Dr Francis Gilbert
Staff details
Academic qualifications
- BA English Lit (Sussex University, 1989)
- PGCE (Cambridge University, 1991)
- MA in Creative Writing (University of East Anglia, 1992)
- Diploma in Journalism (London College of Printing, 1998)
- Post-graduate Certificate in Teaching for Higher Education (PG Cert, Goldsmiths College, 2012)
- Ph.D in Creative Writing and Education (Goldsmiths, June 2015)
Teaching
Francis has taught on the M.A. in Children’s Literature (2014-15), as well as the following undergraduate modules:
- Memoir/autobiographical writing and fiction (Spring Term 2012)
- Engaging Poetry (2010-11, 2011-12)
- Explorations in Literature (2010-11, 2011-12)
Professional projects
Francis has made numerous and ongoing appearances on television as an educational commentator, including BBC News, BBC Breakfast, Newsnight, Channel 4 Dispatches, Sky News, ITV News, and Channel 4 News. He has also been featured in radio programmes including Radio 4’s Today programme, Woman’s Hour, and Review, among others.
He organised the interdisciplinary series Beyond the Sheets: Sexualities in the Digital Age at Goldsmiths in 2014, and has been presenting papers at Goldsmiths Literature Seminars since 2010.
Featured work
- With Rick Pushinsky (photographer), 'Learning To Be Innocent: How William Blake Can Change Your Life', GLITS (Goldsmiths Literature Seminar), Goldsmiths, University of London, Nov. 2014
- 'Is writing about the past easier than writing about the present?', GLITS (Goldsmiths Literature Seminar), Goldsmiths, University of London, Nov. 2013
- '"But sir, I lied" - the value of teachers using their own autobiographical writing in the classroom and the therapeutic benefits of using autobiographical discourse and "life fiction" in the classroom', GLITS (Goldsmiths Literature Seminar), Goldsmiths, University of London, Feb. 2012
- Reading from his memoir, The Shadow of Eros [Who Do You Love?], GLITS (Goldsmiths Literature Seminar), Goldsmiths, University of London, Mar. 2010
Research Interests
Creative and Life Writing; Educational Studies
Publications
Book
The Mindful English Teacher: A Toolkit for Learning and Well-Being
Gilbert, Francis. 2017. The Mindful English Teacher: A Toolkit for Learning and Well-Being. London: FGI Publishing. ISBN 978-1974255863
Who Do You Love
Gilbert, Francis. 2017. Who Do You Love. London: Blue Door Press. ISBN 978-1539626183
How to Get A Great English Degree
Gilbert, Francis. 2017. How to Get A Great English Degree. London: FGI Publishing. ISBN 978-1492282181
Article
Riding the Reciprocal Teaching Bus A teacher’s reflections on nurturing collaborative learning in a school culture obsessed by results
Gilbert, Francis. 2018. Riding the Reciprocal Teaching Bus A teacher’s reflections on nurturing collaborative learning in a school culture obsessed by results. Changing English, 25(2), pp. 146-162. ISSN 1469-3585
Aesthetic literacy and autobiography
Gilbert, Francis. 2018. Aesthetic literacy and autobiography. Writing in Practice, 4, ISSN 2058-5535
Mindfulness and English Teaching
Gilbert, Francis. 2018. Mindfulness and English Teaching. Teaching English, 16, pp. 54-56. ISSN 2051-7971
Where did all the male teachers go?
Gilbert, Francis. 2017. Where did all the male teachers go? The Times, ISSN 0140-0460
Dreaming of a Better World
Gilbert, Francis. 2017. Dreaming of a Better World. Teaching English,
The Creative Writing Teacher’s Toolkit
Gilbert, Francis. 2017. The Creative Writing Teacher’s Toolkit. Writing in Education, 2017(73),
The Dark Alleyway
Gilbert, Francis. 2016. The Dark Alleyway. Writing in Education, 70(2016), ISSN 1361-8539
We need to reform the academy system – and stop the power-hungry super-heads
Francis, Gilbert. 2016. We need to reform the academy system – and stop the power-hungry super-heads. The Guardian, ISSN 0261-3077
Aesthetic Learning, Creative Writing and English Teaching
Gilbert, Francis. 2016. Aesthetic Learning, Creative Writing and English Teaching. Changing English, 23(3), pp. 257-268. ISSN 1358-684X
Freedom and the new English GCSEs
Gilbert, Francis. 2016. Freedom and the new English GCSEs. Teaching English,
The Party in the Snow
Gilbert, Francis. 2016. The Party in the Snow. GLITS-E, 2015/6(5),
Corbyn? Blimey, yes!
Gilbert, Francis. 2015. Corbyn? Blimey, yes! Politico EU,
'Sacked': Extract from the novel Who Do You Love?
Gilbert, Francis. 2014. 'Sacked': Extract from the novel Who Do You Love? Glits-e: a Journal of Criticism, 4,
Novel extract from Who Do You Love?
Gilbert, Francis. 2012. Novel extract from Who Do You Love? Glits-e: a Journal of Criticism, 2,
'But sir, I lied – The value of autobiographical discourse in the classroom'
Gilbert, Francis. 2012. 'But sir, I lied – The value of autobiographical discourse in the classroom'. English in Education, 46(2), pp. 198-211. ISSN 0425-0494
Conference or Workshop Item
Reciprocity and reading
Gilbert, Francis. 2017. 'Reciprocity and reading'. In: Reciprocity and reading. Goldsmiths, United Kingdom 14th September 2017.
Audio
Lines of Work: Teacher Francis Gilbert on Rousseau
Gilbert, Francis. 2016. Lines of Work: Teacher Francis Gilbert on Rousseau.
Thesis
Who Do You Love? The Novel of my Life (Creative Writing thesis) and Building Beauty: the Role of Aesthetic Education in my Teaching and Writing Lives (commentary on the Creative Writing thesis)
Gilbert, Francis. 2015. Who Do You Love? The Novel of my Life (Creative Writing thesis) and Building Beauty: the Role of Aesthetic Education in my Teaching and Writing Lives (commentary on the Creative Writing thesis). Doctoral thesis, Goldsmiths, University of London
