People

Dr Karen Roehr-Brackin

Reader
Department of Language and Linguistics
Dr Karen Roehr-Brackin
  • Email

  • Telephone

    +44 (0) 1206 872189

  • Location

    4.334, Colchester Campus

  • Academic support hours

    Autumn Term: On research leave

Profile

Biography

My research and teaching are in the area of second language (L2) learning. In particular, I am interested in how implicit and explicit knowledge interact in language learning. My current work takes a usage-based perspective and focuses on the role of explicit knowledge and processes in instructed L2 learning in adults and children. I am also interested in the role of cognitively-based individual learner differences, especially language learning aptitude, working memory capacity, cognitive/learning style and metacognition. I joined the Department of Language and Linguistics at Essex in January 2005 after completing my PhD in applied linguistics at Lancaster University. My first degree is from the University of Hamburg in Germany, where I studied English philology. After moving to the UK in 1997, I worked as a German language tutor at various universities and colleges in Lancashire and the Manchester area. While studying for my PhD from 2000 to 2004, I additionally taught applied linguistics at Lancaster University. Second Language Research Group

Qualifications

  • MA Hamburg

  • PhD Lancaster.

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Second language (L2) learning from a usage-based (emergentist, cognitive-functional) perspective

Open to supervise

Explicit and implicit knowledge and learning

Open to supervise

Individual learner differences in L2 learning, especially language learning aptitude, working memory and cognitive/learning style

Open to supervise

Conferences and presentations

Measuring children’s metalinguistic awareness

Invited presentation, Keynote presentation, 18th LASLAB International Conference 2023: Interaction and L2 grammar learning by children in foreign language contexts, University of the Basque Country, 25/5/2023

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • Careers and Employability Skills for Languages and Linguistics (LA099)

  • Research methods for language and linguistics (LG213)

  • Second language learning (LG216)

  • Multilingualism (LG219)

  • Individual Differences in L2 Learning (LG513)

  • Language Learning and Teaching (LG522)

  • Professional Development for Research Students (LG595)

Previous supervision

Laurence Craven
Laurence Craven
Thesis title: The Effects of Different Types of Unfocused Corrective Feedback on Complexity, Accuracy and Fluency in L2 English Academic Writing.
Degree subject: English Language Teaching
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 25/1/2023
Karolina Baranowska
Karolina Baranowska
Degree subject: Occasional Study: Linguistics (Research)
Degree type: Occasional Postgraduate Study
Awarded date: 6/10/2021
Irina Tomak
Irina Tomak
Thesis title: Contributions of Type of Instruction, Individual Differences in Cognitive Ability and Age to the Development of Explicit and Implicit Knowledge of L2 English Articles: A Study with Russian Learners of English
Degree subject: Applied Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 12/3/2019
Luis Humberto Rodriguez Silva
Luis Humberto Rodriguez Silva
Thesis title: The Role of Cognitive Individual Differences and Learning Difficulty in Instructed Adults' Explicit and Implicit Knowledge of Selected L2 Grammar Points: A Study with Mexican Learners of English
Degree subject: Applied Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 15/11/2017
Steven Samuel
Steven Samuel
Thesis title: An Investigation of a Proposed Bilingual Advantage in Aspects of Executive Function. Evidence From Visual Perspective-Taking and Simon Tasks
Degree subject: Psychology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 29/6/2015
Angela Jane Tellier
Angela Jane Tellier
Thesis title: Metalinguistic Awareness and Foreign Language Learning in Primary School: A Classroom Study with Children Aged 8 to 9 Years.
Degree subject: Applied Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 12/3/2015
Effrosyni Georgiadou
Effrosyni Georgiadou
Thesis title: Working Memory, Aspects of Oral Production and Self-Repair Behaviour in L2
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 27/8/2014
Zakariya Abdul Aziz Absi
Zakariya Abdul Aziz Absi
Thesis title: Metalinguistic Knowledge and Speaking Proficiency in Syrian University-Level Learners of English
Degree subject: English Language Teaching
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 3/7/2014
Benjaporn Thepseenu
Benjaporn Thepseenu
Thesis title: The Role of Metacognition in Efl Reading Comprehension: A Study with Thai English Major Students
Degree subject: English Language Teaching
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 20/5/2014
Benjaporn Thepseenu
Benjaporn Thepseenu
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Master of Research
Awarded date: 7/10/2009

Publications

Journal articles (26)

Roehr-Brackin, K., (2024). Explicit and implicit knowledge and learning of an additional language – a research agenda. Language Teaching. 57 (1), 68-86

Roehr-Brackin, K., (2024). Measuring children’s metalinguistic awareness. Language Teaching, 1-17

Pavlekovic, R. and Roehr-Brackin, K., (2024). Aptitude for Explicit and Implicit Learning. Journal of the European Second Language Association. 8 (1), 1-17

Pavlekovic, R. and Roehr-Brackin, K., (2024). Aptitude for explicit and implicit learning. Journal of the European Second Language Association. 8 (1), 1-17

Roehr-Brackin, K., Loaiza, V. and Pavlekovic, R., (2023). Language learning aptitude in older adults. Journal of the European Second Language Association. 7 (1), 1-15

Roehr-Brackin, K., (2023). Language learning in older adults: Interdisciplinary perspectives. Language Teaching. 56 (2), 292-295

Roehr-Brackin, K., (2022). Investigating explicit and implicit L2 knowledge and learning: Replications of Erlam (2005) and Roehr-Brackin & Tellier (2019). Language Teaching. 55 (2), 271-283

Roehr-Brackin, K., Ganem Gutierrez, GA., Olivera-Smith, L. and Torres Marin, MT., (2021). Are individual differences in cognitive abilities and stylistic preferences related to multilingual adults’ performance in explicit learning conditions?. Language Awareness. 30 (4), 391-412

Costley, T., Gkonou, C., Myles, F., Roehr-Brackin, K. and Tellier, A., (2020). Multilingual and monolingual children in the primary-level language classroom: individual differences and perceptions of foreign language learning. The Language Learning Journal. 48 (5), 643-655

Samuel, S., Roehr-Brackin, K., Jelbert, S. and Clayton, NS., (2019). Flexible egocentricity: Asymmetric switch costs on a perspective-taking task. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. 45 (2), 213-218

Roehr-Brackin, K. and Tellier, A., (2019). The Role of Language-Analytic Ability in Children’s Instructed Second Language Learning. Studies in Second Language Acquisition. 41 (5), 1111-1131

Roehr-Brackin, K. and Tellier, A., (2018). Esperanto as a tool in classroom foreign language learning in England. Language Problems and Language Planning. 42 (1), 89-111

Samuel, S., Roehr-Brackin, K., Pak, H. and Kim, H., (2018). Cultural effects rather than a bilingual advantage in cognition: A review and an empirical study. Cognitive Science. 42 (7), 2313-2341

Georgiadou, E. and Roehr-Brackin, K., (2017). Investigating Executive Working Memory and Phonological Short-Term Memory in Relation to Fluency and Self-Repair Behavior in L2 Speech. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research. 46 (4), 877-895

Samuel, S., Roehr-Brackin, K. and Roberson, D., (2016). ‘She says, he says’: Does the sex of an instructor interact with the grammatical gender of targets in a perspective-taking task?. International Journal of Bilingualism. 20 (1), 40-61

Rodríguez Silva, LH. and Roehr-Brackin, K., (2016). Perceived learning difficulty and actual performance: Explicit and Implicit Knowledge of L2 English Grammar Points among Instructed Adult Learners. Studies in Second Language Acquisition. 38 (2), 317-340

Roehr‐Brackin, K., (2014). Explicit Knowledge and Processes From a Usage‐Based Perspective: The Developmental Trajectory of an Instructed L2 Learner. Language Learning. 64 (4), 771-808

Tellier, A. and Roehr-Brackin, K., (2013). Metalinguistic awareness in children with differing language learning experience. EUROSLA Yearbook. 13 (1), 81-108

Ziętek, AA. and Roehr, K., (2011). Metalinguistic knowledge and cognitive style in Polish classroom learners of English. System. 39 (4), 417-426

Gánem‐Gutiérrez, GA. and Roehr, K., (2011). Use of L1, metalanguage, and discourse markers: L2 learners' regulation during individual task performance. International Journal of Applied Linguistics. 21 (3), 297-318

Roehr, K., (2010). Explicit knowledge and learning in SLA. AILA Review. 23 (1), 7-29

Roehr, K. and Gánem-Gutiérrez, GA., (2009). The status of metalinguistic knowledge in instructed adult L2 learning. Language Awareness. 18 (2), 165-181

Roehr, K., (2008). Linguistic and metalinguistic categories in second language learning. Cognitive Linguistics. 19 (1), 67-106

Roehr, K., (2008). Metalinguistic Knowledge and Language Ability in University-Level L2 Learners. Applied Linguistics. 29 (2), 173-199

Roehr, K., (2007). AUCH AND NOCH IN CHILD AND ADULT GERMAN. Ulrike Nederstigt. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 2003. Pp. xiii + 406. $106.00 cloth.. Studies in Second Language Acquisition. 29 (01), 137-139

Roehr, K., (2006). Metalinguistic Knowledge in L2 Task Performance: A Verbal Protocol Analysis. Language Awareness. 15 (3), 180-198

Books (3)

Roehr-Brackin, K., (2018). Metalinguistic awareness and second language acquisition. Routledge. 9781138958876

Roehr-Brackin, K., (2018). Metalinguistic Awareness and Second Language Acquisition. Routledge. 9781138958876

Roehr, K. and Gánem-Gutiérrez, GA., (2013). The Metalinguistic Dimension in Instructed Second Language Learning. 9781441160898

Book chapters (13)

Kasprowicz, R., Roehr-Brackin, K. and Macrory, G., (2022). Metalinguistic awareness in early foreign language learning. In: How special are early birds? Foreign language teaching and learning. Editors: McManus, K. and Schmid, M., . Language Science Press. 87- 111

Gánem-Gutiérrez, GA. and Roehr-Brackin, K., (2020). Chapter 8. Talking about language. In: Language Learning & Language Teaching. John Benjamins Publishing Company. 176- 195. 9789027207432

Tellier, A. and Roehr-Brackin, K., (2017). Raising children’s metalinguistic awareness to enhance classroom second language learning. In: Learning foreign languages in primary school: Research insights. Editors: Garcia Mayo, MDP., . Multilingual Matters. 22- 48. 9781783098101

Roehr-Brackin, K., (2015). Explicit knowledge about language in L2 learning. In: Implicit and Explicit Learning of Languages. John Benjamins Publishing Company. 117- 138. 9789027241900

Roehr-Brackin, K., (2015). Long-term development in an instructed adult L2 learner: Usage-based and complexity theory applied. In: Usage-based perspectives on second language learning. Editors: Cadierno, T. and Eskildsen, SW., . Mouton de Gruyter. 181- 206. 978-3-11-037732-3

Thepseenu, B. and Roehr, K., (2013). University-Level Learners’ Beliefs about Metalinguistic Knowledge. In: The Metalinguistic Dimension in Instructed Second Language Learning. Bloomsbury Publishing. 95- 117. 9781441160898

Roehr, K. and Ganem Gutierrez, GA., (2013). Introduction. In: The Metalinguistic Dimension in Instructed Second Language Learning. Editors: Roehr, K. and Ganem Gutierrez, GA., . Bloomsbury Academic. 175- 175. 9781441160898

Roehr, K. and Gánem-Gutiérrez, GA., (2013). The Metalinguistic Dimension in Instructed Second Language Learning. In: The Metalinguistic Dimension in Instructed Second Language Learning. 2- 11. 9781441160898

Roehr, K., (2012). Aptitude treatment interaction (ATI) research. In: The Routledge Encyclopedia of Second Language Acquisition. Editors: Robinson, P., . Routledge. 31- 35. 9780415877510

Roehr, K., (2012). Explicit learning. In: The Routledge Encyclopedia of Second Language Acquisition. Editors: Robinson, P., . Routledge. 229- 234. 9780415877510

Roehr, K., (2012). The Springboard to Languages evaluation project: a summary report. In: Esperanto as a starter language for child second-language learners in the primary school. Editors: Tellier, A., . Esperanto UK. 23- 34. 9780902756335

Roehr, K., (2012). Theoretical foundations. In: Esperanto as a starter language for child second-language learners in the primary school. Editors: Tellier, A., . Esperanto UK. 19- 22. 9780902756335

Roehr, K. and Gánem-Gutiérrez, GA., (2009). Metalinguistic knowledge: A stepping stone towards L2 proficiency?. In: Issues in Second Language Proficiency. Editors: Benati, AG., . Continuum. 79- 94. 9780826435156

Grants and funding

2023

Explicit and implicit language learning aptitude in older adults

British Academy

2014

EAB Consultancty Agreement

Esperanto UK

2010

Karen Roehr - Esperanto Association - Consultancy

Esperanto UK

Contact

kroehr@essex.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1206 872189

Location:

4.334, Colchester Campus

Academic support hours:

Autumn Term: On research leave