Elaheh Tavakoli

PhD in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), 2014- 2018, Hakim Sabzevari University, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences

Visiting PhD Researcher (2017-2018), University of South-Eastern Norway, Department of Language and Literature

Thesis: EFL Teachers’ and Students’ Attitudes towards and Experience of Formative Assessment of Writing           

MA in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), 2005-2007, University of Isfahan, Faculty of Foreign Languages

Thesis: The Construct Validity of the FCE Reading Paper in the Iranian EFL Context

B.A in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), 2000-2004, Azad University of Najaf Abad (Isfahan), Faculty of literature and social sciences

     Other Courses:  

• PhD Course UV9211 - Introduction to Path-analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (4 Credits) University of Oslo, Department of Education, 2018.

• Language Methodology Refresher (Secondary), Bell Teacher Campus, Homerton College, Cambridge, 2011

Courses in Master of Teacher Education Programmes (Grunnskolelærerutdanning)

• MGL5-10 EN1A English 1A - Language and Didactics (Lecturer)
• MGL5-10 EN1B English 1B - Language and Didactics (Lecturer)
• MGL5-10 EN2A English 2A - Language and Didactics (Lecturer)
• MGL5-10 EN2B (Multilingualism, and Intercultural Competence) (Course coordinator and lecturer)
• MGL5-10 EN3A English Vocabulary: Structure and Acquisition (Lecturer and course coordinator)
• MGL1-7 EN1B English 1B - Language and Didactics (Course coordinator and Lecturer)
• MGL1-7 / 5-10 / ULEM Master's Thesis in Teacher Education (Thesis Supervision)

Courses in In-service Teacher Education Programmes (Kompetanse for Kvalitet & PPU)

• ENG1B-17KFK-1 Engelsk 1A & 1B (Lecturer and course coordinator)
• ENG1A-510KFK-1 Engelsk 1A & 1B (Lecturer and course coordinator)
• Fremmedspråksdidaktikk/PPU-DID1FR, PPUD-DID1FR, PPUD-DID2FR (Lecturer)

2020- present: Associate Professor at Volda University College, Norway                                            

2019-2020: IELT Examiner/ Assessment Consultant, British Council, Beijing, China

2002 - 2019: Teaching English in Language Schools and Ministry of Education, Tutoring Candidates for the International Tests (IELTS, FCE & TOEFL), Isfahan, Iran                           

2017 - 2018: Invited PhD Researcher, Lecturer, and Examiner, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN)

2014- 2016: Adjunct Lecturer at Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran

2007- 2014: Faculty Member and Lecturer, Executive Assistant, Sobh-e Sadeq Institute of Higher Education, English Department, Isfahan, Iran

Assessment and Testing

Validation Research

Reflective Teaching

Psycholinguistics

Teaching Language Skills

Multilingual Learners

2022- : Leader, Assessment in Norways' Teacher Education Programmes (Volda University College)

2021-:, Learning and Assessment Research Group (Volda University College)

2023-: Review Editor, Frontiers in Education

2020-: Journal Peer-reviewer, Language Testing, Sage Publications

• 57th International IATEFL Conference and Exhibition, Brighton, UK, 17-20 April 2024. Presentation on Assessment Patterns in Norway’s Higher Education.
• 56th International IATEFL Conference and Exhibition, Harrogate, UK, 17-20 April 2023. Presentation on Formative Assessment of Writing.
• 55th International IATEFL Conference and Exhibition, Belfast, UK, 17-20 May 2022. Presentation on Question generation behavior of reflective teachers.
• The conference “Conversation as a Tool for Professional Practice” at the University of South-Eastern Norway, April, 6th 2018
• PASIE Seminars (University of South Eastern Norway, 2018)

• The First National Conference on Challenges in Foreign Language Teaching in Iran, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Khorasan, Iran, 29 &30, April, 2015. (Chairwoman and Presenter), Academic Oral Presentation Self-Efficacy: A Cross-sectional Interdisciplinary Comparative Study.
•  The International Conference on Current trends in ELT, Putting the Learner in the Spotlight, 20-22 May, 2013.Test Wiseness strategies.

• The Second Postgraduate Conference on Issues in TEFL and English Literature, University of Tehran, December 2007, Investigating the Construct Validity of the FCE Reading Paper in Iranian EFL Context
• Language on the Move Workshop by Dr. Ingrid Piller, Macquarie University Professor in Isfahan University, 10- 11. December, 2011.

Research and Development Scholarship, Spring 2025. Volda University College (2024)

Invited as a Visiting PhD Student to the USN, Highly Productive Stay at USN, Norway (2018)

 Scholarship from Ministry of Higher Education for PhD sabbatical, Iran (2017). 

Top PhD Student at Hakim Sabzevari University (2018)

ResearchGate Profile

Google Scholar Profile

LinkedIn Profile

Tavakoli. E, Gamlem, S. M. (2024). Common Assessment Patterns in Norway’s primary and lower secondary teacher education: A content analysis of syllabus designs in three universities. DOI: 10.1080/02602938.2024.2334417

Sandstedta,J, Kubotab ,M. Anderssen ,M. Darbya J, A. Helseta ,S., Tavakoli, E , Vangsnesb,Ø. , Rothmanb, J (Under review). Bidialectal language representation and processing: Evidence from Norwegian ERPs. Journal of Memory and Language.

Tavakoli, E. (2024). Who teaches best? Who assesses best? A Case study of a competency-based teacher training course. Journal of Language Horizons.  DOI.10.22051/lghor.2023.41179.1724

Tavakoli, E. (2021). Contribution of English Textbooks to an EFL Curriculum and Teachers’ Professional Identity: The Case of Four EFL Teachers and a Private Language School in Iran. Taḥqīqāt-i kārburdī dar zabān-i ingilisī, 10(3), 105–136.  DOI: 10.22108/ARE.2021.125221.1632

Tavakoli, E., Amirian, M. R., Burner, T., Davoudi, M. & Ghaniabadi, S. (2019). Formative Assessment of Writing (FAoW): A Confirmatory Factor Structure Study. International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education (IJATE), 6(3), 344–361. DOI.10.21449/ijate.544277

Tavakoli, E., Amirian, M. R., Burner, T., Davoudi, M. & Ghaniabadi, S. (2018). Operationalization of formative assessment in writing: An intuitive approach to the development of an instrument. Taḥqīqāt-i kārburdī dar zabān-i ingilisī, 7(3), 265–290. DOI.10.22108/ARE.2018.112373.1340

Tavakoli, E. (2018). EFL teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards and experience of formative assessment of writing, Unpublished PhD Thesis. Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.

Tavakoli, E., & Davoudi, M. (2017). Willingness to Communicate Orally: The Case of Iranian EFL Learners. Journal of psycholinguistic research, 46(6), 1509-1527.

Amirian, S. M. R., & Tavakoli, E. (2016). Academic oral presentation self-efficacy: a cross-sectional interdisciplinary comparative study. Higher Education Research & Development, 35(6), 1095-1110.

Tavakoli, E., & Davoudi, M. (2016). Question generation behavior of reflective teachers, Reflective Practice, 17(4), 415-429.

Tavakoli, E., & Samian, S. H. (2014). Test-wiseness Strategies in PBTs and IBTs: The Case of EFL Test Takers, Who Benefits More? Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 98, 1876-1884.

Kheirzadeh, S., & Tavakoli, E. (2012). The Causes of Reading Difficulty: The Perception of Iranian EFL Post-graduate and Under-graduate Students. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 3(1), 147-152.

Tavakoli, E. and Barati, H. (2011). Investigating the Construct Validity of the FCE  Reading Paper in Iranian EFL Context.  Journal of Language Teaching and Research. 2(1)239-247.

Tavakoli, E. Kheirzade, S. (2011). The Effect of Font Size on Reading Comprehension Skills: Scanning for details and Reading for general idea.  Journal of Theory and Practice in Language Studies. 1(7), 915-919.

  Tavakoli. E. (2007). Investigating the Construct Validity of the FCE Reading Paper in the Iranian EFL Context. Unpublished Master’s Thesis, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.

Tavakoli, E., Kheirzadeh, S., Ouliaeinia, H. (Third Edition, 2022). Study Skills for Iranian EFL Students. Jungle Publication. Tehran.