The Editors : Breffni O'Rourke is Lecturer in Applied Linguistics in the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, where he is also Manager of Language Learning Technologies and Resources. His Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics (2003) was supervised by David Little ; he also holds an M.Phil. in Linguistics (TCD) and an M.A. in German (National University of Ireland, Galway).
His research interests include sociocultural and cognitive approaches to second language acquisition research ; the nature of technology-mediated discourse ; and the role of communication technologies in language pedagogy. Lorna Carson is Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the Centre for Language and Communication Studies, Trinity College Dublin, where she also coordinates the CLCS Language Modules, the university's institution-wide language programme.
She holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Applied Linguistics from Trinity College Dublin, and an M.A. in European Studies from the College of Europe, Belgium (Bruges). Her Ph.D., an investigation of the motivational role of goal-setting in adult refugees learning English, was supervised by David Little. Her current research interests and teaching responsibilities are in the areas of foreign and second language learning, language provision and policy, and L2 curriculum design.