Prof Mark Gant
Head of Modern Languages
Mark Gant is Head of the Centre for Student Exchange and Language Development which includes the English for Academic Purposes, Global Mobility and Languages and Cultures teams. He is also currently Programme Leader for Spanish and has had the privilege of working as Head of the Department of Languages and Cultures (previously Department of Modern Languages) where he was also previously Deputy Head, leading a dynamic and dedicated team of staff. Mark is enthusiastic about all aspects of language provision, academic exchange and placements learning and before coming to Chester in 2000 he had worked in both the Spanish Department and Foreign Language Centre of the University of Exeter, and University of Exeter Summer School in British Life and Culture as well as in other summer schools teaching English to speakers of other languages, and working as a freelance translator and interpreter, in editing and in archiving.
Mark has taught on the undergraduate and Masters programmes at Chester, working with modules in beginner and advanced language work, translation, literature and film and history and society. He has also worked as module leader for both short placement and year abroad modules and has a particular interest in placement learning.
Mark's doctoral research was on the interaction and synthesis of liberalism and Catholicism in the works of Carlos Frontaura, an editor of Spanish satirical journals, novelist, short story writer and minor politician in the closing decades of the nineteenth century, before and after the Revolution of 1868. He as also published in the field of pedagogy and has edited a number of volumes in both pedagogy and Iberian Studies.
Books
Gant, M., Rocha Relves, S. and Edwards S., 2023. Memory, Transition and Transnationalism in Iberia. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars.
Gant, M. (Ed.). (2020) Transcultural Spaces and Identities in Iberian Studies. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars.
Gant, M. (Ed.). (2019) Revisiting Centres and Peripheries in Iberian Studies: Culture, History and Socio-economic Change. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars.
Gant, M., Ruzzante, P. & Hatton, A. (Eds.). (2019) New Journeys in Iberian Studies: A (Trans-)National and (Trans-)Regional Exploration. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars.
Fonseca-Mora, C. & Gant, M. (Eds.). (2016). Melodies, Rhythm and Cognition in Foreign Language Learning. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars.
Gant, M. (2012). The Spanish Writer and Publisher Carlos Frontaura (1834-1910): A Study of His Social Influence and Ideology. Lewiston, New York, Edwin Mellen Press Ltd.
Book Chapters
Fonseca-Mora, C., Gant, M. & Herrero Machancoses, F. (2017) Interdependent Autonomy: Face-to-Face and Digital Media in Modern Languages Learning. In Learner and Teacher Autonomy in Higher Education: Perspectives from Modern Language Teaching (Foreign Language Teaching in Europe). Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.
Foncubierta, J.M. & Gant, M. (2016) Awakening Senses for Language Learning. In Fonseca-Mora, C. & Gant, M. (eds). Melodies, Rhythm and Cognition in Foreign Language Learning. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars.
Journal articles
Illingworth, J., Furukawa, A., Gant, . and Puzey, G., 2023. Year Abroad (A Dialogue). Modern Languages Open, 0(1), p.36.
Recent Conference Papers
'Douglas Jerrold and Carlos Frontaura: Transnational Costumbrismo?’ Association for Contemporary Iberian Studies Annual Conference, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 2022.
Preferences of UK Undergraduates for Language Learning: The Relationship Between Face-To-Face, Digital Media and Staff Guidance: Mark Gant (University of Chester, UK) and Carmen Fonseca Mora (University of Huelva, Spain). ACIS Annual Conference, University of Westminster September 2nd to 4th 2014.
“I would have come even if the boat had been made of paper” – from Senegal to Palma: migration and storytelling. Association for Comtemporary Iberian Studies conference 2011.
Bridging the Gap: A Level to Higher Eduacation. CILT CrossPhase Conference 2010.
Gay and Protestant in Spain? A Clash of Minorities. Association for Contemporary Iberian Studies Conference 2008.
- BA
- PhD
- PGCHE