Maria Leedham

Maria Leedham is a senior lecturer in Applied Linguistics and English Language from the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics. She is currently researching writing in social work practice (see project website: www.writinginsocialwork.com). Maria chairs E304 Exploring English grammar and also works on the MA Education (applied linguistics).

In a previous life, Maria taught English to foreign students and began her career by teaching Japanese secondary school students in Iwate, northern Japan. She has been a distance learner herself, studying for an MA while teaching and raising children.

Maria loves the flexibility of work and study at the Open University and her advice to time-pressed students is: ‘Think about what you can let go in your life to make time for study – work, caring responsibilities – while also having some time for you to do nothing. One small thing I let go was pairing socks!’