Rate My Professor Leigh Kirwan

Dr. Leigh John Kirwan is a lecturer in Japanese language and culture within the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science at Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus. With over 32 years of dedicated service at the university, he has shaped the education of countless students in language acquisition and intercultural competence. Before joining Griffith, Kirwan taught French and Japanese at Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School. In his current role, he convenes the Gold Coast Japanese program, the Diploma of Languages, and the Bachelor of Arts in Languages and Linguistics. His academic interests center on effective language teaching methodologies, as evidenced by his participation in professional forums, podcasts discussing teaching strategies, and his experiences in Japan.

Kirwan’s contributions extend significantly to extracurricular and community language initiatives. He co-established the Gold Coast Languages Speech Contest in 1980 with Roslyn Fischer, an annual event hosted at Griffith University that draws thousands of high school students competing in Japanese, French, German, Chinese, Italian, Spanish, and Aboriginal languages. Known as ‘Mr. Speech Contest,’ he continues to host and organize this influential competition, emphasizing its role in building advanced language skills for career success. Additionally, he has led Japanese Language and Cultural Tours for more than 20 years, immersing over 400 Griffith students in intensive one-month programs in Japan, earning him the 2013 Griffith Internationalisation Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Short Term Global Mobility Program. As president of the Modern Language Teachers’ Association of Queensland Gold Coast Branch, he organizes the Language Teachers’ Forum, promoting professional development among educators. Kirwan is an authority on student study tours to Japan, has studied Italian, Spanish, and Chinese, and serves on the editorial board of the Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics. He also participates in international committees including those of the Asia Pacific Applied Linguistics. His enduring commitment has profoundly impacted language education regionally and internationally.