery, H. and Roberts A.)(2008). Aviation English CD-ROM. Macmillan.

Conferences

• 2011 'Capturing Students' use of an Academic English Online Resource: Informing Future Development.'  Barge, M., Cooper, J. and W. Tweddle. BALEAP biennial Conference, Portsmouth University.
• 2010 'The development of online provision for students of academic English.'  Barge, M. and Tweddle, W. Part of the Materials writing in ELT Symposium. IATEFL, 44th International Conference, Harrogate.
• 2009  'Teaching Techniques for Multimedia Language Labs.' Barge, M. 3rd CEMLL Digital Language Lab Symposium, University of Ulster.
• 2009 'Developing EAP Skills in Multimedia Language Labs.' Barge, M. and Tweddle, W. BALEAP biennial Conference, University of Reading.
• 2007 'Technology-Enhanced Language Learning for African Air Traffic Controllers.' Barge, M. and Tweddle, W. IATEFL, 41st International Conference, Aberdeen.

Computing skills

• Operating systems

• Linux (Ubuntu): Advanced user.
• Linux (Debian, SuSE, Mandriva): Intermediate user.
• Windows (XP, 7): Advanced user.
• Mac OS X: Early user.

• Scripting and Programming

• HTML4: Advanced.
• CSS: Early Advanced.
• XHTML: High Intermediate.
• JavaScript: Intermediate.
• PHP & MySQL: Intermediate.
• Flash & ActionScript: Intermediate.
• Java: Elementary.
• C#: Elementary.

Some of my Links

• SML 209 Blog (2): This is a Blogger blog that I set up in 2011 when teaching SML209 Computers and Languages:http://computersandlanguages.blogspot.com/
• SML 209 Blog (1): This is a Wordpress blog that I set up in 2009, when teaching SML209 Computers and Languages:http://computersandlanguages.wordpress.com/
• "Jumbo", test your knowledge of aircraft vocabulary. This is a small digital exercise that I created as part of my Master's degree.  Download for Windows | Download for Linux
• M.Ed. Blog: This is a weblog that I maintained as part of my Master's degree: http://martinbarge.blogspot.com/

Contact details

Martin Barge
Technical Director of the Language Centre
Room 1.36B, Francis Bancroft Building
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road
London E1 4NS

Tel: 44 (0)20 7882 8055
Email: m.i.barge@qmul.ac.uk

QMUL|intranet

Page last updated Aug 19th 2011, by M.I. Barge.