TESFL – Faculty Profiles

Dmitri Priven is Program Coordinator in the Teachers of English as a Second/Foreign Language program, where he is also a course instructor. He holds the OCELT accreditation by TESL Ontario, a M.A. in Applied Linguistics from York University, and is currently completing his Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics at Carleton University. He has extensive experience in all aspects of teaching adult ESL in Canada and internationally, having for the past 20 years taught in community-based programs, the private sector, and college and university programs. Dmitri has also been a teacher trainer at Algonquin and the University of Ottawa for over 10 years. His current research interests are form-focused instruction in English for Academic Purposes programs. He has also published on bilingual and heritage language education and teacher training in online synchronous environments in Language Learning and Technology, Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, and Journal for the Education of the Gifted. In 2013, Dmitri was finalist for Capital Educator Awards, and in 2020 received the Algonquin College Laurent Isabelle Teaching Excellence Award.

Iryna Kozlova, Ph.D., is a professor in the Teachers of English as a Second/Foreign Language program. She holds the OCELT and TESL Trainer accreditation from TESL Ontario, an M.A. in Teaching International Languages from California State University-Chico, and a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Georgia State University. As a language instructor and an instructor of Applied Linguistics, she has worked with students from diverse cultural, linguistic, and educational backgrounds including international students, immigrants, and both pre-service and in-service teachers in the United States, Canada, Ukraine, Russia, and Mongolia. Her teaching experience includes teaching courses in Applied Linguistics at the graduate, undergraduate, and TES/FL Certification levels, teaching ESL/EFL, and teaching Russian as a foreign and heritage language.

She also has extensive experience teaching and developing online courses and training online teachers. Her research interests include application of technology for second/foreign language teaching and learning, task-based learning, the use of second/foreign language spoken discourse in the classroom setting and in casual conversation. Dr. Kozlova was a recipient of the Teaching Achievement Award at Carleton University for innovative approach to university teaching. As part of an international team, she received an Honorable Mention in the International E-Learning category of the International e-Learning Association Awards for the project “Language Teaching and Learning in 3D Virtual Learning Environment”. Some of her articles were published in Language Learning and Technology, CONTACT, and Australian Journal of TESOL. She also has book chapters in several volumes on teaching and learning in virtual environments.

Diane Ramanathan, Professor

Diane Ramanathan has been an instructor in the Teachers of English as a Second/Foreign Language program since 2012. She holds the OCELT accreditation by TESL Ontario, a CERTESL Post Graduate Certificate from the University of Saskatchewan and B.A. from Lakehead University. She has extensive experience in all aspects of teaching adult ESL, having taught in community-based programs, the private sector, and college and university programs in Canada and abroad since 1996. She has been facilitating professional development training for ESL instructors in Canada for 6 years in her role as a member of the executive of the TESL Ontario local affiliate as well as online via the Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) funded platform Tutela.ca.

Marlaina Riggio, Professor

Marlaina Riggio began her love affair with teaching over 10 years ago. After completing her Bachelors in French Studies in Toronto, Canada, she spent a year abroad teaching English as a Second Language to learners of all ages in Seoul, South Korea. She then went on to pursue her Master’s in Education to further her understanding of second language teaching and acquisition. Currently, Marlaina is both a full-time English professor at La Cité and a teacher trainer in the Teachers of English as a Second/Foreign Language program at Algonquin College.

Since then, she has been an integral part of several curriculum development initiatives, including the creation and implementation of two new hybrid ESL courses and one elective TES/FL course. Additionally, she has integrated and developed various features of Brightspace, including an online English community for faculty members in order to facilitate communication and sharing of resources. She has also had the pleasure of conducting several pedagogical workshops in Canada, Mexico, and China. Marlaina’s teaching style nourishes the hidden strengths of her learners while challenging them to reach beyond their perceived limitations. You will leave her classes feeling inspired and confident.

Shahin Nematizadeh,
Ph.D., Professor

Shahin Nematizadeh holds a BA in English, an MA in Applied Linguistics with a specialization in TESL/TEFL, and a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies. He is also a Standard Level Three [permanent] TESL Canada and TESL Ontario certified instructor, and a TESL Ontario certified instructor/methodology trainer. He has over 18 years of combined experience teaching ESL, EAP, ESP, TESL/TEFL, Applied Linguistics courses in Iran, Russia (online) and in Canadian post-secondary institutions including Algonquin College, La Cité, Carleton University, and the University of Ottawa. Shahin has taught a number of language teacher training courses and workshops, as well as undergraduate Linguistics courses. He has also mentored practicum interns at Algonquin College, Carleton University, and University of Ottawa.

Shahin is a published researcher; his research is focused on the psychology of L2 learning, socio-cognitive and affective bases of L2 speech fluency, and L2 teacher education. He is currently lead investigator of three research projects with co-investigators in Canada, Australia, and Iran. His papers have appeared in the Canadian ELT, Canadian Modern Language Review, and Language Testing journals.

Krasi Maslenkova has been a faculty in the Teachers of English as a Second/Foreign Language program since 2019. She holds the OCELT and TESL Trainer accreditation by TESL Ontario, a Postgraduate Certificate in TESL from Algonquin College, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Burgas University, Bulgaria. She has extensive teaching experience in adult ESL in community-based programs in Canada since 2009. She has been a full-time ESL instructor with the Ottawa Catholic School Board for 9 years. In this position, she has gained substantial experience in teaching students from diverse cultural, educational, and linguistic backgrounds. Her main interest is in working with ESL Foundation Literacy students.

Karen Borland, Professor

Karen Borland has been a professor in the TESFL program at Algonquin College since 2019. She holds a PhD in Spanish (Linguistics) from the University of Ottawa, an MA in Linguistics from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, a BA (Hons.) in Spanish and Philosophy from Trent University, and a CERTESL from the University of Saskatchewan. She also has a TESL Ontario Trainer certificate in Theory and Methodology. Karen’s life as an ESL/EFL teacher began in South America (Chile and Brazil), and after nearly ten years abroad, she returned to Canada to further her career. She has taught and continues to teach a variety of students, from undergraduates and professors to business people and diplomats. Karen has extensive experience in the design and development of courses, namely grammar, pronunciation, academic writing, and listening and speaking — in both traditional and online formats. In addition, she is skilled in testing and evaluating speaking and writing skills (CanTEST, SLCT, CELPIP). She has attended conferences and published papers on Spanish pronunciation and the teaching of English pronunciation.

Christine Klatecki,
Professor

Christine Klatecki is an instructor in the Teachers of English as a Second Language/Foreign language program. She has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Waterloo, a TESOL Certificate from Acadia University and a Masters’ in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts at Boston. In addition, she has OCELT accreditation from TESL Ontario, as well as an online teaching certificate from the University of Calgary.

Chris started her career teaching young children, but more recently has been focused on teaching English to adults in the EAP (English for Academic Purposes) at Acadia University, and online settlement classes for ISANS (Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia) working with new immigrants to Canada. She has been teaching in the Teacher Education program at Acadia University for the past five years.

Chris has a specific interest in a number of areas. She has run workshops and given presentations on using UDL (Universal Design for Learning) with university students, EAP students and new immigrants. In addition, she has taken a number of classes in teaching pronunciation, reading, and writing as well as doing a research into factors that influence teachers’ effectiveness. Chris has also served on the boards of TESL Canada and TESL Nova Scotia and is currently the representative for TESL Ottawa on the TESL Ontario board. She attends conferences and workshops on all aspects of teaching English.

Dima Zaid-Kilani, Professor

Dima is a second-year doctoral full-time student in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies (ALDS) at Carleton University. She holds a Master’s in Education with a concentration in Second Language Education, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She has a Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language (TESFL). She is Ontario Certified English Language Teacher (OCELT), International Certificate in Teaching English as an Additional Language (ICTEAL), and an Ontario Certified English Language Trainer (OCELT).

She has taught English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and Communication at different post-secondary institutions in Ottawa since 2017. Additionally, she taught Language Instruction for New Comers (LINC) at the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB), and English as a second language (ESL) at the Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). She has provided academic leadership by working as an Academic Advisor in EAP since 2020. Much more recent academic leadership experience includes her role as an Acting EAP Coordinator for International and Canadian students at Algonquin College. Dima delivered several presentations at Canadian and international conferences.

This diverse experience and her passion for teaching and learning gave her an insightful perspective on the challenges that face novice ESL teachers, in particular, novice non-native teachers. Her research seeks to investigate novice ESL teacher’s retention and attrition in the Canadian context. She will look closely into the factors that affect novice teachers’ identity construction. Ultimately, her research findings will provide unique insight into current ESL issues in Canada, and more notably, suggest how any differences between native and non-native teachers’ experiences may impact non-native ESL teachers’ plans and conceptualizations of belonging within Canada.

Gufran Jafer, Professor

Gufran has taught a number of language teacher training courses as well as undergraduate communication courses at various departments. She has also mentored practicum interns at Algonquin College and La Cité.

Gufran is also a certified language assessment specialist and holds certificates in Portfolio-Based Language Assessment (PBLA), Canadian Language Benchmarks: ESL for Adult Literacy Learners (ALL), Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLBA), and Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT).

Patrick Chan, Professor

Patrick Chan is an experienced LINC/ESL instructor. Along with his OCELT and TESL Trainer accreditations, he has a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Western Ontario and is therefore an Ontario Certified Teacher qualified to teach the junior, intermediate and senior divisions. In addition, he has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Sociology (Combined Honours) from Carleton University and a Master of Education Degree from the University of Ottawa specializing in Society, Culture, and Literacies.

He has contributed to the TESL community by serving on various TESL Ontario executive boards and committees at both the provincial and the local affiliate level. He frequently participates in professional development by facilitating numerous professional development workshops and participating in the discourse of Ed Tech with educators all over the world. He also was an integral voice in many TESL discussions through his position of Social Media and Professional Development Coordinator at TESL Ontario. Finally, in 2018, he was the recipient of TESL Ontario’s Spark of Excellence award for his innovative teaching methods.

His students from all paths have truly enriched his career and they have inspired him to be the best educator he can possibly be. Their life stories along with their motivation to belong in societies across Canada advances his drive to make a difference in his professional life. He aspires to create a lasting and positive impact through education.