Shahnaz Akhter, an Assistant Professor in the Department of English joined Presidency University in 2008. She earned her MA in Applied Linguistics and ELT and BA Honours in English from University of Dhaka. She has seventeen years of teaching experience at tertiary level. Beyond her remarkable contributions at Presidency University, she has also enriched students globally as a lecturer at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia. With a deep passion for teaching she attended a number of National and International Conferences and also presented papers in three international conferences. She is also a lifetime member of Bangladesh English Language Teachers Association (BELTA) and served the association as an Executive Committee member for two terms. Her research interests include Teaching Methodology, Materials Development and Individual Learner differences in SLA.
Postgraduate Degree
2005- MA in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching (ELT) from the Department of English, University of Dhaka
Undergraduate Degree
2004- BA (Honours) in English from the Department of English, University of Dhaka
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April 2019 – up to now: Working as an Assistant Professor at Department of English, Presidency University.
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September 2009 – September 2011: Worked as a Lecturer at Department of English, King Khalid University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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August 2008 – September 2009 and September 2011 – March 2019: Worked as a Lecturer at Department of English, Presidency University.
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Akhter, S. (2019). Cultural Barriers to Critical Thinking Skills: A Case of Bangladeshi ESL Classrooms. THT Journal.7 (1), 130-149.
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Akhter, S., & Ashikuzzaman, M. (2019). Teaching Speaking Using Post-Method Framework. BELTA Journal, 3(1), 65-71.
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Akhter, S. (2018). Learning Preferences of Gen-Z L2 Learners: Exploring Complementary Teaching Techniques”. Southeast University Journal. 3(1), 95-117.
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Critical Thinking Skills
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Language Teaching Methodology & Materials Development
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Teacher Education
Awards Received
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Awarded as Best Faculty of the Year in 2015 by Presidency University.
Workshops
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“How to Promote Creative Learning Among Students: Explaining Creativity in relation to Bloom’s Taxonomy” A workshop conducted as a part of the Seminar Series arranged by IQAC of Presidency University, 21 Dec 2023.
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“Using Educational Technology in the English Language Classrooms” A workshop conducted as a part of the Seminar Series arranged by the Department of English, Presidency University on 13 February 2019.
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“Literature as Resource in Language Classroom” A workshop conducted at Hamdard University Bangladesh, Hamdard Nagar, Gazaria, Munshiganj as a part of Teacher Development Program organized by BELTA on 15 Sept 2017.
Professional Development & Training
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Successfully completed the AE E-Teacher Program’s Eight-Week Global Online Course (GOC), on ‘TESOL Methodology’, instructed by University of Maryland Baltimore County and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in Summer 2018.
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Successfully completed the AE E-Teacher Program’s Five-Week Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), on ‘Using Educational Technology in the English Language Classroom’, instructed by Iowa State University, in Spring 2018.
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Attended International Conference arranged by Institute of Modern Languages (IML), University of Dhaka. 24-25 November, 2017.
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Attended Teacher Training Programs arranged by BELTA in collaboration with THT Japan in September each year since 2014 till present.
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Successfully completed the ten-week online teacher training course on ‘Critical thinking for English Language Teaching (EFL)
Curriculum’, instructed by University of Oregon and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs, in Spring 2012.
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Successfully completed seven day long intensive course on “Sharing Best Practice: Strengthening and Extending Teachers’ Association in South Asia” jointly organized by Hornby Regional School and British Council at BRAC CDM (Centre for Development & Management) at Savar, in December 2011.
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Participated in a number of teacher training programs, National and International Conferences organized by BELTA and different Universities.
Memberships & Affiliations
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Executive Committee Member of Bangladesh English Language Teachers Association (BELTA), June 2019 to 2021 & 2009-2010.
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Member, International Association for Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) UK
