Laurel Acton

Dr. Laurel Acton is a Casual Academic Lecturer in the School of International Studies and Education at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She holds a PhD in Education (2018–2021) and a Master’s in Applied Linguistics and TESOL (2014–2017), both from UTS. With over 33 years of teaching experience in primary/secondary schools, Intensive English Units, and ELICOS colleges, her academic work bridges practical classroom experience with scholarly research.

Her research focuses on international students’ adaptation to Western educational systems, agency in learning environments, and the role of pathway programs. Notable interests include machine translation as a literacy tool and the affective dimensions of student decision-making. She currently teaches in UTS’s Master of TESOL and Applied Linguistics program, covering courses like Academic English, Phonology, and Research Literacies.

Prior roles include ESL coordination at St Scholastica’s College (2008–2013) and extensive EFL/EAP teaching across institutions. She is certified in counseling and speaks German fluently. No funded grants or awards are specified, though her work emphasizes practical educational strategies for multilingual learners.