SOFIA AVAKIMYAN

18 rue Alphonse Daudet, Saclay, 91400, France

Phone: 07 83 28 29 10 E-Mail: sofia.avakimyan@gmail.com

EDUCATION

PhD in Linguistics 2011

Tyumen State University Tyumen, Russia

MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 2009

Certificate, Language Program Administration
Monterey Institute of International Studies Monterey, USA

Certificate, Teaching English as a Foreign Language 2007

Moscow State Linguistics University Moscow, Russia

BA in Foreign Languages, Teacher of English 2006

Certificate, Integrating Computer Technologies into Language Teaching 2005
Nizhnevartovsk State University of Humanities Nizhnevartovsk, Russia

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Lead Instructor, Canadian Academic Acculturation and Literacy 7/2012-12/2012

for International Graduate Students Saskatoon, Canada

University of Saskatchewan

Responsible for co-designing and -teaching a multi-skill course intended to help international
graduate students achieve success in a Canadian academia

Oversaw planning, teaching and assessment activities to ensure the cohesion of the
course
Developed needs assessment to identify the language needs of individual members of the
class and of the class as a whole and adapt the curriculum accordingly
Co-designed classroom activities to facilitate international graduate students integration
into a Canadian academia
Provided opportunities for practicing critical reading skills to help students identify
relevant questions and articulate sophisticated arguments in their future academic work
Engaged students in multi-drafting activities and provided feedback on academic writing
that assisted students in improving organization, cohesion, coherence, vocabulary, and
mechanics
Applied a variety of techniques to help students improve their verbal and non-verbal
communication skills as well as confidence to deliver efficient presentations in academic
non-academic settings

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ESL Instructor, Saskatchewan Intercultural Association 2/2012-8/2012

Saskatoon, Canada

Responsible for designing and teaching integrated skills classes to adult Canadian immigrants

Designed courses based on functional curriculum that enabled students to increase their
knowledge of written and oral discourse specific for various situations and events
Applied a wide variety of activities aimed at developing students knowledge of
sociolinguistic norms
Engaged students in learning activities designed to strengthen ties to work and/or career
development
Incorporated authentic materials to develop students communicative competence

Adjunct Instructor, Intensive English Programs 6/20097/2010

Monterey Institute of International Studies Monterey, USA

Responsible for designing and teaching ten-week core Oral Communication and Reading and
Writing courses as well as electives, including TOEFL iBT Preparation, Grammar in Context, and
Intercultural Communication to diverse levels of ESL and EAPP students

Designed project-based, theme-based, and content-based courses that allowed

students to connect in a more meaningful way with material and improve language skills
Implemented activities enhancing students communicative competence and inter-
cultural awareness
Provided feedback on student writing and engaged students in multi-drafting activities to
increase awareness of writing as a process and improve students text organization,
grammar, and vocabulary knowledge
Incorporated authentic materials to develop reading and writing strategies, including
paraphrasing, summarizing, critical thinking, critical reading, and essay and
research writing
Integrated innovative computer technologies to improve students listening, speaking,
reading, and writing skills
Developed interactive activities to build confidence, increase motivation as well as create
an enjoyable learning environment
Promoted learner autonomy through learning-to-learn approach and activating intuitive
heuristics

Adjunct Instructor, English Preparation for Graduate Studies 7/20098/2009

Monterey Institute of International Studies Monterey, USA
Responsible for designing and teaching six-week Public Speaking and Reading Strategies and
Vocabulary Development courses to adult EAP students

Developed needs assessment and classroom activities focusing on preparing students for
graduate school
Designed a course to help students improve their verbal and non-verbal communication
skills as well as confidence to deliver efficient presentations in academic settings
Applied a variety of techniques to aid students in developing reading strategies and skills
essential for becoming a faster and critical reader
Introduced various strategies for enriching students academic vocabulary and created
opportunities for using the target vocabulary in writing and speaking
Provided feedback on academic writing that assisted students in improving organization,
cohesion, coherence, vocabulary, and mechanics
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Adjunct Instructor, Fulbright Pre-Academic Training Program 2009 7/20098/2009

Monterey Institute of International Studies Monterey, USA

Responsible for co-teaching a three-week Public Speaking course to Fulbright scholars

Developed classroom activities aimed at improving students discussion etiquette

Applied role-plays and interactive activities to facilitate international scholars integration
into American academia
Created opportunities for public speaking practice to boost scholars confidence in
presenting in front of the audience

Writing Tutor 9/200812/2008

Monterey Institute of International Studies Monterey, USA

Responsible for creating tailored instruction for a Chinese speaker to develop academic writing
skills in preparation for graduate work

Conducted needs assessment to determine the requirements and content of the students
program
Assisted the student in improving formal fluency and organizational skills
Applied coaching approach to feedback to increase the students autonomy

Adjunct Instructor, Intensive English Programs 6/20088/2008

Monterey Institute of International Studies Monterey, USA

Responsible for designing and teaching an eight-week intensive TOEFL iBT preparation course to
mixed-level adult learners

Created inductive tasks based on authentic materials to develop students TOEFL iBT
reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills
Employed a combination of electronic and print test-preparation materials to improve
students note-taking, skimming, scanning, synthesizing, and summarizing skills
Incorporated language games aimed at developing oral skills and broadening students
vocabulary as well as creating an enjoyable learning environment

EFL Instructor, Department of Foreign Languages 9/200612/2006

Nizhnevartovsk State University of Humanities Nizhnevartovsk, Russia

Responsible for teaching various practical English courses including grammar practice, a mixed-
skills content-based course, and analytical reading to undergraduate students

Applied authentic resources in designing teaching materials to create a dynamic and

enjoyable learning experience for students
Employed structure-based interactive tasks to promote students formal fluency and
foster language awareness
Contextualized language learning through the integration of the target language culture
and literature
Promoted learner autonomy by actively engaging students in their learning process
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TEACHER TRAINING EXPERIENCE

Practicum Advisor 10/200612/2006

Nizhnevartovsk State University of Humanities Nizhnevartovsk, Russia
Acted as a supervisor during the six-week practicum for six in-service teachers
Coached student teachers in designing lesson plans for English as a Foreign Language
classes in elementary and secondary schools
Observed student teachers and encouraged them by providing non-directive feedback
with regard to classroom management, methodology, and classroom practices

RESEARCH AND PROJECTS

Doctoral Thesis: The Influence of Context on the Perception of Sincerity and

Politeness in Apologies
The study focuses on factors that make English native and non-native speakers perceive apologies
as sincere/insincere and polite/impolite. The results suggest that context plays a crucial role in
understanding the implied meaning of the utterance. The study has several pedagogical
implications which emphasize the importance of teaching language in context.

Monterey Institute of International Studies 20072009

Second Language Acquisition Seminar

Case study From Natural Curiosity to Successful Second Language Learning

Conducted a number of interviews with a language learner, and explored his language learning
process, with special focus on social and cultural factors
Learned to conduct a qualitative study
The following conclusions were drawn: a) Learners intrinsic motivation that comes from
within needs to be supported by the social learning environment; b) Formal language
instruction is more likely to be effective if it provides students with meaningful
interaction; and c) language teachers need to be aware of their students identities
which can provide better understanding of underlying factors of the language learners
successes and failures

Language Teacher Supervision Seminar

Observing and Providing Feedback to Language Teachers
Conducted three language classroom observations and wrote observation reports for each lesson;
held feedback conferences; reflected on the supervisory experience by using various systems of
analysis
Learned to incorporate a reflective approach to supervision
Learned to mitigate negative feedback and provide support and encouragement

Curriculum and Materials Design Seminar

English for International Professionals Syllabus
Developed and conducted a thorough needs assessment; co-designed an eight-week theme-based
syllabus for the English Language and Nonproliferation program
Learned to balance students needs with program needs
Learned to design and combine various types of syllabi (e.g., theme-based, content-based,
project-based, etc.) into one integrated curriculum
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Language Assessment Seminar

Original Test Development
Designed an integrated progress test to measure intermediate level listening, reading, writing,
grammar, and vocabulary skills and knowledge; piloted the test with the target audience; analyzed
the item performance, validity, and reliability of the test using statistical analyses
Learned to design language tests applying authentic materials
Learned to evaluate tests employing various statistical analyses and theoretical
frameworks and improve their quality if needed

PUBLICATIONS

Avakimyan, S. S. (2011). The influence of context on perceptions of sincerity in apologies //

Professional project: ideas, technologies, results, 2(3), 7588.
Avakimyan, S. S. (2011). Pragmatics of apology. Bulletin of the Nizhnevartovsk State University of
Humanities: Philology, 3, 312.
Avakimyan, S. S., & Perelgut, N. M. (2009). On the relationship between sincerity and tolerance.
Proceedings of the International Research-to-Practice Conference Cross-cultural and multi-
lingual education in the modern world. (pp. 217219). Kostanay, KZ: KSPU.
Avakimyan, S. S. (2009). The relationships between language and culture and a persons L2
Development. Proceedings of the International Research-to-Practice Conference Cross-
cultural and multi-lingual education in the modern world. (pp. 213217). Kostanay, KZ:
KSPU.
Avakimyan, S. S. (2009). On the linguistic aspects of sincerity. Bulletin of the Irkutsk State
Linguistic University: Philology, 1, 161167.
Avakimyan, S. S. (2009). On the cognitive approach to the sincerity phenomenon. Bulletin of the
Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, 92, 177185.
Avakimyan, S. S. (2008). The notion of sincerity in Humanities. Bulletin of the Chelyabinsk State
University: Philology& Art criticism, 28, 59.
Avakimyan, S. S., & Tankut, P. (2008). Myths and reality: Gender and language problems in the
media. Bulletin of the Nizhnevartovsk State University of Humanities: Philology, 4, 39.
Avakimyan, S. S. (2008). Some ways to distinguish between singular/plural and polite you in
present-day English [Abstract]. Proceedings of the XV International Conference of
Students, Postgraduate Students, and Young Scientists Lomonosov-2008, Russia.
Retrieved June 12, 2008, from http://www.lomonosov-msu.ru/rus/archive.html.
Avakimyan, S. S. (2008). Ways of expressing positive reactions or evaluations. Proceedings of the
IV International Scientific Conference: Word, Utterance, Text in Cognitive, Pragmatic and
Cultural Aspects. (pp. 37). Chelyabinsk: CSU.
Avakimyan, S. S., & Perelgut, N. M. (2007). Peculiarities in the use of numerals in present-day
English. Bulletin of the Nizhnevartovsk State University of Humanities: Issues of Philology
and History of Culture, 2635.

PRESENTATIONS

Engaging Students in the Writing Process through Google Wave (Demonstration). The 41st Annual
State Conference Teaching and Learning English in a Global Community, California Teaching
English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL), Santa Clara, California. April 2225, 2010.
Numerals in the Language of New Technology and Computer Mediated Communication. The XIV
International Conference of Students, Postgraduate Students and Young Scientists Lomonosov-
2007, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia. April 1114, 2007.
Numerals and Modern Means of Communication. The XII International Conference of National
SOFIA AVAKIMYAN 6

Association Teachers of English (NATE): Bridging Cultures and People through English,
Novosibirsk, Russia. June 2630, 2006.
Some Functional Aspects of Numerals in Present-Day English. The VIII Student Scientific
Conference of Nizhnevartovsk State University of Humanities, Russia, 64-65. The 8th Student
Scientific Conference of the Nizhnevartovsk State Humanities University, Nizhnevartovsk, Russia.
April 130, 2006.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Languages:
Russian and English bilingual
French Intermediate reading and writing skills, beginning speaking and listening skills

Technology:
General knowledge of computer software and its integration in language teaching: Audacity,
Blogger, Engrade, Google Drive, Hot Potatoes, Moodle, Movie Maker/iMovie, MPEG
Streamclip, Pixton, Vimeo, Voicethread, Wiki

Proficiency Guidelines:
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines
Canadian Language Benchmarks
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Saskatchewan 20102012
Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) 20092011
National Association of Teachers of English (NATE), Russia 20062010

HONORS AND AWARDS

Fulbright Academic Scholarship 20072010
Monterey Institute of International Studies Merit Scholarship 20072009
Nizhnevartovsk State University of Humanities Award for Research in Linguistics 2006
Nizhnevartovsk State University of Humanities Merit Scholarship 20012006