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Sarah Mercer

@smercergraz.bsky.social

870 followers 580 following 33 posts

Passionate about language education. Identify as #compassion-based language educator! Love reading, travel, hiking, all kinds of water sports, and wildlife photography. Prof at Uni Graz.

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Sarah Jane Mercer is a British linguist. She is currently the head of the Department of English Language Teaching at the University of Graz, Austria. Her research focuses on applied linguistics, with a special focus on psycholinguistics from a Complex Dynamic Systems Theory approach. .. more

Psychology 38%

Communication & Media Studies 25%

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Jul 14

I was privileged to work with these amazing colleagues on this article which highlights just how important learner autonomy is in all types of language classrooms! Importantly, this article is part of an SI honouring the wonderful and utterly brilliant Peter MacIntyre. eurokd.com/doi/10.32038...

eurokd.com

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Jun 14

Thank you so much!! Very grateful!

Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · May 23

Calling all language teachers (EFL/ESL or LOTEs). We are investigating language teachers' wellbeing and how it has changed since the pandemic. If you have time, we would be grateful if you could please help by completing the survey and sharing in your networks! Thank you.
forms.gle/wYtQXYBLZ1z4...

Language Teacher Well Being Project (May - June 2025)

You have received this link because you are a language teacher (e.g., ESL/EFL or World Languages). You are being invited to take part in a research project about your psychological and social experien...

forms.gle

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · May 11

Sharing a call for papers for a hybrid conference that I am excited to be speaking at. Rethinking Languages and Literacies Education will be held in a hybrid mode at Niagara College and online on October 24-25, 2025. Registration will be free for all. www.oise.utoronto.ca/cerll/sympos...

Symposium 2025 | Centre for Educational Research on Languages and Literacies | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Sixth Symposium of Southern Ontario Universities on “Reimagining Languages and Literacies in Education”

www.oise.utoronto.ca

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Apr 25

My friend, Leanne, and I are raising money for Cancer Research UK in memory of our beloved Netti and to honour all those who have faced or are currently facing cancer. Thanks for any support you may wish to make via our JustGiving page. www.justgiving.com/page/sarah-m...

Sarah's and Leanne's fundraiser for Cancer Research UK

Help Sarah Mercer raise money to support Cancer Research UK

www.justgiving.com

Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Apr 23

Wanted to share an open access article intended to offer inspiration for research into language teacher wellbeing. Thank you to Carlos Murillo-Miranda for being such a brilliant writing partner and to Graeme Porte for the excellent support throughout.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Research agenda on well-being and language education | Language Teaching | Cambridge Core

Research agenda on well-being and language education

www.cambridge.org

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Apr 8

That is wonderful news!!! Am delighted to hear that!! Juhu!! (Austrian cheering noise!)

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Mar 28

And you were sensationally good. So honoured and delighted to work alongside you. Thank you for your strength, academic brilliance, and kindness! Go Team Graz! x

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Mar 19

Happy to share the link to the open access JPLL special issue on language teacher motivation that I had the privilege of editing with the wonderful Dávid Smid. Team Graz has an article on LTE wellbeing. We hope it may inspire more work on teacher psychology! www.jpll.org/index.php/jo...

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2025): Special Issue: Local Perspectives on Language Teacher Motivation and Engagement | The Journal for the Psychology of Language Learning

www.jpll.org

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Mar 12

Finally...! Antonia and Tammy are sensational partners to work with and the brilliance of this book is totally down to their amazing creativity. We hope teachers may find some inspiration here. Thanks also to Anne and Jill, series editors, for their great support. www.routledge.com/Positive-Lan...

Positive Language Education: Teaching Global Life Skills in the Language Classroom

This innovative book integrates theory and practice in the teaching of contemporary life skills alongside and as part of language teaching that looks at the 'whole student'. Introducing their Positive...

www.routledge.com

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Mar 8

It's international women's day. Does anybody know how in practical terms, I (and I imagine other women) can help and support these women in getting education? www.bbc.com/news/article...

Afghan women students in Oman face expulsion after Trump's USAID freeze

US aid funding enabled thousands of Afghan women to study abroad or online, but many of these programmes are now suspended.

www.bbc.com

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Mar 7

What a joy it was to talk with Matt! He asked me to address learners directly which is an unusual way for me to talk about my work but I loved it. Let's hope some learners may find some motivation and courage from this to keep on learning a language!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR7v...

Professor Reveals Language Learners' BIGGEST mistake (backed by research)

YouTube video by Matt Brooks-Green

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Sarah Mercer

Multilingual Matters @multi-ling-mat.bsky.social · Mar 7

Come and see us at IATEFL in Edinburgh in April!

Rosie will be there with plenty of exciting new titles for you to browse, as well as expert advice on publishing your book with us and a special discount code for delegates!

#iatefl2025

We're exhibiting 8-11 April Pre-Conference Events 7 April
www.iateflconference.org
iatefl Edinburgh 2025
Image shows three conference delegates having a conversation

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Mar 4

So looking forward to this conference. The call for papers is still open for those interested - it will be in person and online on 2-3 May. Hope to maybe see some of you in Uzbekistan! Website is being updated ongoing. fltal.org

FLTAL

fltal.org

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Reposted by Sarah Mercer, Wolfgang Palaver

Richard Branson @richardbranson.bsky.social · Feb 28

Whenever you welcome guests, treat them with kindness, grace and respect. Simple as that.

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Feb 28

We teach our students how important it is to develop compassion and moral courage in order to stand up to bullies and support those being bullied.

Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Feb 25

Grew up in Salford and went to school in Bolton and parents from Bolton... so insider track!!

Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Feb 25

I was such a fan as a kid, I got his autograph and still have it!! Probably gives away my age...! And heritage...!

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Feb 21

Thank you for coming along - was great to see you!

Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Feb 12

So proud to be part of this amazing series with such fabulous books and edited collections by great authors. Yet, we continue to grow even more and we are always on the look out for original ideas... always happy to chat if you have something worth exploring with us!

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Feb 1

Compassion-based language education rests on the three C framework: it is driven by the value of Compassion and accompanied by Criticality and Courage. I feel I need this in my mind for my daily actions more than ever before. And, yes, it is effortful.

Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Jan 24

Yes, and it is my favourite conference on the circuit but a bit of a disclosure... I started the conference series with PLL1 in Graz and I am currently President of the IAPLL association which is linked with (although does not organise) the conference so maybe a tad biased! The community is amazing!

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Jan 23

How exciting! Please note the very early submission date for papers - THIS year in April! Please share and looking forward to being with the IAPLL community in person again!

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Jan 8

Indeed... it is surprising so little attention has been paid to it but we hope this will inspire others to pick up the thread. There is much yet to learn about this and how it works in diverse social settings and groups. I find it a fascinating area with much promise for future work!

Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Jan 7

Yes, one of the variables we have linked it with!! Hope you are well... awesome to be able to call on you Dr Simpson!! x

Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Jan 7

An emotion that could play a huge role in language education but which has been almost entirely overlooked is embarrassment. Thanks to the sensational Hassan Khajavy for leading our first study into this exciting topic. Open access! www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Embarrassment in English language classrooms | Studies in Second Language Acquisition | Cambridge Core

Embarrassment in English language classrooms

www.cambridge.org

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Dec 17

Calling all doctoral students who are members of IAPLL! Next December, we will host the first doctoral school (winter version) in Graz! We would love to have you join us. Please share among your networks. Thanks. www.iapll.com/IAPLL-Doctor...

IAPLL - IAPLL Doctoral School 2025

www.iapll.com

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Reposted by Peter D. MacIntyre, Sarah Mercer

The Journal for the Psychology of Language Learning @jpsyll.bsky.social · Dec 16

All our articles are free, open-access and peer-reviewed.
www.jpll.org/index.php/jo...

The Journal for the Psychology of Language Learning

www.jpll.org

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Sarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · Dec 15

Education is an act of hope. We never know where the ripples of our influence end. But we act in good faith and optimism that what we do makes a positive difference - even if to just one person. We simply may not see where and when the seeds we sow bear fruit. What you do matters. Keep the faith.

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Reposted by Sarah Mercer, Adrian Vickers, Tuomo Hiippala , and 1 more Sarah Mercer, Adrian Vickers, Tuomo Hiippala, Heike Baldauf-Quilliatre

Philipp Krämer @phkraemer.bsky.social · Dec 13

Universities all over Europe are cutting language programs and closing the doors to the world. We want to get a more complete picture: where, when, why?
If you know of any such cases, please tell us (and share the link with your language and linguistics contacts)!
elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/13...

Door of a subway seen from the inside closing automatically with a flashing red light

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