Postgraduate Profile

Mr Nasser Alasmari

PhD Candidate, School of Humanities & Social Science

Faculty/Division:  Arts (Education & Arts)
Discipline:    Applied Linguistics (Linguistics)
Email:    nasser.alasmari@uon,edu.au


Current Research

PhD Thesis title:  Effects of Acculturation factor on Saudi Arabian English Language Learners: A Contextual Comparison Study

Abstract:
This project, under the supervision of Dr Jean Harkins and Dr Bill Palmer, investigates the impact of the degree of acculturation on the level of Saudi students' English language achievement, using an English language test, anonymous questionnaires and optional follow-up interviews with ESL students in Australia and Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire survey of 100-200 participants investigates the major acculturation variables in ESL learning. Language tests of English reading comprehension and writing proficiency, conducted with 20 volunteers from the initial survey in each country, investigate the influence of acculturation factors on achievement, and follow-up interviews with 10 volunteers in each country will investigate particular factors in greater depth. The results will be analysed and reported in the PhD thesis, which also analyses the literature on acculturation in ESL learning, examines contextual factors influencing acculturation and achievement in the two learning situations, and proposes a new model to explain acculturation factors in ESL/EFL learning.

Qualifications

  • 2007 Master of Applied Linguistics with Merit, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
  • 2000 Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Translation, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia.

Spoken Languages

  • English
  • Arabic

Employment History

(2002-2007) EFL Teacher, TVTC, Saudi Arabia.
(2001-2002) Interpreter / translator, VINNEL CORP, Saudi Arabia
(2000-2001) QA Engineer, PDM-SA, Saudi Arabia

Research Activities

(2010) $A 6000 Research Project Grant, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
(2009) ASSID 2009 44th Conference 4-6 November 2009 (Hobart - Australia)
(2007) JALT 2007 33rd Annual International Conference on Language Teaching and learning 22-25 November 2007 (Tokyo - Japan).
(2007) ALAA (Applied Linguistics Association of Australia) conference (1-3 July 2007), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.

Awards

  • 2007 Awarded GOTEVOT Scholarship, GOTEVOT, Saudi Arabia.

Membership of Professional Associations

  • The Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT)