Enlli Thomas is Director of Research and Impact at the School of Education and Human Development. Her main research interests and expertise span psycholinguistic approaches to the study of bilingual language acquisition, including children’s acquisition of complex structures under conditions of minimal language input, bilingual assessment, and education approaches to language transmission, acquisition and use. She has conducted research and published widely in many areas of language study, including papers on aspects of bilingual acquisition, including impact factors influencing successful L1-L2 acquisition; bilingual transfer; bilingual assessment; bilingual literacy; Executive Function and bilingualism,; socio-economic status and language abilities; and factors influencing language use.  She gives regular invited lectures to practitioners and child-care workers both in the education and in the mental health sector on topics relating to language development and bilingualism, and had made regular appearances on tv and radio as an expert informant.

She graduated with a degree in Psychology from Bangor University in 1996 and went on to receive a PhD in Psychology in 2001, which looked at Welsh-speaking children’s acquisition of grammatical gender in Welsh. After completing her PhD, she remained at Bangor to work as a post-doctoral researcher on an ESRC-funded study looking at Welsh-speaking children’s acquisition of mutation, gender, and grammatical categories. During her subsequent years working as a Teaching Associate in the School of Psychology, she was involved as a co-author on a number of successful large-scale research grants, looking at language transmission practices in the home (Welsh Language Board), cognitive effects of bilingualism across the lifespan (ESRC), developing Welsh language assessment tools (Welsh Assembly Government), neuropsychological assessment of bilingual Welsh-English speakers (North Wales Research Committee & West Wales NHS Trust Research and Development Grants Awarding Committee) and bilingualism and dementia (North Wales Research Committee).

Since moving to the School of Education in 2007, she has continued to collaborate on a number of studies including a large-scale grant looking at the impact of bilingualism on patients with Altzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease (ESRC), and she was a core member of the Executive of the ESRC Centre for Research on Education in Theory and Practice. At the same time, she has been actively applying her expertise in the education context. Since joining the School of Education, she has led on a number of research projects, including those looking at developing children’s social use of Welsh both within and outside the classroom (Hunaniaith and Welsh Language Board), those exploring the opportunities afforded to L2 children to use Welsh within the classroom (Welsh Government), developing Welsh-language adaptations of standardised measures of linguistic and non-linguistic measures widely used in schools (GL Assessment), evaluating the Premier League Reading Stars Cymru reading programme (National Literacy Trust), and evaluating a family-based programme - The Family Learning Signature - in helping education authorities to improve attainment, attendance and behaviour, particularly with hard to reach families and disengaged learners (Widening Access Funds). She recently co-led on a project funded by the Gwynedd and Anglesey Post-16 Consortia to evaluate the various types of ‘bilingual’ teaching employed across the region and to develop new software to equip institutions to track the use of Welsh and English across the curriculum annually as part of their language planning strategy. The software is now used in all institutions in Gwynedd and Anglesey which provide for post-16 pupils.  She is recently co-author of a large-scale ESRC grant (£1.8 million), which is a multi-institution project to develop the first mass corpus to capture and inform the past, present and future use of the Welsh language. She will co-lead on the development and evaluation of a dedicated resource for teachers and learners of Welsh that will result from Corpus as part of the research.

She is also the author and co-author of a number of articles and book chapters, and co-author of a standardized tool for measuring children’s receptive vocabulary in Welsh. She recently co-edited a volume entitled “Advances in the Study of Bilingualism”.

Conference Presentation

The Management of Additional Support Needs in Gaelic Medium Education: Developing Assessment Strategies to Enhance Pupil Achievement and Inclusion

Qualifications

2010 PGCertHE (merit)

1996 - 2001 Bangor University

PhD Psychology

“Aspects of Gender Mutation in Welsh”

1993 - 1996 Bangor University

BA (hons.) Psychology, 2:1

Dissertation: “The Cognitive Benefits of Bilingualism”

2011 Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

2006 Recipient of Bangor University Teaching Fellow Award

1996 Recipient of Bangor University’s Development Trust 3 year PhD Studentship, funded by Bookland.

Links

• www.bilingualism.bangor.ac.uk
• www.pgc.bangor.ac.uk

Position: Director of Research and Impact 

Email: enlli.thomas@bangor.ac.uk

Phone: 01248 383053

Location: Eifionydd, Normal Site

Teaching and Supervision

Year 1: Child Psychology (MO) (XAE1033) – Semester 1 (10 credits)

Seicoleg Plentyn (MO) (XAC1033) – Semester 1 (10 credits)

Year 2: Researching Childhood (MO) (XAE2033) – Semester 1 (10 credits)

Ymchwilio Plentyndod (MO) (XAC2033) – Semester 1 (10 credits)

Year 3: Iaith a Dwyieithrwydd (MO) (XAC3007) – Semester 1 (10 credits); Semester 2, 3 lectures

Language and Bilingualism (MO) (XAE3007) – Semester 1 (10 credits); Semester 2, 3 lectures

MA: Bilingualism: Research and Methods (PLP4020) – Semester 2, 3 sessions (3.5 hours)

PhD: First supervisor: 5 students (all externally funded)

Second supervisor: 3 students

2008-2011 Co-ordinator of MA in Bilingualism

Research grants held

2012 Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol: “Llais y Plentyn” (Thomas, £2409)

2011 Welsh Government: “Exploring the role of classroom language transmission practices in developing L1/L2 fluency in Welsh” (Thomas & Lewis, £10,000).

2010 ESRC: “Bilingualism as a protective factor in age-related neurodegenerative disorders” (Clare, Gathercole, Thomas, Hindle, Whittacker, Bialystok, & Craik, £630,000)

Hunaniaith and Welsh Language Board: “Arolwg o ddefnydd cymdeithasol plant cynradd o’r Gymraeg” (Roberts & Thomas, £20,000)

2009 Welsh Government: “Continued Development of Standardised Measures for the Assessment of Welsh” (Gathercole & Thomas, £90,000).

2007 ESRC: “Cognitive effects of bilingualism across the lifespan” (Gathercole & Thomas: £720,000)

North Wales Research Committee: “Does bilingualism delay the onset of dementia? A pilot study comparing bilingual Welsh/English and monolingual English speakers”(Clare, Thomas, Whitaker, & Jones, £5,000)

2005 Welsh Assembly Government: “Development of Welsh language assessment tools for children” (Gathercole & Thomas: £90,000)

North Wales Research Committee: “Neuropsychological assessment of bilingual Welsh-English speakers: meeting the needs of Welsh-speaking older people” (Thomas, Clare, Woods, & Jones: £5,000)

North West Wales NHS Trust Research and Development Grants Awarding

Committee: “Neuropsychological assessment of bilingual Welsh-English speakers: meeting the needs of Welsh-speaking older people” (Clare, Thomas, Woods, & Jones: £5,000)

2003 Welsh Language Board: “Trosglwyddo Iaith mewn Teuluoedd Dwyieithog yng Nghymru”(Gathercole, Thomas, Deuchar & Williams; £93,000).

Consultancy work

2012 GL Assessment, London

Consult on the development of a Welsh version of the Cognitive Abilities Test 4

2012 NFER Cymru/Welsh Government

Consult on the development of new Welsh reading tests

2021

• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException

2019

• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException
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2018

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2017

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2016

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2015

• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException

2014

• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException
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2013

• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException
• CyhoeddwydBilingual Welsh–English children's acquisition of vocabulary and reading: implications for bilingual education
  Rhys, M. & Thomas, E., 2013, Yn: International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. 16, 6, t. 633-656
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException

2012

• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException
• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException

2011

• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException

2010

• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException
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2009

• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException
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2008

• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException
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2007

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2006

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2005

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2004

• Cyhoeddwydjava.lang.NullPointerException

2022

• Journal of Immersion and Content-Based Language Education (Cyfnodolyn)

  14 Meh 2022

  Gweithgaredd: Adolygu cyhoeddiadau cymheiriaid (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)
• Addysg, y pandemig a'r Gymraeg

  Prestigious O'Donnell Annual Lecture

  26 Mai 2022

  Cysylltau:

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC66xHrGcIE&t=1973s
  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• Welsh language: Parents asked to record baby talk

  Interview given to BBC Wales about new project asking parents to record the way they speak to their babies in Welsh to help others learn the language.

  9 Ebr 2022

  Cysylltau:

  • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-61011531?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA
  Gweithgaredd: Mathau o waith ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd a gwaith maes - Erthygl neu gyfranogiad yn y cyfryngau (Cyfrannwr)

2021

• Preparing for the delivery of the Languages, Literacy and Communication Area of learning and Experience within the new Curriculum for Wales: Challenges and opportunities

  Keynote Address

  11 Mai 2021

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)

2020

• Oracy All-Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry

  17 Medi 2020

  Gweithgaredd: Mathau o waith ymgysylltu academaidd allanol - Cyfraniad at waith pwyllgorau a gweithgorau cenedlaethol neu ryngwladol (Cyfrannwr)

2019

• Addressing literacy difficulties in languages with transparent orthographies: issues for Welsh

  Keynote presentation

  10 Meh 2019 – 14 Meh 2019

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• The long-term outcomes for bilinguals in minority language contexts

  Research Seminar at Department of Language Studies, Umea University, Sweden

  6 Maw 2019

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• Teacher Education for minority language teachers and immersion school teachers in Wales

  Teacher Training on Teaching Minority Language Oral Skills

  18 Ion 2019

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• Journal of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech (Cyfnodolyn)

  Editorial Board Member

  1 Ion 2019 →

  Cysylltau:

  • https://journal.equinoxpub.com/index.php/JMBS/about/editorialTeam
  Gweithgaredd: Gweithgarwch golygyddol (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)

2018

• Cynhadledd y Gymraeg mewn Addysg a Dwyieithrwydd

  Cynhadledd undydd i athrawon a gweision sifil

  9 Tach 2018

  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd (Siaradwr)
• Multilingual Education in Linguistically Diverse Contexts: The Issues in Wales

  Keynote Address

  30 Awst 2018 – 1 Medi 2018

  Cysylltau:

  • https://meldc18.wordpress.com/keynote-speakers/
  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• Welsh in Education and Bilingualism Conference

  A one-day conference for teachers and civil servants

  22 Meh 2018

  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd (Siaradwr)
• Understanding factors influencing bi- and multilingual development in minority language contexts

  Keynote Address

  8 Meh 2018 – 10 Meh 2018

  Cysylltau:

  • http://multilingualism2018.uw.edu.pl/en/
  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
• Childhood Bilingualism: the Welsh-English context.

  Keynote Address

  12 Ion 2018

  Cysylltau:

  • https://yellow.place/en/e/trinity-long-room-hub-arts-and-humanities-resear-201801121200 https://childbilingualismresearch.com/january-2018-meeting/
  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)

2017

• Lansio llyfr Agweddau Ar Ddwyieithrwydd [Book launch]

  Lansiad y llyfr newydd Agweddau ar Ddwyieithrwydd i'r cyhoedd, ar stondin Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, gyda chyfweliad gan Ifor ap Glyn gyda' awduron, Enlli Thomas a Peredur Webb-Davies.

  Public book launch of Welsh textbook about bilingualism, at the stall of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, featuring an interview by Ifor ap Glyn with the authors, Enlli Thomas and Peredur Webb-Davies.

  9 Awst 2017

  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Welsh Government (Sefydliad allanol)

  Aelod o Gyngor Partneriaethau'r Gymraeg

  1 Gorff 2017 – 1 Gorff 2020

  Gweithgaredd: Aelodaeth o gyngor (Cadeirydd)
• Psycho- and socio-linguistic factors influencing minority language competence in bi- and multilingual contexts: implications for education

  Keynote Address

  11 Mai 2017 – 13 Mai 2017

  Cysylltau:

  • https://bragaconfmultiling.wordpress.com/keynote-speakers/
  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)

2016

• International Conference on Bilingualism in Education, Bangor University

  International Conference on Bilingualism in Education

  10 Meh 2016 – 12 Meh 2016

  Cysylltau:

  • http://bilingualism-in-education.bangor.ac.uk/
  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd (Trefnydd)

2015

• John Benjamins (Cyhoeddwr)

  Editorial Booard Member, Studies in Bilingualism, John Benjamins

  31 Rhag 2015 – 31 Rhag 2025

  Cysylltau:

  • https://benjamins.com/#catalog/books/sibil/board
  Gweithgaredd: Gweithgarwch golygyddol (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)
• Applied Psycholinguistics (Cyfnodolyn)

  Editorial Board Member

  30 Tach 2015 – 31 Rhag 2019

  Cysylltau:

  • https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/appliedpsycholinguistics/information/editorial-board
  Gweithgaredd: Gweithgarwch golygyddol (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)

2014

• Applied Psycholinguistics (Cyfnodolyn)

  Editorial Board Member

  2014 – 2018

  Gweithgaredd: Gweithgarwch golygyddol (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)
• John Benjamins Publishing Company (Cyhoeddwr)

  Studies in Bilingualism Book Series Advisory Editorial Board member

  2014 →

  Cysylltau:

  • https://benjamins.com/catalog/sibil/board
  Gweithgaredd: Gweithgarwch golygyddol (Aelod o fwrdd golygyddol)

2011

• Psycholinguistic aspects of the acquisition of Welsh: Challenges to the sustainability of a minority linguistic community.

  Keynote Address

  28 Maw 2011

  Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)

• Translanguaging and Mediation Resources (CEN 17)

  01/11/2021 – 15/08/2022 (Wrthi'n gweithredu)

• COVID-19 LOT 3: The impact of this on learners in Welsh-Medium education, particularly those who live in English-Medium homes.

  01/09/2020 – 31/01/2022 (Wedi gorffen)

• Travel grant to Department of Language Studies, Umeå University, Sweden for Enlli Thomas

  01/06/2020 – 31/08/2022 (Wrthi'n gweithredu)

• The role of Initial Teacher Education (ITA) programs and research in the field of bilingualism and promoting the Welsh language

  01/01/2018 – 01/08/2019 (Wedi gorffen)

• CorCenC: Corpws Cenedlaethol Cymraeg (The Welsh National Corpus)

  01/03/2016 – 31/12/2020 (Wedi gorffen)

  Cysylltau:

  • http://www.corcencc.org/

• Use of Welsh in post-16 education - Gwynedd and Môn

  01/02/2015 – 14/07/2017 (Wedi gorffen)

• Manteision Addysg Gymraeg a Dwyieithog: Ysgoloriaeth PhD

  01/09/2009 – 30/09/2012 (Wedi gorffen)

• Survey of Primary School-Aged Children's Social use of Welsh

  01/09/2009 – 31/07/2010 (Wedi gorffen)

  Cysylltau:

  • http://moodle.cynnal.co.uk/course/view.php?id=397