Dr. Rebecca Oxford: Biography
Rebecca L. Oxford is Professor and Director of the Second Language Education Program at the University of Maryland, College Park. Previously she has led language programs at Teachers College, Columbia University; the University of Alabama; and the Pennsylvania State University.
Before becoming a professor, she was a research psychologist, program evaluator, and language teacher. Dr. Oxford holds two degrees in Russian (Vanderbilt University and Yale University) and two in educational psychology, including a master`s from Boston University and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina. She initiated and co-edited the Tapestry Program, a series of ESL student textbooks.
Dr. Oxford has written and edited many books on language learning strategies, motivation, cultural identity, and teaching methods. Several of her books, such as Language Learning Strategies: What Every Teacher Should Know, have been translated into Arabic and are widely known in the Middle East. She has written over 60 published chapters and articles. Several of her instruments, including the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning and the Style Analysis Survey, are used in up to 20 different languages. Currently her main research interests are language learning styles and strategies and how these factors relate to language teaching methods in different cultures.
She
is known for being a lively speaker who uses humor and new ideas to involve,
challenge, and stimulate the audience. She has presented, often as a keynote
speaker, at conferences in Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, England, France, Guatemala,
Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Paraguay, Russia, Uruguay, and many other countries.
Optimizing Students' Learning
Styles, Strategies and Performance
9th TESOLArabia International Conference, Dubai, UAE, 14 March, 2003
This workshop helps teachers and researchers understand the very important role played by learning styles and strategies in students' language learning. Rebecca Oxford presents clear, direct, and practical information, along with many hands-on activities and suggestions for how to help students understand and optimize their learning styles and strategies. The workshop includes actual practice in styles - and strategies-enhanced instruction (SSEI) that teachers can readily implement in their classrooms to improve learners' motivation and language performance.