Irfana Hafeez

About me:

I am a postgraduate research student at the school of Education at the University of Exeter. I am currently developing my EDD proposal on Teaching and Learning English as a Foreign Language and the Influence of Language Policy on Teachers & Learners.

Teaching is the most rewarding aspect of my professional career. My philosophy of teaching is to provide a classroom environment where students are encouraged to express their own ideas and to develop critical thinking in them.

In my personal philosophy of teaching, I believe that it is important to know about the latest teaching trends. It is very empowering for me to understand the theories associated with my field and to be able to reflect on those theories in my teaching approach.

As an EFL teacher and post graduate student, I strongly believe to engage myself in continuous professional development opportunities and at the same time to share my own experiences as an EFL expert with English language community.

Research Unit:
TESOL
Research Project:

Teaching and Learning English as a Foreign Language among Kashmiri Teachers and the Influence of Language Policy on Teachers & Learners

The purpose of this research is to investigate the experience of Kashmiri English teachers in learning English as a second language in their educational time period i.e. school, college and university level, and how it has influenced them when they embarked on their journey of teaching as an ESL teacher.

I expect my investigation to highlight the TESL experiences of English teachers in Azad Kashmir, the factors which influence the current linguistic situation in public universities, and critical issues pertaining to English language learning and teaching due to the language policy from the government. I also expect my investigation to provide insight into the students’ experience of learning English, and its impact on their academic life. The investigation mainly aims to find out the reasons behind lack of acquisition of productive skills in English language learning in spite of being taught at school level.

The study will be an attempt to focus on the educational shortcomings which may have given limited opportunities to learn English productively. And also the deficiencies which teachers face while teaching English as a second language.

The results of the study are expected to be significant in better understanding the experience of TESL teachers and influence of educational policy on teachers as well as on the students of Azad Jammu & Kashmir in four public universities.

Research Supervisory team:

Dr Salah Troudi

Professional/research experience:

November 2008 August 2017

Saudia Arabia

Lecturer

King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences

Education:

January 2017 January 9999

Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA)
British Council, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Masters in Language & Literature
Linguistics & Literature, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Bachelors in Education
Education, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Bachelors in Arts
Arts, Punjab University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
London Teacher Training College, UK, K.S.A

English Language Teaching Course
TESOL Arabia Conference, Dubai, U.A.E

Learners' Motivation; A short Intensive course for teachers of English
British Council, Jeddah, K.S.A

Blackboard Training Course Delivery Essentials
King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Science, Jeddah, K.S.A

Professional Development:

2015-11-00

Workshop-How to Use Samrtboard in Classroom

College of Basic Science & Health Professions

King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences

2014-11-05

Conferences/Symposiums- Teachers Views on Usefulness of Technology and Integration of Interactive White Board

University of Exeter

2013-12-00

Project-Cultures Around the World & Grammar

EFL students' project on different cultures around the world focusing on the effective use of language structures learned during the course. In the project, students shared their views by integrating the concepts learned in the course in order to demonstrate the practical aspect of the course.

Students talked about different cultures and displayed their work in form of food, dresses, and popular customs related to specific culture.

2010-10-00

Presentation-Process Of Writing

Presentation on Steps involved in writing in King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences