Personal profile
Biography
Sophie Vauzour is a Lecturer in Education for the Secondary PGCE at UEA. She is a language-specialist teacher educator and teaches on the Secondary MFL (Modern Foreign Languages) PGCE course.
Sophie is Course Co-Director and Admissions, Recruitment and Marketing lead for the Secondary PGCE(M) at UEA. Her additional leadership responsibilities have included , Mentoring Lead, NQT Coordination, Placement Coordinator, Resource Development Coordinator and Director of Employability for the School of Education and Life Long Learning at the UEA.
Sophie is a Senior Fellow of the HEA (Higher Education Association) and a Member of the Chartered College of Teaching. She is also an active member of the Association for Language Learning (ALL) and of the Language Teachers Network at the UEA.
After graduating in French literature, Sophie started her career in France in business training and management. Following a career change and a move to the UK, she taught French, German and Spanish at KS3, KS4 and KS5 for more than 10 years. She is very passionate about the benefits of learning a language for all children, as it can (and should always be) an enjoyable and creative subject that anyone can access. Through her university teaching and teaching practice supervision in partnership schools, she aims to support students to develop their teaching skills so they can inspire the next generation of life-long learners.
Sophie completed her undergraduate degree at the Université de Bordeaux in France, where she obtained a Licence de Lettres Modernes. She then completed a Maîtrise de Lettres Modernes at the Université de Montpellier, France (mention Très Bien).
She has a PGCE(M) in Secondary Education (University of Reading- Distinction in both Practical Teaching and Academic Studies) and a PG-Cert in Higher Education Practice.
In 2021, Sophie completed a Master's in Higher Education Practice. She has a particular interest in Curriculum building and her dissertation is looking at students and lecturers' perspectives on the actions taken to Decolonise the PGCE at the UEA to date. She is now working towards a PhD, looking at anti-racist education in the MFL classroom.
Sophie has a particular interest in teaching and learning related to Teacher Education and Second Language Education.
Sophie Vauzour predominantly teaches on the Secondary PGCE course. She leads the MFL strand of the course. She has also supervised Master's dissertation students on the MA Second Language Education and the MA Educational Practice and Research. In 2024, she has received the award of Postgraduate Adviser of the Year in recognition to her dedication to support students on the PGCE course (UEA SU Transforming Education Awards).
Before working at UEA, Sophie Vauzour taught secondary MFL in 11-18 schools in Berkshire and Norfolk. Her previous teaching experiences include teaching adults in a business environment.
Teaching Interests
Language Teaching
Second Language Acquisition
Curriculum Building in MFL
Languages for all
Inclusive teaching of languages
Decolonising the MFL curriculum
Decolonising Initial Teacher Education
Anti-racist Education
Academic Background
Licence de Lettres Modernes, Université de Bordeaux, France
Maîtrise de Lettres Modernes, Université de Montpellier, France (mention Très Bien)
PGCE(M) in Secondary Education, University of Reading- Distinction in both Practical Teaching and Academic Studies)
PG-Cert in Higher Education Practice
Master in Higher Education Practice
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education
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SDG 5 Gender Equality
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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The World of Languages and Languages of the World (WoLLoW): a pupils’ voice study on primary languages and multilingualism: a pupils’ voice study on primary languages and multilingualism
Vauzour, S., 10 Jan 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: The Language Learning Journal.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Supporting the lesson planning process of beginning languages teachers
Vauzour, S., 21 May 2025, Mentoring Languages Teachers in the Secondary School: A Practical Guide. 1st ed. Routledge, p. 87-100 14 p. (Mentoring Trainee and Early Career Teachers).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Taking a cross-faculty stand against racism and inequality: What are enabling and inhibiting factors influencing the placement experiences of Black, Asian, ethnic minoritised students in the Schools of Social Work, Education, and Health Sciences?
Cornish, C., Jong, S. T., Albarran, I., Kale, S., Brownsword, S., Playfair, C., Vauzour, S., Odu, T., Lusigi, G. & Shikuku, V., Mar 2025, In: Genealogy. 9, 1, 21.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)26 Downloads (Pure) -
Decolonising Initial Teacher Education and anti-racist education in ‘white spaces’: Feelings of uncertainty and optimism
Vauzour, S. & London, L., 23 Nov 2023, In: Teacher Education Advancement Network Journal. 15, 1Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile39 Downloads (Pure)