About Raj Khatri, PhD

Land Acknowledgment: I acknowledge that I live and work on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, as well as the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. As a treaty person under Treaty 13, I recognize the responsibilities that come with living, learning, and teaching on these lands. My commitment to Indigenous education is grounded in cultural humility, continued learning, and deep respect for Indigenous knowledge systems, languages, and community leadership. About me:  I am an educator and applied linguist specializing in English language development and literacies, with over two decades of experience teaching and mentoring learners and educators across adult, postsecondary, and K–12 contexts in Canada, the United States, and Asia. My work centres on supporting multilingual learners, including international students, newcomers, and students with refugee backgrounds, through inclusive, evidence-informed literacy and language instruction. At George Brown Polytechnic (GBP), where I have served as a full-time permanent professor of ESL-SoTL since 2019 facilitating English for Academic Purposes (EAP), critical literacy, and research skills classes, and where I have contributed to faculty mentorship and scholarship in teaching and learning, I collaborated closely with the Associate Dean and colleagues to spearhead and lead the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in ESL (SoTL-ESL) initiative in the School of ESL and Immigrant Education from 2019 to 2025. This work, which encompassed Research in ELT, Scholarship in ELT, and a Teaching and Learning Community of Practice in ELT, was both rewarding and professionally enriching. I am grateful for the support and collaboration of the Associate Dean and colleagues in GBP's School of ESL and Immigrant Education. Alongside classroom teaching, I have supervised and mentored pre-service and early-career EAP/ESL instructors, including serving as TESL Practicum Supervising Instructor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Victoria from 2014 to 2019. I have also taught EAP and literacy-focused courses at Centennial College, the University of Regina, Camosun College, Seneca College, and the Toronto Catholic District School Board. My academic background includes a PhD in Linguistics with a focus on Applied Linguistics from the University of Victoria and a Master of Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. I have received multiple academic awards, grants, and scholarships, including the University of Victoria Fellowship and the Geoffrey & Alix O’Grady Scholarship in Linguistics. My professional preparation also includes Special Education training and extensive continuing education in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), differentiated instruction (DI), literacy instruction, accessibility, and inclusive assessment. My research and professional interests include second-language reading and literacy development, multiliteracies, adult English learners with disabilities, UDL, reflective practice, the SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Committed to service and community engagement, I have volunteered with educational and settlement organizations in Canada and internationally. These activities range from supporting schools in Nepal and working with Plan International Canada in their 'Because I am a Girl' initiative in Nepal to facilitating ESL/EAP classrooms at various settings, including the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, and Regina Public Schools. I have supported voluntary organizations such as the TRIEC, WoodGreen Community Services (Toronto), Regina Food Bank, the Salvation Army (Regina), the Regina Green Patch, and Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society. I hold an Ontario College of Teachers Certificate of Qualification and Registration (Junior/Intermediate/Senior), a BC Professional Certificate of Qualification (K-12), Saskatchewan Professional ‘A’ Certificate (K–12), TESL Canada (Professional Standard III – Permanent), and TESL Ontario, with long-standing involvement in TESOL International Association. At the core of my work is a belief that strong literacy instruction, inclusive design, and relational teaching practices create meaningful educational pathways and lasting impact for learners and communities. Thank you for visiting! Happy exploring!