Dr. ŞükrüNural
Applied linguist researching vocabulary pedagogy, English-medium instruction, and language teacher cognition.
- 20+
- Years teaching
- 19+
- Publications & talks
- Oxford
- Post-doctoral fellow
A scholar of applied linguistics
Dr. Şükrü Nural is an Assistant Professor at MEF University's Faculty of Education, where he teaches applied linguistics, language acquisition, and the pedagogy of reading, writing, listening and speaking in a second language. He holds a PhD in TESOL & Applied Linguistics from the University of Leicester and an MA in TESOL Studies from the University of Leeds.
His research centres on vocabulary pedagogy, English-medium instruction (EMI), and language teacher cognition. He has held a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Oxford's Centre for Research in EMI, and his work has appeared in the International Journal of Lexicography and the Rassegna Italiana di Linguistica Applicata, among others.
He is the founding director of the MEF University English Language Olympics (MEFELO) and a member of AERA, AAAL, and BAAL.
Research Areas
Language Teacher Cognition
How teachers think, know and believe about language teaching.
Teacher & Student Beliefs
Belief systems that shape classroom practice and learning.
Teachers' Professional Development
Reflective, sustained growth for language educators.
Classroom Discourse
Interaction, talk, and meaning-making in language classrooms.
Second Language Vocabulary Teaching
Evidence-based approaches to L2 lexis pedagogy.
Academic Vocabulary
Discipline-specific lexis in EAP and EMI contexts.
Dictionaries
Learner lexicography, dictionary use, and design.
Professional Positions
Complete academic record, publications, and professional history.
Assistant Professor of EAP & TESOL
Teaches second-language reading/writing, listening/speaking, oral communication, vocabulary, applied linguistics, language acquisition, and introduction to linguistics, with a 12–15 hour teaching load each term. Leads syllabus design and curriculum development in the School of Education. Former Head of the Department of English Language Education (2018–2021). Founding director of the MEF University English Language Olympics (MEFELO), 2019–2026.
Academic Skills Tutor
Academic English support in translation, proofreading, qualitative research methods, study abroad, language teacher cognition, and vocabulary for international students and in-service/pre-service language teachers in the UK and Turkey.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Worked with Prof. Ernesto Macaro, Director of the Centre for Research in EMI, exploring the academic and specialised vocabulary learning of undergraduates in the Departments of International Relations and Business Administration.
English Teacher
Taught English part-time (6 hours per week) at K–12 level as part of the university's "University-within-School" partnership model.
EAP / EFL Instructor
Taught EAP and general English (15 hours per week) across the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Law. Conducted research into teacher professional development and teacher language awareness.
EAP Instructor
Taught EAP (15 hours per week) for the School of Law, Business Administration, Economics, International Relations & Politics, and Media & Communication.
EAP Instructor & Researcher
Taught the Freshman English course "Professional Communication Skills" (10 hours per week) and observed EAP teachers using the in-house coursebook series Beyond the Boundaries and English in an Academic Environment.
EAP Lecturer
Pre-sessional EAP tutor at the Centre for English Language Learning (CELL), preparing international postgraduate students for IELTS and giving feedback on academic essays. Delivered bespoke courses, including the Agusta Westland – RAF training programme for around 200 helicopter pilots and technicians, mainly from Algeria.
EAP Lecturer
Taught academic listening, short story, and advanced academic writing at undergraduate level in the Department of English Language and Literature.
English Language Instructor
Education
PhD, TESOL & Applied Linguistics
Thesis: EAP teachers' cognitions about lexis teaching in two private universities.
MA, TESOL Studies
Thesis: The Use of Short Stories to Promote Language Skills in ELT.
BA, English Language & Literature
ELT Certificate
Publications
- 2026
Gezer, G., & Nural, S. (2026). On the semantic network of prepositions: The prototypical meanings and extended senses of by and over. International Journal of Language Academy, 14(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.29228/ijla.89372
- 2022
Nural, S., Nesi, H., & Cakar, T. (2022). Warning notes in a learners' dictionary: A study of the effectiveness of different formats. International Journal of Lexicography, 35(4), 449–467. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecab033
- 2018
Nural, S. (2018). Vocabulary in an English medium instruction context: Selection and difficulty. Rassegna Italiana di Linguistica Applicata (Italian Journal of Applied Linguistics), 2-3, 161–185. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7312632
- 2014
Nural, S. (2014). Teaching synforms (similar lexical forms) in an EAP context. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 4(9), 1753–1762. https://doi.org/10.4304/tpls.4.9.1753-1762
- 2014
Nural, S. (2014). EAP teachers' cognitions and practices in teaching lexis in two Turkish private universities: An exploratory qualitative study. Lambert Academic Publishing.
Seminars & Conferences
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AAAL '26, Chicago — Adapting News Texts for EFL/ESL: A Comparative NLP Analysis of ELT Professional vs. GenAI Versions (2026).- AERA '25, Denver — Is University Too Late to Learn Academic English? A Longitudinal Quantitative Study at a Private English-Medium University in Turkey, with U. Koc & J. Compton (2025).
- AERA '24, Philadelphia — Undergraduate Students' Perceptions of the Role of Flipped Learning in Addressing Challenges at English-Medium Programs (2024).
TESOL Spain, Madrid — Tensions in Second Language Vocabulary Pedagogy from the Teachers' Perspective (2023).- International Conference on Language Teacher Psychology, Mersin — Tensions Between Vocabulary Teaching Beliefs and Classroom Practices: A Teacher Cognition Perspective (2022).
- AAAL 2022, Pittsburgh — The Supportive Role of Flipped Learning (FL) in English-Medium-Instruction (EMI) Programmes: Students' Perspective (2022).
- AAAL 2021 Virtual Conference — Warning Notes in a Learners' Dictionary: A Study of the Effectiveness of Different Formats (2021).
- 6th Annual International HE Flipped Learning Conference, Virtual — Students' Views on Challenges and Contributions of Flipped Learning in an English-Taught University, with D. Yuksel (2021).
- AAAL 2021 Virtual Conference — Student Teachers' Perceptions and Beliefs About Participating in an Online Practicum During the COVID-19 Pandemic, with J. Bush (2021).
- AAAL 2019, Atlanta — Pre-Service English Language Teachers' Learning Experiences and Perceptions During Their First Practicum, with A. T. Tolu (2019).
- MITESOL '18, Eastern Michigan University — Exploring English Teachers' Beliefs About Vocabulary Pedagogy in Preparatory Year Programmes (2018).
- 6th International Conference on New Trends in ELT and Testing, Istanbul — EAP Teachers' Cognitions and Practices in Teaching Lexis in Two Turkish Private Universities: An Exploratory Qualitative Study (2018).
- Towards Higher Education Conference, Boğaziçi University — EAP Teachers' Cognitions and Practices in Teaching Lexis in Two Turkish Private Universities (2017).
- University of Oxford, Department of Education Seminar Series — Teacher Beliefs About Lexis Teaching: Case Studies (2016).
Workshops
- TED Talk-style public speaking workshop for first-year ELT students (2019).
- Moderated the Academic Vocabulary Contest for incoming freshers (2018).
- The Distinctive Characteristics of Language Teachers, DIA Academy (2017).
- Complexity and Holistic Approaches Workshop, with Dr. Simon Gieve — School of Education Study School, University of Leicester (2012).
Open to research collaboration & speaking invitations.
For research collaborations, invited talks, and academic enquiries, please reach out via email or through any of the channels below.
MEF University, Faculty of Education
Maslak Ayazağa Cad. No: 4, 34396 Sarıyer — Istanbul