I have over 25 years of experience in developing and delivering courses in TESOL, applied linguistics, interdisciplinary studies, and educational research at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. My professional journey spans diverse cultural and geographical contexts, having lived and worked in the UK, the Middle East, and South Asia. I am a recipient of the 2006 Zayed Award for Excellence in Teaching from Zayed University in Abu Dhabi.

I  hold an interdisciplinary PhD from the University of Birmingham with research focusing on technology-enhanced informal education, decoloniality, and gender studies. My scholarly expertise is in the Constructivist Grounded Theory methodology and the Foucauldian concept of power which I employed in my doctoral research to explore how feminists with religious affiliations utilise social media to advance their religious education and challenge various forms of power within and outside their communities. My research interests include technology-enhanced learning, decolonisation of higher education, and intersections of identity, culture, and postcolonial feminism in education. 

Beyond my teaching contributions, I have published book chapters and journal articles in the area of education and have made over 30 presentations in international conferences. 

When I'm not teaching I can be found taking photos of old doors or making 12th scale miniatures.

Techonology enhanced learning and education | Decolonisation of higher education | Identity and culture in education| Postcolonial feminism and women in academia

Postgraduate (Selected recent)

Addressing gender inequality in education in the Indian region: an extended literature review.

Investigating the impact of academic procrastination on Chinese students at a Scottish University.

A literature review of conflict and effects of conflict resolution training on primary school children.

Exploring perceptions of Chinese students of Education at a Scottish University about the effects of flipped classrooms on their motivation.

Exploring the Effectiveness of Life Education for Chinese postgraduate students of Education at a University in Scotland.

An investigation into the functions and impact of teacher and peer feedback on students' writing: a comparative study between the United Kingdom and China.

Use of social media platform “Ying yu qu pai yin” to teach English speaking skills to Chinese primary school students.

The perception of third-year English major students in a Southern Chinese University about the use of smartphones in improving academic writing skills.

An investigation into the different elements of professional development that motivate English major students in a Shanghai university to complete MOOCs courses and the challenges of using MOOCs. 

Improving English competency through TikTok: An extended literature review.

Use of Twitter by college students in Beijing to improve informal English Writing skills. 

Exploring TESOL students’ motivations for choosing English teaching as a career: A perspective from Chinese students of TESOL at a University in Scotland.

The role of commercial Digital Video Games on Chinese EFL students’ comprehension of metaphors.

The role of summative assessment on motivation of English language learners at the Henan University of Technology in China.

The relationship between English speaking anxiety, gender and self-efficacy of Chinese students majoring in TESOL at a University in Scotland.

An investigation into the English speaking anxiety and how it can be reduced in the case of Chinese TESOL postgraduate students at a University in Scotland.

• Introduction to Educational and Social Research (EDUC5410)
• Descriptions of Language and Applications to the Classroom (EDUC5847)
• Dissertation for Educational Studies (EDUC5142P)
• Dissertation for TESOL (EDUC5900P)

Prizes, awards & distinctions

• 2006: Zayed Award and Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Teaching (Zayed University)

Professional & learned societies

• 2000 - 2020: Member, TESOL Arabia
• 1998 - 2006: Member, TESOL International Association
• 2006 - 2009: Webmaster, TESOL Arabia ESP SIG

Selected international presentations

• 2020: Gender & Women's Studies GWS2020 (Singapore)
• 2012: Transformations in TESOL, 16th International TESOL Arabia Conference (Dubai, UAE)
• 2006: TESOL Arabia ESP SIG (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
• 2006: TESOL Arabia Ajman chapter (Ajman, UAE)
• 2005: TESOL Arabia Abu Dhabi Chapter (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
• 2005: TESOL Arabia ESP SIG (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
• 2005: TESOL Arabia Research SIG and Ajman chapter (Ajman, UAE)
• 2004: TESOL Arabia Abu Dhabi chapter event (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
• 2004: Current Trends in English Language Testing Conference, The Future of Language Assessment (Dubai, UAE)
• 2004: TESOL Arabia 2004 Conference, Standards in English Language Teaching and Assessment (Dubai, UAE)
• 2003: Current Trends in English Language Testing Conference 2003 (Dubai, UAE)
• 2003: EgypTesol Fourth annual convention, Best Practice in TEFL (Cairo, Egypt)
• 2003: 1st Asia TEFL conference, TEFL in Asia: Emerging Issues (Busan, South Korea)
• 2003: The 2nd Annual TESOL Arabia ESP SIG Conference, Catering to Current Needs – ESP for Today! (Sharjah, UAE)
• 2003: The 3rd Annual Teacher-to-Teacher Conference, Culture, Context, & Communication (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
• 2003: TESOL Arabia 2003 Conference, English Language Teaching in the IT Age (Dubai, UAE)
• 2002: TESOL Arabia 2002 Conference, Critical Reflection and Practice (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
• 2001: The 2nd Annual Teacher-to-Teacher Conference (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
• 2001: TESOL-Arabia Conference 2001, Challenges in the New Millennium (Dubai, UAE)
• 2000: 16th International Conference, Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (Karachi, Pakistan)
• 2000: The MLI Inaugural Open Conference, Tools of the Trade (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
• 2000: LSP 2000 Seminar, Language for Specific Purposes: Tuning in to the New Millennium (Johor, Malaysia)