
Tanya Linaker
Senior Lecturer in Russian Language Education
Biography
Tanya Linaker joined King’s College London Language Centre in 2002. She has an MA in Russian Studies from University College London (2004), an MA in Applied Linguistics from Birkbeck University (2017) and is completing her doctorate in Education at Reading University (2022-). She speaks Russian, German and English and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Tanya Linaker is also Team Leader for Slavic and Middle Eastern Languages (2023-27), Departmental Education Lead (2024-27)and Programme Director for Short Courses (2025-2027).
As a Department Education Lead, Tanya is responsible for the educational policy of the department in line with King's College educational strategy. As a Programme Director for the Short Courses, she has the overall responsibility for the pedagogical and administrative leadership of the Programme. As the Team Leader for Slavic and Middle Eastern Languages, she coordinates the teaching of these languages on all programmes.
Research, Scholarly projects and Academic Awards
King's College London: Widening Participation in Foreign Language Teaching (2010)
Reducing Attainment Gap (2020)
Decolonising Foreign Language Teaching Curriculum (2023)
Decolonising Less Commonly Taught Languages Curriculum (2024)
Academic Publications:
Linaker, T. (2005) A Witch, a Bitch, or a Goddess? Female Voices Transcending Gender As Heard and Recorded by Chekhov, Mansfield, and Nabokov. Slovo 17(2), 165-178.2.
Linaker, T. (2019). Language Teacher/Translator Gendered Identity Construction: From Dilemmatic to Agentive—Big Lives Through Small Stories. In (pp. 45-68). Springer International Publishing AG. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27709-3_33.
Linaker, T. (2023a). Identity construction in the UK higher education: How cultural gendered identity is shaped through leadership practice. Training, Language and Culture, 7(1), 70-85.4.
Linaker, T. (2023b). From professional support to academic pathway – negotiating professional identity in a time of organisational change (case study of two middle managers at a UK university language centre). Issues of Applied Linguistics. 104-132. 10.25076/vpl.52.05.
Richardson, C., Jones, J., & Linaker, T. (2024). Decolonising Language Teaching: More Than a Box-ticking Exercise. In The BERA Guide to Decolonising the Curriculum: Equity and Inclusion in Educational Research and Practice (pp. 131-139). Emerald Publishing Limited.
Research

Decolonising Language Teaching
Engaging staff and students in active research, training and reflective practice that deconstructs the content and pedagogy of teaching languages and culture.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Decolonising Language Teaching: project latest
The latest news from the Decolonising Language Teaching project.
Events

Educators' Workshop Three: Making Assessment Fit For Purpose
We will explore different aspects of what role assessment plays in language learning, as well as focusing on practical questions about designing assessment.
Please note: this event has passed.

Two ‘Rude and Barbarous Kingdoms’:
King's College, London, K 4U.04 Pyramid Room King's Building Strand Campus, London WC2R 2LS and Microsoft Teams
Please note: this event has passed.

Russian Language Clinic – Preparation for Exams
This workshop is for Stage 1 and Stage 2 students, who will work together and learn from each other.
Please note: this event has passed.

'A Seditious and Sinister Tribe’: The Crimean Tatars and Their Khanate - Professor Donald Rayfield
King’s Language Centre and Great Britain-Russia Society invite King’s staff and students to a series of talks on History culture & Politics.
Please note: this event has passed.

The First Cold War – Barbara Emerson
Language Resource Center K-1.072 King's Building, Strand Campus, Strand, London WC2R 2LS and Microsoft Teams.
Please note: this event has passed.

Slavic Voices Choir
King’s Language Centre and Great Britain Russia Society is inviting you to a concert by the Slavic Voices Choir
Please note: this event has passed.

Natasha Dissanayake: Russian Emigrés in London
Russian Lives in London Through the Centuries – Natasha Dissanayake 7.00 pm, Thursday, 23rd May 2024 - Room K-1.072, King’s Building, Strand Campus, Strand,...
Please note: this event has passed.

Russian Film screening Keep My Words Forever («Сохрани мою речь навсегда»)
In Memory of Osip Mandelstam – film (in Russian, with English subtitles) directed by Roma Liberov (Room S-1.06 Strand)
Please note: this event has passed.

Jeff Hawn – Russia’s Constitutional Crisis of 1993
King’s Language Centre and Great Britain-Russia Society invite King’s staff and students to a series of talks on History culture & Politics.
Please note: this event has passed.

Decolonisation & Othering
Online seminar: Part 1: Zeynep Demir: Othering & Part 2: Dr. Jane Jones: Decolonisation the Curriculum
Please note: this event has passed.
Research

Decolonising Language Teaching
Engaging staff and students in active research, training and reflective practice that deconstructs the content and pedagogy of teaching languages and culture.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Decolonising Language Teaching: project latest
The latest news from the Decolonising Language Teaching project.
Events

Educators' Workshop Three: Making Assessment Fit For Purpose
We will explore different aspects of what role assessment plays in language learning, as well as focusing on practical questions about designing assessment.
Please note: this event has passed.

Two ‘Rude and Barbarous Kingdoms’:
King's College, London, K 4U.04 Pyramid Room King's Building Strand Campus, London WC2R 2LS and Microsoft Teams
Please note: this event has passed.

Russian Language Clinic – Preparation for Exams
This workshop is for Stage 1 and Stage 2 students, who will work together and learn from each other.
Please note: this event has passed.

'A Seditious and Sinister Tribe’: The Crimean Tatars and Their Khanate - Professor Donald Rayfield
King’s Language Centre and Great Britain-Russia Society invite King’s staff and students to a series of talks on History culture & Politics.
Please note: this event has passed.

The First Cold War – Barbara Emerson
Language Resource Center K-1.072 King's Building, Strand Campus, Strand, London WC2R 2LS and Microsoft Teams.
Please note: this event has passed.

Slavic Voices Choir
King’s Language Centre and Great Britain Russia Society is inviting you to a concert by the Slavic Voices Choir
Please note: this event has passed.

Natasha Dissanayake: Russian Emigrés in London
Russian Lives in London Through the Centuries – Natasha Dissanayake 7.00 pm, Thursday, 23rd May 2024 - Room K-1.072, King’s Building, Strand Campus, Strand,...
Please note: this event has passed.

Russian Film screening Keep My Words Forever («Сохрани мою речь навсегда»)
In Memory of Osip Mandelstam – film (in Russian, with English subtitles) directed by Roma Liberov (Room S-1.06 Strand)
Please note: this event has passed.

Jeff Hawn – Russia’s Constitutional Crisis of 1993
King’s Language Centre and Great Britain-Russia Society invite King’s staff and students to a series of talks on History culture & Politics.
Please note: this event has passed.

Decolonisation & Othering
Online seminar: Part 1: Zeynep Demir: Othering & Part 2: Dr. Jane Jones: Decolonisation the Curriculum
Please note: this event has passed.