Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Ruth Fielding is Associate Professor of Languages and TESOL education at Monash University and researches multilingualism, language education and identity. In 2023 Ruth founded the Monash branch of Bilingualism Matters within the Faculty of Education Bilingualism Matters @Monash Education . Ruth began her career as a secondary school teacher of French and German, before undertaking a PhD which focussed upon multilingualism and identity negotiation. Ruth worked as a Senior Lecturer in the French program at UTS (2017- 2018) and as Assistant Professor of TESOL and Foreign Language Teaching at the University of Canberra (2014 – 2017) where she was the Program Coordinator for the TESOL and FLT program. Prior to that Ruth worked for eight and a half years (2006 - 2014) as a Lecturer in Languages Curriculum at the University of Sydney in the Faculty of Education and Social Work. Ruth’s research and professional work centres around a program of research which explores bilingual/multilingual identity, language teacher education, pedagogy and assessment in language learning and teaching, and intercultural approaches in languages education. Ruth's research program seeks to transform teaching and learning through shifting approaches to languages. She works with teachers to understand how identity and intercultural understanding are interwoven in language education. She is part of an inter-disciplinary team exploring Teacher Capabilities in Conditions of Superdiversity - a funded ARC Discovery project (2021 to 2025). Her research has appeared in the International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, Foreign Language Annals, Language Learning Journal,Language and Education, Babel and in a number of edited volumes. Ruth’s book Multilingualism in the Australian Suburbs is available as an e-book and as a hardback book from Springer. She has also published a book on the intersection of multilingualism, identity and interculturality in education for Springer in 2022 , and co-edited a book on teacher education for content and language integration in bilingual settings for Multilingual Matters in 2024.
Research interests
Multilingualism
Identity
Languages Education
Bilingual modes of education (CLIL, immersion)
Intercultural stance in languages education
Supervision interests
Languages and TESOL education
Student and teacher identity
Multilingualism in education
Multilingualism in society
Monash teaching commitment
2019-2025
- EDF5155 - Languages Education in the Secondary Years A
- EDF5156 - Languages Education in the Secondary Years B
- EDF5157 - Languages education A
- EDF5158 - Languages education B
- EDF5631 - Bi/Multilingual Education
Consulting
Ruth has consulted for a range of educational organisations and schools including:
Modern Language Teachers' Association Victoria (MLTAV)
Association of Independent Schools NSW (AIS NSW)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Department of Education NSW
Embassy of France in Canberra
AITSL - developing Illustrations of Practice for Languages
NSW Board of Studies (now NESA)
Community service
I am a Theme Leader of CLIL for RiPL (Research in Primary Languages) Network (UK).
Community service
Leader of the Monash branch of Bilingualism Matters
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Higher Education, Graduate Certificate, University of Sydney
Award Date: 1 Apr 2011
PhD, University of Sydney
Award Date: 1 Apr 2010
Research area keywords
- Languages, literatures and literacies
- Educating for Diversity and Inclusion
- Transforming Teaching and Learning
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Teacher capabilities in conditions of superdiversity
Kostogriz, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Wilkinson, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sharma, U. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fielding, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bright, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Gamble, N. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/08/20 → 31/07/26
Project: Research
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Developing a Multilingual Identity Approach to Intercultural Understanding
Fielding, R. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Project: Research
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How can we better support the behavioural and academic needs of our refugee background students?
Rojas Quimbay, M. D. P. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Fielding, R. (Supervisor), Forbes-Mewett, H. (Supervisor) & Wilkinson, J. (Supervisor)
1/11/20 → 30/11/23
Project: Research
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Understanding the short and long term educational and wellbeing impacts of COVID-19 on youth, adults and families
Grove, C. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Laletas, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Subban, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Round, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fielding, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Leif, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Patlamazoglou, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sharma, U. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Alfrey, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Rosenbluh, I. (Chief Investigator (CI))
15/05/20 → 15/05/21
Project: Research
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Professional Learning program in TESOL for primary teachers from Zhejiang Province, People’s (China) at Monash University (Clayton)
Bonar, G. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Bao, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Triolo, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fielding, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Wang, M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
4/11/19 → 22/11/19
Project: Consultancy
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Continuity of language learning from primary to secondary: secondary school language learners’ investment and identity development in language learning
Harbon, L. & Fielding, R., 2025, In: Journal of Language, Identity & Education. 24, 2, p. 252-266 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Productive tensions in language teacher education: how educator self-study can inform the research-practice nexus
Bonar, G., Fielding, R. & Wang, M., Jul 2025, In: System. 131, 10 p., 103691.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Toward a synergistic framework of investment and motivation: bridging imagined identities and English learning of Chinese university students
Fan, H., Chowdhury, R. & Fielding, R., Feb 2025, In: International Journal of Applied Linguistics. 35, 1, p. 457-471 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Exploring pre-service language teacher identity negotiation using Q methodology
Bonar, G. J., Fielding, R. & Wang, M., 2024, Advancing Language Research Through Q Methodology. Fraschini, N., Lundberg, A. & Aliani, R. (eds.). 1st ed. Bristol UK: Multilingual Matters, p. 25-43 19 p. (Psychology of Language Learning and Teaching).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Introduction: a proposal for change in content and language integrated teacher education
Ballinger, S., Tedick, D. J. & Fielding, R., 2024, Teacher Development for Content-Based Language Education: International Perspectives. Ballinger, S., Fielding, R. & Tedick, D. J. (eds.). 1st ed. Bristol UK: Multilingual Matters, p. 1-17 17 p. (Bilingual Education & Bilingualism; vol. 146).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus)
Prizes
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ALAA (Applied Linguistics Association of Australia) Travel Scholarship
Fielding, R. (Recipient), 2007
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Faculty of Education and Social Work Excellence in Teaching Award
Fielding, R. (Recipient), 2011
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Michael Clyne Prize for the best research thesis in the area of bilingualism and language contact
Fielding, R. (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Trevor Miller Memorial Fund Scholarship
Fielding, R. (Recipient), 2008
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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University Postgraduate Award (UPA)
Fielding, R. (Recipient), 2008
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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International Symposium on Bilingualism
Fielding, R. (Speaker), Bonar, G. (Speaker) & Galante, A. (Speaker)
26 Jun 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Multilingualism on My Mind (MoMM) Conference 2021
Fielding, R. (Keynote/plenary speaker)
19 Mar 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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37th Annual Q Conference, Nantes, France
Bonar, G. (Speaker), Fielding, R. (Speaker) & Wang, M. (Speaker)
16 Sept 2021 → 17 Sept 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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AFMLTA International Languages Conference
Bonar, G. (Speaker), Fielding, R. (Speaker) & Wang, M. (Speaker)
5 Jul 2021 → 6 Jul 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Modern Language Teachers' Association of Victoria (MLTAV) Online Conference 2020
Fielding, R. (Invited speaker)
2020Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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How to talk to kids about COVID-19
Grove, C., Laletas, S., Fielding, R., Leif, E. & Patlamazoglou, L.
31/08/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Let’s talk to kids about the second COVID-19 wave and new restrictions
Grove, C., Laletas, S., Fielding, R., Leif, E. & Patlamazoglou, L.
7/08/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Aboriginal Languages Gaining popularity in schools
31/07/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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CLIL in Australia – student success in language learning, English literacy and content outcomes
Fielding, R. & Harbon, L.
30/06/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Blogs