Christine Muir

Contact

• workRoom C44 Trent Building
  University Park
  Nottingham
  NG7 2RD
  UK
• work0115 74 84727
• Christine.Muir@nottingham.ac.uk

Teaching Summary

Before joining the University of Nottingham in 2016 I worked as an English language teacher in multiple international contexts including Russia, Finland, the Czech Republic and Scotland. I have… read more

Research Summary

Over the past 5 years my primary research interests have centred around the development of the novel motivational framework directed motivational currents (DMCs). A directed motivational current can… read more

Selected Publications

• MUIR, C., 2021. Motivation. In: MERCER, S. and GREGERSEN, T., eds., Routledge Handbook of Psychology of Language Learning and Teaching Routledge.
• MUIR, C., DÖRNYEI, Z. and ADOLPHS, SVENJA, 2021. Role models in language learning: Results of a large-scale international survey Applied Linguistics. 42(1), 1-23
• MUIR, C., 2020. Directed motivational currents and language education: Exploring implications for pedagogy. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
• DÖRNYEI, Z., HENRY, A. and MUIR, C., 2016. Motivational currents in language learning: Frameworks for focused interventions. New York: Routledge.

• View all publications

Before joining the University of Nottingham in 2016 I worked as an English language teacher in multiple international contexts including Russia, Finland, the Czech Republic and Scotland. I have experience with both course and materials writing, teaching diverse learner groups, teaching English for specific purposes (including business English and various exams based courses), and have collaborated with national language schools in the development of language testing materials.

Prior to moving into language education, I worked as a classical cellist (I also have degrees and qualifications in music & performance from the University of Southampton and the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, Russia), and I have experience in teaching both cello and music theory.

Undergraduate teaching

I am primarily involved in the teaching of two undergraduate modules (Year 2 - The Psychology of Bilingualism & Language Learning / Year 3 - Teaching English as a Foreign Language), teaching content relating to the theoretical underpinnings of second language acquisition, and issues specific to English language learning and teaching (as related to both theory and pedagogy).

Masters teaching

At MA level I teach the 'live' module Language Teaching: Speaking & Listening, and as a part of our distance learning programmes I teach on the modules Vocabulary: Teaching & Learning and Syllabus Design & Methodology. I am involved in the supervision of MA dissertations through both our live and distance programmes.

PhD supervision

I am currently supervising students researching issues relating to student and teacher motivation, narrative identity, teacher resilience, teacher and student mindsets, and individual student agency and self-regulated learning.

Please contact me directly at christine.muir@nottingham.ac.uk with any questions or inquiries relating to PhD study at Nottingham.

Current Research

Over the past 5 years my primary research interests have centred around the development of the novel motivational framework directed motivational currents (DMCs). A directed motivational current can be described as an intense motivational drive capable of both stimulating and supporting long term behaviour (for example, when in training for a sporting event or learning a language). The notion of directed motivational currents is unique in that it does not separate motivational impetus from subsequent goal striving - as is the case in all other theories of motivation - but instead views them as a unified construct. Directed motivational currents function as a fundamental organiser of thought and action, and as such pose compelling motivational possibilities both within the pedagogical context of the language classroom and in other, diverse contexts. My research focus has been directed towards both the development of our theoretical understanding of directed motivational currents and the development of practical implications for language learning and teaching.

• MUIR, C., 2022. Group DMCs and Group Emotion in the L2 Classroom. In: A.H. AL-HOORIE and F. SZABÓ, eds., Researching Language Learning Motivation Bloomsbury. 165-171
• MUIR, C., DÖRNYEI, Z. and ADOLPHS, SVENJA, 2021. Role models in language learning: Results of a large-scale international survey Applied Linguistics. 42(1), 1-23
• MUIR, C., 2021. Investigating group-DMCs and complexity in the L2 classroom. In: SAMPSON, R.J. and PINNER, R., eds., Complexity perspectives on researching language learner and teacher psychology.
• MUIR, C., 2021. Motivation. In: MERCER, S. and GREGERSEN, T., eds., Routledge Handbook of Psychology of Language Learning and Teaching Routledge.
• MUIR, C., 2020. Directed motivational currents and language education: Exploring implications for pedagogy. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
• MUIR, C. and GÜMÜŞ, Ö., 2020. Directed Motivational Currents: An Agenda for Future Research Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics. 6(3), 501-519
• DÖRNYEI, Z. and MUIR, C., 2019. Creating a motivating classroom environment. In: GAO, X.A., ed., Second handbook of English language teaching New York: Springer.
• MUIR, C., 2019. Motivation and projects. In: LAMB, M., CSIZÉR, K., HENRY, A. and RYAN, S., eds., The Palgrave Macmillan handbook of motivation for language learning. Basingstoke: Palgrave. 327-346.
• ADOLPHS, S., CLARK, L., DÖRNYEI, Z., GLOVER, T., HENRY, A., MUIR, C., SÁNCHEZ-LOZANO, E. and VALSTAR, M., 2018. Digital innovations in L2 motivation: Harnessing the power of the Ideal L2 Self. System. 78, 173-185
• MUIR, C., 2018. Motivational aspects of using near peers as role models: Part of the Cambridge Papers in ELT series. Cambridge University Press. Available at: <https://www.cambridge.org/gb/files/2015/7488/6244/CambridgePapersInELT_NearPeers_2018_ONLINE.pdf>
• MUIR, C., 2018. Using learner-centred content in the classroom: Part of the Cambridge Papers in ELT series. Available at: <https://www.cambridge.org/us/files/4715/7488/6740/CambridgePapersInELT_LearnerCentredContent_2018_ONLINE.pdf>
• DÖRNYEI, Z., HENRY, A. and MUIR, C., 2016. Motivational currents in language learning: Frameworks for focused interventions. New York: Routledge.
• DÖRNYEI, Z., IBRAHIM, Z. and MUIR, C., 2015. 'Directed Motivational Currents': Regulating complex dynamic systems through motivational surges. In: Z. DÖRNYEI, P. MACINTYRE and A. HENRY, eds., Motivational dynamics in language learning. Bristol: Multilingual Matters. Pp. 95-105.
• DÖRNYEI, Z., MUIR, C. and IBRAHIM, Z., 2014. Directed Motivational Currents: Energising language learning by creating intense motivational pathways. In: D. LASAGABASTER, A. DOIZ and J.M. SIERRA, eds., Motivation and foreign language learning: From theory to practice. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Pp. 9-29.
• MUIR, C. and DÖRNYEI, Z., 2013. Directed Motivational Currents: Using vision to create effective motivational pathways. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching. 3(3), 357-375.