MA (Gauhati) PhD (Gauhati) Fulbright-Nehru Academic & Professional Excellence Fellow (San Diego)
ELT
Department of English Language Teaching
Gauhati University, Guwahati, 781014
Email: padminiboruah[at]gauhati[dot]ac[dot]in
Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship (2019-20)
British Council ELT Research Project Award 2016
Ray Tongue Scholarship for IATEFL Harrogate, 2010
S Krishnamurthy Prize for best performance (CIEFL, Hyderabad), 2004
Ph. D. (Applied Linguistics), Gauhati University, 2007: Manifestations of transfer in the acquisition of English as a second language by Assamese learners
Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching of English (PGDTE), CIEFL (Now EFLU), Hyderabad, 2004
Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching of English (PGDTE), CIEFL (Now EFLU), Hyderabad, 2002
Post Graduate Diploma in English Teaching (PGDET), Gauhati University, 1995
M.A. (English), Gauhati University, 1992
Multilingual Education (MLE) and English language education (ELE) policy and practice
English language teacher education
Continung professional development (CPD) of English teachers and teacher educators
English language pedagogy & materials development for ELT
Fulbright-Nehru APE Project
Developing critical consciousness in teacher candidates working alongside refugee-background students
Major research project
Gauhati University - Commonwealth of Learning, Canada Project CA-139 on Developing a Diploma fin ELT with ICT Skills for Primary teachers of English (with IDOL, Gauhati University) (2013-14)
Minor Research Project
British Council ELT Research Project Award 2016
Hornby Alumni Project 2003-4
Minor research projects
Horby Alumni Project on Effective Use of Teaching Materials (2003-04)
British Council English Language Teachers Research Project (ELTReP) on Investigation ELT practitioners' perceptions of Materials Development as an effective CPD activity (2016-17)
IATEFL TE-SIG, University of Warwick, AINET & others Classroom based research EVO project titled Towards developing MA ELT students' academic writing skills: an exploratory classroom research project (2017)
Project participation as academic consultant
Moirang College, Manipur & ELT Consultancy Cell, Gauhati University project on B.A. ELt syllabus development
Open University, U.K. DFID & British Council, India TESS-India (Teacher Education for School-based Support in India) project on Development of Open Educational Resources for teachers (2013-14)
Commonwealth of Learning, Canada Open Educational Resources for ELT (2011) (http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/688)
Commonwealth of Learning, Canada - Government of Sri Lanka Project on Adoption of ELT OERs in schools (2015)
TESOL International, USA, Member
International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL), U.K., Member
All India Network of English teachers (AINET), Executive Member
English Language Teachers' Association of India (ELTAI), Donor member
ELT Research Advisory Group, British Council, Member
Linguistic Society of India (LSI), Life member
State Level Advisory Group for English, Assam, Member
Explicit teaching of comprehension strategies for improving reading comprehension skills and motication of intermediate EFL students in Gilan province of Iran: and intervention study Ramin Hosseinpour Milaghardan (2017)
2020
NCERT Working Paper on Language Education Consultative Meetings, September – December, 2020, Department of Languages in Education, NCERT, New Delhi
Decolo
Pedagogical Action Research. Invited Talk at TLC, 15 October 2020, Tezpur University, Tezpur
English Language Teaching in the Classroom and Beyond: Examining Policy, Pedagogy, Perspectives and Practice in 21st Century India. Keynote address, 21-22 August, 2020, Webinar on Language Teaching Beyond Classroom: Issues and Perspectives, Centre for Linguistics, School of Languages, Literature and Culture Studies, JNU, New Delhi
Motivating and Keeping Students Engaged during Online Learning. Invited Talk, 18 July, 2020, KRB Girls’ College, Guwahati
Convergences and Divergences between the American (US) and Indian Higher Education Systems. Invited Talk, 8th July, 202, Arya Vidyapeeth College, Guwahati
Fulbright Nehru Fellowship Opportunities Webinar, Panelist, 14 July, 2020, USIEF Kolkata
Valuing our Identity and Culture While Using the English Textbook, 7 July, 2020, National Webinar, AINET Association of English Teachers, India
Ethnographic Methods in Fulbright Research, Panelist at the Fullbridge Ethnography Workshop, 19 May, 2020, California, USA
Fulbright Enrichment Seminar, 5-7 March, 2020, Kansas City, USA
English Language Teaching In India: Perspectives, Perceptions and Practices. Invited talk by University of Hawaii at Manoa, 16 January, 2020, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
How we Negotiate and Navigate English: Some thoughts from contemporary North East India. Invited talk at Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, 16 January, 2020, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
A Glimpse of India Beyond Bollywood. Invited talk by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, (RPCV), Hawaii, 15 January, 2020, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Visibility as Validation: Culturally Responsive Materials Development: A Case Study. Presentation at the International IAFOR Conference, 12 January, 2020, International Academic Forum (IAFOR), Japan, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
2019
Using an Asset Based Perspective with University Bound International Students (ISs). English Language Academy, 20 December, 2019, University of San Diego, California USA
Contemporary educational policies in India and the legacy of English as a post-colonial language. Invited Talk by School of Leadership and Educational Sciences (SOLES), 20 December, 2019 University of San Diego, California USA
English and English Language Teaching in India. Invited Talk by School of Leadership and Educational Sciences (SOLES), 13 December, 2019, SOLES, University of San Diego, California, USA
Symposium on Indigenous Language Communities of the Californias. University of California San Diego, 21 November, 2019, San Diego, California, USA
Taking the Action Research Route to Developing Multicultural Pedagogy Awareness. Presentation at the California TESOL Conference, November, 2019
2018
Supporting teacher-friendly practitioner research: some practical tips on writing research reports at the 53rd RELC Conference, Singapore, 12- 14 March, 2018
Teachers as Researchers: Doing Exploratory Action Research at the MHRD short-term programme on Motivating undergraduate students to acquire reading and writing skills in English organized by North Guwahati College in collaboration with TLC, Tezpur University, 14 - 16 February, 2018
Integrating language skills in the English classroom at the MHRD short-term programme on Motivating undergraduate students to acquire reading and writing skills in English organized by North Guwahati College in collaboration with TLC, Tezpur University, 14 - 16 February, 2018
Participating in MOOCs: An exciting new CPD activity In the 4th AINET International Conference on the theme Future of ELE – Perceptions and Perspectives, AINET, India, MEET, Mumbai and T.P. Bhatia College of Science, Mumbai, 2-3 February, 2018
Problems of learning English as a second language: a discussion in the National Workshop on Addressing the Problems in Second Language Learning: Special focus on Assamese and English teaching in Assam organized by H.B.P. Girls’ College, Golaghat in collaboration with TLC, Tezpur University, 18 to 20 January, 2018
Methodology of teaching English to older learners in the National Workshop on Addressing the Problems in Second Language Learning: Special focus on Assamese and English teaching in Assam organized by H.B.P. Girls’ College, Golaghat in collaboration with TLC, Tezpur University, 18 to 20 January, 2018
UGC-HRDC Orientation and Refresher courses for college and university teachers and research scholars Language and Gender at the UGC-HRDC Staff College, Gauhati University, 9 January, 2018
2017
Workshop on Teachers as Researchers: Doing Exploratory Action research, National Seminar on Macaulay to globalization: Shifting Perspectives of English Classrooms in 21st Century Higher Education, Christ University, Bengaluru, 10-11 November, 2017
Panelist, Panel on Changes in curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment in English Studies at Higher education, National Seminar on Macaulay to globalization: Shifting Perspectives of English Classrooms in 21st Century Higher Education, Christ University, Bengaluru, 10-11 November, 2017
Workshop on Preparing an action research report: practical tips on writing a research report for academic publication, AINET International Teacher Research Conference, Nagpur, India, 13-15 September, 2017
Training workshop for teacher /teacher educators for setting up of Centre for English Language Education at Ambedkar University Delhi, New Delhi 28 June – 5 July, 2017
Consultative Meet for setting up of Centre for English Language Education at Ambedkar University Delhi, New Delhi, 21-22 April, 2017
British Council ELT Research Advisory Group meeting, British Council New Delhi, 20 April, 2017
UGC-HRDC Orientation and Refresher courses for college and university teachers and research scholars on Academic Writing, Research Writing and English for Business Communication at the UGC-HRDC Academic Staff College, Gauhati University, 4 February, 2 March and 14 March, 2017
2016
Roundtable Education Policy Dialogue, British Council, India, 30 November, 2016
Effective Presentation Skills for MHRD Personality Development Programme, Teaching Learning Centre, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 3 September, 2016
Reading for Academic Purposes for MHRD Personality Development Programme, Teaching Learning Centre, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 1 September, 2016
Writing for Academic Purposes for MHRD Personality Development Programme, Teaching Learning Centre, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 1 September, 2016
Workshop on ELT Research Methodology (Co-lead), Advisory Group on ELT Research, British Council, India, 10 May, 2016
Workshop on Perceptions of Continuing Professional Development and Agency of English Language Teaching Practitioners for the British Council ELTRePA project, Department of ELT, Gauhati University, 9 March, 2016
UGC-HRDC Orientation and Refresher courses for college and university teachers and research scholars on Academic Writing, Research Writing and English for Business Communication at the UGC-HRDC Academic Staff College, Gauhati University
2015
Consultant for Commonwealth of Learning, Canada for Workshop on Adopting OER for English by the Department of Education, Sri Lanka, Colombo, 24 November, 2015
Learning English in a low cost semi urban English medium school: challenges, interaction patterns and domains of use at the 11th Language & Development Conference, British Council in collaboration with Multilingual Consortium, JNU, New Delhi, 17 to 20 November, 2015
Panelist, International panel discussion on The Future of ELT, Regent’s University, UK, 29 October, 2015
Workshop Lead, Key Resource Persons (KRP) training for English teachers, NCERT-NIE Gangtok, Sikkim, 24 - 26 September, 2015
Member, Roundtable discussion on Research on Multilingual Education framework for Primary schools in India, British Council, New Delhi, 18 - 19 September, 2015
Resource Person, Workshop on Developing listening and speaking audio CD for English, Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA),12 September, 2015
Workshop on Teaching Academic Reading at the Undergraduate Level, UGC sponsored National Seminar on English Language Teaching in India: Problems & Prospects, Sonapur College,12 August, 2015, and Session Chair
Managing Personal and Professional Roles in Higher Education Institutions, Women’s Cell, Arya Vidyapeeth College,10 August, 2015
Chair, session on Participatory pedagogical practices in the engineering classrooms in the National Seminar on English Language Pedagogy for Engineering and Polytechnic Students, Scholar’s Institute of Technology and Management, Guwahati & Department of English Language Teaching, Gauhati University,13 - 14 March, 2015
TESS-India localization workshop for TESS-India OER, SCERT, Assam, TESS-India Country Office, New Delhi and Open University, UK Academic team, 9 - 11 March, 2015
UGC-HRDC Orientation and Refresher courses for college and university teachers and research scholars on Academic Writing, Research Writing and English for Business Communication at the UGC-HRDC Academic Staff College, Gauhati University
2014
Resource Person, Women and Academic Governance of Higher Education Institutions, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) – Gauhati University workshop on Capacity Building of Women Managers in Higher Education , School of Gender Studies, RGNIYD and Gauhati University, 12 - 18 November, 2014
Member, Review Committee, Texbook on Spoken English, SEBA, Assam, 14 October, 2014
Subject Expert, State Resource Group meeting for TESS India activities in the state of Assam, SCERT, Assam, 19 September, 2014
Member, Review Committee workshop on Position Paper of National Focus Group on Teaching of Indian Languages and Teaching of English, Department of Education in Languages, NCERT, New Delhi, 26-28 June, 2014
Sustainable Professional Development in the English language training classroom: Some Practical tips for collaborative learning 2nd International Conference on The Role of ELT in Education for Sustainable Development, Amity University, Lucknow Campus in collaboration with RELO, US Embassy and AINET, India, 24 - 25 May, 2014
Critical reflection for continuing professional development: using the SOAP strategy to analyze pedagogical experience, International ELT Conference on Innovation in English Language Teacher Education, British Council, EFL University, ELTAI & IATEFL, UK, Hyderabad, 21-23 February, 2014
UGC-HRDC Orientation and Refresher courses for college and university teachers and research scholars on Academic Writing, Research Writing and English for Business Communication at the UGC-HRDC Academic Staff College, Gauhati University
2013
Coordinator and Co-lead, Workshop on Materials Review, Gauhati University – Commonwealth of Learning project CA 13 139, Department of ELT, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 5 to 9 November, 2013
Reviewer, English language trainer materials for Secondary school teachers of English for the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), Assam, August, 2013
Workshop on Written Communication, Tihu College, Assam,10 July, 2013
Workshop on Materials Development for a Distance ELT Programme, Gauhati University – Commonwealth of Learning project CA 13 139, Department of ELT, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 24 - 30 June, 2013
Coordinator and Participant, Workshop on Instructional Design for Distance Learning Materials, Gauhati University – Commonwealth of Learning project CA 13 139, Department of ELT, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 27 May - 1 June, 2013
Participant, National workshop on Learning & Development, TESS-India project, Open University, UK, British Council India & DFID,UK, New Delhi, 11-14 March, 2013
Using classroom presentations as a tool for self assessment, International ELT Conference on Assessing and Evaluating English Language Teacher Education, Teaching and Learning, British Council, EFL University, ELTAI & IATEFL, UK, Hyderabad, 3-5 March, 2013
2012
Participant, International workshop on Preparation of Teacher Development Units, TESS-India Project, Open University, UK,British Council India & DFID, UK, New Delhi, 26-29 November, 2012
Teacher education strategies and interventions at university level. International Seminar on Ethnicity, Identity and Literature, Sivasagar College, Assam & IDOL, Gauhati University, Sivasagar, 11-14 October 2012
Panelist, Managing Change in English Language Teaching, British Council New Delhi, Patna, India, 23 May 2012
Member, Partners' Consultative Meet on Teacher Education, Commonwealth of Learning, Canada & UNESCO, Paris, UNESCO headquarters, Paris, 21 February, 2012
Coordinator, National ELT Conference for Teachers of English at the Undergraduate Level on the theme: Meeting Undergraduate Students’ English Language Needs: Exploring Current Pedagogical Practices, Department of ELT, Gauhati University, 19 – 21 January 2012
Participant, National ELT workshop on Good Practices in the Language Classroom: Some strategies for effective language development in large classes, Department of ELT, Gauhati University, 19 – 21 January 2012
Resource Person in six Orientation and Refresher programmes organized by UGC Academic Staff College, Gauhati University