معرفی
Professor Ana C. Thomé Williams is a Professor of Instruction and Director of the Portuguese Language Program at Northwestern University. She specializes in Portuguese language instruction, intercultural communication, and technology integration in language education. Her teaching responsibilities include courses such as Portuguese 115, 201, 202, and 303, targeting diverse proficiency levels and language backgrounds. Her research focuses on cross-linguistic studies, cultural discourse analysis, and pedagogical innovations in teaching Portuguese in the U.S.
Education: PhD and MA in Linguistics from the University of São Paulo (Brazil). Her doctoral work analyzed cultural and linguistic aspects of Brazilian and French soccer commentary, while her MA explored early foreign language acquisition in preschoolers.
Her research interests include the application of cultural theory to language teaching, technology-enhanced language learning, and Lusophone studies. She has presented globally on language education and cultural communication, with recent work addressing pandemic-era language instruction challenges.
Professional Affiliations: Co-founder of the Illinois Portuguese Language Connection, board member of the American Organization of Teachers of Portuguese, past President of the Portuguese Special Interest Group (ACTFL), and Executive Director of the IAICS conference. She is also co-editing an Open Educational Resource textbook for intermediate Portuguese learners.
Awards: Recipient of the 2023 T. William Heyck Award for fostering student learning, 2022 Faculty Honor Roll, and the 2018 Portuguese Professor of the Year Award among others.
Grants and Advising: While no specific grants are listed, her work on collaborative language programs like the Illinois Portuguese Language Connection reflects her commitment to institutional partnerships. She actively advises academic initiatives and pedagogical innovations in language education.
