Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Staff Profile

Professor Tony Young

Professor of Applied Linguistics and Communication

  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7515
  • Address: School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences
    Room 2.06
    King George VI Building
    Â鶹´«Ã½
    Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Background

After my first degree from Sussex University in the UK, I was an English language teacher, Director of Studies, curriculum advisor and Head of School for the British Council and the Bell Education Trust, among others. I worked in the UK, USA, Spain, Italy and Malaysia in these capacities between 1984 and 2002. I then lectured in applied linguistics and the social psychology of communication at Birkbeck, University of London between 2002 and 2004. I also did an MA in Applied Linguistics (Distinction, 1999) and a PhD (Intercultural Communicative Competence and the Teaching and Learning of English as a Foreign Language, 2007), both part time, at Birkbeck. I joined Â鶹´«Ã½ in September 2004.


Roles and Responsibilities

  • Professor of Applied Linguistics and Communication 2020 - present
  • Reader in Applied Linguistics and Communication 2017 - 2020
  • Director of Excellence in Learning and Teaching, School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences 2015 - 2018.
  • Head of the Applied Linguistics Subject Area in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences 2010 - 2015.
  • Senior Lecturer in Language and Communications, Chair of Board of Studies and Senior Tutor for the MA in Cross Cultural Communication (MACCC) programmes, and Degree Programme Director for the MACCC International Relations and MACCC Education. 
  • Founding convenor of the British Association for Applied Linguistics Intercultural Communication Special Interest Group in 2010.
  • Between 2012 - 2015 I was an elected member of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Senate.

Area of expertise

  • Communication, social inclusion and social justice. 
  • Intercultural and intergroup communication
  • Communication, care and neurological divergences, especially dementia.
  • The social psychology of communication

Qualifications

  • PhD University of London, 2007
  • MA (with Distinction) in Applied Linguistics, Birkbeck, University of London, 1999
  • Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults, Waltham Forest College, London, 1989
  • B.A.(Hons) English, University of Sussex, 1984

Memberships

  • International Association of Language and Social Psychology
  • International Communication Association
  • International Association of Language and Intercultural Communication
  • British Association for Applied Linguistics


Google scholar:

SCOPUS:

Research

Research Interests

My research interests relate to critical perspectives on intercultural, intergroup and interpersonal communication and the social psychology of language and communication. My work has a strong social inclusion and social justice focus. 

My recent work has investigated:-

Intercultural communication and competence among professionals (teachers, language learners, health care providers, social carers/caregivers, medical educators).

Language and intercultural communication education for former refugees. 

The 'International' student and academic staff experience and the internationalisation of Higher Education worldwide from transcultural perspectives.

Global citizenship and multilingual competences. 

Communication and disability, especially dementia, from transcultural perspectives.



Current and Recent Projects


  1. Senior Research Mentor for a Medical Research Council funded project in sub-Saharan Africa, Identification of early cognitive change in diverse African populations: A harmonisation consortium to inform future dementia prevention studies. My role is to help develop communication strategies to promote community engagement and participation in projects in rural and urban settings. Project leads Dr Stella-Maria Paddick, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, UK, and Dr Bernard Mbwele, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. (2023 to 2026).
  2. UK lead on a project funded by the European Commission Erasmus+ Programme to promote Global Citizenship and Multilingual Education in Europe, working with partners in Austria (Graz U, lead), Germany (NeoSmart), Italy (Bologna U) and The Netherlands (Mercator Institute). https://gcmc.global/. (2020 - 2023).
  3. With Dr Navaporn Snodin, Kasetsart University in Thailand - Newton Advanced Fellowship to investigate internationalisation and the staff and student experience in Thai higher education. This is a multiregional investigation and is jointly funded by the British Academy and the Thailand Research Fund (2017-2019).
  4. Principal Investigator of an Erasmus Project 'Critical Skills for Life and Work: Developing the Professional Intercultural Competence of Refugee Professionals'. This was an international, multiagency project funded by the European Commission (2017 to 2019).
  5. Principal Investigator of a project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council to co-design and develop assistive communications technology for people living with dementia and their carers in the UK and Malaysia.  https://demtalk-my.com/. Ongoing. 
  6. Principal Investigator on a project medical undergraduates attitudes towards dementia care and communication with people with dementia, collaborating with Â鶹´«Ã½'s Institute for Ageing and Health, the Â鶹´«Ã½ Medical School (NUMED) in Malaysia, and the University of Malaya.  Supported by the Global Excellence and International Partnership Funds. Ongoing. 
  7. Lead of a multiprofessional and lay team in the development of a conceptual framework and toolkit to optimise communication between professionals, carers and people living with dementia (with Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and Alzheimer's Society, UK). . Ongoing. 
  8. Which English - Investigating 'non native' speaking teachers' beliefs, attitudes and practices regarding appropriate models of English (English as a Lingua Franca, English as an International Language, 'Native speaker' varieties). Funded by the British Council (2014 - 16).


Esteem Indicators



My work on communication and dementia won the James J Bradac Prize from the International Association of Language and Social Psychology for its outstanding contribution to the field by an Early Career Researcher in June 2010.

I was elected President of the International Association of Language and Social Psychology and served between 2014 and 2016.

I was elected founding convenor of the Special Interest Group in Intercultural Communication for the British Association for Applied Linguistics in 2010, serving until 2012.

I have been an external examiner, advisor and/or external expert at Durham, Exeter, Leeds, Open, Northumbria, Brunel, Stirling, Sheffield, London (UCL and Birkbeck), Liverpool JM, de Montfort, Sydney (Australia), Melbourne (Australia), Hong Kong, Edinburgh and at Kasetsart (Thailand) universities. 

 

 

Teaching

Postgraduate Teaching

I am module leader for:-

The Social Psychology of Communication ALC8001

 Culture, Interculturality and Identity ALC8010

I also teach and supervise projects on Research Methods in Cross-Cultural Communication, Research Methods in Applied Linguistics and TESOL, Professional Communication and AGE2000 Â鶹´«Ã½ Ageing Generations Education (NU-AGE).

My work on dementia and communication features on Â鶹´«Ã½'s  free award-winning Massive, Open, Online, Course (MOOC) Dementia Care: Living Well as Dementia Progresses https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/dementia-care. 


I supervise a number of PhD projects investigating aspects of internationalisation in Higher Education worldwide and approaches to intercultural and intergroup communication in various contexts and countries.

Publications

  • Articles

    • Dai DW, Young TJ. . RELC Journal 2025, 56(2), 510-521.
    • Mairi S, Gruber J, Mercer S, Schartner A, Ybema J, Young TJ, van der Meer C. . Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 2025, 46(9), 2631-2647.
    • Schartner A, Young TJ, Snodin N. . Higher Education 2023, 85, 483-502.
    • Han Y, Sun Y, Wang L, Liu W, Bretz F. . 2023.
    • Snodin NS, Young TJ, Thongnuan T, Bumrungsalee I, Nattheeraphong A. . Sojourn: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia 2021, 36(2), 225-257.
    • Ganassin S, Young TJ. . Language and Intercultural Communication 2020, 20, 125-140.
    • Baljer BC, Kolhe S, Chan CD, Nicoli F, Ghanbasha A, Brookes MJ, Gamie Z, Ghosh KM, Beckinsale TB, Saleh DB, Ragbir M, Gerrand CH, Jeys L, Knight JC, Petrides G, Rankin KS. . Cancer Letters 2020, 483, 1-11.
    • Law J, Young TJ, Almeida J, Ginja S. . Journal of Intergenerational Relationships 2019, 17(3), 287-310.
    • Tullo ES, Young TJ, Lee RP. . Dementia 2018, 17(5), 573-584.
    • Young TJ, Handford M, Schartner A. . Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 2017, 38(3), 189-191.
    • Young TJ, Handford M, Schartner A. . Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 2017, 38(3), 189-191.
    • Hua Z, Handford M, Young TJ. . Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 2017, 38(3), 283-300.
    • Witham CL. . 2017.
    • Schartner A, Young TJ. . European Journal of Higher Education 2016, 6(4), 372-386.
    • Snodin N, Young TJ. . Asian Englishes 2015, 17(3), 248-260.
    • Young TJ, Schartner A. . Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 2014, 35(6), 547-562.
    • Sercombe PG, Young TJ, Ming D, Lin L. . Names: A Journal of Onomastics 2014, 62(2), 65-75.
    • Tullo ES, Young TJ. . International Psychogeriatrics 2014, 26(01), 165-171.
    • Young TJ, Sercombe PG, Sachdev I, Naeb R, Schartner A. . European Journal of Higher Education 2013, 3(2), 151-171.
    • Tullo ES, Young TJ. . Age and Ageing 2013, 42(s2), ii8-ii9.
    • Christensen N, Andersen H, Garne E, Wellesley D, Addor MC, Bakker M, Haeusler M, Khoshnood B, Mullaney C, Rankin J, Tucker D. . Cardiology in the Young 2013, 23(4), 560-567.
    • Sargent P, Hughes PN, Rouainia M, White ML. . 2013.
    • Young TJ. . Nursing and Residential Care 2012, 14(3), 149-151.
    • Pancholi K. . 2012.
    • Young TJ, Manthorp C, Howells D, Tullo E. . International Psychogeriatrics 2011, 23(7), 1078-1085.
    • Young TJ, Sachdev I. . Language Awareness 2011, 20(2), 81-98.
    • Young TJ, Manthorp C, Howells D, Tullo E. . Ageing and Society 2011, 31(6), 1003-1025.
    • Young TJ, Walsh S. . Language, Culture and Curriculum 2010, 23(2), 123-137.
    • Young TJ, Sercombe PG. . Language and Intercultural Communication 2010, 10(3), 181-188.
    • Young TJ, Manthorp C. . Journal of Language and Social Psychology 2009, 28(2), 174-189.
    • Young TJ, Sachdev I, Seedhouse P. . Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching 2009, 3(2), 149-169.

  • Authored Books

    • Young TJ, Ganassin S, Schneider S, Schartner A, Walsh S. . London and New York: Routledge, 2022.
    • Schartner A, Young TJ. . Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2020.
    • McCorristine S. . London: UCL Press, 2018.
    • Young TJ, Manthorp C, Howells D. . Barcelona: Aresta Press SA, 2010.

  • Book Chapters

    • Young TJ, Ganassin S, Schartner A. . In: Tammy Gregersen, Sarah Mercer, ed. The Routledge Handbook of the Psychology of Language Learning and Teaching. London: Routledge, 2022, pp.300-312.
    • Young TJ, Tullo ES, Lee RL. . In: Agwuele, A. and Lotto, A, ed. Essays in Speech Processes : Language Production and Perception. Sheffield, UK: Equinox Publishing, 2016, pp.244-268.
    • Hua Z, Holmes P, Young TJ, Angouri J. . In: Zhu Hua, ed. Research Methods in Intercultural Communication: A Practical Guide. John Wiley & Sons, 2016, pp.73-87.
    • Young TJ. . In: Zhu Hua, ed. Research Methods in Intercultural Communication: A Practical Guide. Oxford: Blackwell, 2016, pp.165-180.
    • Sercombe PG, Young TJ. . In: A. Fabricius & B. Preisler, ed. Transcultural Interaction and Linguistic Diversity in Higher Education: The Student Experience. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015, pp.34-55.
    • Schartner A, Young TJ. . In: Fabricius, AH; Preisler, B, ed. Transcultural Interaction and Linguistic Diversity in Higher Education. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave MacMillan, 2015, pp.12-33.
    • Sercombe PG, Young T. . In: Cook, V; Bassetti, B, ed. Language and Bilingual Cognition. New York: Psychology Press, 2011, pp.529-542.
    • Barrow W, Todd L. . In: Kennedy, H., Landor, M., Todd, L, ed. Video Interaction Guidance: A Relationship-Based Intervention to Promote Attunement, Empathy and Wellbeing. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2011, pp.278-289.
    • Young TJ, Sachdev I. . In: Hua, Z; Seedhouse, P; Wei, L; Cook, V, ed. Language Learning and Teaching as Social Interaction. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007, pp.235-250.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

    • Go Jefferies J. . 2025.
    • Young TJ. . In: 24th IALIC Annual Conference. 2024, Université de Bordeaux: International Association for Languages and Intercultural Communication (IALIC).
    • Young TJ. . In: BAAL Special Interest Group in Intercultural Communication Seminar. 2024, York University, UK.
    • Young TJ, Wei Dai D. . In: International Centre for Intercultural Studies UCL Research Events. 2024, University College London: Institute of Education.
    • Young TJ. . In: 18th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP18). 2024, Tallinn University, Estonia.
    • Young TJ. . In: 2024 Intercultural Competence Conference. 2024, University of Arizona, Tucson: Center for Educational Resources in Culture, Language and Literacy (CERCLL).
    • Young TJ. . In: 73rd Annual International Communication Association (ICA) Conference. 2023, Toronto University, Toronto, Canada.
    • Young TJ, Ganassin S, Schneider S. . In: Multilingualism/plurilingualism, teaching, learning, complexity and integrity: epistemological, pedagogical and political perspectives. 2023, University Paul Valery, Montpellier, France: University Paul Valery.
    • Valdivia-Murgueytio R, Young TJ. . In: Applied Linguistics and Communication Seminar Series. 2022, School of Education, Communication & Language Sciences, Â鶹´«Ã½.
    • Ganassin S, Young TJ, Schneider S. . In: International Association of Language and Intercultural Communication Conference. 2022, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
    • Young TJ, Schartner A, Ganasssin S, Schneider S, Walsh W. . In: 17th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP17). 2022, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: ICLASP.
    • Young TJ, Koran L. . In: 17th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP17). 2022, Hong Kong Polytechnic University: ICLASP.
    • Young TJ, Mercer S, Ganassin S, Babic S, Schartner A, Schneider S, Walsh S. . In: American Association for Applied Linguistics Annual Meeting 2021. 2021, Denver, CO, USA.
    • Young TJ, Koran L. . In: Sociolinguistics Symposium 23. 2021, Hong Kong University.
    • Young TJ. . In: IATEFL/British Council World Teacher's Day Conference. 2020, Online: British Council.
    • Young TJ, Snoddin NS. . In: European Association of Social Psychology Meeting on Intergroup Communication. 2019, University of Bologna, Italy: British Academy and the Thailand Research Fund.
    • Ganassin S, Walsh S, Young TJ, Schartner A. . In: International Association for Intercultural Research 11th Biannual Conference. 2019, Shanghai, China.
    • Young TJ. . In: ESRC Festival of Social Science. 2019, Â鶹´«Ã½.
    • Young TJ, Schartner A, Ganassin S, Walsh S. . In: European Association of Social Psychology Annual Conference. 2019, University of Bologna, Italy.
    • Young TJ, Koran L. . In: International Research Meeting on Institutional and Health Talk for Social Applications. 2019, National Center for Sciences, Tokyo.
    • Young TJ. . In: The Critical Skills for Life and Work Conference. 2019, Â鶹´«Ã½, UK: European Commision.
    • Chen HL, Roshaslinda R, Goodson ML, Young TJ, Tullo E, Pin TW. . In: Malaysian Congress of Geriatric Medicine. 2018, Alor Setar, Kedah.
    • Young TJ, Snodin NS. . In: Global Conference on Education and Research. 2018, University of Nevada: Association of North America Higher Education International (ANAHEI).
    • Ganassin S, Young T. . In: IALIC 2018 Conference. The 'good' interculturalist yesterday, today and tomorrow: Everyday life-theory-research-policy-practice. 2018, University of Helsinki, Finland.
    • Young TJ, Tullo AS, Schartner A, Smith D, Shanmugaraja P, Ong G, Goodson ML. . In: American Association for Applied Linguistics Conference. 2018, Chicago, Illinois: American Association for Applied Linguistics.
    • Tullo ES, Young TJ, Smith DR, Goodson LG. . In: GSA 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting. 2018, Boston, MA: Gerontological Society of America.
    • Young TJ, Tullo ET, Schartner A. . In: 17th Alzheimer's Association International Conference. 2017, London, UK.
    • Young TJ, Tullo ES, Schartner A. . In: The 67th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA 2017). 2017, San Diego, California: ICA.
    • McNaney R, Vines J, Mercer J, Mexter L, Young T. . In: Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '17). 2017, Denver, Colorado: ACM.
    • Schartner A, Young TJ. . In: International Conference on Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP15). 2016, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok, Thailand.
    • Young TJ, Tullo ES, Schartner A. . In: 15th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP15). 2016, Bangkok, Thailand: International Association of Language and Social Psychology.
    • Young TJ, Schartner A, Brandt A. . In: Invited talk to Tokyo University staff. 2016, Tokyo University, Japan.
    • Young TJ, Schartner A, Tullo E. . In: British Association for Applied Linguistics Intercultural Communication SIG Annual Seminar. 2016, Open University, London.
    • Young TJ. . In: British Academy Newton Fund Researcher Links Conference. 2016, Bangkok, Thailand: British Council.
    • Young TJ. . In: Invited talk to Hiroshima University staff and students. 2016, Hiroshima University, Japan.
    • Young TJ, Schartner A, Brandt A. . In: Invited talk to Tokyo University staff and Japanese Engineering Employers. 2016.
    • Young TJ, Schartner A. . In: World Conference on Education. 2015, Dublin.
    • Young TJ. . In: 14th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP). 2014, Honolulu, Hawai'i: International Association of Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP).
    • Young TJ, Schartner A, Windeatt S. . In: The 14th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP). 2014, Honolulu, Hawaii: Department of Communicology, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
    • Young TJ, Schartner A. . In: Annual Seminar of the British Association for Applied Linguistics Special Interest Group in Intercultural Communication. 2014, Edinburgh University: British Association for Applied Linguistics.
    • Young TJ. . In: 5th World Congress on Educational Sciences. 2013, Rome, Italy.
    • Young TJ, Schartner A. . In: 46th Annual Meeting of the British Association of Applied Linguistics. 2013, Herriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
    • Young TJ, Sercombe PG. . In: International Association of Language and Intercultural Communication. 2012, Durham, UK.
    • Young TJ, Walsh S. . In: Northern Deanery East Cumbria GP Trainers' Annual Conference. 2012, Bassenthwaite, Cumbria.
    • Young TJ. Intercultural perspectives on person-centred communication in dementia care. James J Bradac Memorial Plenary Address. . In: 13th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology. 2012, Mercator Institute, Friesland, Netherlands. 2012, Mercator Institute, Friesland, Netherlands.
    • Holliday A, Killick D, Montgomery C, Sercombe PG, Young TJ. . In: Higher Education Across Borders: Transcultural Interaction and Linguistic Diversity. 2012, Roskilde University, Denmark.
    • Young TJ, Sercombe PG. . In: BAAL Intercultural Communication Seminar Series. 2012, Open University, Milton Keynes.
    • Young TJ. . In: 13th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology. 2012, Mercator Instiute, Friesland, Netherlands.
    • Manthorp C, Young TJ. . In: Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gernontological Society of America. 2011, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
    • Young TJ. . In: Across Languages and Cultures. 2011, University of Venice.
    • Young TJ, Manthorp C. . In: Dementia Services Information and Development Services, Ireland. 2011, Trinity Sciences Centre, St James Hospital, Dublin.
    • Young TJ, Woodin JA. . In: 43rd Annual Meeting of the British Association for Applied Linguistics. 2010, University of Aberdeen, UK.
    • Young TJ, Sachdev I. . In: 11th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP). 2008, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA: International Association of Language and Social Psychology.
    • Young TJ. . In: 57th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association. 2007, San Francisco, CA.
    • Young TJ, Sachdev I. . In: European Second Language Acquisition Annual Conference. 2007, Â鶹´«Ã½, UK.
    • Young TJ. . In: BAAL/CUP Seminar Series, Â鶹´«Ã½. 2005.
    • Young TJ. . In: Tenth International Conference on Language and Social Psychology. 2005, Penn State University, USA.
    • Young TJ. . In: British Association for Applied Linguistics Annual Meeting. 2005, Bristol University, UK.
    • Young TJ. . In: International Sociolinguistics Symposium 15. 2004, University of Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne, UK.
    • Young TJ. . In: International Sociolinguistics Symposium 15. 2004, University of Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne, UK.
    • Young TJ. . In: Ninth International Conference on Language and Social Psychology. 2002, Hong Kong.
    • Young TJ, Sachdev I. . In: Ninth International Conference on Language and Social Psychology. 2002, Hong Kong.
    • Young TJ. . In: Teachers of English as a Second or Other Language, Annual Colloquium. 2002, Paris, France.
    • Young TJ. . In: Teachers of English as a Second or Other Language, Annual Colloquium. 2002, Paris, France.
    • Young TJ. Three Walloons, two Japanese, a wedding …and a funeral? Promoting speaking in the multicultural classroom. In: International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language Annual Conference, Brighton, UK. 2000.

  • Reports

    • Young TJ, Walsh S, Schartner A. . London: British Council, 2016. ELT Research Papers 16.04.
    • Rothwell C. . 2016.

  • Review

    • Redgate AE. . 2023.