Dr Christine Zaher

Director Academic Literacies and Languages Program and University Writing Coordinator

By age thirteen, Dr Zaher had attended thirteen schools while travelling the world with her parents. A fascination with the diversity of education, culture and people grew out of those wonderful, peripatetic years. On her return to the UK, she read for a BA (Hons.) degree in English Literature and Language followed by a Master’s degree in Medieval Literature and Language. In 1974, she took up her first post lecturing in English Language and Literature at Ain Shams University’s Faculty of Education in Egypt. She then moved to Cairo University in 1978, where she developed and taught academic writing and research courses. A third UK degree, a Masters in Education, followed. This led to a PhD exploring tertiary level academic writing curriculum design and assessment, and the setting up of a related teacher training scheme.

Dr Zaher’s subsequent career has covered teaching, teacher training and administration. Early on, she deliberately chose a range of teaching posts at primary, secondary, tertiary and adult level. She soon discovered that tertiary level teaching was, and still is, the most personally rewarding. Her teacher training activities similarly span all levels of education. She is currently an assessor for the University of Cambridge teacher training schemes, for which she was Joint Chief Assessor for the Middle East region until 1997. She held her first educational directorship in 1984, and became Director of the English Studies Division at the American University in Cairo in 1987. After ten exciting years there, she decided to return home to the UK, but wanted a challenging post in a multi-cultural, tertiary level environment. Richmond has more than met these criteria.

Dr. Zaher studies and reports on ways of improving the instructional delivery of academic writing and research courses, and of addressing plagiarism issues in Higher Education. She is currently working on a biography of an adventurous and highly colourful Victorian diplomat.

Courses Taught

• ENG 115 Principles of Academic Writing
• ENG 215 Principles of Academic Research

Courses Previously Taught

• ENG 111 Principles of Writing I
• ENG 112 Principles of Writing II
• ENGL 101 Principles of Writing I
• ENGL 102 Principles of Writing II
• COM 304 Research and Writing Methods
• Tutor, University Writing Centre
• IFSP 303/304 International Field Study Program
• UW 101 The University Workshop

Publications

• Zaher, C. "Celebrating diversity in academic writing – a viable option?" In the Proceedings of the 10th WDHE Conference, Sheffield (2004). 2004. In press.
• Zaher, C. "Project plagiarism: Coping with copying" In the Proceedings of the 34th International IATEFL Conference, Dublin (2000). Oxford: OUP 2000.
• Zaher, C. (ed.) "New Directions in Speaking." The Proceedings of the Fourth EFL Skills Conference, Cairo: Dar el-Kutub. 1998.
• Zaher, C. (ed.) "New Directions in Listening." The Proceedings of the Third EFL Skills Conference. Cairo: Dar el-Kutub. 1997.
• Zaher, C. "Academic Writing Skills: Exposition & Argumentation" Cairo: Dar el-Kutub 1997.
• Zaher, C. (ed.) "New Directions in Reading." The Proceedings of the Second EFL Skills Conference. Cairo: Dar el-Kutub. 1996.
• Zaher, C. (ed.) "New Directions in Writing." The Proceedings of the First EFL Skills Conference. Cairo: Dar el-Kutub. 1996.
• Zaher, C. "Introduction to Academic Writing Skills." Cairo: Dar el-Kutub. 1995.
• Clark, C., Farkas, F. and Zaher, C. "Managing with style: Essential training for educational administrators" Pharos, an ESP Newsletter 6:1 and 2 1993.
• Zaher C., Farkas, T. and Clark, C. "Dangerous liaisons: Managing across cultures in EFL programs abroad." IATEFL Newsletter 112 1991.

Conferences, Presentations and Proceedings

• Celebrating diversity in academic writing – A viable option? 10th Writing Development in Higher Education Conference, Sheffield 2004
• How subject professors perceive student writing. 35th IATEFL Conference, Brighton 2001
• Project plagiarism: Coping with copying. 34th IATEFL Conference, Dublin 2000
• Contextualizing academic concepts for EAP students. 33rd IATEFL Conference, Edinburgh, with Jeannet, J. 1999
• ESP in the Arab world. Representing Egypt 32nd TESOL Conference, Seattle, USA 1998
• Personalizing feedback implementing teacher learning styles. 31st TESOL Conference, Orlando, USA with Laurence, M. 1997
• EFL Practices and Pedagogies in West Africa. Representing Egypt 31st TESOL Conference, Orlando, USA 1997
• Teachers and administrators build bridges. 29th TESOL Conference, Long Beach, USA, with Laurence, M. 1995
• Feedback on feedback. 28th TESOL Conference, Baltimore, USA, with Laurence, M. 1994
• Re-designing training courses. 27th TESOL Conference, Atlanta, with Laurence, M. 1994
• Human skills for administrators in an age of accountability. 27th TESOL Conference, Atlanta, USA, with Farkas, T. and Clark, C. 1993
• Managing with style: Essential training for educational administrators. 26th IATEFL Conference, UK, with Farkas, T. and Clark, C. 1992
• Explore, discover, change: Teacher development through self-awareness. 26th TESOL Conference, Vancouver (1992) and IATEFL, Edinburgh, with Laurence, M. 1992
• Look before you leap: From the classroom to administration. 25th TESOL Conference, New York, USA, with Farkas, T. and Clark, C. 1991
• Dangerous liaisons: Managing across cultures in EFL programs abroad. 25th IATEFL Conference, Exeter, UK, with Farkas, T. 1991

Professional Activities

• 2004 : Resource member for Middle States Self-Study Program, Richmond, American International University in London
• 2004 to date : Coordinator, Academic Advising, Richmond, American International University in London
• 2004 to date : Chair, Academic Standards Committee, Richmond, American International University in London
• 2004 to date : Member, Retention Committee, Richmond, American International University in London
• 2003 to date : University Writing Coordinator, Chair, Writing Program, Richmond, American International University in London
• 2003 to date : Member, General Education Committee, Richmond American International University in London
• 2003 to date : Member, Health and Safety Committee, Richmond, American International University in London
• 2002 - 2004 : Member, The Academic Council, Richmond, American International University in London (RAIUL)
• 2001 to date : In-field Director, International Field Study Program, RAIUL
• 2000 - 2002 : Chair, Faculty Evaluation and Welfare Committee, RAIUL
• 2000 - 2001 : Chair, Investors in People, Professional Development Working Group, RAIUL
• Fall 2000 : Acting University Writing Co-ordinator, RAIUL
• Fall 2000 : Member, General Education Committee, RAIUL
• 1999 - 2001 : Member, School of Arts and Sciences Faculty Development,, RAIUL
• 1999 : Reader, Higher Education section, TESOL Conference, St Louis, USA
• 1998 - 1999 : Member, Faculty Curriculum & Development Committee, RAIUL
• 1997 : Secretary, American University in Cairo Faculty Senate
• 1996 - 1997 : Senator (elected), AUC Faculty Senate
• 1996 - 1997 : Member, Academic Affairs Committee, AUC
• 1996 - 1997 : Member, Computer Assisted Instruction Committee, AUC
• 1994 - 1997 : Chair, The International Conference Organising Committee, AUC
• 1994 - 1997 : Editor, Voices: A Student Newsletter, AUC
• 1993 - 1997 : Member, Student Disciplinary Committee, AUC
• 1993 - 1997 : Chair, ESD Faculty Professional Development Committee, AUC
• 1992 - 1997 : Chair, The English Studies Division Steering Committee, AUC
• 1992 - 1993 : Member, The Committee for Faculty Issues, AUC
• 1989 - 1991 : Member, The Gulf Cooperation Committee, AUC
• 1988 - 1997 : Co-chair, English Language Working Group (USIS, USAID, The British Council, the Fulbright Binational Commission, AmidEast,)
• 1988 - 1991 : Member, The Library Committee, AUC

Awards

• Advisor of the Year for Student Clubs, Richmond American InternationalUniversity in London, 2002.
• Award of Excellence for Faculty and Staff Development, University Continuing Education Association, Region II (international), Boston, USA, 1996.
• Gertrude Schryver Prize for Academic Excellence, Bedford College, London University, 1972.

Consultancies

• 2004 to date : Advisor, University 12 Days Production Drama Club
• 2002 to date : Advisor, University Music Club and Choir
• 2002 to date : School Governor for the Local Education Authority, London Royal Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
• 1993 to date : Visiting consultant, Ain Shams University Faculty of Education 4-year EFL writing program.
• 1990 - 1997 : Consultant reader, ESL/EFL publishing division of ScottForesman
• 1987 - 1997 : ELT consultant, American University in Cairo cooperative ventures in the Gulf region.

Contact Details

Office: Hill Campus, Office 3
3rd Floor Taylor Library
Phone: 0208 332-8314
Email: zaherc@richmond.ac.uk