PhD researcher

Email: suzanne.c.mccarthy@mytudublin.ie

Suzanne holds a primary (Honours) degree in Early Childhood Care and Education from the Technological University Dublin (formerly known as Institute of Technology Blanchardstown). Suzanne's current research is in the area of heritage languages in Irish primary schools: an investigation into teachers' attitudes and pedagogical practice in the area of support for first language maintenance in bilingual pupils. This research has received recognition both internally and externally, it was awarded the 2020 Irish Research Association for Applied Linguistics (IRAAL) Postgraduate Master Award, as well as wining the 2020 Technological University Dublin Graduate Research School Poster competition by public vote. The results of this study will contribute to knowledge and practice in the broad fields of language education, pedagogy and policy in terms of our awareness and support for overall language development and heritage language maintenance in bilingual children.