Main profile

Name: 
Abiy Yigzaw Filate
Assistant Professor

                                         Tel.: 251-0918082886

                                         Email: abiyyigzaw@yahoo.com

                                         Fax: 251-0582202025

PO Box: 10

     Campus: Peda/ Main Campus

     Block: Adm Building/R.114

     Academic Unit/ Department: English

Background

Born in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, I was educated in government primary and secondary schools called Atse Sertse Dingil Melek Seged Primary and Secondary Schools (Currently called Sertse Dingil and Tana Haik) in Bahir Dar. I was awarded BA to PhD degrees at Addis Ababa University. I got my BA in English Language and Literature, and an MA in English Language Teaching. I researched on Feurestein’s Mediation Theory (a Psychological Theory) as applied to language teaching, particularly to enhancing deeper reading among students for my PhD degree. Currently, I am an Associate Professor in English Language Teaching. I have a thirty-five years teaching experience. Besides teaching, I assumed different administrative positions in my University, Bahir Dar University. To mention the major positions I assumed, I was/am:

  1. the department Chairman for four years,
  2. the University Registrar for three years,
  3. the External Relations Officer of the University for four years,
  4. the Coordinator for Research, Postgraduate and Community Service for a year and a half in the Faculty of Humanities, and
  5. the Director for External Relations and Partnership.

Qualification:

PhD in Addis Ababa University

MA in Addis Ababa University

BAin Addis Ababa University

 

Current Teaching

I am teaching methodology and Linguistics as applied to language teaching courses at an MA and PhD levels.

Research Interest

My research interest includes mediation, scaffolding, activity theory, L1 use in an L2 teaching, reading, writing, beliefs and practices in teaching and many other areas in EFL.

Publications

  1. I.Referred Journal

 

2013 ‘The impact of students’ self-regulated language learning on their reading achievement in Ethiopian high schools: Grade 9 in focus.’ Journal of Media and Communications 5/5:44-51

 

2013 ‘Oral Communication apprehension, competence and performance among maritime engineering trainees.’ Journal of Media and Communications 5/1: 5-11

 

2013 ‘High School English teachers’ and students’ perceptions, attitudes and actual practices of continuous assessment.’ Journal of Educational Research 8/16: 1489-1498

 

2013 ‘Students’ first language writing skills and their English language proficiency as predictors of their English language writing performance.’ Journal of Languages and Culture 4/6,109-114

 

2012 ‘Impact of L1 use in L2 English writing classes.’ Journal of Education and Sciences  

8/1: 11-17

 

2011 ‘Frequency, purpose and application of using Amharic in Teaching English in Bahir Dar General Elementary Schools.’ Journal of Education and Sciences 6/2: 61-80

2002 ‘Competency beliefs, teaching confidence and teaching performance of English major graduating students in teaching practice.’ The Ethiopian Journal of Education XX (1), 91-109

2000 ‘Expressed beliefs and actual classroom practices of high school English teachers concerning error correction.’ The Ethiopian Journal of Education XXI (1), 85-109

  1. II.Books

2011 ‘Effects of Teacher Mediation on Student Conceptions and Approaches to Reading,’ VDM Verlog Dr Miller Gmbrt &Co KG, Deutschland.

-Writing a book about the History of the Amhara Credit and Savings Institution—On process.

  1. III.Papers presented in conferences (unpublished).

-       Teacher’s Intervention in Changing Students’ Feeling Competence in Listening: a Study Made on First Year English Students at Bahir Dar University (Unpublished); and

-          The Learning Styles of Learners at Bahir Dar University (Unpublished, presented at the May Educational Seminar at Bahir Dar University).

  1. IV.Ongoing Research Project

-          Primary school teachers knowledge, attitude and perceived practice of continuous assessment.

-          Effects of peer-led learning on students’ academic achievement.

-          Criterion-referenced or norm-referenced assessment? Preferences of students in IoT, Social Science and Faculty of Humanities at Bahir Dar University.

-          The qualifications framework and level descriptors of primary level education in Ethiopia as perceived by authorities, parents and others responsible.

-          Effects of activity theory on students’ speaking proficiency development (The case of grade 11 students at Tillili Preparatory and General Secondary School)

-          Teacher scaffolding methods in teaching writing: first cycle secondary level at Catholic school in Bahir Dar on focus

  1. V.Other productions [Modules and teaching materials]

1. A teaching/ learning material of English for grade 10 to the Distance Education Division of the Ministry of Education, Addis Ababa;

2. Compiled a teaching/ learning material for the Sophomore English course at Bahir Dar University;

3.   Produced a Spoken English teaching material for Distance Education Learners at university level (Published);

  1. Produced modules for grade 10 semester I and II courses for Alpha University College;
  2. Co-produced Teaching Methodology module for Bahir Dar University;
  3. Produced a module for Listening Skills course for Alpha University College.
  4. Served as language editor for the proceedings of ORDA.
  5. Policy document for Internationalization and Guidelines for Partnership at Bahir Dar University.
  6. Produced working document for the Forum of universities in Amhara Region.
  7. Module development Technical Advisor (Expert) for English language teaching methodology for secondary school teachers.
  8. Lead consultant for National Study on Factors Affecting the Success of Teachers and Teacher Education Personnel funded by IOPED/USAID.

VI. Curricula

-     Developed (with other five members at a national level ) English language Curriculum for junior teacher colleges;

-     Developed curriculum for M.Ed in TEFL; and

Developed a PhD Curriculum in TEFL at BDU

  1. VII. Professional Association: Member of Teacher Association

 

  1. VIII.Community Engagement: Contributes as a consultant in education and related areas.

 

  1. IX.Supervision Interests:

I am interested in supervising research works on mediation, scaffolding, activity theory, reading, writing, language teaching methodology, special needs, language testing, and other related areas in language teaching, psychology and curriculum.

  1. X.The topics I am currently supervising:

Nearly all the dissertations I currently supervise relate to the areas indicated above.

  1. XI.Topics supervised: I supervised in areas related to those listed above.