Riah Werner

Summary of Qualifications

Creative and socially responsible English teacher and teacher trainer with seven years’ international experience in Africa, Asia and South America, from the primary to post-secondary levels. Skilled at creating materials relevant to the local context, collaborating with local teachers and designing effective teacher trainings. Passionate about using music, drama and the arts to engage students, develop fluency and explore social issues. Committed to advancing the profession through conference presentations, publications and collaborations with teachers associations.

Education

MA in TESOL, SIT Graduate Institute, Brattleboro, VT, May 2017
- Thesis: Drama for Social Justice: Embodying Identity and Emotion in ELT
- Advisor: Dr. Elka Todeva
BFA in Theatre, New York University, New York, NY, May 2009

Fellowships

English Language Fellow, Institut Pédagogique National de l’Enseignement Technique et Professionnel/English Language Fellow Program, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Sep 2017-Present

Design and deliver a professional development program for 80 in-service English teachers, with twice monthly workshops on interactive pedagogy and a corresponding video-based online course
Expand piloted professional development project into a training of trainers program for 50 teacher trainers from every region of Cote d’Ivoire
Oversee the formation of a national teachers association, advise association leaders, write grants and organize the first national English teaching conference
Conduct teacher training workshops in 10 cities throughout the country
Develop an English for Leadership course for a local entrepreneurship center

Global Education Fellow, La Unidad Educativa Carlos Cisneros/WorldTeach, Riobamba, Ecuador, Dec 2016-Jul 2017

Designed a Multiple Intelligences-based action research project for 6th grade students, leading to a 1.38 increase in student test scores on a ten point scale
Assisted local teachers with implementation of a new government curriculum through co-teaching, classroom observations and teacher training workshops
Taught English to 350 students in grades 6, 8 and 12

Teaching and Teacher Training Experience

English Teacher, Banhuaihinfon School/World Education, Mae Sot, Thailand, Jan 2016-Feb 2016

Taught English to 90 students in grades 1-6, using a multimodal approach
Wrote songs, created visual aids and designed hands-on activities
Collaborated with a local teacher on materials that support plurilingual identity

English Teacher and Technical Trainer, Moshi Regional Vocational Training and Service Center/Peace Corps, Moshi, Tanzania, Jul 2013-Jul 2015

Designed and co-taught an English for Hospitality program for students working in local restaurants and hotels to improve their job performance
Taught ESP to 300 second-year vocational college students (ages 18-40)Trained local teachers in grant writing and project management, leading to the formation of the Kuleana Group, a community organization which has taught life skills to 4500 students and distributed reusable menstrual pads to 2000 girls
Designed and facilitated pre-service training workshops for 120 volunteers

English Teacher and Technical Trainer, Mboni Secondary School/Peace Corps, Mboni, Tanzania, Jun 2011-Jun 2013

Taught English to 500 first year secondary school students, in classes of 45-50
Created Community Action Theatre plays to address local issues with students
Facilitated methodology workshops for 80 Tanzanian teachers and founded a collaborative teacher development group that met bi-weekly for three years
Wrote the Peace Corps English manual, which is distributed to all volunteers
Developed library project to increase students’ access to books, resulting in the creation of a school library and adoption of weekly library periods for all classes

English Musical Instructor, Hello Kid Actor, Seoul, South Korea, Feb 2010-Feb 2011

Taught English to 400 students (ages 3-18) using a Content and Language Integrated Learning approach centered on musical theatre and mathematics
Collaborated on EFL drama textbooks by researching age-appropriate theatre games and writing play scripts with accompanying language exercises
Directed children in English plays and musicals, culminating in full performances

Publications

Journal Articles

Werner, R. (2018). Music, Movement and Memory: Pedagogical Songs as Mnemonic Aids. TESOL Journal, 9(4), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.387

Werner, R. (2018). My Classroom: Tanzania. English Teaching Forum, 56(4). https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/etf_56_4_40-44.pdf

Werner, R. (2017). Girls’ Voices in Community Action Theatre in Tanzania. Continuum: The Journal of African Diaspora Drama, Theatre and Performance, 3(2). https://continuumjournal.org/index.php/102-volumes/issues/vol-3-no-2/3-2-articles/142-girls-voices-in-community-action-theatre-in-tanzania

Contributions to Edited Volumes

Werner, R. (In press). If You Speak English, Take One Step Forward. In V. Viana (Ed.), New Ways of Teaching with Corpora. Alexandria, VA: TESOL Press.

Werner, R. (2018). Confidence Day. In J. Vorholt (Ed.), New Ways of Teaching Speaking, Second Edition (pp. 23-24. Alexandria, VA: TESOL Press.

Manuals and Textbooks

Werner, R. (2013). English Manual for Peace Corps Volunteers: Practical Advice for Teaching in Tanzania. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Peace Corps Tanzania.

Hwang H. M. (ed.) (2011). Hello Kid Actor: Learning English Through Musical Theater/Drama (Levels 1-6). Seoul, South Korea: Hello Kid Actor. (Contributed 2 play scripts, questions and exercises for 3 units, and instructions for 29 theatre games.)

Articles in Professional Newsletters

Werner, R. (July 2018). Black Spaces and White Norms: The Importance of BELPaF for the TESOL Community. TESOLers for Social Responsibility. http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/tesolsris/issues/2018-07-26/2.html

Werner, R. (June 2017). Addressing Linguicism and its Racial Implications in the Age of Nationalism. TESOLers for Social Responsibility. http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/tesolsris/issues/2017-06-07/4.html

Conferences

Conferences Organized

CINELTA Conference (Cote d’Ivoire National English Language Teachers Association), Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, May 6-7, 2019

CI ELT Exchange Conference (Cote d’Ivoire ELT Exchange), Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, June 4-5, 2018

Sandanona Conference (SIT Graduate Institute), Brattleboro, VT, May 16-18, 2016

Panels Organized

Ibrahim, K., Njau, C., Sidibe, A., Yassim, K., Adi, A. & Werner, R. (2019, March). Social Issues in the Classroom: Ideas from African Teachers. Panel organized for the 2019 TESOL Convention, Atlanta, GA.

Motha, S., Tinker Sachs, G., Marzouki, S., Khawaja, A. & Werner, R. (2019, March). From Talk to Action: Putting Social Responsibility into Practice. Panel organized for the 2019 TESOL Convention, Atlanta, GA.

Refereed Conference Presentations

Werner, R. (2019, March). Quick Arts Based Activities to Enliven your Classes. Practice-oriented presentation accepted for the 2019 TESOL Convention, Atlanta, GA.

Werner, R. & Adi, A. (2019, March). Locally Contextualized Continuing Professional Development for African Teachers. Practice-oriented presentation accepted for the 2019 TESOL Convention, Atlanta, GA.

Werner, R., Mansour, C., Eslami, Z., Graham, K., Freeman, D., Mercuri, S., Guarrera, J. & Khawaja, A. (2019, March). Preserving the Tower of Babel: Language Diversity as Social Justice. Panel accepted for the 2019 TESOL Convention, Atlanta, GA.

Werner, R. (2018, September). Thinking Critically About Gender Equality in the Classroom. Workshop presented at the 2018 Mauritius ELT Conference, Port Louis, Mauritius.

Khawaja, A. & Werner, R. (2018, June). Connecting and Supporting Socially Responsible Educators. Workshop presented at the 2018 BART Summer Symposium, Clearwater, FL.

Werner, R. (2018, May). Integrating Interactive Activities into your Lesson Plans. Workshop presented at the 2018 Africa TESOL Conference, Dakar, Senegal.

Adi, A. & Werner, R. (2018, May). CI ELT Exchange: A New Model for Continuing Professional Development. Paper presented at the 2018 Africa TESOL Conference, Dakar, Senegal.

Werner, R. (2018, March). Drama for Social Justice in ELT. Workshop presented at the 2018 TESOL Convention, Chicago, IL.

Werner, R. (2018, March). Multiplicity in TESOL: Multimodality, Multilingualism and Multiple Intelligences. Research-oriented presentation at the 2018 TESOL Convention, Chicago, IL.

Werner, R. & Njau, C. (2018, March). Empowering Tanzanian Students through Multilingual Storytelling, Drama and Digital Publishing. Practice-oriented presentation at the 2018 TESOL Convention, Chicago, IL.

Werner, R. (2017, March). Music and Movement in the English Classroom: Practical Implementation Strategies. Practice-oriented presentation at the 2017 TESOL Convention, Seattle, WA.

Werner, R. (2016, May). Music and Movement in the English Classroom: Practical Implementation Strategies. Workshop presented at the 2016 MATSOL Conference, Framingham, MA.

Additional Conference Presentations

Werner, R. (2018, June). Classroom Strategies for Promoting Gender Equality. Workshop presented at the 2018 CI ELT Exchange Conference, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Werner, R. (2018, February). Effective Strategies for Interactive Teaching. Workshop presented at the 2018 ZAPELATO Conference, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Werner, R. (2018, February). Multimedia Teacher Training: Parallel Online and In Person Professional Development. Presentation at the Subsaharan Africa English Language Fellowship Mid Year Conference, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Werner, R. (2017, July). Multiple Intelligences in International TESOL. Paper presented at the 2017 WorldTeach Global Education Fellowship Conference, Quito, Ecuador.

Werner, R. (2016, May). Expression through Drama: Linking Prosody, Embodiment and Emotional Awareness. Workshop presented at the Sandanona Conference, Brattleboro, VT.

Grants

US Embassy Grant for CINELTA Teacher Training Projects (2018, $24,950)

US Embassy Grant for CI ELT Exchange Conference (2018, $3,730)

RELO Grant for Teacher Training in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (2018, $785)

Peace Corps Huru Grant for Reusable Menstrual Pad Project (2015, $4,100)

Peace Corps Huru Grant for Reusable Menstrual Pad Project (2014, $1,540)

Peace Corps Partnership Project Grant for Mboni Secondary School Library (2013, $2,400)

Awards and Honors

TESOL International: Leadership Mentoring Program Award (2019)

TESOL International: Professional Development Scholarship (2018)

SIT Graduate Institute: Engaged Learning Ambassador Award (2016)

SIT Graduate Institute: SIT Grant (2015)

New York University: Founder’s Day Award (2009)

New York University: Dean’s List (2008-2009)

New York University: Tisch Scholarship (2005)

National Merit Scholarship Corporation: National Merit Scholarship (2005)

Service to Profession

Co-Chair Elect, TESOL International Social Responsibility Interest Section, Mar 2018-Present

Collaborate with SRIS leaders and steering committee to create transition plan for 2018-2021
Plan academic and intersection panels for the 2019 and 2020 TESOL annual conventions

Newsletter Editor, TESOL International Social Responsibility Interest Section, Mar 2017-Present

Publish 2-4 themed issues per year, each with 4-8 articles and letters from the IS leadership
Solicit submissions, edit articles and communicate with authors and TESOL staff
Create an editorial calendar and develop a manual of procedures for the next editors

Manuscript Reviewer, TESOL Journal, Nov 2017-Present

Review submitted articles and provide detailed feedback for the authors and editors

Abstract Reviewer, TESOL International, Aug 2016-Present

Rate abstracts for the annual convention
Review awards applications

Community Outreach and Leadership

Global Mentor, Teachers for Teachers, Kakuma Refugee Camp/Kalobeyi Settlement, Kenya, Apr 2018-Present

Mentor refugee teachers and provide teaching support through videos and text messages

TESOL Alumni Mentor, SIT Graduate Institute, Brattleboro, VT, Apr 2018-Present

Mentor recent graduates of the MA TESOL program and provide career advice

Application Reviewer, Young African Leaders Initiative, Aug 2016-Present

Read and provide feedback on applications for the Mandela Washington Fellowship

Curriculum Developer, Kuleana Group, Marangu, Tanzania, Jul 2016-Feb 2018

Developed curricula and lesson plans for workshops for Tanzanian secondary schools on topics such as multilingual storytelling, drama, digital publishing and multiple intelligences
Provided long-distance support and assisted local teachers with implementation

Arts Education Experience

Shakespeare Teacher, Shakespeare for Homeschoolers, New York, NY, Sep 2009-Jan 2010

Taught 10 children about Shakespeare and developed imagination through creative role-play
Founded program, organized classes, developed curriculum and created teaching materials

Education Intern/Puppet Builder, ArtistrYE, New York, NY, May 2009-Jul 2009

Organized and taught puppetry workshops for 50 underprivileged children, including ELLs
Designed and built puppets; obtained materials; instructed puppeteers

Assistant Director, Young Shakespeare Players, Madison, WI, Jun 2008- Aug 2008

Directed 65 young actors (ages 6-18) in an uncut production of Henry IV, Part One
Managed a team of 5 assistants and delegated production responsibilities

Assistant Director, Stella Adler Studio of Acting, New York, NY, Jul 2006-Aug 2006

Directed rehearsals for 15 teenagers in the Advanced Teen Program
Maintained script and oversaw technical aspects of the final performance

Program Assistant for After School Art Classes, Sparkledog Productions, Madison, WI, Jan 2005-May 2005

Taught art activities and listening skills to 20 elementary school students, including ELLs
Created arts-based lesson plans to accompany audio stories, to develop students’ visualization abilities as a foundation for strong literacy skills

Professional Affiliations

TESOL International: member since 2015

Africa TESOL: member since 2018

CINELTA (Cote d’Ivoire National English Language Teachers Association): founding member and advisor

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