AUA TEFL Hosts 8th Annual Student Research Conference

2 min read

YEREVAN, Armenia – On May 25, 2019, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (MA TEFL) program and Center for Research in Applied Linguistics (CRAL) held the 8th Student Research Conference for graduate and undergraduate students, as well as recent graduates.

As in prior years, the Student Research conference was planned and organized by a team of MA TEFL students. The conference coordinators were Anna Avetisyan, Anahit Hakobyan, Karine Kharatyan, Kristine Grigoryan, Meri Muradyan, Shushanna Knyazyan, and Sona Vardanyan. The conference featured various student projects from universities across the country, including Yerevan Brusov State University of Languages and Social Sciences (YSULS), Yerevan State University (YSU), Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU), European University and AUA. Covering a broad spectrum of topics in teaching, translation, and applied linguistics, the presenters had the opportunity to talk about their projects and receive feedback in stimulating discussions and a friendly environment.

The invited keynote speaker was Dr. Andrzej (Andy) Cirocki, assistant professor of English language education at the University of York, UK, and editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Applied Linguistics and TEFL. In his workshop “Getting Published in Peer-reviewed Journals: The Ten Commandments,” Dr. Cirocki shared valuable tips from behind the scenes of the peer-reviewed publishing world.

“I can talk for many hours about how to get published in journals. However, I was informed that I have only one hour,” the speaker joked during the presentation. The workshop involved the participants in a few hands-on tasks to get them started and inspired for the daunting task of preparing their manuscripts for an international peer-reviewed journal.

Many conference participants also presented their projects in concurrent sessions. “My friends and I came to have a good time, to learn more and share our thoughts rather than to get another certificate,” stated one of the presenters.

The conference agenda can be accessed here.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.