Prof Becky Muradás-Taylor
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drbeckymt.bsky.social
Prof Becky Muradás-Taylor
@drbeckymt.bsky.social
Prof of languages and linguistics, Director of programme design, LCS Uni of Leeds | Autistic, LGBTQ, adoptive parent | L2 phon, language education, 日本語, español
Pinned
New publication: "Sustainable language programme design and management at a widening participation university", co-authored with Prof. Rachel Wicaksono.

link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
Sustainable Language Programme Design and Management at a Widening Participation University
Levels of enrolment on language degree programmes are of concern in majority English-speaking countries. English universities with below average entry tariffs generally do not, or no longer, offer lan...
link.springer.com
And what about their writing skills? (I know this is a typo but it still made me laugh).
January 16, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Prof Becky Muradás-Taylor
When autistics feel empathy, it generally doesn’t “look” like neurotypical empathy. Don’t expect autistics to “look” empathic.

"Presuming autistics are competent to understand and feel deeply offers neurodignity, a great gift."

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-... #autism #neurodiversity
What’s the Truth About Empathy and Autism?
Recent research shows autistics may empathize a bit differently than neurotypicals, but they still feel all the feels. A psychiatric nurse practitioner and mother reveals how.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Have you seen this @andrewgrantham.co.uk? (And anyone else.) It made me laugh so hard I cried.
Politicians: don't use AI to make your maps.
January 14, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Getting ready to present this poster at AULC 😊
January 8, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Interesting question and super interesting replies.
Speakers of languages that have formal/informal ways of addressing others (e.g. French vous/tu) and a culture of progressing through familiarity from the former to the latter:

Does it ever go backwards? Could someone revert to formal 'you' as a signal of an ended friendship?
December 28, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Sunny and icy walk has made this November feel much more manageable 😊
November 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Prof Becky Muradás-Taylor
Great piece - understands policy context and asks the right questions about what that means for the university and the city.
NEW on Wonkhe: Plymouth is once again entering an era of defence-driven growth. Richard Davies asks how the university fits in buff.ly/dDLRkUZ
November 11, 2025 at 8:25 AM
These look fab 😊
Free language tasters for beginners this week! Look at the #LeedsCityofLanguages programme! We're spoilt for choice!
How about trying a language taster for a new language? All of these will take place this week on campus! Which one will you choose!? #languages #mfl #leedscityoflanguages No need to book, just turn in!
November 11, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Reposted by Prof Becky Muradás-Taylor
We all know the difficulty the HE sector is in. But let’s work together to come up with solutions. The nuclear option damages our students & the reputation of our institutions. @ucflangs.bsky.social & @artsandhums.bsky.social
are supporting colleagues www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
University of Nottingham students fight 'insane' cull of courses
Traitors composer Sam Watts is among those against plans to cut University of Nottingham courses.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 9:33 AM
This is a good thread 👇
Autism is a social disability
It's also a sensory disability

What it isn't is an empathy disability
Or a rigidity disability
Or an intellectual disability

Breaking this one down because not all of this is self explanatory...
November 2, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Prof Becky Muradás-Taylor
Spread the word - new MA in Classics and Ancient History at Leeds now recruiting for September 2026 entry!
New MA in Classics and Ancient History at Leeds - we are thrilled to announce the launch of our new MA in Classics and Ancient History, *now recruiting* for September 2026!

For more information and to apply, please visit:
courses.leeds.ac.uk/k149/classic...
Classics and Ancient History MA | University of Leeds
The Classics and Ancient History MA is unique to Leeds and explores the ancient Mediterranean world, spanning literature, history, philosophy, religion and material culture.
courses.leeds.ac.uk
October 27, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Leeds looking lovely yesterday 😊
October 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Reposted by Prof Becky Muradás-Taylor
Don't miss this #LeedsCityofLanguages webinar with the amazing Yoshito Darmon-Shimamori, teacher, author and multilingual speaker, on #multilingualism.
#Multilingualism is an asset! Join us for this free webinar by Yoshito Darmon-Shimamori Booking required: leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk/events/webin... #leedscityoflanguages #languages #mfluenc
October 20, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Reposted by Prof Becky Muradás-Taylor
Come and work with us! We have two grade 8 teaching and research lectureships in Psychology at University of Leeds. Its a great department, in a great University, in one of the best cities in the UK. jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx... Closing date 9th November, get in touch if you have any questions!
Job Opportunity at University of Leeds: Lecturer (Teaching and Research) in Psychology
Are you passionate about furthering your research career in a research-intensive Russell Group University? Are you committed to delivering a first class learning and teaching experience? The School is...
jobs.leeds.ac.uk
October 20, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Reposted by Prof Becky Muradás-Taylor
We’re advertising two lectureship positions. Come join us. It’s a great place to work. Deadline is 9th November jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
Job Opportunity at University of Leeds: Lecturer (Teaching and Research) in Psychology
Are you passionate about furthering your research career in a research-intensive Russell Group University? Are you committed to delivering a first class learning and teaching experience? The School is...
jobs.leeds.ac.uk
October 20, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Great thread 🧡
Autistic people get a bad rap for universally lacking empathy (some of us do identify as experiencing low empathy - many do not) but the truth is most people do not, on a day to day basis, truly empathize with people who are fundamentally different from them.
October 19, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Good thread. "autism and seizures are different; autism and developmental delays are different; autism and attention challenges are different."
Maybe I'm just starved for sane & grounded autism discourse but "Autism is not one condition" seems like a genuinely useful conclusion. Maybe things are looking up.

Autism Is Not a Single Condition and Has No Single Cause, Scientists Conclude | WIRED share.google/cS8ZxX0fuPOO...
Autism Is Not a Single Condition and Has No Single Cause, Scientists Conclude
Research reveals that those diagnosed with autism early show distinct genetic and developmental profiles from those diagnosed later.
share.google
October 7, 2025 at 6:30 AM
This is worth reading.
"Autistic people do not form a fixed spectrum with clear segments of 'high functioning' and 'low functioning' and 'profound.' Hope this helps." @ejwillingham.bsky.social on the autism grievance parent campaign for a #ProfoundAutism label, in today's TPGA Newsletter:

buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...
Do some tall people have "profound tallness?" (This is an autism labels side-eye)
You can’t take the tallness out of someone, not in any ethical way. “Tall” is just what they are.
buttondown.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Always thought that the name Rebecca meant "a knot". This seemed fair enough: persistent, stubborn, perhaps. But I looked up name meanings for our daughter and her friend earlier and for Rebecca it said "to tie/bind", representing "strong bonds, connection, and enduring strength". Today's tiny joy 😊
October 5, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Lovely day 😍
October 5, 2025 at 7:39 PM
This is brilliant
It's seven years since we posted on Twitter about how kids kept coming into the library asking if we had any books about FORTNITE. We didn't back then, and we'd never heard of it so we tried asking what it was.
September 3, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I love this thread 😊
1/ Geodude is a tough-looking little rock-type guy with balled-up fists 🤛😠🤜. Despite the crusty form and threatening pose, it looks more cute than dangerous. At least to me.

Time for a #Pokenomastics thread! We'll look at Geodude's names in a whole bunch of languages.

🇺🇸🇯🇵🇰🇷🇭🇰🇨🇳🇩🇪🇫🇷 #langsky
August 30, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Interesting article
August 29, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Reposted by Prof Becky Muradás-Taylor
Things I needed to learn as an autistic kid:
- how to rest & recover from overstimulation
- how to connect with other kids in ways that were meaningful to me
- how to self advocate, and how to know when advocacy could help & what to do when it couldn't
- how to notice my mind being anxious
August 24, 2025 at 8:31 PM