Supervision of student research
The types of student research I supervise generally depend on the academic level of the project (e.g., PhD dissertation, MA thesis, undergraduate honours essay) and the role I am to play in supervising (director of research, member of committee, external examiner, etc.).
If I am to be the director of a dissertation on the PhD level or the director of a thesis on the MA level, the student must work on a project that is closely related to the topics I have explored in my previous publications or on which I am currently working (see "Publications" link under "Research" above). In general, these are qualitative, macrosociolinguistic studies in the field of World Englishes that deal with a range of aspects (globalization, transnational media, the business domain, education/language pedagogy, second language acquisition, etc.) concerning the global spread of English and the language's impact in Germany/Europe or other parts of the world.
I can serve as the member of a PhD or MA committee and an external examiner for dissertations dealing more broadly with topics in (qualitative) sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, foreign language pedagogy, and the use of technology in language instruction.
On the undergraduate level, I supervise honours essays on a broader range of topics in (qualitative) sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, foreign language pedagogy, and the use of technology in instruction.
If you are interested in possibly working under my supervision on a research project, please first familiarize yourself with the range of topics I have explored in my publications and conference presentations, which are listed in the links under "Research" above. It may also be helpful if you review the types of student projects I am currently supervising or have supervised in the past. These are listed below.
If your own interests are in line with these topics, send me an e-mail message briefly outlining your academic background and detailing potential research topics you think you might like to work on.
If I am to be the director of a dissertation on the PhD level or the director of a thesis on the MA level, the student must work on a project that is closely related to the topics I have explored in my previous publications or on which I am currently working (see "Publications" link under "Research" above). In general, these are qualitative, macrosociolinguistic studies in the field of World Englishes that deal with a range of aspects (globalization, transnational media, the business domain, education/language pedagogy, second language acquisition, etc.) concerning the global spread of English and the language's impact in Germany/Europe or other parts of the world.
I can serve as the member of a PhD or MA committee and an external examiner for dissertations dealing more broadly with topics in (qualitative) sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, foreign language pedagogy, and the use of technology in language instruction.
On the undergraduate level, I supervise honours essays on a broader range of topics in (qualitative) sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, foreign language pedagogy, and the use of technology in instruction.
If you are interested in possibly working under my supervision on a research project, please first familiarize yourself with the range of topics I have explored in my publications and conference presentations, which are listed in the links under "Research" above. It may also be helpful if you review the types of student projects I am currently supervising or have supervised in the past. These are listed below.
If your own interests are in line with these topics, send me an e-mail message briefly outlining your academic background and detailing potential research topics you think you might like to work on.
Current and past student advisees
PhD Students (Director of Research)
PhD Students (Director of Research)
1. Bouchra Kachoub, in progress, Thesis topic: English in the Expanding Circle: The
Multilingual Context of Morocco, Department of Linguistics, SFU.
2. Rima Ibata, 2016, Thesis title: English Language Learning in Japan: Representations of the
English Language and the Worlds of English Language Users, Department of Linguistics, SFU.
3. Anyuta Eddy, 2007, Thesis title: English in the Russian Context: A Macrosociolinguistic
Study, Department of Classical and Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures,
Wayne State University.
Multilingual Context of Morocco, Department of Linguistics, SFU.
2. Rima Ibata, 2016, Thesis title: English Language Learning in Japan: Representations of the
English Language and the Worlds of English Language Users, Department of Linguistics, SFU.
3. Anyuta Eddy, 2007, Thesis title: English in the Russian Context: A Macrosociolinguistic
Study, Department of Classical and Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures,
Wayne State University.
PhD Students (Member of Dissertation Committee)
1. Susan Russell, Ph.D. 2009, Thesis title: Ways of Talking Halkomelem: Interaction in
Classroom Procedural Talk, Department of Linguistics, Simon Fraser University. External
internal examiner.
2. Candace Gardner, Ph.D. 2006, Thesis title: Infinite Optimism: Friedrich J. Bertuch’s
Pioneering Translation (1775-77) of Don Quixote, Department of German & Slavic Studies,
Wayne State University.
Classroom Procedural Talk, Department of Linguistics, Simon Fraser University. External
internal examiner.
2. Candace Gardner, Ph.D. 2006, Thesis title: Infinite Optimism: Friedrich J. Bertuch’s
Pioneering Translation (1775-77) of Don Quixote, Department of German & Slavic Studies,
Wayne State University.
MA Students (Director of Research)
1. Lisa Shorten, 2017, Thesis title: Private English Schools at the Inner/Expanding Circle
Interface, Department of Linguistics, SFU.
Interface, Department of Linguistics, SFU.
MA in Language Learning Students (Director of Essay)
1. Sawsan Awad, M.A. Fall 2007, “The Teaching of Culture in the Foreign Language
Curriculum,” Department of Near Eastern and Asian Studies, Wayne State University.
2. Lisa Pasternak, M.A. Summer 2007, “Foreign Language Instruction in the Elementary
School,” Department of Romance Languages, Wayne State University.
3. Michelle Strasser (Rosati), M.A. Summer 2005, “Incorporating Film into German Language
Instruction,” Department of German & Slavic Studies, Wayne State University.
4. Holly L. Walker-Coté, M.A. Spring 2005, “Bi-dialectal Students in the Urban American
Language Classroom,” Department of Romance Languages, Wayne State University.
5. Stephanie Yount, M.A. Fall 2004, “An Integrative Approach for Teaching Reading to Young
Children in a Two-Way Bilingual Immersion,” Department of Romance Languages, Wayne
State University.
Curriculum,” Department of Near Eastern and Asian Studies, Wayne State University.
2. Lisa Pasternak, M.A. Summer 2007, “Foreign Language Instruction in the Elementary
School,” Department of Romance Languages, Wayne State University.
3. Michelle Strasser (Rosati), M.A. Summer 2005, “Incorporating Film into German Language
Instruction,” Department of German & Slavic Studies, Wayne State University.
4. Holly L. Walker-Coté, M.A. Spring 2005, “Bi-dialectal Students in the Urban American
Language Classroom,” Department of Romance Languages, Wayne State University.
5. Stephanie Yount, M.A. Fall 2004, “An Integrative Approach for Teaching Reading to Young
Children in a Two-Way Bilingual Immersion,” Department of Romance Languages, Wayne
State University.
MA Students (Member of MA Committee)
1. Arwa Alosaimi, 2019, Thesis title: Diglossia and Codeswitching among Public Figures in the
Arabian Gulf Region, Department of Linguistics, SFU.
2. Pocholo Umbal, 2018, Thesis title: The Canadian Shift among Filipinos in Metro Vancouver,
Department of Linguistics, SFU.
3. Cassidy Foxcroft, 2016, Thesis title: Including Indigenous Languages in Education: An
Analysis of Canadian Policy Documents, Department of Linguistics, SFU.
4. Diverson Mzemba, 2010, Department of French, Simon Fraser University.
5. Chuck Chambers, 2007, Department of German & Slavic Studies, Wayne State University.
6. Nicholas Ostrau, 2006, Department of German & Slavic Studies, Wayne State University.
7. Maria Raica, 2004, Department of Romance Languages, Wayne State University.
Arabian Gulf Region, Department of Linguistics, SFU.
2. Pocholo Umbal, 2018, Thesis title: The Canadian Shift among Filipinos in Metro Vancouver,
Department of Linguistics, SFU.
3. Cassidy Foxcroft, 2016, Thesis title: Including Indigenous Languages in Education: An
Analysis of Canadian Policy Documents, Department of Linguistics, SFU.
4. Diverson Mzemba, 2010, Department of French, Simon Fraser University.
5. Chuck Chambers, 2007, Department of German & Slavic Studies, Wayne State University.
6. Nicholas Ostrau, 2006, Department of German & Slavic Studies, Wayne State University.
7. Maria Raica, 2004, Department of Romance Languages, Wayne State University.
Directed Studies (BA Students)
1. Simone Kurschner, 2019, Honours Essay: Best Practices for Teaching Second Languages to
Children, Department of Linguistics, Simon Fraser University.
2. Emily Bragg, 2016, Directed Study: Non-Normative Gender Construction in
Language, Department of Linguistics, Simon Fraser University.
3. Lisa Shorten, 2011, Directed Study: English in Japan, Department of Linguistics, Simon
Fraser University.
Children, Department of Linguistics, Simon Fraser University.
2. Emily Bragg, 2016, Directed Study: Non-Normative Gender Construction in
Language, Department of Linguistics, Simon Fraser University.
3. Lisa Shorten, 2011, Directed Study: English in Japan, Department of Linguistics, Simon
Fraser University.
Undergraduate Research Project Grant
1. Susanna Sellmar, 2004 – not completed, “Second
Language Interference in the Literacy
Skill in an Immersion School,” Department of German & Slavic Studies, Wayne State
University. (ca. $3000)
Skill in an Immersion School,” Department of German & Slavic Studies, Wayne State
University. (ca. $3000)