Robyn Najar

Robyn Najar is an Associate Professor and Head of ESOL/TESOL at Flinders University, Australia, within the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. She has over 30 years of experience in ESOL/TESOL, with more than a decade spent internationally teaching English as a foreign language (EFL), training teachers, and developing curricula and materials. She currently teaches applied linguistics in graduate programs and is actively involved in teacher development and EFL program delivery in Australia and Asia.

Education:

• PhD in Educational Psychology and Second Language Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, 1997
• MA in English as a Second Language, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, 1992
• BEd (Honours) in Upper Primary/Lower Secondary, Flinders University, Australia (likely 1987)

Her research centers on second language acquisition, with key interests in foreign language teaching and learning, international student writing, and strategic competencies in second language learners. She is currently leading research on collective efficacy and the impact of self-efficacy on student learning outcomes, reflecting a strong focus on psychological and pedagogical factors in language education.

Robyn has received numerous awards and scholarships throughout her career, including the TESOL Professional Development Scholarship (USA, 2004), the Hawke Institute Project Fellowship (2002), and multiple Pacific Asian and Ruth Crymes Scholarships during her graduate studies at the University of Hawai'i.

• TESOL Professional Development Scholarship, USA, 2004
• Hawke Institute Project Fellowship, AUST, 2002
• AUTC Institutional Award, AUST, 2001
• Pacific Asian Scholarship, University of Hawai'i, USA (1993–1995)
• Educational Psychology Graduate Scholarship, University of Hawai'i, USA, 1993
• Ruth Crymes Scholarships, University of Hawai'i, USA (1991–1992)

She serves as Postgraduate Contact Officer in the Faculty of Humanities and coordinates key TESOL courses such as Principles of TESOL, ESOL Methodology, and Research Project. As a media expert, she contributes to public discourse on curriculum, English language training, and strategy use in language learning. She is also engaged in advising and program leadership but no specific grants or student names are listed in the available text.

Robyn is part of Flinders University’s academic leadership in language education and contributes to institutional committees, including the International Committee in Humanities. Her work bridges research, teaching, and international collaboration in applied linguistics and language pedagogy.