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Academic Positions

  • Present2014

    Assistant Research Professor

    Social & Economic Survey Research Institute, Qatar University

Lead Principal Investigator of various research projects on education and society

  • 20132010

    Educational Programs Manager

    Qatar Foundation

A) Program Development:

– Developing Arabic–English debate programs;

– Overseeing program implementation, delivery of outcomes, and tracking achievement; and

– Promoting QatarDebate Center as a center of excellence in the areas of argumentation, debate, public speaking, critical thinking, and logical reasoning in the MENA region.

B) Partnerships:

– Playing a major role in partnership relations between QatarDebate Center and the community, GOs, schools, universities and ministries in Qatar and beyond by:

– Identifying and exploiting opportunities for new partnership schemes;

– Fostering academic enrichment and cultural programs for the benefit of the community;

– Serving as the key point of contact with potential partners while retaining existing local, regional and international partners; and

– Improving student learning, teacher effectiveness and community engagement; and

 C) Materials Development:

– Designing and developing Arabic–English instructional materials (books, manuals, training kits) pertaining to public speaking, argumentation, debate, and critical thinking; and

– Ensuring their widest dissemination of the materials in Qatar and beyond.

– Designing and developing instructional media in video and audio formats.

  • 20101998

    Assistant Professor, Founder faculty & Academic Advisor

    College of Arts & Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, UAE

Subjects taught: ESL, Composition, World Humanities, Foreign Language Assessment, and Linguistics (special emphasis on Structural Linguistics, Phonetics, Phonology, Sociolinguistics); academic advising (BA Program)

  • 20102009

    Part-time lecturer

    The British University, Dubai

Subjects taught: Critical Discourse Analysis, Language, Power & Ideology (Ph.D. Program).

  • 19981996

    Part-time lecturer

    Department of English & Linguistics, University of Durham, Durham, England

Subjects taught: Translation Theory & Linguistics; Discourse analysis (M.A.Program).

  • 19971996

    Visiting lecturer

    School of Arts, Design & Communications, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK

Subjects taught: Theoretical Linguistics, Discourse Analysis, Language and Power (B.A. Program).

  • 19961990

    Assistant professor

    School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco

Subject taught: Translation, Linguistics, Composition & EFL (B.A. Program).

Abdellatif Sellami is an Assistant Professor at the Social & Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI), Qatar University. Previously, he served as Educational Programs Manager at Qatar Foundation and taught at different universities in Morocco, the United Kingdom and the U.A.E. His research interests include intercultural competence, language and identity, and critical discourse analysis.

Education

  • Ph.D 2003

    Applied-linguistics: “Cultural Awareness & Intercultural Communicative Competence: A case study of EFL University Undergraduate Students”

    University of Sunderland, England

  • M.A 1997

    Applied Linguistics (CALL, Phonetics & Phonology)

    University of Durham, England

  • M.Sc 1989

    Translation/Interpreting

    Heriot-Watt University – Edinburgh, Scotland

  • B.A 1988

    in Linguistics

    Cadi Ayyad University – Marrakesh, Morocco

Consultant Experience

  • 20102009

    Arabic-English educational programs development

    Qatar Debate, Qatar Foundation

  • 20062006

    language assessment

    Lionbridge Co.

  • 20052002

    English language teaching

    Ministry of Education, United Arab Emirates

Key Competencies

  • Ability to work independently or collaboratively to identify creative solutions to strategic and programmatic issues in line with business objectives.
  • Demonstrable experience in developing and managing high quality training products in collaboration with high caliber faculty and experts, for a broad range of target student groups.
  • Extensive experience in designing, planning and implementing instructional materials and learning programs aimed at improving academic and other life-long skills required for enhancing social responsibility and active civic engagement.
  • Experience in developing and delivering large scale national learning events and conferences in the Middle East.
  • Effective communication skills including public speaking and lecturing with a track record in writing successful project proposals, course curricula, and program evaluation reports, etc.
  • Good understanding and appreciation of the social and cross-cultural context of working in the Arab region, with the flexibility and experience of adapting programs to meet such demands.

Special Skills

  • Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)
  • SPSS & STATA
  • Social Media Platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc.)
  • Extensive knowledge of Instructional Technology
  • Extensive experience in supervising BA & MA theses and dissertations
  • Event Planning

Awards & Honors

  • 2013
    Best Achievement ‘Thanaa’ Award, Qatar Foundation, Qatar

  • 2008
    Excellence in Teaching, Zayed University, College of Arts & Sciences, U.A.E

  • 2005
    Excellence in Teaching, Zayed University, College of Arts & Sciences, U.A.E

  • 1997
    Post-graduate scholarship by the Arab-British Chambers Foundation, UK

  • 1996
    PhD scholarship by the University of Sunderland, UK

  • 1988
    National Moroccan scholarship to pursue higher education in the UK

Translation & Editing Work

Extensive experience of Arabic-English translation and interpreting (administrative and especially academic)

  • Translation of various scholarly papers and academic papers (Zayed University, Dubai, UAE)
  • Translation of various Ministry of Education and University administrative documents
  • Translation & editing of various M.A. and Ph.D. theses and dissertations(freelance)
  • Translation & editing of various research papers submitted for publications
  • Translating & editing of various conference materials (invitations for plenary speakers, participants, paper reviewers; calls for submissions, submission guidelines, reviewer guidelines, etc.)
  • Translating & editing brochures, flyers, and catalogues (Zayed University, Dubai, UAE; QatarDebate Center, Qatar Foundation, Qatar)

Professional Activities

  • 11–13 Jan 2013
    Conference co-chair, Fourth International Conference on Argumentation, Rhetoric, Debate and the Pedagogy of Empowerment: Thinking and Speaking a Better World. Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar

  • 2009– 2010
    Member, Faculty Affairs Committee. College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University

  • 17–19 Dec 2009
    Member, Organizing Committee, International Conference On Bilingualism and Bilingual Education: Fostering Multi-literacies Through Education: Middle Eastern Perspectives. The American University of Sharjah, UAE

  • 18–20 March 2009
    Member, Organizing Committee. International Translation and Intercultural Dialogue Conference. Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco

  • 25–27 Sep 2008
    Member, Scientific Committee. International Bilingual Conference, Conférence sur les langues vehiculaires: Langue, discours, hybridité et identities (Language, discourse, hybridity and identities Conference). Turku, Finland

  • 2007– 2008
    Member, Research Committee. College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University

  • 2004–2005
    Co-Chair, TESOL Arabia Research SIG, TESOL Arabia, UAE

University Service

  • 2009 – 2010
    Member of the Recruitment Committee, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, U.A.E

  • 2007 – 2008
    Member of the Research Committee, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, U.A.E

  • 2005 - 2006
    Member of the Faculty Affairs Committee, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, U.A.E

  • 2001– 2003
    Member of the Program Learning Outcomes Committee, Zayed University, U.A.E

  • 1998 – 2001
    Academic Advising, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, U.A.E

Conference Presentations

  • 5-8 April 2016
    Self-Assessment Resource for ESL Teacher Licensing in the Middle East. TESOL 2016. Baltimore, Maryland, USA

  • 3–5 Jan 2016
    K-12 Reform in Qatar – Realities and challenges. Academic OASIS/IAABR International Multidisciplinary Academic Conference: Promoting Global Progress and Excellence in Academia. Miami Beach, Florida, USA  K-12 Reform in Qatar – Realities and challenges. Academic OASIS/IAABR International Multidisciplinary Academic Conference: Promoting Global Progress and Excellence in Academia. Miami Beach, Florida, USA

  • 17–19 June 2015
    Inter-cultural competence: A site of ‘in-between’ spaces &hyphenated identities. 13th International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities. Vancouver, Canada

  • 5-8 Nov 2013
    Between two worlds: Using debate to carve a third place. IJAS Conference. London, UK

  • 26-28 April 2012
    (Inter)Cultural competence: Forging a ‘third place’ – ESL Learners as a Case Study. Asian Conference on Language Learning. Osaka, Japan

  • 13-16 April 2012
    Beyond culture teaching. Assessing (inter)cultural competence. IJAS Conference. Gottenheim, Germany

  • 22–24 October 2010
    Written rhetorical patterns of Arabic-speaking ESL learners. Third International Conference on Argumentation, Rhetoric, Debate and the Pedagogy of Empowerment - Thinking and Speaking a Better World. Maribor, Slovenia

  • 1–4 March 2010
    A case for the third place – a cultural niche. The International Journal of Arts & Sciences (IJAS) Conference for Academic Disciplines. Orlando, Florida, USA

  • 29–31 Jan 2010
    Between two worlds: Understanding the world. A case for the ‘third place’. Second International Conference on the Development and Assessment of Intercultural Competence. Tucson, Arizona, USA

  • 17-19 Dec 2009
    Comparing bilinguals’ writing production in Arabic & English. International Conference on Bilingualism and Bilingual Education (presented jointly with P. Hassall, E. Osman & U. Walsh). American University of Sharjah, UAE

  • 7–9 August 2009
    The other ‘Other’: A portfolio assessment of intercultural competence. The 7th Asia TEFL & 29th Thailand TESOL International Conference: Creativity and Collaboration in English Language Teaching & Learning in Asia. Bangkok, Thailand

  • 18–20 June 2008
    Reflections on the experience of (inter)cultural learning – Portfolio assessment. The International Conference on Language Issues in English-medium Universities: A Global Concern. Hong Kong, China

  • Aug 30 – Sep 1, 2007
    Authenticity or duplicity – Teaching a Hidden Agenda. Assessing Language and (Inter-) Cultural Competencies in Higher Education International Bilingual – University of Turku, Finland

  • April 25, 2007
    Targeting the linguistic and cultural dimensions in the English language class. The Sixth Annual Conference for Teachers of English, Ajman Educational Zone, UAE

  • April 12–14, 2007
    Assessing the invisible: Exploring EFL Student Written Discourse. Investigating Social, Cognitive, or Socio-Cognitive Aspects of Second Language Acquisition. Conference – University of Auckland, New Zealand

  • March 16–18, 2006
    Cultural encounter: A culture of ‘Being’ versus a culture of ‘Doing’. Research Forum TESOL Arabia Conference – Dubai, UAE

  • Nov 14–16, 2005
    The other ‘Other’: The Familiar and Foreign ‘Other’. Inaugural International Conference on Teaching and Learning of English in Asia – Penang, Malaysia

  • Nov 4–6, 2005
    Third place: cultural niche. The 2005 Asia TEFL International Conference, TEFL for Asia: Unity within Diversity – Beijing, China

  • May 5, 2005
    Motivating EFL students & teaching without prejudice. The British Council, Abu Dhabi

  • March 30 – April 2, 2005
    Factors that influence UAE Students’ English language proficiency. Presented jointly with Midraj & Midraj at the 39th Annual TESOL Conference, San Antonio, Texas

  • June 11–13, 2004
    Intercultural mediation as a third place. The 3rd Joint International ELT Conference, Theory and Practice of TESOL – Trakya University, Inged, Turkey

  • Dec 15 – 16, 2003
    Linguistic hegemony: A cultural awareness & intercultural competence paradox. (Re-) locating TESOL in an age of empire – Aston University, Birmingham, UK

Reviews

  • 2013
    Editing Reviewer, The 4th International Conference on Argumentation, Rhetoric, Debate and the Pedagogy of Empowerment, Doha, Qatar

  • 2009
    Ad hoc reviewer. The Second TESOL International Conference on Bilingualism and Bilingual Education, the American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, U.A.E

  • 2008
    Ad hoc reviewer. The 14th Annual International TESOL Arabia Conference, Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai, U.A.E

  • 2007
    Ad hoc reviewer. The Twelfth Annual AUSACE International Conference, the College of Communication and Media Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, U.A.E

  • 2006
    Ad hoc reviewer. The 12th Annual International TESOL Arabia Conference, Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai, U.A.E

  • 2005
    Grant reviewer, Zayed University Research Fund Committee, Dubai, U.A.E

Panel Discussions

  • April 28, 2014
    Panelist, The role of the Arts of debate and open dialogue in the Arab region, Doha, Qatar

  • March 16 , 2015
    Panelist, Debate in academia and the field of work. Festival Debate, organized by The British Council, Georgetown University, Debate Mate & Qatar Debate, Doha, Qatar

  • Jan 12, 2013
    Panelist, Cross-cultural perspectives on debate and debating, the Fourth International Conference on Argumentation, Rhetoric, Debate and the Pedagogy of Empowerment: Thinking and Speaking a Better World, Doha, Qatar

  • Oct 26, 2010
    Panelist, Cultural Variation, Debate and Argument, General Session Panel. Third International Conference on Argumentation, Rhetoric, Debate and the Pedagogy of Empowerment. Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia

  • Aug 30 - Sep 1, 2007
    Moderator and participant, Round Table on Assessment of Language and (Inter-)Cultural Competencies (Conference on Assessing Language and (Inter-)Cultural Competencies in Higher Education), University of Turku, Finland

  • 13–14 Dec 2007
    Panelist, Moroccan Diaspora in the Gulf region: A socio-cultural dimension. The 5th Fundamentals of Investment: Moroccan Investors of the World, Actors of Economic Diplomacy. Rabat, Morocco

Membership In Academic Organizations

  • IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a foreign language)
  • TESOL Arabia (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages)
  • ASIA TESOL
  • Research Special Interest Group (SIG), UAE

Languages

  • Berber: Mother tongue
  • Moroccan Colloquial Arabic: Mother tongue
  • Gulf Arabic (Omani, Qatari, Saudi, UAE): Complete fluency
  • Modern Standard Arabic: Excellent understanding, reading and writing ability
  • English: Complete fluency
  • French: Excellent speaking, understanding, reading and writing ability