Research Interests
My research interests include:
TESOL Teacher Education Peace & Social Justice in ELT
Second Language Writing Research in Conflict Zones
Peace & Social Justice in ELT
As a strong believer in TESOL and its role in societies, I am interested in the role of TESOL in conflict zones with a specific focus on teachers' and students' perspectives on the role TESOL might play in peacebuilding, social justice, and bringing positive change. I would like to investigate how ESOL teachers and professors implement peace and social justice pedagogies in their ESOL classrooms.
TESOL Teacher Education
My research interests continue to focus on the role of TESOL teacher education, with specific focus on TESOL teacher education in conflict zones. I am interested in investigating how other Libyan TESOL teacher education programs prepare their student teachers to teach English. I am also interested in exploring how US TESOL programs prepare international students from conflict zones as teacher-scholars.
Second Language Writing
In my MA thesis, I explored Libyan graduate students' academic writing difficulties and their perceptions on their professors' feedback. As teaching writing is my passion and I have been teaching writing for a long while, I would like to explore how writing can be taught for peace and social justice.
As a peace and social justice activist, I am interested in teaching writing for peace and social justice. I would like to design a writing class in which students explore their perspectives on social justice, conflicts and peace, and how to embrace positive change.
Research in Conflict Zones
As I faced a number of challenges in conducting research in Libya as a conflict zone, I am interested in the challenges of conducting research on TESOL in conflict zones.
In further investigation of these interests, I would be interested in collaborating with colleagues to explore how US programs prepare international students to teach/conduct research in conflict zones.