I am a teacher who does research, and a researcher who teaches.
My research focuses on the areas of second language writing, English for research publication purposes, and language testing and assessment. These fields of inquiry are intertwined with my identity as a multilingual writer, my role as an EAL navigator in the academic publication landscape, and my experience growing up in a test-oriented society. My personal experiences in classroom contexts and beyond often serve as the source of inspiration for my research ideas. For example, the co-edited Journal of Second Language Writing 2025/26 Special Issue on Emotions in Teaching Second Language Writing originates from my personal emotional burnout experience.
My research activities also inform my teaching in a meaningful manner. For example, the research findings from my study on English varieties and identity help me realize the blurred boundaries students may perceive between language and varieties, or to quote from the student participant, “I don’t even know which variety of English I am learning.” This being the case, I adjust the quote as a lead-in question to invite students’ responses and facilitate explicit discussions on English and its varieties in my ENGL106 Foundations Writing for English as an Additional Language Students course at UofA. The feedback literacy and language assessment literacy studies also keep me fully aware of the shared responsibilities between teachers and students and the importance of being transparent and fair in my feedback-providing and classroom assessment practices.
Ongoing Research Projects:
- Emotions in teaching writing
- Global Englishes and writing pedagogy
- Learners’ language assessment literacy
For more information about my research, please visit:
