PhD in Applied Linguistics

The PhD program in Applied Linguistics prepares students to teach and conduct original research in the US and abroad. Students specialize in areas of applied linguistics, including teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), second language writing, language policy, sociolinguistics, corpus/computational linguistics, critical discourse analysis, second language acquisition, multimodal communication, and more. Past students have found positions in institutions of higher education, the US State Department and other governmental agencies, and in consulting in the multicultural workplace.

Students take courses in both TESOL and Applied Linguistics. Many courses are offered both online and in person. Students may also choose to pursue opportunities to teach abroad in the Czech Republic.

Students are active researchers. Students have recently presented research at Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International, American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL), Sociolinguistics Symposium, Second Language Research Forum, Tennessee TESOL, Southeast TESOL, and other regional, national and international conferences.

For more information about the PhD in Applied Linguistics program requirements, visit the Graduate Catalog.

Structure of the PhD Program

stage 1: coursework. stage 2: comps and prospectus. stage 3: thesis

When you begin the program, you will be assigned an advisor that will help you select courses and (if relevant) help you transfer in credits from your prior graduate studies. Students with a prior MA in Applied Linguistics, TESOL, or similar generally spend three semesters fulltime in coursework.

As you are completing your coursework, you will form a committee for the comprehensive exams and to write your research prospectus (the proposal for your dissertation research study). You can learn more about the PhD Comprehensive Exams and the PhD Prospectus expectations.

After you have defended your prospectus, the final stage of the program is researching, writing, and defending your dissertation.

Graduate Assistantships

There are limited opportunities for graduate assistantships. Assistantships can include teaching in the Department of English, assisting in research, or other opportunities. Students interested in a graduate assistantship can indicate that in their application to the PhD program. You can learn more about how to apply to the PhD program here and can learn more about assistantships here.

Applied Linguistics Coordinator:
Dr. Rebecca Adams
901.678.4892
radams4@memphis.edu

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Current PhD Students

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Alaa Alamri
B.A. in Applied Linguistics, University of Memphis
M.A. in Applied Linguistics, University of Memphis
Dissertation Title: Family Language Policy of Transnational Returnees: The Case of Arab Families Re-adapting to Mainstream Arab Society

My research interests include Family language policy (FLP), Bilingualism, and translanguaging. Apart from research, I am a teaching assistant in the English department at the University of Memphis, where I teach ENGL 1010 and ENGL1020. My inspiration to become a writing instructor stems in part from my summer 2018 teaching experience at the University of West Bohemia in the Czech Republic.

Hind Saheed Alghamdi — **Hind Saeed Alghamdi**
B.A. in English Language and Literature, Albaha University
M.A. in TESOL/TEFL, Southern New Hampshire University
Dissertation Title: *What Meaning That Western Tourists Make of Saudi Arabia: Youtube Videos' Positioning Analysis of Place-Identity in the Context of Change*

My research interest lies at the intersection of language, discourse analysis, place-identity, identity studies. I am particularly interested in exploring how language is used to construct and negotiate meanings and identities in different social and cultural contexts. My current research project explores the ways in which language contributes to the construction of place identity, particularly in the context of tourism in YouTube videos. I am a lecturer in English Department at Albaha University since 2016.

**Bakheet Almatrafi**
B.A. in English Language, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia
M.A. in TESOL, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Dissertation Title: *The Effectiveness of Translanguaging Written Corrective Feedback in English for Specific Purposes*

My research interests include second language acquisition, academic writing, discourse analysis, translanguaging and World Englishes. My current work explores the efficacy of translanguaging practices in the provision of written corrective feedback in academic writing. I have been a language instructor at Umm Al-Qura University since 2016, and currently working as a writing consultant at the CWC at the University of Memphis.

**Ahmed Alshammari**
B.A. in English Language, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
M.A. in TESOL, Southeast Missouri State University
Dissertation Title: *Investigating The Needs of Medical College Students at The English Language Center in Saudi Arabia*

My research interests include second language acquisition, Needs Analysis, English for Specific Purposes ESP, Task-Based Language teaching TBLT, Computer Assisted Language Learning CALL, and Academic Writing. My current work focuses on the needs of first-year medical college students in Saudi Arabia. I have been an active member of the TESOL International Association since 2016 and participated as a volunteer, presenter, and reviewer for several years. I have been a language instructor at Umm Al-Qura University since 2018, and currently working as a writing consultant at the Center for Writing and Communication CWC at the University of Memphis.

**Mughram Alshehri**
B.A. in Arabic Language and Literature, King Khalid University, KSA
M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language, Carson Newman University, USA
Dissertation Title: *Students, Teachers, and Policymakers' Perceptions Towards Teaching Saudi Dialect in L2 Arabic Classroom*

I am a lecturer at King Saud University, and I have taught Arabic as a second language for more than five years. My research interests include second language acquisition, second language teaching methodologies, Arabic diglossia, and language teaching and learning.

**Majed Alsulami**
B.A. in Arabic Language Studies, King Abdulaziz University, KSA
M.A. in Arabic Rhetoric, Imam University, KSA & M.A. in TESL, Carson-Newman University, USA
Dissertation Title: *Exploring Arabic as a Second Language (ASL) Learners’ Imagined Communities, Communities of Practice, and Investment in Learning ASL in Saudi Arabia*

My research interests include L2 identities, Bilingualism, and ASL teaching and learning. I am a lecturer at King Abdulaziz University since (2014), and I have taught Arabic as a second language to international students from different places and backgrounds.

**Elliott Burgess**
BBA/MBA in Marketing, Freed-Hardman University
M.A. in Applied Linguistics, University of Memphis
Dissertation Title: *Language Center Design: Community and Belonging for Refugees and Immigrants During COVID-19*

I am interested in exploring how space and place impacts the social and cultural aspects of English language learners. I've taught first year writing at The University of Memphis and Freed-Hardeman University and ESOL in Memphis and the Czech Republic.

**A. Egemen Curuk**
B.A. in English Language Teaching, Trakya University – Turkey
M.A. in Applied Linguistics, University of Groningen – Netherlands
Dissertation Title: *Implementation of Direct Corpus Applications to L2 Collaborative Writing Pedagogy: The Impact on Learner Interaction, Written Output and Development*

I am deeply interested in the field of computer assisted language learning (CALL) with a particular focus in the implementation of corpora and other Large Language Models (LLMs) in language classrooms. As an avid believer of the power of learner interaction, I am working on my dissertation that aims to analyze how corpora affects writing development and learner interaction focusing on Language Related Episodes and genre awareness. Additionally, I am also quite involved with interdisciplinary research within Natural Language Processing (NLP) concentrating on context-sensitive sentiment analysis.

Nabaz Kareem — **A. Egemen Curuk**
B.A. in English Language Teaching, Trakya University – Turkey
M.A. in Applied Linguistics, University of Groningen – Netherlands
Dissertation Title: *Implementation of Direct Corpus Applications to L2 Collaborative Writing Pedagogy: The Impact on Learner Interaction, Written Output and Development*

I am deeply interested in the field of computer assisted language learning (CALL) with a particular focus in the implementation of corpora and other Large Language Models (LLMs) in language classrooms. As an avid believer of the power of learner interaction, I am working on my dissertation that aims to analyze how corpora affects writing development and learner interaction focusing on Language Related Episodes and genre awareness. Additionally, I am also quite involved with interdisciplinary research within Natural Language Processing (NLP) concentrating on context-sensitive sentiment analysis.

Ira Madaki — **Iratishe Madaki**
B.A. in English, Taraba State University, Nigeria
M.A. in Applied Linguistics, University of Memphis
Dissertation Title: *Role of Translanguaging among Multilingual Learners at the University Level in Nigeria and the Implications for Teaching and Learning in Multilingual Classrooms*

My Research Areas of Interest are in Translanguaging and Multilingual Education, Language Policy, Speech Perception and Second Language Acquisition. I taught English language in Nigeria and received the Fulbright Scholarship to teach Hausa Language in the United States at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.

PhD in Applied Linguistics

Structure of the PhD Program

Graduate Assistantships

Current PhD Students

Alumni

Alumni