Dr. ŞükrüNural
Applied linguist researching vocabulary pedagogy, English-medium instruction, and language teacher cognition.
- 20+
- Years teaching
- 15+
- 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 applied linguistics, language acquisition, and reading/writing pedagogy. Former Head of the Department of English Language Education (2018–2021). Founding director of MEF University English Language Olympics (MEFELO).
Academic Skills Tutor & Consultant
Academic English support in translation, proofreading, qualitative research methods, and vocabulary for international students and language teachers.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Worked with Prof. Ernesto Macaro exploring academic and specialised vocabulary learning of undergraduates in International Relations and Business Administration.
EAP / EFL Instructor
Taught EAP and general English across the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Law.
EAP Instructor
EAP teaching for Law, Business, Economics, International Relations and Media & Communication.
EAP Lecturer
Pre-sessional EAP tutor at the Centre for English Language Learning; delivered bespoke courses including the Agusta Westland – RAF pilot training programme.
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. On the Semantic Network of Prepositions: the prototypical meanings and extended senses of by and over. International Journal of Language Academy, 14(1).
doi.org/10.29228/ijla.89372 - 2022
Nural, S., Nesi, H. & Cakar, T. Warning notes in a learners' dictionary: a study of the effectiveness of different formats. International Journal of Lexicography, 35(4), 449–467.
doi.org/10.1093/ijl/ecab033 - 2018
Nural, S. Vocabulary in an English Medium Instruction context: selection and difficulty. Rassegna Italiana di Linguistica Applicata, 2-3, 161–185.
doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7312632 - 2014
Nural, S. Teaching Synforms (similar lexical forms) in an EAP context. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 4(9), 1753–1762.
doi.org/10.4304/tpls.4.9.1753-1762 - 2014
Nural, S. EAP teachers' cognitions and practices in teaching lexis in two Turkish private universities. Saarbrucken: Lambert.
Seminars & Conferences
- 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 study at an English-medium university in Turkey (2025).
- AERA '24, Philadelphia — Undergraduate Students' Perceptions of Flipped Learning in EMI Programs (2024).
- TESOL Spain, Madrid — Tensions in second language vocabulary pedagogy (2023).
- AAAL 2022, Pittsburgh — The supportive role of flipped learning in EMI programmes.
- University of Oxford Department of Education seminar — Teacher beliefs about lexis teaching (2016).
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