Dr. Anastasia Khawaja is an assistant professor of English in the Language Center on the Ramallah Campus. She is also an TESL/TEFL teacher trainer and curriculum developer for various English for Specific Purposes courses including the Medical English courses and the English for Academic Purposes of graduate students. She holds a PhD in Second Language Acquisition and Instructional Technology from the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL USA. She also has a masters degree in Multilingual/Multicultural Education and a dual bachelors degee in general music and the Spanish language from Florida State University, Tallahasee, FL, USA. With over 20 years of teaching experience, Dr. Anastasia has taught in the United States, Peru, South Korea, the UAE, and Palestine. She has held various leadership roles in TESOL related organizations including chair roles for various professional councils within TESOL International Association, the most recent being chair elect for the Justice and Equity Professional Council. Dr. Anastasia is a also a well-known speaker having spoken in presentations, featured talks, and key note speeches all around the world. Her research interests focus on implementing Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) framework alongside intersectional practices in educational practices which emphasize addressing systematic barriers and fostering inclusivity. Dr. Anastasia has co authored several book chapters the most recent ones forthcoming in volumes about humanizing language teaching and navigating identity and power in virtual spaces.
Academic Experience
ARAB AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, RAMALLAH, PALESTINE
Assistant Professor October 2023-present
● Developing and teaching curriculum for first-fifth semester Medical English
classes
● Developing and teaching curriculum for Business English students
● Developing and teaching English curriculum for graduate students.
● Developing and teaching curriculum for English for Nursing students.
ARAB AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, RAMALLAH, PALESTINE
Assistant Professor Part Time October 2022-September 2023
● Developing and teaching curriculum for first and second semester Medical English
classes
● Developing and teaching curriculum for Business English students
● Developing and teaching curriculum for graduate students in Interpersonal
Communication.
● Developing and teaching curriculum for graduate students in Intercultural Communication
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA USA
Adjunct Professor - English Composition August 2016-present
- Teaching ENC 1102 Second Semester Composition
- Teaching ENC 1101 First Semester Composition
- Teaching both courses online since Fall 2022 using innovative and collaborative teaching methodologies to build community despite the classes being completely asynchronous.
JOURNAL OF EDUCATION IN MUSLIM SOCIETIES, USA
Research and Publishing Mentor April 2021 – present
- Working with new scholars to get their global education studies published in the journal.
INTO USF , UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, USA
Assistant Professor of Instruction – ELP August 2011-December 2022
- Part time administrative position to assist with CEA accreditation for INTO (Fall 2021)
- Part time administrative position to work on EAP curriculum (Spring 2020)
- Designed and taught new upper level career readiness elective in Academic English (Fal 2021)
- Co-developed and co-launched new English for Academic Purposes course for first semester pathway graduate program students.
- Re-designed and taught Advanced Business Topics in Academic English.
- Taught all levels and classes in the General English and Academic English program.
- Qualified SPEAK Test Rater.
- Developed supplemental material for ESL/EFL students at all levels.
HUMANITIES AND CULTURAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, USA
Adjunct Instructor – American Culture August 2014-December 2020
- Taught HUM 1020, Introduction to Humanities to both Pathway program and domestic students.
- Taught AMS2270, Twentieth Century American Culture to both Pathway program and domestic students.
ETS TOEFL IBT Rater – Writing Section
Qualified Writing Rater October 2012-August 2019
- Rating the TOEFL ibt writing section.
HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ESL Summer Adjunct May 2012-Aug 2015
- Taught a variety of ESL student courses ranging in proficiency levels and skills.
INTO USF , UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, USA
English, TOEFL, IELTS Tutor – ELP August 2011-August 2015
- Tutoring for Academic English Programs, General English, and English for Academic Purposes in the areas of speaking, writing, reading, and TOEFL Ibt, and IELTS test prep.
HAMDAN BIN MOHAMED E UNIVERSITY, DUBAI, UAE
English Instructor – ELP September 2010-May 2011
- Taught test prep for ELP levels 1 and 2 for TOEFL pbt,, Ibt, and IELTS. • Developed and implemented lessons for debating skills.
AL GHURAIR UNIVERSITY, DUBAI, UAE
Writing Center Coordinator, English Lecturer April 2009-June 2011
- Responsible for running the university writing center Developing beginning level curriculum for university writing.
- Taught listening and speaking for the ELP.
- Responsible for teaching special test prep courses in TOEFL and IELTS. • Co-developed, ran and presented two ESL writing/reading studies using Arab students.
YEUNGJIN COLLEGE DAEGU ENGLISH VILLAGE, SOUTH KOREA
Visiting English Professor August 2008-December 2008
- Co-developed and implemented special adult curriculum in Business English.
- Co-developed and implemented special weekend advanced children!s English programs.
- Co-teacher for the art room - in charge of all lesson planning for the art room. Substitute teacher for the music classes.
EXTREME ENGLISH CENTER, AREQUIPA, PERU
Interim Academic Director May 2008-July 2008
- Developed and adapted curriculum and assessments from basic kids to advanced adults using a range of British and US ESL curriculum as a basis.
- Also taught various levels of English from kids basic to advanced adult.
DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS, FSU, USA
Spanish Teaching Assistant August 2007-April 2008
- Taught college undergraduate students in basic Spanish classes using the Sol y Viento program which utilizes Processing Instruction and Input Processing.
CENTER FOR INTENSIVE ENGLISH STUDIES, FSU, USA
English Instructor and Activities Coordinator April 2007-April 2008
- Taught international college and adult students in grammar, composition, reading, speaking, and listening so that they may pass the TOEFL test and be accepted to an American university for further studies.
- In charge of all student trips and the conversation partner program.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, TAMPA, FL USA
August 2011 – August 2019
Ph/D SLA/IT
Dissertation: Occupation and Displacement of Palestinian Multilinguals: Language Emotional Perception, Language Practice, and Language Experiences in Palestine and in the Diaspora
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, TAMPA, FL USA
January 2013-May 2018
Graduate Certificate – Women and Gender Studies
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, TALLAHASSEE, FL, USA.
June 2005 – April 2007
Master of Science – Multilingual Multicultural Education
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, TALLAHASSEE, FL, USA.
June 2000 – August 2003
Bachelor of Arts – Music and Spanish.
Skills
Awards
Languages
English
Arabic
Spanish
Arabic
Spanish
Courses Taught
Medical English I
Medical English II
Medical English III
Medical English IV
Medical English V
Medical English VI
Medical English VII
Medical English VIII
Creative Writing I
Creative Writing II
Business English
English for Academic Purposes - Graduate Students
Intercultural Communication - Social Sciences Graduate Students
Interpersonal Communication - Social Sciences Graduate Students
Comparative Literature - Social Sciences Graduate Students