Staff Profile

• Professor of Languages and Intercultural Studies (Creativity Culture and Faith)

My research interests focus on languages and intercultural studies, with a particular critical concern for the different ways in which people learn to live and communicate together by stepping outside comfortable or familiar contexts. My work is interdisciplinary and draws on the resources of social and cultural anthropology, theatre and cultural studies, theology, law, modern languages and education. My Ph.D. research and ethnographic training focused on open air community theatre in Germany. I have continued ethnographic work among tourists, modern language students, adult learners of tourist languages, in conflict zones and among sanctuary and asylum seekers, refugees and befrienders. At present I am developing research on languages and intercultural advocacy with asylum seekers and refugees; and through intercultural workshops on education for peace and non-violence with a growing focus on constructions of faith and on the contribution of theological perspectives. I am a published poet and bring poetic approaches to bear on much of my work.

I was voted 'Best College Teacher' by students and awarded the Student representative Council's first Prize for Excellent Teaching in 2011. In the same year I was given a 'Teaching Excellence Award' for a career distinguished by a commitment to significant and sustained excellence at the University of Glasgow. In 2012 I was awarded an OBE for services to Education, and Intercultural and Interreligious Relations in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Click here for a full biography

Together with Rebecca Kay I co-convene the Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network, a knowledge exchange research network based at the University of Glasgow.

Research interests

Languages, Intercultural Education, Tourism Studies, European Anthropology, Social and Cultural Theory, Theology, Higher Education Studies, Community Theatre, Critical Pedagogy, Cultural Studies, Humanities Education, Sanctuary, Asylum and Refugee Studies, Conflict Transformation.

I welcome applications from potential research students in all of these areas.

Selected Publications: 

Article

Phipps, A. (2013) Intercultural ethics: questions of methods in language and intercultural communication. Language and Intercultural Communication, 13 (1). pp. 10-26. ISSN 1470-8477 (doi:10.1080/14708477.2012.748787)

Gilfillan, P., Aitken, E., and Phipps, A. (2013) A research report on the reception of the 2005 Religious Observance Guidelines in Scotland. British Journal of Religious Education, 35 (1). pp. 98-109. ISSN 0141-6200 (doi:10.1080/01416200.2012.704870)

Phipps, A. (2012) And finally. Expository Times, 123 (6). p. 312. ISSN 1745-5308 (doi:10.1177/0014524611431771)

Phipps, A. (2012) Voicing solidarity: linguistic hospitality and poststructuralism in the real world. Applied Linguistics, 33 (5). pp. 582-602. ISSN 0142-6001 (doi:10.1093/applin/ams054)

Phipps, A. (2011) 30th October: Proper 26 - Joshua 3:7-17, Walking and Water. Expository Times, 122 (12). pp. 603-604. ISSN 1745-5308 (doi:10.1177/00145246111220120405)

Phipps, A. (2011) And finally... On money. Expository Times, 122 (12). p. 624. ISSN 1745-5308 (doi:10.1177/0014524611415606)

Phipps, A. (2011) Travelling languages? Land, languaging and translation. Language and Intercultural Communication, 11 (4). pp. 364-376. ISSN 1470-8477 (doi:10.1080/14708477.2011.611249)

Phipps, A (2010) Drawing breath: creative elements and their exile from higher education. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 9 (1). pp. 42-53. ISSN 1474-0222 (doi:10.1177/1474022209350103)

Phipps, A. (2010) 3rd October: Proper 22 Lamentations 1:1-6: The Lord Brings Grief. Expository Times, 121 (12). pp. 610-619. ISSN 1745-5308 (doi:10.1177/0014524610376728 )

Phipps, A. (2010) 7th February: 5th after Epiphany: Isaiah 6:1-8. Expository Times, 121 (4). pp. 187-188. ISSN 1745-5308 (doi:10.1177/0014524609354744)

Phipps, A., and Saunders, L. (2009) The sound of violets: the ethnographic potency of poetry? Ethnography and Education, 4 (3). pp. 357-387. ISSN 1745-7823 (doi:10.1080/17457820903170168)

Phipps, A (2009) 19th July: Proper 11: David's Big Ideas. Expository Times, 120 (9). pp. 447-449. ISSN 1745-5308 (doi:10.1177/0014524609105737)

Phipps, A (2009) 30th August: Proper 17: Song of Songs 2:8-13. Expository Times, 120 (10). pp. 502-503. ISSN 1745-5308 (doi:10.1177/0014524609106588)

Phipps, A (2009) Violence and Exploitation in the Humanities? Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 8 (2). pp. 5-7. (doi:10.1177/1474022208098453;Editorial)

Phipps, A, and Robinson, M (2009) Are we there yet? Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 7 (1). pp. 1-4. (doi:10.1080/14766820902872197;Editorial)

Phipps, A. (2009) 6th December: 2nd Advent: Fire and Soap (Malachi 3:1—20). Expository Times, 121 (2). pp. 76-78. ISSN 0014-5246 (doi:10.1177/0014524609347026 )

Phipps, A. (2009) Impact: More Violence and Exploitation for the Arts and the Humanities. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 8 (3). pp. 227-229. ISSN 1474-0222 (doi:10.1177/1474022209347811 )

St Clair, R., and Phipps, A. (2008) Ludic literacies at the intersections of cultures: an interview with James Paul Gee. Language and Intercultural Communication, 8 (2). pp. 91-100. ISSN 1470-8477 (doi:10.1080/14708470802270950)

Phipps, A (2008) 14th September: Proper 19: Exodus 14:19-31. Expository Times, 119 (11). pp. 547-549. ISSN 1745-5308 (doi:10.1177/0014524608094145)

Phipps, A (2008) 15th June: Proper 6: Matthew 9:35 -- 10:8. Expository Times, 119 (8). pp. 394-396. ISSN 1745-5308 (doi:10.1177/0014524608091193)

Phipps, A (2008) 30th March: 2nd Sunday of Easter: John 20:19 Where was Thomas? Expository Times, 119 (5). pp. 240-242. ISSN 1745-5308 (doi:10.1177/0014524608088851)

Phipps, A (2008) Prayers for September. Expository Times, 119 (11). pp. 557-559. ISSN 1745-5308 (doi:10.1177/0014524608094149)

St Clair, R, and Phipps, A (2008) Intercultural Literacies. Language and Intercultural Communication, 8 (2). pp. 69-71. (doi:10.1080/14708470802270786;Editorial)

Phipps, A., and Barnett, R. (2007) Academic hospitality. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 6 (3). pp. 237-254. ISSN 1474-0222 (doi:10.1177/1474022207080829)

Phipps, A.M. (2007) The sound of higher education: sensuous epistemologies and the mess of knowing. London Review of Education, 5 (1). pp. 1-13. ISSN 1474-8460 (doi:10.1080/14748460601045671)

Phipps, A. (2007) Other worlds are possible: an interview with Boaventura de Sousa Santos. Language and Intercultural Communication, 7 (1). pp. 91-101. ISSN 1470-8477 (doi:10.2167/laic262.0)

Phipps, A. (2007) Translation spells: from Shakespeare's page to the tourist stage. Forum for Modern Language Studies, 43 (4). pp. 455-468. ISSN 0015-8518 (doi:10.1093/fmls/cqm058)

Soule, D.P.J., Whiteley, L., and Phipps, A. (2007) Views from the bridge: publishing as a voyage of discovery. SOJEL, 1 (1). pp. 33-42.

Barnett, R., and Phipps, A. (2005) Academic travel: modes and directions. Review of Education, Pedagogy and Cultural Studies, 27 (1). pp. 3-16. ISSN 1071-4413 (doi:10.1080/10714410590917461)

Jack, G., and Phipps, A. (2003) On the uses of travel guides in the context of German tourism to Scotland. Tourist Studies, 3 (3). pp. 281-300. ISSN 1468-7976 (doi:10.1177/1468797603049660)

Robinson, M., and Phipps, A. (2003) Worlds passing by: journeys of culture and cultural journeys. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 1 (1). pp. 1-10. ISSN 1476-6825 (doi:10.1080/14766820308668156)

Phipps, A. (2003) Languages, identities, agencies: intercultural lessons from Harry Potter. Language and Intercultural Communication, 3 (1). pp. 6-19. ISSN 1470-8477 (doi:10.1080/14708470308668086)

Mumford, M., and Phipps, A. (2002) Translating the strange, performing the peculiar: Marieluise Fleier's Fegefeuer/Purgatory in Ingolstadt. Studies in Theatre and Performance, 22 (2). pp. 69-81. ISSN 1468-2761 (doi:10.1386/stap.22.2.69)

Phipps, A. (1999) Mörike's die schöne Lau: Ein Beitrag zur xenologischen Literaturforschung aus britischer Sicht. Jahrbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache, 25 . pp. 1-15.

Phipps, A. (1999) Risking everything: political theatre for mass audiences in rural Germany. New Theatre Quarterly, 15 (2). pp. 109-122. ISSN 0266-464X (doi:10.1017/S0266464X0001280X)

Phipps, A. (1999) The mice have eaten the lipstick: attitudes to nature in Naturtheater. Ecotheology (7). pp. 98-107.

Phipps, A. (1997) Women in the texts and contexts of south-west German 'Naturtheater'. German Life and Letters, 50 (4). pp. 544-556. ISSN 0016-8777 (doi:10.1111/j.1468-0483.1997.tb01710.x)

Book

Phipps, A. (2007) Learning the Arts of Linguistic Survival: Languaging, Tourism, Life. Channel View Publications, Clevedon. ISBN 9781845410537

Jack, G., and Phipps, A. (2005) Tourism and Intercultural Exchange: Why Tourism Matters. Channel View Publications, Clevedon. ISBN 9781845410186

Phipps, A. and Guilherme, M., eds. (2004) Critical Pedagogy: Political Approaches to Languages and Intercultural Communication. Multilingual Matters Ltd. ISBN 9781853597534

Phipps, A., and Gonzalez, M. (2004) Modern Languages: Learning and Teaching in an Intercultural Field. SAGE Publications, London. ISBN 9780761974185

Phipps, A., ed. (2002) Contemporary German Cultural Studies. Hodder Arnold , London. ISBN 9780340764015

Killick, D., Parry, M., and Phipps, A. (2001) Poetics and praxis of languages and intercultural communication: Volume 1 Proceedings of the Conference at Leeds Metropolitan University, December 1999. University of Glasgow French and German publications, Glasgow. ISBN 9780852616987

Killick, D., Parry, M., and Phipps, A. (2001) Poetics and praxis of languages and intercultural communication: Volume 2 Proceedings of the Conference at Leeds Metropolitan University, December 1999. University of Glasgow French and German publications, Glasgow. ISBN 9780852616994

Phipps, A. (1999) Acting Identities: An Investigation into South West German Naturtheater. Series: European University Studies :Series 1, German Language and Literature., 1748 . Peter Lang, Frankfurt. ISBN 9783631351420

Book Section

Jack, G., and Phipps, A. (2012) Tourism. In: Jackson, J. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Language and Intercultural Communication. Routledge, London, UK, pp. 539-552. ISBN 9780415572545

Levine, G., and Phipps, A. (2011) Paradigms in transition. In: Levine, G., Phipps, A. and Blythe, C. (eds.) Critical and Intercultural Theory and Language Pedagogy. Series: Issues in Language Program Direction . Cengage Learning, Boston. ISBN 9780495800071

Levine, G., and Phipps, A. (2011) What is language pedagogy for? In: Levine, G. and Phipps, A. (eds.) Critical and Intercultural Theory and Language Pedagogy. Series: Issues in Lanaguage Program Direction . Cengage Learning, Boston. ISBN 9780495800071

Phipps, A. (2011) Nonviolence, gender and ecology: Margaret Elphinstone's 'The Incomer' and 'A Sparrow's Flight'. In: McCracken-Flesher, C. (ed.) Scotland as Science Fiction. Series: Apercus: histories texts cultures . Bucknell University Press, Lewisburg, PA, pp. 101-117. ISBN 9781611484267

Phipps, A. (2010) Ethnographers as language learners. In: Collins, P. and Gallinet, A. (eds.) The Ethnographical Self as Resource: Writing Experience and Memory into Ethnography. Berghahn Books, New York. ISBN 9781845456566

Phipps, A. (2010) Training and intercultural education: the danger in good citizenship. In: Guilherme, M., Glaser, E. and del Carmen Mendez-Garcia, M. (eds.) The Intercultural Dynamics of Multicultural Working. Multilingual Matters, Bristol, pp. 59-77. ISBN 9781847692863

Phipps, A. (2009) Meager knowledge and knowing mess: "The odour of elephants after rain". In: St Clair, R. (ed.) Education Science: Critical Perspectives. Sense Publishing, Rotterdam, pp. 127-143. ISBN 9789087908447

Phipps, Alison (2009) Tourism and Languaging. In: The Sage Handbook of Tourism Studies. SAGE, London, pp. 658-671.

Phipps, Alison (2008) Was bleibt? After Class and After Culture: Intercultural German Life. In: Schulz, Renate A. and Tschirner, Erwin (eds.) Comminicating Across Borders: Developing Intercultural Competence in German as a Foreign language. Iudicium, Munchen, pp. 217-241.

Elphinstone, M., and Phipps, A. (2007) A sparrow's flight. In: A Sparrow's Flight. Kennedy and Boyd. ISBN 9781904999522

Corbett, J.B., and Phipps, A.s (2006) Culture, language and technological control: virtual intercultural connections. In: Linke, G. (ed.) New Media - New Teaching Options? Series: Anglistik & Englischunterricht (68). Winter, Heidelberg, Germany, pp. 157-178. ISBN 9783825352066

Phipps, A. (2006) Languages in higher education. In: Languages in Scotland: What's the Problem? Royal Society of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. ISBN 9780902198104

Phipps, A. (2006) Whose chances? People, place and praxis in languages for intercultural communication. In: Hahn, A. and Klippel, F. (eds.) Sprachen Schaffen Chancen: Dokumentation zum 21. Kongress für Fremdsprachendidaktik der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Fremdsprachenforschung (DGFF), München, Oktober 2005. Oldenbourg, Munich, pp. 27-43. ISBN 9783486005233

Phipps, A. (2005) Area studies. In: Coleman, J. and Klapper, J. (eds.) Effective Learning and Teaching in Modern Languages. Routledge, London, pp. 201-207. ISBN 0415346649

Phipps, A. (2005) Hexenfeuer: strangers performing in the past. In: Lengel, L. and Warren, J. (eds.) Casting Gender: Women and Performance in Intercultural Contexts. Peter Lang, New York, pp. 97-108. ISBN 9780820474199

Phipps, A. (2005) Making academics: work in progress. In: Barnett, R. (ed.) Reshaping the University: New Relationships Between Research, Scholarship and Teaching. Open University Press/McGraw-Hill, Maidenhead, UK, pp. 136-150. ISBN 9780335217014

Phipps, A. (2005) Marketplace of languages. In: Moreira, G. and Howcrowft, S. (eds.) Línguas e Mercardo 7-15 Aveiro. Universidade de Aveiro Press.

Phipps, A. (2005) Who are ‘you’? Who are ‘we’ Who are ‘they’?: Issues of role and identity in academic. In: Elvidge, E.M. (ed.) Exploring Academic Development in Higher Education: Issues of engagement. Jill Rodgers Associates, Cambridge, pp. 71-83. ISBN 0954711122

(2004) Why languages and intercultural communication are never just neutral. In: Phipps, A. and Guilherme, M. (eds.) Critical Pedagogy. Political Approaches to Language and Intercultural Communication. Multilingual Matters Ltd, pp. 1-7. ISBN 9781853597534

Jack, G., and Phipps, A. (2002) Mistaken consciousness: revolutionary exchanges on languages for intercultural communication. In: Cormeraie, S., Killick, D. and Parry, M. (eds.) Revolutions in Consciousness: Local Identities, Global Concerns in Languages and Intercultural Communication. IALIC, Leeds, pp. 43-54.

Mumford, M., and Phipps, A. (2002) Encountering stories from contemporary German theatre. In: Phipps, A. (ed.) Contemporary German Cultural Studies. Hodder Arnold, London. ISBN 9780340764022

Jack, G., and Phipps, A. (2001) Exchange ethnography as a reflexive methodology for the empirical study of languages and intercultural communication. In: Killick, D., Parry, M. and Phipps, A. (eds.) Mapping the Territory: The Poetics and Praxis of Languages and Intercultural Communication. University of Glasgow French and German Publications, Glasgow, UK, pp. 221-233.

Phipps, A. (2001) Busy foundries in modern languages and the humanities. In: Di Napoli, R., Polezzi, L. and King, A. (eds.) Fuzzy Boundaries? Reflections on Modern Languages and the Humanities. CILT, London, pp. 185-193. ISBN 9781902031712

Phipps, A. (2001) Measuring performance: some alternative indicators. In: Walker, M. (ed.) Reconstructing Professionalism in University Teaching: Teachers and Learners in Action. SAGE Publications, Buckingham. ISBN 9780335208166

Phipps, A., and Jack, G. (2001) Provisional homes and creative practice II: 'Over the Sea to Skye': Encounter. Engagement. Exchange. In: Killick, D., Parry, M. and Phipps, A. (eds.) Mapping the Territory: The Poetics and Praxis of Languages and Intercultural Communication. University of Glasgow French and German Publications, Glasgow, UK, pp. 203-220.

Phipps, A. (1999) Intercultural Germanistics: a forum for reconstruction. In: Saul, N. (ed.) Schwellen-Thresholds-Seuils. Köngishausen & Neumann, pp. 289-303.

Phipps, A. (1999) Provisional homes and creative practice: languages, cultural studies and anthropology. In: Killick, D. and Parry, M. (eds.) Languages for Cross-Cultural Capability: Making Boundaries and Crossing Borders. Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK, pp. 19-29.

Phipps, A. (1999) Seeing green: zones of contact in intercultural encounters. In: Tenberg, R. (ed.) Intercultural Perspectives: Images of Germany in Education and the Media. Iudicium, Munich, Germany, pp. 126-135. ISBN 9783891296165

Phipps, A. (1998) Ethnography and the student as participant observer: a methodology for developing cultural fluency. In: Payne, P. and Smith, B. (eds.) Research Issues in the Year Abroad. CRILE, Lancaster, UK, pp. 115-122.

Phipps, A. (1998) The promise of the field: a case study in cross-cultural capability. In: Killick, D. and Parry, M. (eds.) Cross-Cultural Capability: The Why, The Ways and The Means: New Theories and Methodologies in Language Education. Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK, pp. 84-93. ISBN 9781898883173

Phipps, A. (1997) Ecodrama in the Naturtheater: the work of Martin Schleker. In: Riordan, C. (ed.) Green Thought in German Culture: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives. University of Wales Press, Cardiff, UK, pp. 259-270. ISBN 9780708314210

Phipps, A. (1995) "Der Goldesel ist unser Regierungschef": Martin Schleker's response to the political and ethical effects of German unification. In: Durrani, O., Good, C. and Hilliard, K. (eds.) New Germany: Literature and Society after Unification. Sheffield Academic Press, Sheffield, UK, pp. 186-200. ISBN 9781850755609

Edited Book

Levine, H. and Phipps, A., (Eds.) (2011) Critical and Intercultural Theory and Language Pedagogy. Series: Issues in Language Program Direction. Cengage Heinle, Boston. ISBN 9780495800071

Colvin, Sarah, Martin, Laura, Phipps, Alison and Reisenberger, Christl, (Eds.) (2004) Myth and Mythmaking. Series: German life and letters. Blackwell.

Research Report or Paper

Phipps, A. (2004) Let them eat cake. Other. Learning Matters.