Robert Arthur Coté, PhD [email protected]
EDUCATION: Doctorate in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching, University of Arizona, Tucson
Major: Language Use; Minor: Pedagogy and Program Administration
Dissertation Title: The role of student attitude towards peer review in anonymous electronic peer review in an EFL writing classroom.
Master of Science in TESOL, Florida International University, Miami, FL: December 1996
Bachelor of Science in Meteorology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO: May 1990
INTERVIEWS:
- Daily Wildcat, UArizona, March 2, 2020
- ITMO News, St. Petersburg, Russia, April 6, 2018
LANGUAGES: English [native], French, Spanish [proficient to varying degrees]
GRANTS: $48,000 awarded by U.S. Russia Foundation (June 2019) to support improving Samara National Research University’s Academic Consultancy Center in Samara, Russia, from Sept. 2019 to Sept. 2020
$5,000 awarded by Marshall Foundation (April 2018) to support Young Writers Summer Institute
$4,800 awarded by Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Arizona (Feb. 2018) to support Women of Color and People of Color Graduate Writing Groups during the 2018-2019 academic year
$45,000 awarded by U.S. Russia Foundation (January 2018) to support improving ITMO University’s Academic Writing Lab (AWL) in Saint
Petersburg, Russia, from June 2018 through May 2019
$5,000 awarded by College of Humanities (April 2017) to support Young Writers Summer Institute
Assisted students, professors, and medical doctors in securing more than $6,000,000 in grants, scholarships, and awards since 2015
AWARDS: TESOL Arabia Travel Grant, Dubai, UAE, March 2009
Outstanding Teaching Assistant, University of Arizona, May 2006
MEMBERSHIPS:
Past and Current: MEXTESOL, National Tutoring Association (NTA), Arab Society of English Language Studies (ASELS), LINGUIST List, National Council of Teachers of English, TESOL International, ANUPI-COPEI, American School Counselors Association (ASCA), Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC), Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association (RMMLA), TESOL Arabia, National College Learning Center Association, (NCLCA), Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium (CALICO), National Council of Teachers of English
Minority Serving Institution Associations:
University of Arizona Faculty, 2005 - 2008 and 2013 - present
Pima Community College Faculty, 2005 - 2006
Miami-Dade College Faculty, 1997 - 2003
Florida International University Student, 1995 - 1996
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
English Language Specialist (ELS), U.S. Department of State via Georgetown University, Washington, DC (2017 - Present)
Provided presentations, workshops, and seminars in the following locations: St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Samara, Russia (2016 – 2019); Kyiv, Ternopil, Vinnystia, Zaporizhia, and Chernivtsi, Ukraine (2018 - 2020); Parana, Brazil (2021)
Topics included the following:
- Teacher Training for general ESL/EFL, writing, and CALL
- Second Language Writing
- Program Administration
- ESP including STEM
- Peer Review Training for instructors and students
- Abstract, Grant, Research, and Conference Proposal writing
- CVs, Cover Letters, and Personal Statements
- Statements of Purpose, Research, Diversity, and Teaching Philosophy
- Curriculum Development
- Lesson Planning and Delivery
- Observing Lesson Delivery and Providing Teacher Feedback
- Classroom Management
- Intercultural Competence
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: University of Arizona, January 2013 – Present
Director, Center for English as a Second Language
- Oversee daily operations of domestic, international, and online programs that serve thousands of students and clients annually
- Manage a team of 20+ administrators, coordinators, faculty, and staff
- Created and write monthly newsletter to promote CESL programs, faculty, staff and students
- Instructor of Record: Graduate University Track, Undergraduate Research in STEM, Beginning Reading and Pronunciation, Intermediate Reading, Advanced Writing
- Seek and write grants to various domestic and international funders
Director, Writing Skills Improvement Program
- Oversaw daily operations that serve more than 3000 students annually
- Lectured and provided workshops to various departments on-campus
- Edited theses, dissertations, journal articles, and book chapters weekly
- Actively sought and secured new, external, fee-paying clients (School Districts, Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Pima County Libraries, City of Nogales) which have generated tens of thousands of dollars in supplemental income
- Guided graduate and outreach coordinators in developing new programs
- Liaised with Baboquivari Unified School District to offer on-going skills, task, and curriculum-based writing workshops for middle and high school students and professional development for middle and high school instructors in all disciplines
- Responsible for all HR duties, including hiring, payroll, job reclassifications, and annual reviews
- Responsible for all budget duties, including purchasing and customizing MOUs and service agreements
- Created and promoted fee-based services to internal and external clients
- Wrote monthly e-newsletter listing workshops, institutes, and conferences
- Met with prospective clients from various entities regarding fee-based services
- Maintained website content to promote services and special programs
- Implemented fee-based services using 3dcart and Cybersource resulting in external revenue for the first time in the program’s history
- Implemented e-based data and record-keeping systems (qualtrics, Appointment Plus, Small Library Organizer Pro)
Assistant Director of Student Success, Center for English as a Second Language
- Conducted faculty professional development workshops across campus addressing the needs of international students, dealing with difficult students, and student support (personal, academic, behavioral and learning disabilities)
- Served as Primary Liaison between CESL and local resources: Think Tank, Campus Health, Counseling and Psychological Services, Disability Resource Center, SALT Center, etc. which resulted in two new PDs for teachers, one from SALT and another from LGBTQ Affairs
- Counseled students (200-500 per session) on academic, behavioral, and personal issues
- Mediated between instructors and students in conflict
- Accompanied students-in-need to medical and psychological evaluations
- Attended professional development regarding learning disabilities, mental health issues, LGBTQ awareness, and suicide prevention
- Coordinated local school visits for TEFL students
Assistant Director of Local Programs and Community Outreach, CESL
- Coordinated local school visits for international students
- Directly involved in various collaborative committees, meetings, and events both on and off campus (Literacy Connects, Think Tank, Disability Resource Center, Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center (SALT), Office of Global Initiatives, Office of Institutional Equity, PIMA Community College, International School of Tucson, El Rio Neighborhood Center, NAFSA Regional Conference, etc.)
- Classroom instructor (up to 10 hours per week) of all subjects for both IEP and Academic Bridge Program
- Regularly mentor and observed by junior colleagues for successful classroom management techniques and creative, interactive teaching methods
- Developed referral flowcharts for students with personal, academic, behavioral and special needs
- IEP and Bridge Instructor, Center for English as a Second Language
- Teach all levels of grammar, writing, reading and oral communication classes, presentation skills (using prezi), and graduate bridge classes
- Tutored IELTS prep, accent reduction to a visiting oceanography scholar and a graduate college administrator, and basic literacy to Arabic L1 speakers
- Teacher Trainer, Guangzhou University, Guangdong, China, July-August 2013
- Taught 100-hour TEFL program to 150 Chinese EFL teachers
- Modules included Second Language Acquisition Theory, Methods of ESL/EFL, Assessment, Classroom Management and Practicum
- Writing Instructor, Graduate and Professional Student Council, Tucson, January - March 2013
- Delivered a series of five workshops that focus on developing writing skills and discussing the components of academic theses, dissertations, and publications necessary for international graduate students who are non-native speakers of English
- Mentor and Host Family, College of Education: Department of Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies, Tucson (2013, 2014)
- Student mentor and host family for US State Department sponsored indigenous college students from Bolivia, Peru, Mexico and Guatemala attending the US Institute of Studies for Student Leaders for five weeks
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT:
Chair of English, Sharjah Women's College, United Arab Emirates, July 2009 - June 2012
- Oversaw daily operations of entire English program (3000 students)
- Direct line manager of 35-75 instructors, 4 lead faculty and several support staff
- Conducted all faculty classroom observations (120+)
- Wrote all faculty probation, observation, disciplinary and annual performance reports and met with them for discussion and feedback
- Proficient user of Portal (internal student database software)
- Responsible for $250,000+in book orders via Banner
- Proofed and approved all IELTS-based English exams across nine levels
- Met with students and faculty daily to resolve academic and behavioral issue
- Responsible for checking all student grades and attendance records at the end of each semester
- Approved/rejected missed assessment re-sit requests (500 per semester)
- Mentored failing students during summer school program via BBV
- Attended system-wide academic planning meetings in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
- Member of Hire-In-Sight faculty recruiting team: screened applicants, conducted face-to-face & video interviews in Sharjah & TESOL Arabia Checked all newly hired English faculty references via phone or Skype
- Liaised with HR to correspond with new hires before their arrival and matched them with social and academic buddies
- Taught Year 3 work readiness courses for IT and Applied Media students
Director of English as a Foreign Language, Saint Louis University in Madrid, Spain: July 2008 – June 2009
- Directed daily and annual operations of EFL program
- Maintained EFL student database
- Responsible for placement and exit testing using paper-based TOEFL & TWE
- Worked closely with registrar to create class schedules and assign faculty
- Advised prospective and current students with course scheduling
- Taught numerous classes (up to 10 hours/week) including Advanced Writing, Advanced Grammar, TOEFL-prep & Integrated Skills to all levels of Spanish, Arabic and Chinese-speaking students
- Created one-to-one tutoring program for all beginning level EFL students
- Responsible for all book orders and encouraged faculty to experiment with structured CALL in class and the computer labs
- Escorted students on various field trips around Spain
- Actively conducted dissertation research
Instructional Support Specialist/Lecturer: Center for ESL (CESL) University of Arizona, Tucson, USA: January 2005 – July 2008
- Responsible for operating language labs and department library
- Implemented school-wide reading program and reading competitions using graded readers
- Taught various IEP courses, including advanced writing, grammar, TOEFL, pronunciation, phonetics, college prep skills and reading as well as an advanced multi-skills class in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
- Chair of Curriculum Committee
- Member of Technology Committee: lead various CALL workshops for new and returning faculty & Created CESLTalk blog
- Organized and conducted classroom workshops on library research (MLA, APA)
- Implemented classroom presentation exchange with Department of Anthropology undergraduates on race and culture
- Lecturer for TEFL program, including escorting, observing and critiquing student teachers on their practicum in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
- Guest lecturer for University of Arizona’s Fulbright Summer Program, 2005 & 2006
- Escorted students to local elementary schools and to Grand Canyon
- Provided weekly ESL websites and Weekend Weather forecast student video to CESL news bulletin
- Implemented UAPresents program with lessons and visits to musical and theater performances on campus
Teaching Assistant – TRAD 104: Department of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA: 2006, 2007
- Led weekly discussion groups on the history of educational systems throughout the world from ancient times to the 21st Century
- Assisted students with research and writing
- Arranged/accompanied student to conduct face-to-face interviews with educators in Mexico for a research project
- Administered and corrected exams and submitted final grades to registrar
Teaching Assistant – ATMO 336: Department of Physics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA: 2007
- Assisted students with homework assignments and research papers on the fundamentals of meteorology and basic math
- Administered and corrected exams
Adjunct Instructor - PIMA Community College,Tucson, Arizona, USA: 2005-2006
- Taught state mandated Structured English Immersion (SEI) classes to K-12 teachers in numerous school districts in Southern Arizona
ESOL Dept Head, Full-time Instructor & Testing Chairperson, No. Miami Adult Education Center, Miami, FL: Oct. 1997 – Aug. 2004
- Reorganized ESL program at Florida's largest adult education center
- Supervised curriculum, teaching methods and classroom objectives of 150 teachers to adhere to Florida’s Workforce Development Plan
- Scheduled, administered and corrected placement and exit exams for ESL, ABE, high school, GED and vocational classes for 7000+ students per trimester at 10 schools in urban, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual settings
- Administered various standardized tests: A-LAS, TABE, GED, CASAS, HSCT, FCAT & TOEFL
- Assisted students in selecting courses/programs according to abilities, educational needs & vocational goals in English, French & Spanish
- Developed a unique curriculum combining traditional and workplace English instruction based on the textbook series Put English to Work
- Taught ESL 4 and 5. Instruction included reading, grammar, writing, idioms, speech, listening via audio stories and TOEFL prep.
- Researcher, evaluator and presenter for Principal Training Program
- Manuscript reviewer for Workplace Plus 1 & 2 textbooks (Saslow & Collins, 2001)
- Conducted class workshops on test-taking strategies using Skills Assessment Modules (SAMS) by Prentice Hall Regents
Adjunct Instructor – Miami-Dade College, Miami, FL (Wolfson, Inter-American and North campuses): Jan. 1997 – Dec. 2003
- Taught advanced writing, grammar and speech in IEP
- Taught VESOL, employability skills and TOEFL classes
- Served as speech/accent reduction instructor for Guantanamo Relocation & Education Training (GREAT) Program
- Organized new VESOL program at Inter-American campus by evaluating prospective instructors, counseling, testing and placing new students and finalizing a $10,000 order to customize textbook and software lab
- Contracted out to Federal Express Corporation by Miami Dade College to assist Manager of Training for Central/South America & Caribbean to create and edit extensive documents and proposals to be submitted to executive board for approval. Papers covered needs assessment for international employee training courses.
ESL Textbook Consultant - Simon & Schuster Education Group: 1997 – 1998
- Reviewed academic and vocational manuscripts and texts for adult language learners
- Recommended changes to chapter organization, page layout and design, photos
- Corrected grammatical and typographical errors
ESL Instructor - Lindsey Hopkins Adult Education Center, Miami, FL, USA: 1995– 1998
- Taught all levels of English, employability skills, Business English, Phonetics and Accent Reduction
- Assisted in the development of original, vocational-based curriculum, including creation of several levels of exit exams
SAT Instructor and Tutor - Toby Rose’s College Prep, Miami, FL, USA: 1995-1997
- Taught English and math to high school students in preparation for SAT
- Private tutor of mathematics (algebra, geometry, SAT I & II) and English (analogies, reading comprehension, vocabulary and TOEFL prep)
Meteorologist &Technical Writer - SW Research Institute, Johnston Atoll, Polynesia: 1991 – 1994
- Maintained meteorological and air quality stations
- Worked in various security sensitive locations (Secret govt. clearance req’d)
- Published monthly climatologic and air quality reports
- Provided U.S. Army personnel with chemical hazard information
- Trained assistants on operation of equipment and computer programs
- Developed max/min inventory purchase plan for instruments
- Coordinated on-island training workshops
- Prepared 100+ Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manuals
- Member of Johnston Atoll Disaster Preparedness Committee
- Conducted VIP tours for international dignitaries and visiting scientists
- Provided weekly weather column for company bulletin
VOLUNTEER WORK
Arizona Department of Corrections Writing Tutor and Mentor (Sept. 2017 – Present)
- Assist incarcerated person with academic and personal writing
- Connected him with a Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling graduate student to create a public website showcasing the prisoner’s poetry, fiction, and artwork
- Mentored an Amphitheater High School Latino student from a 14-year-old freshman to an 18-year-old senior
VETTINGS: Arab World English Journal, Associate Editor (2015 - present); article submission reviewer (2013 - present)
Fulbright Selection Committee - English Teaching Assistants: Vetted and ranked 74 applicants for Argentina for 2015-2016 award year
Arizona Working Papers in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching, University of Arizona: Editor 2008, Co-editor 2007
Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association (RMMLA): English Linguistics 2008, 2007; Italian-American Writers, 2008