Graduate Student Members
Anna Bartosik
Dr. Anna Bartosik is a recent PhD graduate from the LLE program.
Research Interests: Teacher development, motivation, educational technology
Thesis Topic: Learning Across a Landscape: A Netnographic Analysis of Two Regional English Language Teacher Twitter Chats
Hamidreza Moeiniasl
Hamid Reza Moeiniasl is a PhD student in the LLE program.
Research Interests: Language assessment, Technology-assisted assessment, Language Teacher Education, L2 Reading, Teaching and assessment of critical thinking
Thesis Topic: Investigating the Potentials of Computerized Dynamic Assessment in Supporting Critical Thinking Skills
Mohammad Reza Shalizar
Mohammadreza is a PhD student in the LLE program.
Research Interests: Second language writing development, Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST), CEFR, Multilingual writing
Leila Farzinpur
Leila Farzinpur is a PhD Candidate in the LLE program.
Research Interests: L2 Writing Challenges, Academic Writing Identity, L2 Writing Assessment, Developing Teaching Materials for L2 Learners, Academic Writing Pedagogy, L2 Writing Development
Thesis Topic: Academic Writer Identity Construction and Awareness in the Canadian Academic Context: The Experience of Multilingual Student Writers at the Undergraduate Level
Supervisor: Dr. Katherine Rehner
Yecid Ortega
Dr. Yecid Ortega is a recent PhD graduate from both the language and literacies education (LLE) & comparative, international, development education (CIDE) programs and a SSHRC/OGS (2018 -2020) award winner.
Research Interests: Plurilingualism, EFL/ESL, critical theory, raciolinguistic ideologies, social justice, peacebuilding, globalization, neoliberalism, linguistic anthropology
Thesis Topic: Social justice and peacebuilding curriculum (SJPBC): Understanding the lived experiences of marginalized English language students in post-conflict Colombia
Supervisor: Dr. Antoinette Gagné
Zehra Melike Palta
Zehra Melike Palta is a PhD student in the LLE program.
Research Interests: Social and academic integration of refugees, linguistic minority rights, language politics, language learning and education
Thesis Topic: Exploring the reflections of non-sponsored refugees on their lived experiences to (re)conceptualize integration: A photovoice study of young Alevi refugee adults in Toronto
Supervisor: Dr. Antoinette Gagné
Conttia Lai
Conttia Lai is a PhD candidate in the Language and Literacies Education program.
Research Interests: Academic literacies development, academic writing pedagogy, self-regulated learning, and learner motivation. She teaches academic writing in the International Foundation Program at New College and the Graduate Centre for Academic Communication at the U of T.
Thesis Topic: Three case studies of the textual borrowing practices of international graduate students. It is largely informed by her teaching practices and interactions with second language student writers in higher education contexts.
Supervisor: Prof. Alister Cumming
Yuliya Desyatova
Dr. Yuliya Desyatova is a recent PhD graduate from the LLE program.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship recipient (2018-2019; 2019-2020)
Research Interests: Classroom-based and classroom-relevant research, policy implementation in language teaching; language teacher professional development.
Thesis Topic: Examining the implementation of portfolio-based language assessment (PBLA) as a mandatory assessment protocol in the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program.
Supervisor: Dr. Enrica Piccardo
Christopher Gradin
Christopher Gradin is a PhD student in Language and Literacies Education.
Research Interests: Heritage & minority language education, plurilingualism, CEFR(-J), language planning & policy, symbolic capital, funds of knowledge, third space.
Supervisor: Dr. Emmanuelle Le Pichon-Vorstman
Reshara Alviarez
Reshara Alviarez is a PhD student in the Language and Literacies Education (LLE) program.
Research Interests: Plurilingualism, bidialectalism, World Englishes, student achievement, postcolonial studies, Caribbean language varieties
Supervisor: Dr. Emmanuelle Le Pichon-Vorstmann
Amy Christine Parker
Stephanie Shuler
Stephanie Shuler is a PhD candidate in the department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning (CTL).
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) award winner (2015).
Research Interests: Multiple literacies, thriving, alternative and holistic education, leisure studies, inclusion, peace building and mothering.
As a social entrepreneur, Stephanie is the co-founder of an international social design initiative pursuing the co-creation of a self-sustainable ecovillage. Stephanie has conducted research that investigates: Thriving – a hierarchical values analysis.
Thesis Topic: What are parents’ narratives about their experience with their child’s language-based learning disability?
Supervisor: Dr. Karyn Cooper
Faith Marcel
Faith Marcel is a recent PhD graduate from the Language and Literacies Education (LLE) and the collaborative Knowledge Media Design Institute (KMDI) programs.
Research Interests: Investigating AR, VR, Mixed Realities and VoiceThread in language learning and other academic contexts, and integrating educational technologies in language classrooms to promote greater engagement and meaningful interaction for all learners.
Thesis Topic: Investigating Mobile Mixed Reality (MR) Technologies
Supervisor: Dr. Enrica Piccardo