M. Sedique Popal

Dr. Sedique Popal serves as Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for the MA TESOL program in the School of Education at the University of San Francisco, while also holding the position of President-Elect for the California Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL). With extensive international teaching experience across seven countries spanning four continents, he has significantly contributed to applied linguistics education and teacher training globally.

His academic credentials include:

• Ed.D in Education with Concentration on Second Language Acquisition from University of San Francisco (1992)
• MA in English with Concentration on TESOL from San Francisco State University (1985)
• BA in English Literature from Kabul University (1976)

Dr. Popal's research integrates theoretical and practical dimensions of language education, with primary focus on Code-Switching and Code-Mixing in Bilingual Communities, TESOL methodology development, and Second Language Acquisition processes. His work emphasizes cross-cultural communication strategies and community engagement approaches to support diverse learner populations, particularly in multilingual contexts where linguistic identity intersects with educational access.

His recent publications demonstrate consistent emphasis on practical classroom applications, with both books addressing foundational needs in teacher preparation. The 2022 publication on lesson planning provides structured frameworks for instructional design, while the 2021 grammar reference work targets pedagogical challenges in language instruction, collectively reflecting his commitment to bridging linguistic theory with classroom implementation.

Recognition for his contributions includes:

• Ignatian Service Award (2022) from University of San Francisco
• Multiple teaching excellence awards from USF, College of Alameda, and UC Berkeley
• Distinguished service honors from Peralta Community Colleges and Noor Islamic and Cultural Community Center

As MA TESOL Program Coordinator, Dr. Popal mentors graduate students in teacher education while maintaining active conference participation at TESOL, KOTESOL, CABE, and other major forums. His international teacher training initiatives have reached educators across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America, emphasizing culturally responsive pedagogy and practical skill development.

Through founding the Noor Islamic and Cultural Community Center (NICCC), Dr. Popal leads refugee resettlement efforts for Afghan communities and operates a K-12 after-school program addressing educational gaps. His dual academic-community leadership demonstrates integrated commitment to educational equity and cross-cultural understanding in both institutional and grassroots contexts.