Office Location:
370 Grace Dodge Hall, Box 55Educational Background
PhD., Second Language Studies, The University of 贬补飞补颈驶颈 at M膩noa
Graduate Certificate, Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, The University of 贬补飞补颈驶颈 at M膩noa
MA., TESOL, UCL Institute of Education, University College London
M.Ed., Education, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
B.Ed., Education, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Scholarly Interests
My research broadly explores the intersection of language, society, and education. Taking language as a sociopolitical and epistemic phenomenon, my research interrogates the centrality of language in creating equitable, inclusive, and transformative educational spaces in the Global South. My research broadly covers language policy, multilingual education, translanguaging, decoloniality and Indigenous education, and teacher education.
I employ engaged/critical, transformative, and decolonial perspectives to examine the ideology, discourse, agency, and impact of language policy on the personal, sociopolitical, and educational lives of Indigenous and ethnic minority communities. My work critically examines how global ideologies (e.g., neoliberalism and development) shape the creation and implementation of local language policies and plans in education and how they address (or do not address) linguistic, racial, and epistemic injustices.
Methodologically, I adopt critical and engaged ethnographic and participatory approaches to collaborate and engage in dialogue with Indigenous communities (parents, youth, and activists), teachers and teacher educators, policymakers, and NGOs to explore, analyze and address critical issues concerning language in education.
I supervise and mentor students and provide consultancy in the following areas:
- Language policy and multilingual education in the Global South
- Local鈥揼lobal interfaces in educational policies/plans and development ideologies
- Indigenous language education, epistemologies, and decolonial praxis
- Social justice, transformative learning, and school鈥揷ommunity engagement
- Teacher education, teacher research, and mentoring
Selected Publications
BOOKS
Li Wei, Phyak, P., Lee, J. W., & García, O. (Eds.). (2026). The handbook of translanguaging. Wiley Blackwell.
Adinolfi, L., Bhattacharya, U., & Phyak, P. (2022). Multilingual education in South Asia: At the intersection of policy and practice. Routledge.
Carm, E., Luitel, B., Ogrim, L., Johannesen, M., & Phyak, P. (2021). Innovative technologies and pedagogical shifts in Nepalese higher education. Brill/Sense.
Davis, K. A. & Phyak, P. (2017). Engaged language policy and practices. Routledge.
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Liu, G, & Phyak, P. (2026). Constructing an imagined diaspora: Pride and marginalization of Nepali ethnic identity and language in the linguistic landscape of Hong Kong. Applied Linguistics Review. 0068 [online first]
Phyak, P., Zhang, Y., & Du, J. (2026). Translanguaging space, decoloniality, and epistemic justice in educational spaces. The Language Learning Journal, 1鈳�15. [online first]
Phyak, P. (2025). Developing decolonial language awareness: an exploration of Indigenous countertexts and youth language reclamation in land-based education. Language Awareness, 1鈳�23. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2025.2580330 [online first]
Zhang, Y., & Phyak, P. (2025). L2 teacher selves and motivational dialogues: A longitudinal case study of an English pre-service teacher in China. Teaching and Teacher Education, 165, 105鈳�142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2025.105142
Phyak, P., & Khanal, P. (2025). Modeling of public schools: Neoliberal ideologies, school gentrification and erasure of linguistic diversity. Comparative Education Review, 69(1), 18鈳�38. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/734817
Phyak, P. (2024). “Looking like a boarding school student”: the construction of unequal personhood in language policy in education. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 2024(285), 93鈳�110.
Phyak, P., Negi, J., & Acharya, D. (2024). Practices, beliefs, and challenges of teacher research in Nepal. ELT Journal, 78(3), 264鈳�272.
Phyak, P. (2023a). Producing the disciplined English-speaking subjects: Language policing, development ideology, and English medium of instruction policy. Language in Society, 53, 321鈳�343. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404523000052
Phyak, P. (2023b). Translanguaging as a space of simultaneity: Theorizing translanguaging pedagogies in EMI schools from a spatial perspective. The Modern Language Journal, 107, 289鈳�307.
Phyak, P. (2022). Decolonizing translanguaging research methodologies: A commentary and self-reflection. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 1(3),
Phyak, P., & Sharma, B. K. (2022). Citizen linguistic landscape, bordering practices, and semiotic ideology in the COVID-19 pandemic. Linguistic Landscape, 8 (2鈳�3), 219鈳�232.
Phyak, P., & Sah, P. K. (2022). Epistemic injustice and neoliberal imaginations in English as a medium of instruction (EMI) policy. Applied Linguistics Review, 15(4), 1321鈳�1343. https://doi.org/10.1515/applirev-2022-0070
Phyak, P., Sah, P. K., Ghimire, N. B., & Lama, A. (2022). Teacher agency in creating a translingual space in Nepal’s multilingual English-medium schools. RELC Journal, 53(2), 431鈳�451.
Phyak, P. (2021). Subverting the erasure: Decolonial efforts, Indigenous language education and language policy in Nepal. Journal of Language, Identity & Education, 20(5), 325鈳�339.
Phyak, P., & De Costa, P. I. (2021). Indigenous language education within a neoliberal regime: Identities, ideologies and activism. Journal of Language, Identity & Education, 20(5), 291鈳�295.
Phyak, P. (2021). Epistemicide, deficit language ideology, and (de)coloniality in language education policy. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 2021(267鈳�268), 219鈳�233.
Phyak, P., & Khanal, P. (2021). Factors affecting teacher motivation in Nepal. AMC Journal, 2(1), 25鈳�40.
Phyak, P., & Sharma, B. K. (2021). Regimes of linguistic entrepreneurship: Neoliberalism, the entanglement of language ideologies and affective regime in language education policy. Multilingua, 40(2), 199鈳�224.
Sharma, B. K., & Phyak, P. (2017). Criticality as ideological becoming: Developing English teachers for critical pedagogy in Nepal. Critical Inquiry in Language Studies, 14(2鈳�3), 210鈳�238.
Sharma, B. K., & Phyak, P. (2017). Neoliberalism, linguistic commodification and ethnolinguistic identity in multilingual Nepal. Language in Society, 46(2), 231鈳�256.
Davis, K. A., & Phyak, P. (2015). In the face of neoliberal adversity: Engaged language policies and practices. L2 Journal, 7(3), 146鈳�166. http://repositories.cdlib.org/uccllt/l2/vol7/iss3/art8/
Phyak, P. (2015). (En)countering language ideologies in Facebook language policing. Language Policy, 14(4), 377鈳�395. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10993-014-9350-y
Phyak, P., & Bui, T. N. (2014). Youth engaging language policy and planning: ideologies and transformations from within. Language Policy, 13(2), 101鈳�119. 013-9303-x
Phyak, P. (2013). Language ideologies and local languages as the medium-of-instruction policy: a critical ethnography of a multilingual school in Nepal. Current Issues in Language Planning, 14(1),127鈳�143. https://doi.org/10.1080/14664208.2013.775557
Davis, K. A., Phyak, P., & Bui, T. N. (2012). Multicultural education as community engagement: Policies and planning in a transnational era. International Journal of Multicultural Education, 14(3), 1鈳�19.
Phyak, P. (2011). Beyond the façade of language planning for Nepalese primary education: monolingual hangover, elitism, and displacement of local languages? Current Issues in Language Planning, 12(2), 265鈳�287.
BOOK CHAPTERS
Phyak, P., & Chuskit, T. (2026). Decolonial struggles for Indigenous multilingual education. In P. Meighan, & L. Veliz (Eds.), Countering colonialingualism in language education (pp. 150鈳�172). Routledge.
Phyak, P. (2025). Translanguaging triad: Resistance, decoloniality, and transformative praxis in the Global South. In W. Li, Phyak, P., J. W. Lee, & O. García (Eds.), The handbook of translanguaging (pp. 117鈳�136). Wiley.
Sharma, B., & Phyak, P. (2026). Social media, affective publics, and protest assemblages during the Covid-19 pandemic. In A. Abdelhay, S. Makoni, & C. Severo (Eds.), Embodied histories, imagined worlds, emplaced resistance (pp. 129鈳�158). De Gruyter.
Phyak, P., Sánchez, M. T., Makalela, L., & García, O. (2024). Decolonizing multilingual pedagogies. In C. McKinney, P. Makoe, & V. Zavala (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of multilingualism (pp. 223鈳�239). Routledge.
Duchêne, A., Martin-Rojo, L., McLaughlin, M., Phyak, P., & S. Pietikäinen. (2024). Short stories on social inequalities. In A. Del Percio, & M. Flubacher (Eds.), Critical sociolinguistics: Dialogues, dissonances, and developments (pp. 361鈳�374). Bloomsbury.
Phyak, P. (2024a). (Re)framing unequal Englishes: Unequal personhood, deficit ideology and epistemic injustice. In R. Tupas (Ed.), Investigating unequal Englishes: Understanding, researching and analysing inequalities of the Englishes of the world (pp. 1鈳�12). Rutledge.
Phyak, P. (2024b). English medium instruction in higher education in Nepal. In K. Bolton et al. (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of English-medium instruction in higher education (pp. 394鈳�409). Routledge.
Phyak, P. (2023). Engaged ethnographic research with indigenous communities: insights from a language policy study in Nepal. In E. S. Huaman, & E. D. Martin (Eds.), Indigenous research designs: Transnational perspectives and practice (pp. 333鈳�350). Canadian Scholars.
Phyak, P., Ghimire, N. B., & Saud, M. S. (2023). Engaged methodological approach in the study of language ideologies in EMI policies. In J. Pun, & S. Curle (Eds.), Qualitative research methods in English medium instruction for emerging researchers (pp. 115鈳�127). Routledge.
Phyak, P., Khanal, P., & Acharya, S. (2023). The wellbeing of private school teachers in Nepal during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. In U. Pradhan et al. (Eds.), Rethinking education in the context of post-pandemic South Asia (pp. 146鈳�156). Routledge.
Phyak, P. (2022). Unequal language policy, deficit language ideology and social injustice: Acritical ethnography of language education policies in Nepal. In S. May, & D. Caldas (Eds.), Critical ethnography, language, race/ism and education (pp. 191鈳�212). Multilingual Matters.
Tania, R., & Phyak, P. (2022). Medium of instruction, outcome-based education, and language education policy in Bangladesh. In L. Adinolfi, U. Bhattacharya, & P. Phyak, (Eds.). Multilingual education in South Asia: At the intersection of policy and practice (pp. 132鈳�148). Routledge.
Sharma, B. K., & Phyak, P. (2022). Visual multilingualism and the making of Chinese space in Nepal. In J. W. Lee (Eds.), The sociolinguistics of global Asias (pp. 24鈳�41). Routledge.
Sah, P. K., & Phyak, P. (2021). Critical literacies in South Asia. In J. Z. Pandya et al. (Eds.), The handbook of critical literacies (pp. 289鈳�296). Routledge.
Phyak, P., & Sharma, B. K. (2020). Functionality of English in language education policies and practices in Nepal. In R. A. Giri, A. Sharma, & J. D’Angelo (Eds.), Functional variations in English: Theoretical considerations and practical challenges (pp. 321鈳�335). Springer.
Phyak, P., H. Rawal, & De Costa, P. I. (2021). Dialogue as a decolonial effort: Nepali youth transforming monolingual ideologies and reclaiming multilingual citizenship. In K. Heugh, C. Stroud, K. Taylor-Keech, & P. I. De Costa (Eds.), A sociolinguistics of the South (pp.155鈳�170). Routledge.
Phyak, P. (2020). Neoliberal placemaking and ideological constructions of standardized tests in Nepal's linguistic landscape. In S. Morhesseini, & P. I. De Costa (Eds.), The sociopolitics of English language testing (pp. 208鈳�230). Bloomsbury.
Phyak, P. (2019). Transformation from the bottom up: Ideological analysis with indigenous youth and language policy justice in Nepal. In T. L. McCarty, S. E. Nicholas, & G. Wigglesworth (Eds.), World of indigenous languages: Politics, pedagogies and prospects for language (pp. 194鈳�213). Multilingual Matters.
Phyak, P., & Ojha, L. P. (2019). Language education policy and inequalities of multilingualism in Nepal: Ideologies, histories and updates. In A. Kirkpatrick, & A. Liddicoat, A. (Eds.), The Routledge international handbook of language education policy in Asia (pp. 314鈳�354). Routledge.
Phyak, P. (2017). Translanguaging as resource in English language teaching: A response to unplanned language education policies in Nepal. In H. Kuchah, & F. Shamim (Eds.), International perspectives in teaching English in difficult circumstances (pp. 49鈳�70). Palgrave MacMillan.
Phyak, P. (2016). Local-global tension in the ideological construction of English language education policy in Nepal. In R. Kirkpatrick (Ed.), English language education policy in Asia (pp. 199鈳�217). Springer.
NON-REFEREED PUBLICATIONS
Phyak, P. (2026). Foreword: Translanguaging futurism. In Z. Tian, & S. M. C. Lau (Eds.), Translanguaging in action in English-medium classrooms: A resource book for teachers (pp. 1鈳�10). Bloomsbury Publishing.
Phyak, P. (2025). Afterword: Walking the path of decoloniality. In P. Ehlers-Zavala et al. (Eds.), Decolonizing language teacher education (pp. 317鈳�327). Springer.
Phyak, P. (2025). Foreword. In K. Raza, Ö. U艧tuk, & D. Reynolds (Eds.), Multilingual TESOL: De-constructing and re-constructing power 'in,' 'of,' and 'for' language classrooms (pp. v鈳�viii). Springer.
Barrett, A. M., Bowden, R., Essien, A. A., Phyak, P., & Trudell, B. (2025). Multilingualism and language transition: innovations and possibilities. NORRAG Special Issue (NSI 11).
Phyak, P. (2022). Translanguaging in EFL contexts: A call for change. RELC Journal, 53(2), 475鈳�477. [book review]
Phyak, P., & Awasthi., L. D. (2022). Developing and implementing multilingual policy in a federal Nepal. Forum of Federations [policy brief]
Phyak, P. (2021). Language education policy in Nepal and the denial of the right to speak in Indigenous languages. Melbourne Asia Review, 7, [commentary]
Rai, V. S., Rai, M. Phyak, P., & Rai, N. (2019). Multilingual education: hearsay or reality?. UNESCO, Nepal. [report]
Poudel, L. N., Phyak, P., Luitel. B., & Acharya, S. (2018). National Assessment of Student Achievement (NASA) Grade 8. Education Review Office, Ministry of Education, Nepal. [report]
Phyak, P., Khanal, P., & Gurung, Y. P. (2017). Situation analysis of teacher motivation and teacher professional development in Nepal. Save the Children, Nepal. [report]
PUBLIC WRITING AND MEDIA APPEARANCE
Phyak, P., & Khanal, P. (2025, August 28). 啶掂た啶多啶掂さ啶苦う啷嵿く啶距げ啶ぎ啶� 啶膏啶椸啶ㄠ啷� 啶た啶椸が啶苦啷赌, 啶掂た啶氞ぞ啶班啷� 啶多啶ㄠ啶い啶� [Partisan politics and the void of thoughts in university]. The Kantipur Daily.
Phyak, P. (2025, July 21). 啶す啶距ぁ, 啶多た啶曕啶粪ぞ 啶� 啶掂た啶曕ぞ啶� [The hills, education and development]. The Kantipur Daily.
Phyak, P., & Khanal, P. (2024, June 19). ? [How to address the crisis of teacher management?] The Kantipur Daily. management-31-09.html
Phyak, P. (2024, February 14). [Disrespecting professors in the selection of a vice chancellor]. The Kantipur Daily.
Phyak, P. (2023, September 7). [Conflict between local government and teachers]. Shikshak Mashik [Teacher Monthly].
Phyak, P. (2022, July 22). [Multilinguality in education]. Himalakhabar.
Phyak, P. (2022, July 1). [Myths of quality education]. The Kantipur Daily.
Phyak, P. (2019, June 16). [Some theoretical aspects of school education reform]. Shikshak Mashik.
Phyak, P. (2018, December 16). [Myths and realities of English medium of instruction in education]. Shikshak Mashik [Teacher Monthly]
Authored op-eds in English
Phyak, P. (2018, June 20). Reforming higher education. Republica.
Phyak, P. (2018, January 25). Language in education. Republica.
Hirslund, D., & Phyak, P. (2017, December 18). Cementocracy. The Kathmandu Post.
Phyak, P., & Weinberg, M. (2015, July 20). Found in translation. The Kathmandu Post.
Phyak, P. (2015, June 5). Survivors, not victim. The Kathmandu Post.
Phyak, P. (2012, October 6). The hula way. The Kathmandu Post.
Phyak, P. (2012, August 13). Sycophancy still rules. The Kathmandu Post. http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2012-08- 13/sycophancy-still-rules.html
Phyak, P. (2013, January 13). Afraid of people. The Kathmandu Post.
Phyak, P. (2012, July 14). Country without people. The Kathmandu Post.
Phyak, P. (2012, May 7). Widen the vision. The Kathmandu Post.
Phyak, P. (2011, December 22). Debunking a few myths. The Kathmandu Post.
Phyak, P. (2011, November 14). Minding our languages. The Kathmandu Post.
Published podcasts in English
Phyak, P. (2025). Reclaiming voices: Language, power and resistance in Nepal. Borderland Dialogues.
Phyak, P. (2025). Languages, learning, and us. . Kathmandu University lecture series.
Phyak, P. (2025). Language policy, decoloniality, & multilingual education. Bhashaka Kura with Dr. Bhim Gautam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qMtA5-GRHQ
Phyak, P. (2023). Erasure. Nepal Conversations. Britain-Nepal Academic Council
Phyak, P. (2024). Understanding Nepal’s multilingual policies, practices, and perceptions. Policy Entrepreneurs Inc.
Biographical Information
Sewaro, Namaste, and Hello!
I am an Indigenous Yaakthung/Limbu from Nepal. I was born and raised in a rural village, Lumde/Phakfokthum, in the hills of eastern Himalaya. I grew up living an agrarian lifestyle in the village. I love farming, especially ox ploughing, weaving, and multispecies storytelling from Mundhum.
I completed my primary education (Grades 1-5) at a public primary school in the village and secondary education (grades 6-10) at another public school in a neighbouring village. I walked (mostly barefoot) about 2-3 hours daily for my secondary education.
I completed I.Ed. and B.Ed. from Mahendra Ratna Multiple Campus, Ilam, and M.Ed. from the Central Department of Education, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. I then taught as a part-time lecturer of English language education in the same department.
In 2009, I received the Centenary Scholarship to pursue an MA in TESOL at the Institute of Education, University College London.
Before pursuing my PhD at the University of Hawai鈥檌, I worked as a teaching assistant and assistant professor at the Central Department of Education, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. I was awarded the East-West Center Scholarship for my PhD. After completing my studies, I returned to Nepal and worked as an assistant professor at Tribhuvan University. I also served as Chair of the Department of English Education at the Central Department of Education (2017-2019) and as a member of the subject committee.
In 2020, I joined the Chinese University of Hong Kong. I taught applied linguistics courses and served as the Director of the Applied Linguistics program. I received two direct grants and one GRF to conduct research on multilingualism, family language policy, and ethnic minority communities in Hong Kong.
In 2023, I joined 911爆料网 as an associate professor of language, society and education at the International and Comparative Education Program. I teach and research educational policies, language policies, bi/multilingual education, social justice and equity, Indigenous language education, and decolonial praxis from international and comparative perspectives.
I speak three languages (Yaakthung, Nepali, and English) and understand Hindi and Maithili. I love hiking, photography, and playing football.
Nogen!!!
Doctoral Dissertations Sponsored
Yue Zhang (Ellen). Mainland Chinese Pre-service Teachers鈥� English Learning Motivation and L2 Investment: A Transdisciplinary Critical Ethnography. The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Nanibabu Ghimire. Critical ethnography of EMI policy in Nepal. Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Grants
2023. General Research Fund (GRF) Family Multilingualism and Language Policy of Nepali Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong: A Thirdspace Perspective (Ref. No. 14616123). Funded by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong.
2022. The making of Chinese space in Nepal: Multilingualism, geopolitics and globalization. Funded by the Institute of Chinese Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
2021-2022. Direct Grant [Faculty of Arts, the Chinese University of Hong Kong]: Heritage language learning of Nepali children in Hong Kong.
2020-2021. Direct Grant [Faculty of Arts, the Chinese University of Hong Kong]: Translingual engagement: Multilingual Knowledging and Creativity of South Asian Ethnic Minority Students.
2018-2020. Faculty Grants (PI) from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to investigate teacher Identity Construction in higher education in Nepal.
2018-2020.Research Fellow for the project 鈥淪tate of Social Inclusion in Nepal鈥� (SOSIN), USAID and the Central Department of Anthropology, Tribhuvan University.
2017-2020. (PI) Enhancing Access Quality and Sustainability of Teacher Training/Education through the Use of ICTs and Distance Delivery Modes (collaborative project between Kathmandu University, Tribhuvan University and OsloMet University, Norway, funded by NORAD)
2019. British Council South Asia to attend and present a paper Multilingual Education conference in Bangkok, Thailand (Travel Grant)
2019. British Council and Hornby Trust, UK for attending and presenting paper at IATEFL conference, Liverpool (April 2-5, 2019) (Travel Grant)
2013. East West Center Alumni (Travel Grants for Research Fieldwork)
2013. Graduate Student Organization, University of Hawaii (Travel Grant)
2013. Open Society Foundations, Global Supplementary Grants
2012. Open Society Foundations, Global Supplementary Grants
Honors and Awards
Indigenous Language Support Fund (American Association for Applied Linguistics)
Sharma, B. and Phyak, P. (2017). Neoliberalism, linguistic commodification, and ethnolinguistic identity in multilingual Nepal is selected in the list of the 鈥済round-breaking articles published in the journal over the last five decades鈥� for the 50th anniversary collection of Languaue in Society.
East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship, East-West Center, USA
Gill Sturtridge First-Time Speaker Award, International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL)
Centenary Scholarship (MA TESOL), UCL Institute of Education, University College London, UK.
Scholarship, Sociolinguistics Symposium 22, the University of Auckland, New Zealand (Registration fees)
Open Society Foundations, Civil Society Scholars Award (2014 and 2015)
Office Location
Professional Organization Membership
Linguistic Society of Nepal (life member)
Nepal English Language Teachers' Association (NELTA) (life member)
American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL)
IATEFL
Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies
Comparative and International Education Society (CIES)
American Educational Research Association
Professional Presentations
- Transforming Family Language Policy: Youth Agency for Revitalizing Indigenous Languages in Nepal. August 10-16, International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA) 2024, Malaysia
- Decolonizing higher education [invited]. August 11, King鈥檚 College, Kathmandu Nepal.
- Teachers for social justice and diversity in education [invited plenary talk]. 2nd Teacher Research Symposium. August 10, Organized by Teachers for Teachers (TFT) Network.
- Framing curriculum in higher education [invited]. July 31, Kathmandu University School of Educaiton.
2024 . The Annual Kathmandu Conference on Nepal and the Himalaya, July 24-26, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Writing a grammar of decoloniality in multilingualism in education [invited]. Decolonising Multilingualism Symposium, July 10 (organized by Bilingual-Multilingual Education Interest Section of TESOL International Association).
2024 Decolonizing applied linguistics [invited speaker]. The 17th International Conference of the Association for Language Awareness, July 7-10, Karlsruhe, Germany.
- Academic Discourse on Migration and Development: Thematic Discussion on Student Migration [invited panellist]. July 5, Central Department of Population Studies, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
- Decolonial and transformative research [invited]. July 3-4, organized by Mahendra Ratna Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
2024 Multilingual education, language ideology and epistemic (in)justice. Sociolinguistics Symposium (SS25). June 24-27, Perth Australia.
- University, Society and the Politics of Knowledge Production [invited talk]. June 21, Public talk organized by Student Union of Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
- The role of indigenous youth for multilingualism and Indigenous knowledge [invited]. June 1, a one-day workshop organized by Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (FONIJ)-Jhapa, Nepal.
- From a learner to a knower: Building students鈥� identity as transformative agents through diversity-based and critical pedagogies [invited keynote]. May 31, Janata Multiple Campus, Nepal.
2024 Building a Decolonial Praxis: Participatory Action Research for Reclaiming the Yaakthung Indigenous Language and Epistemology. CIES Annual Conference, March 10-14 Miami, USA.
2024 Decolonial praxis in Indigenous language education. AAAL Conference, March 16-18, Houston, USA.
2024 Transforming Deficit Ideology: Building Critical Indigenous Awareness and Activism Through the Yaakthung Language, Art, and History. AERA Conference, April 12-16, Philadelphia, USA.
2024 [keynote] Decolonial education: Recentring Indigenous lifeways and epistemologies. 1st National Conference on Decolonial Education organized by Kathmandu University [January 4, 2024)
2023 Exams for the 21st century: Lessons and future directions (with Dr. Bal Chandra Luitel). National Examination Board, the Ministry of Education, Nepal.
2023 Reflecting and integrating researchers鈥� positionality and voice in academic writing (workshop for educational researchers) (with Dr. Peshal Khanal). Organized by Teacher Educators鈥� Society of Nepal (TESON). July 22, 2023.
2023 Research in Nepal鈥檚 school education: What鈥檚 happening and what should happen? (panel discussion with Uma Pradhan and Pratyush Onta) Martin Chautari. June 16, 2023.
2023 Multilingual education policies and practices (panel moderator). Ministry of Education, Science & Technology, CEHRD, Language Commission, the British Council, UNESCO and UNICEF Nepal. July 12, 2023.
2023 Writing for social justice: workshops for the faculty members at Kathmandu University School of Education, Nepal. June 1-6, 2023.
2023 Theorizing research findings: workshops for faculty members of Tribhuvan University. Organized by the Central Department of Education and Open and Distance Education Centre, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. May 28, 2023
2023 Teacher Research and inclusion and social justice in language education. IATEFL ReSIG PCE, Harrogate, UK, April 17-21.
2023 Transforming Deficit Ideology: Building Critical Indigenous Awareness and Activism of Yaakthung Indigenous Youths. AAAL Conference, Portland, March 19-22, 2023
2023 (plenary) Translanguaging pedagogy. The Southeast Asian Multidisciplinary Research Expo and Extension Conference, Sorsogon State University Philippines , March 1-4, 2023.
2022 Politics of multilingualism in South Asia. Panel member, SALA and Linguistic Society of Nepal (joint conference). November 26-29.
2022 Epistemic injustice and language education policy in Nepal. SALA and Linguistic Society of Nepal (joint conference). November 26-29.
2022 (plenary) Decolonizing English language education (ELE): Theory, praxis and implications. SONAPLES (Sociedad Nacional de Profesores de Lenguas Extranjeras en la Ense帽anza Superior) 22nd Conference entitled 鈥淚nterculturalism, Multiculturalism, and Decolonization in Language Teaching and Learning. Osorno, Chile, November 16-18,
2022 (plenary). Transformation as becoming: Understanding implicit and explicit transformations in participatory research. The 3rd International Conference on Transformative Educational Research and Sustainable Development (TERSD-22), Kathmandu University School of Education, Nepal.
2022. Indigenous Knowledge, Decoloniality and Resisting Deficit Ideologies: Lessons from the Grassroots. The Indigenous Knowledge and the Academy SIG (IKA SIG), Comparative and International Education Society.
2022. Language policy, language ideology and social justice. LANGUAGE, SOCIETY, EDUCATION 鈥� Monthly Zoominar Programme - Universitas Negeri Jakarta [Dr. Hywel Coleman, organizer]
2022. Languageless subject: Deficit language ideology and social injustice for Indigenous students in Nepal. American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL).
2022. Heritage as Placemaking: The Politics of Erasure and Solidarity' [discussant]. The 11th Annual Kathmandu Conference on Nepal and the Himalaya.
2022. Language ideologies, multilingual performances, and language policy of Nepali ethnic minority families in Hong Kong. Sociolinguistic Symposium (SS24): Inside and beyond binaries. Ghent University.
2022. Language policy, indigenous language and language advocacy in Nepal. Organized Endangered Language Project on January 22,
2022. Decolonizing English Language Education (ELE): Theory, Praxis and Implications at the Far Western University International Conference of TESOL on 8 April, 2022
2022. Teacher Research and/for the Global South. IATEFL ReSIG. 30 April 2022.
2022. Indigenous Language Politics in Asia. La Trobe University, Australia. February 22, 2022.
2022. Medium of instruction and multilingual education in Nepal. Central Department of Linguistics at Tribhuvan University. June 1.
2022. (June-July) Research and academic writing workshop for faculty members at Saptagandaki Campus (Chitwan), Bhubaneshwari Campus (Chitwan), Gorkha Campus (Gorkha) and Siddha Jyoti Campus (Sindhuli) campuses of Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
2021. Sociolinguistics of Multilingualism: Space, Ideologies and Inequality at the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines on December 2,
2021. Translanguaging in EMI classroom: Theorizing translanguaging as a space of simultaneity. Multidisciplinary Approaches in Language Policy and Planning Online Conference. McGill University's Faculty of Education, Montr茅al, Canada.
2021. Language, identity, and Nepali youth in Hong Kong. The 10th Annual Kathmandu Conference on Nepal & the Himalaya, Social Science Baha.
2021. Inequalities of multilingualism, language ideology and mother-tongue-based multilingual education in Nepal. Sociolinguistics Symposium 23.
2021. Unequal language policy, deficit language ideology, and social injustice: Critical ethnographic study of language education policy in Nepal. American Educational Research Association (AERA).
2021. Creating space for Newar indigenous language in urban schools of Nepal: Community activism and ideologies. American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL)
2021. "Ideological becoming': Critical pedagogy in language teacher education" at North South University, Bangladesh July 9, 2021.
2021. (July 1). Writing a qualitative research paper. Far Western University (Nepal) and Scholars鈥� Association Nepal. (More than 280 participants from around the world)
2021. Entangled language ideology: Understanding local-global tension in English language education (ELE) policy in Nepal. Kathmandu University, Nepal
2021. 鈥淲hich should we maintain?鈥� Double heritage language identities among Nepali ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. International Conference on Bilingualism, Heritage Languages and Migration. Spa
2020. (Re)imagining a multilingual city space: community activism, new linguistic landscapes, and indigenous language education. Language Futures Conference, King鈥檚 College London.
2020. (July 25) Becoming a qualitative researcher: Focus on critical perspectives. Research colloquium organized by Far-Western University Teachers' Association (FWUTA) Central Campus, Far-Western University, Nepal
2020. (July 6) Researching critical and social justice issues in education. Research methodology workshop (online) organized by Research Centre for Educational Innovation and Development (CERID), Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
2019. International models and practices of L2 teaching. Invited talk by Curriculum Development Center (CDC) and Ministry of Education, Early Grade Reading Program (EGRP). Kathmandu.
2019.The role of medium of instruction in the early grades. Invited talk for the representative of local government, teachers and journalists organized by Education Journalists Group (EJG), Kathmandu.
2019. The role of medium of instruction in the early grades. Invited talk for the representative of local government, teachers and journalists organized by Education Journalists Group (EJG), Bardibaas Province 2.
2019. The role of medium of instruction in the early grades. Invited talk for the representative of local government, teachers and journalists organized by Education Journalists Group (EJG), Ilam, Province 1.
2019. Teacher agency and English language teaching in difficult circumstances. A panel organized with Harry Kuchah at IATEFL conference 2019, Liverpool.
2019. Indigenous language education in a neoliberal regime: Identity, ideologies and activism. A colloquium organized with Peter De Costa at American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) in Atlanta.
2019. Doing and writing qualitative educational research (invited 4-day workshops). Organized by Janata Multiple Campus, Itahari and Siddha Jyoti Campus, Sindhuli, Nepal.
2018. Transformation from the bottom up: Ideological analysis with indigenous youth and language policy justice in Nepal. Paper Sociolinguistics Symposium 22 (June 27-30), Auckland.
2018. Linking assessment with quality learning [an invited talk]. In a seminar organized by Tribhuvan University, Nepal (April 26)
2018. Multilingualism in Education: Unraveling Ideology, Power and Pedagogy (colloquium). In annual conference of Martin Choutari, Nepal (April 22)
2018. Recognizing multilingualism in education [an invited talk]. In a seminar organized by the Language Commission on the occasion of the Mother Language Day in Kathmandu (February 21).
2018. Does social justice matter in education? Scales of (in)justice, neoliberalism and diversity in education [an invited talk]. Research Centre for Educational Innovation and Development (CERID), Tribhuvan University, Nepal (17 January)
2017. Multilingual education: Policies, Misconceptions and Pedagogies [an invited talk]. In an interaction program on Language Policy and its Way Forward organized by National Foundations for Development of Indigenous Nationalities, Lalitpur, Nepal. (8/11/2017)
2017. Dialogue as a decolonial effort: Nepali youth transforming monolingual ideologies (with Rawal, H., & De Costa, P. I). Language Policy Research Network (LPREN) colloquium paper presented at The International Association of Applied Linguistics 2017 Conference, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2017. Multimodality in language pedagogies (an invited paper). In a two-day seminar on Issues in English Language Teaching in Nepal organized by Department of English Education, Central Department of Education, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. (8/10/2017)
2017. Criteria for determining official languages in the changed political context of Nepal (With C.M. Bandhu and D. R. Regmi). An invited paper for Language Commission (Government of Nepal), July 12, Kathmandu.
2017. Neoliberalism, language education and multilingualism in Nepal [an invited talk]. In Martin Choutari Research Series, June 25, Kathmandu.
2016. What counts as multilingualism? Language ideologies in mother-tongue-based multilingual education in Asia. Colloquium organizer, AAAL Conference, Orlando, Florida, April 9-12, 2016.
2016. From linguistic nationalism to linguistic neoliberalism: Impacts of language ideologies on multilingual education policies and practices in Nepal. AAAL Conference, Orlando, Florida, April 9-12, 2016.
2015. It鈥檚 not just a funeral: Indigenous youth countering dominant language ideologies in Nepal. 115th AAA Conference, Denver, November 16-20. Paper at Colloquium 鈥淧ortraits of Engaged Ethnography鈥� (Organizer, Kathryn A. Davis)
2014. Bilingual education. Invited presentation (with Kathryn A. Davis) at the Board of Education Meeting, Hawaii, Baldwin High School (Library), Maui, October 16.
2014. Critical Villagers: Language Policies 鈥榝or鈥�, 鈥榖y鈥� and 鈥榳ith鈥� the Indigenous People. 113th annual meeting of American Anthropological Association, Washington D.C, USA, December 3-7.
2014. Engaged and engaging indigenous youth in language policy. Annual conference of American Association for Applied Linguistics, Portland.
2013. What counts as language? Whose language counts? Language ideologies in language policy (Colloquium Chair and Organizer: Council on Anthropology & Education, 112th annual meeting of American Anthropological Association (AAA), Chicago, USA, November 20-24.
2013. What counts as a language and whose language is counted? Ideologies of multilingual education in Nepal. A paper presented at the 12th annual meeting of American Anthropological Association (AAA), Chicago, USA, November, 20-24.
2013. Appropriating globalization in language planning: A case of private school in Nepal. Paper presented for the Colloquium 鈥楲anguage policy at global perspectives: International, national and local policy in practice鈥� in the American Association for Applied Linguistics, Dallas Texas, USA, March 16-19.
2013. Indigenous people in the street: Turbulent politics, redefining nationalism and multilingual identity. Paper presented in the Open Society Foundations Spring Conference, New York, USA, March 1-2.
2012. Twenty first century indigenous language plans in Nepal; ethnography of two multilingual schools. Paper presented for the invited colloquium 鈥楲anguage policy and planning from within: local ethnographers engaging communities鈥� in the American Anthropology Association, Sans Francisco, USA, November 14-18.
2011. Language planning: Lesson for social cohesion and disintegration? Paper presented in the 32nd Annual Conference of Linguistic Society of Nepal, Kathmandu, November 26-27.
2011. Does a policy work? Elitism, monolingual hangover and displacement of local language from Nepalese primary school? Paper presented in the 9th International Conference of Language and Development, Language and Social Cohesion, Colombo, Sri Lanka, October 17-19.
2011. Becoming creative and even more creative. A paper presented at the 16th International Conference of Nepal English Language Teachers鈥� Association (NELTA), Kathmandu, Nepal, February, 18-20.
2010. Towards local and emic-oriented applied linguistics. Paper presented in the 31st Annual Conference of Linguistic Society of Nepal, Kathmandu, November 26-27.
Research
2022 (PI). Developing and Implementing Multilingual Policy in a Federal Nepal. Nepal)鈥擣unded by Forum of Federations
2020 (Expert consultant) Resource material development to teach Nepali as a second language for mother tongue speakers. RTI and Curriculum Development Centre (Ministry of Education).
2019 (Consultant) Humanity and Inclusion (HI) Nepal to develop a program/proposal to build a safe and inclusive learning environment for the students with disability in Nepal.
2018 (Co-I) School Performance Audit. Education Review Office (ERO) (Ministry of Education) and Center for Education, Research and Social Development (CERSOD).
2018 (Co-I) National Assessment Student Achievement (NASA) Grade 5. Education Review Office (Ministry of Education) and Center for Education, Research and Social Development (CERSOD).
2017 (Consultant) World Bank national consultant for Education Review Office鈥檚 (Ministry of Education) for National Assessment of Reading and Numeracy (NARC)
2017 (PI) Situation Analysis of Teacher Motivation and Teacher Professional Development, Save the Children Foundation (SCF)/National Center for Education Development (NCED), CEADS, Nepal.
2017 (Co-I) School Performance Audit, Education Review Office (ERO), Ministry of Education/Center of Research, Education and Social Development (CERSOD), Kathmandu.
2017 (Co-I) Recovery Education in Sindhuli, with focus on Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Safe Learning Environment. Center for Alternative Development Studies (Funded by World Vision International, Nepal)
2017 (PI) Nepalese Youth Identity: Values, Perceptions and Aspiration, British Council,Nepal.
2012 (PI) Asian Development Bank (ADB), Support for the Implementation of School Sector Reform Program (CONTRACT NO. S74497)
2011 (Co-I) Multilingual education hearsay or reality? UNESCO Kathmandu, Nepal.
2010 (Co-I) Evaluation of Program for Former Children Associated with Armed Force and Armed Groups (CAAFAG) funded by Save the Children Alliance, Nepal.
Teaching
International and Comparative Education and Development Studies (Graduate)
Languages, Schools, Societies
Educational Planning in International Educational Development
Qualitative Research Methodology in Education (Graduate)
Reseach Methods in Applied Linguistics (Graduate)
Decolonial Education (Graduate)
Sociolinguistics
Educational Linguistics
Language Policy and Planning
Multilingualism and Diversity in Language Education
Bilingualism: Congition and Society
Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
Teacher Education and Development
