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Reem Doukmak

I survived the war in Syria in 2013 and came to Warwick University to do a PhD in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching at the Centre for Applied Linguistics. I was a lecturer and seminar tutor at Al-Baath University, Homs for four years. I also taught at Al-Kalamoon University and various public schools. I was one of the founding members, a writer and a proof-reader at Rising Syria, a touristic cultrual magazine which aimed to highlight the landmarks in Syrian history, culture and social life.



Research Interests

My main research interest lies in investigating classroom interaction and how that can lead to learning. My current research focus is on refugee education and the use of drama as a method to teach English language. I am looking at the teaching and learning experiences of Syrians who were displaced because of the ongoing war which was ignited seven years ago in Syria. The improvement of the current edcuation situation of millions of children is the driving force of my research with the hope to save Syrian children from becoming a lost generation. I am also interested in developing teacher education in refugee context.

Awards and Scholarships

  • Capacity Building Project fellowship (2007-2008) by British Council and Syrian Ministry of Higher Education.
  • Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) fellowship (2013-2014). http://www.cara1933.org/
  • Joint scholarship by Chancellor's, Warwick Alumni and Centre for Applied Linguistics (2014-2016) for my PhD at the University of Warwick.
  • Warwick Speakers Competition (March 2014) University of Warwick 'From War to Warwick' speech, third place.
  • Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick associate fellowship (2016-2017).
  • Outstanding Student Contribution Award, University of Warwick (2017).
  • Warwick Volunteers Award, University of Warwick (March 2017).

Publications

Doukmak, R. (2014) 'Are you sure you don't have any questions?' Dialogic Teaching as a Way to Promote Students' Questions. ELTED Journal 16: 27-33. http://www.elted.net/issues/volume-16/4.%20Reem%2024.03.2014%20RD%20Final.pdf

Conferences

  • First Edinburgh Conference in Critical Migration and Border Studies (9-10 Janduary 2015) Edinbrugh University. 'Learning and teaching in the context of/about migration' panel.
  • 17th Warwick PG Conference in Applied Linguistics (24-25 June 2014) University of Warwick. 'Learning Justifies the Interaction: An Insight into Refugee Learning Experience and Teachers’ roles in Creating Interactional Space' presentation.
  • ESRC Festival of Social Scienes (1 November 2014) The Herbert Museum, Coventry. '​Students and teachers in limbo: Insights to Syrian refugee camp schools' poster presentation.
  • IATEFL TTed SIG International Conference: The Journey from Input to Interaction in English Language Learning, Gaziantep (22-26 April 2015). 'Implementing Drama in the ELT Classroom: A Syrian Refugee Case' presentation.
  • Istanbul Summit: Women As the Beneficiaries and Actors of Humanitarian Action 2015, Istanbul (9-10 May 2015). 'Refugee Women Inside-Out Action' presentation.
  • Global Research Priorities - Global Governance (GRP-GG): Global Governance PhD Group Meeting. (20 May 2015) University of Warwick. 'In or Out of School? Syria’s Lost Generation' presentation.
  • 18th Warwick PG Conference in Applied Linguistics (24-25 June 2014) University of Warwick. 'The Impossibility of Research: A Syrian Refugee Case' presentation.
  • GRP-GG PhD Conference: University of Warwick (13 July 2015) 'Challenges for Global Governance: Education in Crisis Situations' panel with Abdulqader Alyasin, Erkan Kulekci and Samaneh Zandian.
  • UNICEF on Campus Children of Syria Campaign - Speakers Conference (30 November 2015) 'Syria: War to Peace' presentation.
  • MRANG Showcase Merseyeside Refugee and Asylum Seeker Pre and Post Natal Support Group, Liverpool (25 November 2015). 'Between A refugee camp and A UK women’s group: Existing or Missing Link? ' presentation.
  • Lunch for Syrian Children fundraiser, University of Warwick (9 November 2015) 'Education under Fire: Guide for Action' presentation.
  • Mena Forum – Arabic Society: University of Warwick (4 February 2016) ‘Crisis in Syria: Revolution, Conflict or Civil War?’ presentation.
  • Refugee Welcome Here: No to Racism, Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism: Stand Up To Terrorism Public Rally, Fargo Village, Coventry (16 March 2016) Testimony Talk.
  • Coventry's Strategic Migration Partnership: Council House, Coventry (16 March 2016) ‘STAR Scheme’ presentation.
  • 49th British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL2016) Annual Conference (1-3 September 2016) University of Anglia Ruskin, Cambridge: 'Refugee Crisis: Can Applied Linguistics Make a Difference?' presentation.
  • Conservative Party Fringe Meeting: Human Rights and Democracy (4 October 2016) Council House, Birmingham 'Humanitarian Crisis Impact on Syrian Children' presentation.
  • Festival of Ideas (19 October 2016) Cambridge University 'Academic Freedom under Attack: Global Perspectives' panel with Brendan O'Malley, Anne Alexander, Edward Anderson and Stephen Wordsworth.
  • ‘Are We Saving the Children?’ Fundraiser, Film Screening and Panel (1 December 2016), University of Warwick, Warwick STAR, a panellist.
  • Gateway Networking Event, Enactus Warwick, University of Warwick (17 January 2017), a presentation about Warwick STAR.
  • Stand Up to Racism public meeting, (23 February 2017) St Peter's Centre Coventry
  • iMean 5: Language and Change, University of West England (6-8 April 2017), panel on Language and Impact.
  • Refugee Week: ‘Your Space, Our Sanctuary’ panel, Belgrade Theatre (23 June 2017).
  • Refugee Support Group, presentation about Community Participation, St Paul’s Church, Leamington Spa (18 July 2017).
  • Chilean Exiles and World University Service AHRC Project Seminar. Supporting Exiles and Refugees: 1970s to the Present, 'Refugee Experiences in Historical and Contemporary Perspective' Roundtable (14 November 2017), Milburn House, University of Warwick.

Conference Organisation

  • 47th British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL) Annual Conference (4-6 September 2014) University of Warwick: helping team http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/al/research/conferences/baal_2014/
  • 17th Warwick PG Conference in Applied Linguistics (24-25 June 2014) University of Warwick: Co-chair of the Organising Committee http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/al/research/conferences/wpgc2014

Events Organisation

  • Summer Club, Teaching English through Drama for newly arrived children (August 2016), co-organised with Positive Youth Foundation, Sidney Stringer School, Coventry.
  • Light a Candle for Syria, a vigil at Coventry Lady Godiva (22 December 2016): Co-organiser with Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre and Coventry Stand Up to Racism. https://www.facebook.com/events/239128819854027/
  • Volunteering Experiences from Europe (7 February 2017) co-organised with students and staff from University of Warwick. http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/community/volunteers/volunteering/starconversationclub/sessions/?newsItem=094d43f55a573c76015a62e04715122a
  • Peace of Cake fundraiser, co-organised with Warwick STAR, Enactus Warwick and UNICEF on Campus, outside Library, University of Warwick (2 March 2017). http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/community/volunteers/volunteering/starconversationclub/sessions/?newsItem=8a17841b5aa48981015aa835e76a3001
  • Refugee Access to Education, co-organised with Warwick STAR and Life Long Learning, Oculus, University of Warwick (2 March 2017).
  • Trip to Kenilworth Castle, co-organised with Warwick STAR and Warwick Volunteers (25 June 2017), Kenilworth Castle, Warwick. https://www.facebook.com/pg/starteaparties/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1281974668587366
  • Syria Vigil, Women’s March London and Syria Solidarity Campaign, speech (13 April 2017).
  • Syria Day, co-organised with Coventry City Council and Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre (10 June 2017) Coventry Central Library, Coventry.

Workshops (attended)

  • "A Person's a Person, No Matter How Small": Children's Literature and Ethics (4-5 February 2015) IATL, University of Warwick http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/iatl/funding/fundedprojects/fellowships/john/event
  • BAAL-Routledge Applied Linguistics Workshop 2014: Lanaguage learning in contexts of cultural diversity (31 October 2014) Centre for Language, Discourse and Communication, King's College London.
  • DISCONEX Workshop: Conducting and Analysing Interviews (22 July 2015) Centre for Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick.

Workshops (organised/invited to)

  • Teaching English Language Using Drama, International Blue Crescent (April-May 2015), Kilis, Turkey.
  • UNHCR Passages Workshop: CMRC facilitator, Sidney Stringer School (1 December 2015), Coventry, UK.
  • Rights of Refugee Children, Warwick Human Rights Forum (12 March 2016), University of Warwick, UK.
  • Refugee Memories, History Department, (7 June 2016), Univerrsity of Warwick, UK.
  • Immigration Law Workshop, co-organised with Warwick STAR and Coventry Law Centre, Social Sciences, University of Warwick (28 February 2017).
  • PhD Workshop with visiting scholars from University of Waterloo, co-organised by Pais and Law Departments, Scarman House, University of Warwick (27 April 2017).
  • Discourses of Migration Workshop, co-organised by Offa House Project and MITN, 'Undoing the Refugee Crisis: Discourse and Agency' and Masterclass with Prof. Paulo De Sousa Aguiar de Medeiros and Dr. Emanuelle Rodrigues Dos Santos, Millburn House, University of Warwick (7 September 2017).

Interviews

Projects

  • NEST Project, Centre for Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick – index maker (January 2016).
  • Offa House Project, Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies, University of Warwick – interpreter and interviewer (May 2016 – August 2016).
  • STAR Conversation Club Project, co-organised with Warwick STAR, Warwick Volunteers and Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre (October 2016- June 2017) http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/community/volunteers/volunteering/starconversationclub/
  • Building Futures: Aspirations of Syrian Youth Refugees and Host Population Responses in the UK, Lebanon and Greece, Glasgow University – fieldworker (June-July 2017).
  • Paper Airplanes online English Program, United States – tutor coordinator (September 2017 till present).


Profile Photo

Reem Doukmak

Centre for Applied Linguistics, S0.31 Social Sciences Building, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK

Email:r.doukmak@warwick.ac.uk