About
Lada Smirnova is a Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes at the Language Centre, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, University of Leeds, where she has been serving since 2021. Her academic work bridges educational technology, language teaching, and sociocultural theory.
Her research interests include:
- Sociocultural and Activity Theory in education
- Narrative methodology and teacher experience
- The impact of Generative AI on EAP teaching and learning
- Sustainable teacher development in transnational contexts
- Multilingual qualitative research approaches
Her recent publications and ongoing projects reveal a strong focus on how AI and digital tools are transforming language education. She explores emotional and cognitive dimensions of teaching through concepts like perezhivanie and Galperin’s framework, emphasizing reflective practice and teacher agency. Her work often centers on Russian and transnational educational contexts, with a commitment to developing sustainable, dialogical models of teacher development.
Her scientific contributions include a recent book with Peter Lang and editorial roles in key publications. She is actively involved in shaping discourse around AI in language classrooms through a guest-edited special issue of The European Journal of Applied Linguistics and TEFL.
Lada supervises postgraduate research and welcomes PhD proposals in language teacher education. She has professional affiliations with ISCAR, BALEAP, xMCA, and BAAL, and her prior roles include positions at HSE University and institutions in Moscow and China.
She is supported by a strong educational foundation, including a PhD and MA from the University of Manchester, and certifications from the University of Cambridge.
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