サイモン・ペリー

PhD in Sociolinguistics Waseda University; MA in Applied Linguistics UCL

Originally from the UK I previously worked in museums owing to my undergraduate degree in history. I then morphed into a language teacher in a bid to explore the globe and learn more about diverse cultures I had first encountered whilst living in London. My passion for language and its association with society led to me doing an MA in applied linguistics, which then progressed into a PhD in sociolinguistics at Waseda University.
I currently research and write in three distinct areas within the umbrella field of applied linguistics. Firstly, I am researching equity in English language teaching, with a focus on non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs). I am also interested in language testing with a focus on multimodal methods of speaking assessment. Most recently, I have begun researching agency in online spaces through the study of how linguistic capital can be converted, particularly into economic capital.
Currently, I am working on a Kakenhi funded research project looking into Asian NNESTs utilizing their sociolinguistic capabilities across East Asia.
I have a blossoming YouTube channel on sociolinguistics and spend much of my free time hiking.

Sociolinguistics is an exciting field that bridges language and society. It examines how language shapes our identities, reflects cultural values, and influences social power dynamics. In our increasingly globalized world, understanding sociolinguistics helps us appreciate linguistic diversity, communicate across cultural boundaries, and analyze how social change is driven by language evolution. This knowledge equips you with empathy needed in the current global climate by revealing the subtle ways language impacts everyday life. Embracing this field enables us to become more informed, open-minded global citizens prepared to engage in diverse social contexts.