Sabreena Ahmed, PhD
Associate Professor
Sabreena Ahmed is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English and Humanities at BRAC University. She teaches Applied Linguistics and ELT related courses and supervises thesis students. Her research interests include critical thinking as one of the 21st century skills, English composition studies, Ecocomposition, Sociolinguistics, Child Language Acquisition and English as an International Language (EIL) in Bangladesh.
She completed his PhD in 2018 from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Her doctoral study explored how higher order thinking tasks can be used to foster critical thinking skills among student writers. She has presented her academic papers in numerous local and international conferences in Australia, Malaysia, Philippines and India.
Address
Level: 5
Kha-224 Merul Badda
Dhaka 1212. Bangladesh
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Education
+–Doctor of Philosophy (International Islamic University Malaysia, IIUM).
M.A. in Applied Linguistics with High Distinction from Faculty of Education, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
B.A. (Hons.) in English from the Department of English, University of Dhaka.
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Publications
+–Journals
Ahmed, S., Asraf , R. M., & Eng, T. K. (2018). Using focused freewriting as a strategy to promote critical thinking. TESOL International Journal, 13(4), 67–81.
Ahmed, S., & Asraf , R. M. (2018). The workshop as a qualitative research approach: Lessons learnt from a “Critical thinking through writing” workshop. The Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art, Communication (TODJDAC), Special editon, 1504–1510.
Ahmed, S., & Islam, N. N. (2016). Role of word association in a Bangladeshi child’s first language acquisition. Spectrum, 12, 165–181.
Ahmed, S. (2015). Incorporating study trips in a composition course. . Proceedings of Inspire DEWS Seminar, Organised Jointly by Department of English, University of Dhaka and Manchester University, UK.
Ahmed, S. (2012). The use of response papers in composition class. Refereed Proceedings of Applied Linguistics Association of Australia Annual Conference 2012, 227–250.
Ahmed, S., & Tinny, F. Z. (2011). The RJ style: brought to you by Bangladeshi FM Radio. Stamford Journal of English, 6, 1–28.
Ahmed, S., & Conlan, C. (2011). Same old, same old: from boring to creative presentation. BRAC University Journal, 8(1&2), 63–72.
Ahmed, S. (2011). Interpreting Bangladeshi and Australian print advertisements. Papers: The 10th International Language, Literature and Stylistics Symposium, 1, 21–39.
Ahmed, S., Nurullah , A. S., & Sarkar, S. (2010). The use of SMS and language transformation in Bangladesh. Spectrum, 6 & 7, 107–139.
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Courses Taught
+–English Composition I
Teaching Practicum
Sociolinguistics
Psycholinguistics
Computer Assisted Language Learning
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Conferences, Talks, and Speaking Engagements
+–- Mohd Asraf, R. & Ahmed, S. (2018). “Thinking and Writing Critically in the Asian ESOL Context: What does the Research Say?” A paper presented at the International Conference on Language, Society, And Culture (2018): Asia And Beyond (ICLCS 2018), held from 24th -25th October 2018 at Islamic Institute of Islamic Civilisation and Malay World (ISTAC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- MohdAsraf, R., Ahmed, S. &Eng, T.K. (2018). Using Focused Freewriting to Foster Critical Thinking During Prewriting. A paper presented virtually at the International Conference on Research and Publication organised by Asian EFL Journal, held from 24th to 26th August 2018 in Site Skills Training Campus, Clark, Philippines. The URL link to the abstract is https://www.asian-efl-journal.com/pubcon2018/breakout-sessions-schedule/...
- Ahmed, S. &Mohd Asraf, R. (2018). “Revisiting Bloom, Bono, and Bean: Using Higher Order Thinking Tasks for Promoting Critical Thinking at the Pre-writing Stage.” A paper presented at the MELTA 27th International Conference 2018 Changing the Game:English Language In Education 4.0,held from 18th -20th August 2018 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
- Ahmed, S. & Mohd Asraf, R. (2018). “The Workshop as a Qualitative Research Approach: Lessons Learnt from a “critical Thinking Through Writing’ Workshop”. A paper presented at the 4th International Postgraduate Conference on Arts, Education, and Business (IPCAEB 2018), held from 3rd to 5th July 2018 in Langkawi, Malaysia.
- Ahmed, S. (2017). “Exploring the Relationship between Focused Free Writing and Critical Thinking in a Pre-university ESL Writing Class. A paper presented at the Postgraduate Intellectual Research and Publication Week, IIUM, organised by the Centre for Postgraduate Studies, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
- MohdAsraf, R. & Ahmed, S. (2017). Using Focused Free Writing as a Strategy to Promote Critical Thinking presented at the 26th MELTA International Conference: New Directions in English Language Education: Global Trends and Local Innovations, held from 28th -30th August 2017 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia., organised by Malaysian English Language Teachers’ Association (MELTA).
- Ahmed, S. (2017). “Using Higher Order Thinking Tasks To Foster Critical Thinking in an English Writing Class.” A paper presented at the Inter-varsity Postgraduate Colloquium on Education,held on 8th August 2017 at the Kulliyyah of Education, International Islamic University Malaysia. The event was organised a part of IIUM World Prosumer Convention 2017.
- Ahmed, S. (2017). “Prospects of Using Ecocomposition in an English Writing Class”. A paper presented at the 1st International Postgraduate Symposium held from 11th -12th July 2017 at the Kulliyyah of Education, International Islamic University Malaysia.
- Ahmed, S. (2016).Genre Based Approach to Teaching Translation Studies: Providing skills for the present Marketplace. A paperpresented in the 4th International Conference: English Studies and the Marketplace held from 19th -20th February 2016 at East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Ahmed, S. and Islam,N. (2015). “Role of word association in a Bangladeshi child’s language acquisition”. A paper presented at the International Conference: Language, Literature and Community. Organised jointly by Department of English and Humanities, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh and The American Center on 10-11 July 2015.
- Ahmed, S. (2014). “Incorporating Study Trips in a Composition Course”. A paper presented at the International Conference:Inspire to Write organized jointly by the Department of English, University of Dhaka and the University of Manchester on November 12, 2014.Ahmed, S. (2013).
- Ahmed, S. (2013). Redefining Culture: Case studies from Indigenous Chakma Community of Bangladesh, a paper presented at the Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Society (IACS) Conference 2013 held from 3rd to 5th July 2013 organised by the Faculty of Arts and Social Science, National University of Singapore (NUS).
- Ahmed,S. and Chakma, B. (2013). “MorEngreji Class: An Evaluation of Teaching Techniques of EFL Classrooms in Rangamati”. A paper presented jointly at the 6th BELTA International Conference 2013: The Multiple Realities of English: ELT and Beyond.
- Ahmed, S. (2012). “The Use of Response Papers in Composition Class”waspresented in the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia National (ALAA) Conference (2012), Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
- Ahmed, S and Ahsan, H.A.“Using MOODLE @ BRAC University”was jointly presented at the International Conference on Teaching and Learning English through Technology-2012, organised by Department of English, University of Dhaka.
- Ahmed, S. and Tinny, F.Z. (2011). “The RJ Style: Brought to you by Bangladeshi FM Radio”was presented in the conference Language and Literature Teaching: Exploring Opportunities and Facing the Challenges, Department of English, Stamford University Bangladesh.
- Ahmed, S. (2010). “Interpreting Bangladeshi and Australian Print Advertisements” was presented in the 10th International Literature, Language and Stylistics Symposium 2010, organised by Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
- Ahmed, S. (2010). “Interpreting Bangladeshi and Australian Print Advertisements” was presented in BRAC University's conference Working Strategies: Linguistic Approaches and English Language Teaching in Bangladesh (2010).
- Ahmed, S. (2009). A paper from the M.A. thesis titled “Same Old, Same Old: From boring to creative presentations” was presented at Curtin University’s Creative Margins- The Tenth Humanities Graduate Research Conference 2009.
- Ahmed, S. (2009). A part of thesis of M.A. (Applied Linguistics) titled "Same Old, Same Old: From boring to creative presentations” was discussed in Education Forum in University of Western Australia (UWA) on 18 September 2009.
- Ahmed, S., Nurullah, A.S. and Sarkar, S.(2008)“The Use of SMS and Language Transformation in Bangladesh”was presented jointly at The International Conference on Democracy, the “New World Order” and English Studies, East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh (2008).
- Mohd Asraf, R. & Ahmed, S. (2018). “Thinking and Writing Critically in the Asian ESOL Context: What does the Research Say?” A paper presented at the International Conference on Language, Society, And Culture (2018): Asia And Beyond (ICLCS 2018), held from 24th -25th October 2018 at Islamic Institute of Islamic Civilisation and Malay World (ISTAC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Awards, Honors
+–- 2009- Received stipend from University of Dhaka for 26th position in BA (Honours) in English.
- 2006-3rd prize award for the Second Short Story Translation Contest of The New Age
- 2003-3rd Prize in the English Essay Writing Competition of Faculty of Arts CulturalCompetition, University of Dhaka.
- Achieved 9th position in the combined merit list of Dhaka board in S.S.C examination (2000) and star marks in H.S.C. (2002) in Humanities.
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Membership
+–- Member of International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL)
- Member of Bangladesh English Language Teachers’ Association (BELTA).
- Member of Brine Pickles, a young creative writers’ group in English, previously affiliated with the British Council.
- Member of English Deparment Alumni Society (EDAS), University of Dhaka.
- Was a member of Dhaka Sorokolpon, a Bangla recitation group.
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Research Areas/Interests
+–Sociolinguistics
English as an International Language
Ecocomposition
Composition Studies
21st Century skills in Education -
Workshop/Seminar/Conferences
+–- Attended a seminar titled “The Use of the Bangla Phonetic Alphabet (BPA) to help Bangalis improve their English Pronunciation” presented by Amin Rahman, Freelance Applied Linguist based in Melbourne, Australia on 5th March 2016 at Presidency University, organised by BELTA.
- Attended the International Conference on Material Design held of 22nd March 2016 at the R.C. Majumder Auditorium, University of Dhaka, jointly organised by the Department of English, University of Dhaka and University of Manchester, UK.
- Attended the workshop titled “Pedagogy in Writing Class” conducted by Dr. Diane Slaouti, senior lecturer, University of Manchester, UK on 23rd March 2016, jointly organised by the Department of English, University of Dhaka and University of Manchester,UK.
- Attended a workshop titled "Qualitative Methodologies in Gender and Feminist Research" conducted by Prof. Ann Ohman, Umea University, Sweden, under the Linnaeus-Palme International Exchange Programme between Umea Centre for Gender Studies, Umea University, Sweden and the Department of English and Humanities, BRACUniversity held from 21st-23rd January 2016.
- Attended the National Conference on “English Studies in Bangladesh: Reconsidering Conceptual Paradigms” organized by the Department of English, South East University, Dhaka on 10th October 2015.
- Attended workshop titled “How to Get Published” conducted by Professor Joya Chatterji, Trinity College, University of Cambridge on 22nd September 2015. It was organised by BRAC University, Dhaka.
- Attended workshop on Educational research and preliminary research proposalconducted by Dr. Rosa Fagundes on 31st May 2015, organised by Department of English, University of Dhaka.
- Was selected for being a certified Teacher Trainer of the British Council-Bangladesh through “Training for Trainers of English Teachers” held from 26th July to 3rd August 2013.
- Executive member of Bangladesh English Language Teachers’ Association (BELTA) from 2013 to 2015
- Attended a BELTA workshop titled Teaching with Technology: Meeting the Needs of Millenia students, conducted by Nasreen Rahim, Instructional Technology Faculty, Distance Education Coordinator, Staff Development Chair, Evergreen Valley College, San Jose, California (9th June 2013).
- Attended aBBC Janala, Media in action workshop on Creative writing on 4th June 2013.
- Obtained 70% marks in the final assignment of Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Society (IACS) Summer School 2012 held from 2nd August to 17th August in Bangalore- organised jointly by theCentre for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS) and the Centre for Internet and Society; and hosted by Centre for Contemporary Studies, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore.
- Achieved scholarship to attend online English Language Teachers’ training titled Webinar-8 under the American Center, Dhaka (October 2012).
- Participated in BBC Media in Action Script Writers' Workshop for T.V. media (2012)
- Participated in Creative Workshop For Future Leaders in Media and English Language Teaching under BBC Janala, to work with game designers and media professionals to use technology and media in ELT classrooms (23-27 September 2012).
- Participated in Brine Pickles’ Creative Writing and Performance Literature Workshop conducted by Dr. Christopher Merrill, Director of the International Writing Program, Iowa University under the American Center’s Small Grant Award 2011-2012.
- Conducted a Creative Writing Workshop for journalists as a member of Brine Pickles at the National Institute of Mass Communication (2012)
- Attended Teachers’ Training of Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC)under BRAC University (2010)
- Attended English Language Teachers’ workshop conducted by Dr. Patrick Dougherty and his colleagues from Teachers Helping Teachers, Japan in collaboration with BELTA (2010, 2012).
Projects:
- Was selected as the creative writer of “Active Citizens Project” under the British Council for its Annual Book Review 2015.
- Worked as a freelance translator for BBC Janala Media in Action Project for Maternal Health in 2014.
- Attended a seminar titled “The Use of the Bangla Phonetic Alphabet (BPA) to help Bangalis improve their English Pronunciation” presented by Amin Rahman, Freelance Applied Linguist based in Melbourne, Australia on 5th March 2016 at Presidency University, organised by BELTA.