Dr. Sarah Whitehead

Biography

Sarah Jey Whitehead began her academic journey in language acquisition as an undergraduate at Bennington College, where she developed a strong foundation in qualitative data and discourse analysis. With practical experience gained from spending time in Spain and Peru, she became proficient in Spanish and earned a Master’s degree from Bennington College’s Center for Creative Teaching. Following several years of teaching in public charter schools and developing a three-year concept-based Spanish curriculum, she accepted a position at the University of Texas at Austin's Department of Foreign Language Education. Dr. Whitehead’s current research focuses on the construction of authenticity in foreign language classrooms. She is deeply fascinated by the social implications of authenticity in language learning, questioning whether practices deemed 'authentic' truly carry inherent value within the classroom culture. Her work employs ecological, sociocultural, and critical theories to explore these constructs. Additionally, Dr. Whitehead is interested in curricular design, particularly Backwards Design, and seeks to apply her extensive knowledge of educational theory to enhance her teaching practice. In her free time, she enjoys attending UT women’s basketball games and playing basketball in a local women's league.

Research Interests