Kate Qazi, a Ph.D. student in Global Studies specializing in Cultural, Visual, and Literary Studies at Global Studies University, presented her latest research at the 30th TESOL International Conference & Exhibition, held February 7–8, 2026, at the American University in Dubai. The conference theme was Enhancing ELT: Empowering Learners in an AI-Inclusive Era.
Her paper, Book Fairs, Pedagogy, and English Decolonization, examines over two decades of shifting trends in the representation of Arabic and Arab culture at UAE book fairs and explores the impact of these events on language learning in post-colonial contexts.
Developed as part of the Theory and Methods I course, Kate’s research positions book fairs as Field Configuring Events (FCEs), highlighting their role in shaping how English as a Second Language (ESL) learners experience language and identity. Her presentation also shared strategies to help move classrooms beyond colonial hierarchies toward more culturally grounded and confident English learning.
“I particularly valued being able to discuss English decolonization with people from a range of backgrounds. It further emphasized the importance of context – not everyone had the same positionality or perspective, and the audience was gracious in sharing their reactions and comments,” said Kate.
Kate focuses on the intersection of language, pedagogy, and culture in non-Western contexts. Drawing on her background in academic research, educational publishing, and language instruction, she integrates diverse perspectives to identify challenges in language learning and explore practical solutions that connect scholarship with real-world applications.
The paper was developed in the Theory and Methods I course, led by Faisal Garba Muhammed, Associate Professor of Sociology, Migration, and Mobility, and Surafel Wondimu Abebe, Assistant Professor of Performance Studies and Theory, whose guidance and feedback helped refine the research.
Kate’s doctoral program advisors are Binyam Sisay Mendisu, Professor of African Languages and Linguistics and Associate Dean, and Philathia Bolton, Associate Professor of African and African Diaspora Literature and Cultural Studies. Her participation in the TESOL International Conference underscores the global impact and interdisciplinary nature of doctoral research at Global Studies University.
Kate Qazi, a Ph.D. student in Global Studies specializing in Cultural, Visual, and Literary Studies at Global Studies University, presented her latest research at the 30th TESOL International Conference & Exhibition, held February 7–8, 2026, at the American University in Dubai. The conference theme was Enhancing ELT: Empowering Learners in an AI-Inclusive Era.
Kate Qazi, a Ph.D. student in Global Studies specializing in Cultural, Visual, and Literary Studies at Global Studies University, presented her latest research at the 30th TESOL International Conference & Exhibition, held February 7–8, 2026, at the American University in Dubai. The conference theme was Enhancing ELT: Empowering Learners in an AI-Inclusive Era.
Her paper, Book Fairs, Pedagogy, and English Decolonization, examines over two decades of shifting trends in the representation of Arabic and Arab culture at UAE book fairs and explores the impact of these events on language learning in post-colonial contexts.
Developed as part of the Theory and Methods I course, Kate’s research positions book fairs as Field Configuring Events (FCEs), highlighting their role in shaping how English as a Second Language (ESL) learners experience language and identity. Her presentation also shared strategies to help move classrooms beyond colonial hierarchies toward more culturally grounded and confident English learning.
“I particularly valued being able to discuss English decolonization with people from a range of backgrounds. It further emphasized the importance of context – not everyone had the same positionality or perspective, and the audience was gracious in sharing their reactions and comments,” said Kate.
Kate focuses on the intersection of language, pedagogy, and culture in non-Western contexts. Drawing on her background in academic research, educational publishing, and language instruction, she integrates diverse perspectives to identify challenges in language learning and explore practical solutions that connect scholarship with real-world applications.
The paper was developed in the Theory and Methods I course, led by Faisal Garba Muhammed, Associate Professor of Sociology, Migration, and Mobility, and Surafel Wondimu Abebe, Assistant Professor of Performance Studies and Theory, whose guidance and feedback helped refine the research.
Kate’s doctoral program advisors are Binyam Sisay Mendisu, Professor of African Languages and Linguistics and Associate Dean, and Philathia Bolton, Associate Professor of African and African Diaspora Literature and Cultural Studies. Her participation in the TESOL International Conference underscores the global impact and interdisciplinary nature of doctoral research at Global Studies University.
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