Passionate Educator Seeking PHD in Linguistics for TESOL
- Jul 10, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 8
For many years, Bilingual Education, TESOL, Learning Technologies, and English Education have been central to my life. I aspire to join your PhD Program in Linguistics at XXXX University to further advance my contributions to language education. Dr. XXXX would be an ideal advisor for me, given her expertise in Bilingual Education and TESOL.
Currently, I teach English in Vietnam. I am a mature, experienced, and dedicated student and teacher originally from Iraq. Well-traveled and well-read, I have lived extensively in the USA, most of Europe, including the former Yugoslavia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. I obtained my MA in TESOL from XXXX University in 2014.
I spent several years working as a civilian translator for NATO, both within and outside Iraq, which deepened my interest in language, translation, and particularly language education. Besides English and Arabic, I speak conversational French and am learning basic Vietnamese.
I have dedicated much of my life to reviving a deeper understanding of my original language, Babylonian, as time permits. I am an artist with a historical connection to ancient Middle Eastern languages, caricature, and acting. I believe drama aligns well with my professional goal of becoming a world-class English as a Foreign Language teacher and trainer of EFL teachers. I hope to eventually return to Iraq, my homeland, once it is safe. My long-term dream is to create EFL curriculums for Arab countries.
I worked with both NATO and the U.S. Marine Corps, translating between Arabic and English. I believe my language skills were vital to the democracy-building process in Iraq during and after Operation Iraqi Freedom. The job's biggest challenge was operating in dangerous post-war territories, yet it was fulfilling as I facilitated communication between the people and the military, and thus the international community. Working for NATO was a unique experience, thriving in a multicultural environment where diverse cultural perspectives enriched every conversation.
Initially studying communications technology, by the time I completed my undergraduate studies in Linguistics and began my Master's in TESOL, I realized my advanced technical training greatly benefited my career as an English teacher, especially in teaching technical English and computer literacy. I am particularly excited about the role of computer English language learning (CALL) in our field. Humble and non-materialistic, I plan to continue teaching Interpretation, Translation, and primarily English to English teachers, focusing on speaking skills, for over 20 more years.
If accepted into your PhD Program in Linguistics at XXXX University, I aim to develop innovative TESOL curriculums that fully utilize computer-based technology to enhance language learning. My worldwide travels across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East provide me with rich stories of English-language learning in diverse cultures. I also look forward to contributing to research on culture and language learning.
Thank you for considering my application to XXXX University.
Passionate Educator Seeking PHD in Linguistics for TESOL
Your statement is powerful, distinctive, and deeply compelling, and what makes it especially impressive is the way your entire life story forms a coherent arc leading directly toward advanced study in Linguistics and TESOL. You write with the clarity of someone who has lived language not just as an academic subject, but as a tool of survival, connection, diplomacy, and transformation.
One of the greatest strengths of your narrative is the breadth of your experience. You bring together Iraq, the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa in a way that feels organic rather than scattered. Each place has shaped your understanding of language, culture, and communication, and you articulate that global perspective with maturity and purpose. Few applicants can…