Raj Khatri

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Raj Khatri
Raj Khatri,
PhD (Linguistics); MA; MED (TESL)

Biography

Professor of EAP-SoTL, Raj has been facilitating EAP classes and mentoring pre-service TESL teachers for over two decades now in an inclusive, student-centred environment at institutions of higher education in Canada and abroad. In addition to helping prepare global citizenship via his facilitation of EAP and teacher training classes and developing inclusive curricula that are grounded on principles of second language education, adult learning, universal design for learning (UDL) and EDI, Raj has been carrying out research in the areas of scholarship of EAP teaching and learning. His SoTL research, as Raj discusses, has been critical to improving his instructional practices through evidence-based teaching and reflective practice in his classrooms. His areas of research include second language reading, reading strategy use, task-based learning, UDL, and adult EAP students with disabilities as well as SoTL and mixed-method research.  

Committed to lifelong learning, Raj regularly attends and presents at local and international conferences and reaches academic and public audiences through his scholarly and professional writing in the field of TESOL and applied linguistics. Awarded the 2023 George Brown College SoTL Scholar Award, Raj also serves the SoTL-ESL Committee as Co-Chair and the SoTL-ESL News as Editor and has been engaged in mentoring colleagues and sharing his knowledge with and learning from colleagues at the department and beyond. Earlier this year at the annual conference in Dubai, TESOL Arabia recognized Raj as one of the 50 founding members of TESOL Arabia’s re-affiliation with TESOL in 2023.

In the process of supporting student success and building strong communities, Raj continues to stay committed to advancing diversity, inclusion, equity, and access in his classrooms and beyond in many ways. As part of his commitment to giving back to his community and promoting global citizenship, Raj has been voluntarily working with local and international organizations on a variety of initiatives, including his involvement in Plan International Canada’s ‘Because I am a girl’ initiative from 2016 until 2023 to advance gender and social justice in Nepal and his mentoring of internationally trained educators at WoodGreen Community Services in 2021. Moreover, Raj has sought, on many occasions, to ensure that his teacher-colleagues, who belong to and serve underrepresented communities, including Nepal, also have access to the resources and services in the field of TESOL and applied linguistics. He has been mentoring these colleagues, using his own time and resources. One of his collaborative research projects conducted in Nepal was shared at the TESOL 2023 Annual Convention and Language Expo in Portland, Oregon.  

Raj is grateful to receive their continued support from his colleagues at GBC and beyond! 

Academic Credentials

  • PhD, Linguistics, University of Victoria, 2022
  • Certificate, TESOL Training of Trainers, TESOL International, 2015
  • Certificate, Special Education, Queen’s University, 2011
  • MEd, Teaching English as a Second Language, University of Central Oklahoma, 2008
  • BEd, English Education, Tribhuvan University, 2003
  • MA, English, University of Mumbai, 2001
  • BA, Economics, University of Mumbai, 1999

Areas of Specialization

  • English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
  • Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
  • Universal design for learning (UDL)
  • Critical reading; mixed-methods research 

Areas of Expertise

  • Second language reading
  • Reading strategy use
  • EAP students with disabilities
  • SoTL
  • Mixed-methods research design 

Career Highlights

  • 2019 – Present - Professor (EAP-SoTL), School of ESL and Immigrant Education, George Brown College 
  • 2014 – 2019 – TESL Practicum Supervisor, Department of Linguistics, University of Victoria
  • 2014 – 2015 – ELD Instructor, Camosun College
  • 2012 – 2014 - ESL Instructor III, University of Regina
  • 2010 – 2011 – ESL/Literacy & Basic Skills Instructor, Toronto Catholic District School Board
  • 2010 – 2011 – ELL Professor, Centennial College 
  • 2011 – 2011 – ESL Instructor, Seneca College
  • 2009 – 2011 – ESL Instructor, Omnicom School of Languages
  • 2003 – 2005 – English Lecturer, Tribhuvan University 
  • 2001 – 2004 – English Teacher, Graded English Medium English School

Other Activities

Professional Engagement:

  • Master of Ceremonies (MC), Applied Linguistics Fair, University of Victoria, 2019
  • Member-At-Large, Saskatchewan Teachers of English as an Additional Language, 2014
  • Member, Nomination Committee, Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 2012

Accreditation and Memberships: 

  • George Brown College REB Member, George Brown College, 2023 
  • Co-Chair, SoTL-ESL Committee, George Brown College, 2019 – Current  
  • TESL Canada Standard III Permanent Certified Member, TESL Canada, 2009 - Current 
  • TESL Ontario Accredited Member, 2009 – 2023 
  • TESOL International Association, 2007 – Current 
  • Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) Member, 2010 – 2022 
  • Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board Professional ‘A,’ 2014 - 2019 
  • STLHE Member, 2012 - Current 
  • Member-At-Large, Saskatchewan Teachers of English as an Additional Language, 2014 
  • Member, Nomination Committee, Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE), 2012 

Adjudicator/ Conference Proposals Reviewer:

  • STLHE Educational Grant Reviewer, Fall and Spring 2022 
  • Alternative Reviewer, Curriculum Developers Affinity Group’s (CDAG) Research, Innovation, and Scholarship (RIS), 2022 
  • Judge, The Betty Azar Travel Grant for Practising ESL-EFL Teacher, TESOL International Association, 2018 
  • TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo Annual Conference, 2015 – 2019, 2023 
  • New York State TESOL Annual Conference, 2022 and 2023 
  • STLHE Annual Conference, 2017 and 2022 
  • TESOL Arabia Annual Conference, 2017 
  • TESOL Regional Singapore Conference, 2015 
  • TESL Canada Conference, 2012 and 2014 

Journal/ Newsletter Reviewer:

  • Editor, SoTL-ESL News, George Brown College, 2019 – Current 
  • Co-Editor, Applied Linguistics Forum, TESOL International Association, 2023 – Current 
  • Reviewer, International Journal of TESOL Studies, Shanghai, 2021 
  • Indonesian TESOL Journal, 2019 
  • BC TEAL (Association of BC Teaching English as an Additional Language) Journal, 2016 
  • BC TEAL Newsletter, 2013 

Travel Grants

  • STLHE Annual Conference Student Bursary, STLHE, 2022 
  • Department of Linguistics Teaching Assistant Travel Grant, University of Victoria, 2016, 2017, and 2018 
  • Graduate Student Travel Grant, University of Victoria, 2014, 2017, and 2022 
  • CUPE 4163 Conference Award, University of Victoria, 2017 and 2018 

Awards

  •  
  • The George Brown College SoTL Scholar Award, 2023 
  • The Betty Azar Travel Grant for Practising ESL-EFL Teacher, TESOL International, 2018 
  • The TESOL Professional Development Scholarship, TESOL International, 2017 
  • The TESOL Award: Tourism Toronto Travel Grant, TESOL International, 2015 
  • The Mary Ashworth Scholarship, British Columbia Teachers of English as an Additional Language, 2017 
  • The President’s Beyond Borders SIAF (Student International Activities Fund) Award, University of Victoria, 2017 
  • The Student International Activities Asia Supplement Award, University of Victoria, 2017 
  • The Geoffrey & Alix O’Grady Award for Academic Excellent in Linguistics, University of Victoria, 2016 
  • University of Victoria Fellow, 2014 
  • Graduate Student Award, University of Victoria, 2014 - 2019 
  • Summa Cum Laude, University of Central Oklahoma, 2008 
  • President’s Honor Roll: Spring, University of Central Oklahoma, 2008 
  • President’s Honor Roll: Spring & Fall, University of Central Oklahoma, 2007 
  • President’s Honor Roll: Fall University of Central Oklahoma, 2006 
  • The Arts and Sciences Graduate Scholarship, Oklahoma City University, 2006 
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Publications