Learner-(re)searcher PhD candidate, McGill University SSHRC scholar

About

Qualifications and experience

Paul has a BA (Hons) European Studies and Spanish and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Modern Foreign Languages from King's College, London, England (2006 and 2009). He also has an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) from Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia (2019).

Paul is currently a PhD candidate and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Joseph-Armand Bombardier scholar at the Department of Integrated Studies in Education (DISE), McGill University, Montréal, Québec. He is also the recipient of the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) 2021 Multilingual Matters Graduate Student Award which recognizes excellence in multilingual research.

Paul has an extensive background translating and teaching languages (English as a Second/Foreign Language, Italian, Spanish and French) at secondary, college, and university level internationally since 2001. These experiences across the globe have allowed him the opportunity to learn several languages and experience diverse ways of being, knowing, teaching, and learning.

Research

Paul’s research interests are Indigenous language revitalization, decolonizing language education and heritage language pedagogy. His research is informed by experiences as a Gàidheal in Glasgow, Scotland where, for example, his endangered mother tongue, Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic), spoken in Scotland for more than 1500 years, is not recognized as an official U.K. language and was not offered to him as a school subject in the British educational system.

Paul’s motivation for equitable education and language revitalization has continued to grow after meeting his Anishinaabe husband in Scotland and learning more about the devastating impacts of colonialism on the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island.

His community-led, SSHRC-funded research will explore ways in which decolonial, ecocentric education and technology could support Indigenous language revitalization. His research supervisors are Dr. Angelica Galante and Dr. Blane Harvey, McGill University. His research committee member is Dr. Deborah McGregor, York University.

Paul is currently a member of the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL), TESOL Ontario, TESOL International, the Belonging, Identity, Language and Diversity (BILD), the Plurilingual Lab, and the Leadership and Learning for Sustainability research groups.

You can also follow his research on Twitter, Academia and Research Gate.

Sgeul-beatha (Biography in Scottish Gaelic)

Is e Gàidheal Albannach à Glaschu a tha ann am Pòl J. Miadhachàin-Chiblow a tha a’ dèanamh PhD ann am Foghlam ann an Roinn Foghlaim Amalaichte Oilthigh McGill. Tha ceum BA (le Urram) aige ann am Foghlam Eòrpach agus Spàinntis a thuilleadh air Teisteanas For-cheumnaiche ann am Foghlam (PGGE) ann an Nua-chànanan Cèin bho Cholaiste an Rìgh ann an Lunnainn (2002 agus 2009). Tha MA aige cuideachd ann an TESOL bho Oilthigh Trinity Western (2019).

Tha tòrr eòlas obrach aig Pòl ann an eadar-theangachadh agus teagasg cànain (Beurla mar Dara Cànan agus airson Adhbharan Academaigeach, Feadailtis, Spàinntis agus Fraingis) gu eadar-nàiseanta bho 2001. Tha an obair seo air feadh an t-saoghail air cothrom a thoirt dha grunn chànanan ionnsachadh agus eòlas a chur air diofar dhòighean beatha, teagasg agus ionnsachaidh. Bidh an rannsachadh coimhearsnachd aig Pòl le taic SSHRC ag amas air rannsachadh a dhèanamh air na ceangalaichean a tha eadar ath-bheòthachadh cànanan dùthchasach, Eigeòlas Traidiseanta (TEK) agus teicneolas dì-thìreachadh.

Acknowledgments

Paul would like to say miigwetch (thank you in Anishinaabemowin) and tapadh leibh (thank you in Gàidhlig) to his husband, his family in Alba (Scotland) and Turtle Island, friends, supervisors, mentors, DISE-McGill, SSHRC, and the AAAL for all their support on this lifelong learning journey. He would also like to say miigwetch and tapadh leibh to the lands, peoples, waters, spirits, animals and plants of Turtle Island.

Paul is grateful to currently reside with his Anishinaabe husband in T’karonto, the traditional lands and territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

My home islands in the Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar) of Scotland: South Uist (Uibhist a Deas)

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles, Book Chapters

Meighan, P. J. (chapter accepted, forthcoming). Bridging the past, present and future: How heritage language pedagogy can create a global and sustainable worldview in the English classroom. In C. E. Poteau & C. Winkle (Eds.), Advocacy for Social and Linguistic Justice in TESOL: Nurturing Inclusivity, Equity, and Social Responsibility in English Language Teaching. Routledge.

Chiblow, S., & Meighan, P. J. (accepted). Language is land, land is language: The importance of Indigenous languages. Human Geography.

Meighan, P. J. (2020). Decolonizing English: A proposal for implementing alternative ways of knowing and being in education. Diaspora, Indigenous, and Minority Education, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/15595692.2020.1783228 (PDF)

Meighan, P. J. (2020). A case for decolonizing English language instruction. ELT Journal, 74(1), 83-85. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccz055 (PDF)

Meighan, P. J. (2019). An “educator’s” perspective: How heritage language pedagogy and technology can decolonize the English classroom. TESOL Journal, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.483 (PDF)

Meighan, P. J. (2019). [Review of the coursebook Business Partner B1+, by I. Dubicka, M. O’Keefe, B. Dignen, M. Hogan & L. Wright]. TESL-EJ, 23(1). http://www.tesl-ej.org/pdf/ej89/r2.pdf

Belonging, Identity, Language and Diversity (BILD) blog posts

Meighan, P. J. (2021, Feb 14). Romancing with the Romance languages: Col amor de un multi-, pluri- lingual o translanguaging éducateur. Belonging, Identity, Language, Diversity (BILD) Research Group. http://bild-lida.ca/blog/uncategorized/romancing-with-the-romance-languages-col-amor-de-un-multi-pluri-lingual-o-translanguaging-educateur-by-paul-meighan-chiblow/

Meighan, P. J. (2020, Nov 29). "The more you know, the more you need to know": Learning Gaelic and Ojibwe online during the pandemic. Belonging, Identity, Language, Diversity (BILD) Research Group. http://bild-lida.ca/blog/uncategorized/the-more-you-know-the-more-you-need-to-know-learning-gaelic-and-ojibwe-online-during-the-pandemic-by-paul-meighan-chiblow/

Meighan, P. J. (2020, May 25). Searching for new stories and a language to live by: Reflections of a Gael in a foreign language. Belonging, Identity, Language, Diversity (BILD) Research Group. http://bild-lida.ca/blog/uncategorized/searching-for-new-stories-and-a-language-to-live-by-reflections-of-a-gael-in-a-foreign-language-by-paul-meighan-chiblow/

Meighan, P. J. (2019, Nov 19). Refusing to inHABIT the binary: Reflections on language, culture and identity in the colonial bubble. Belonging, Identity, Language, Diversity (BILD) Research Group. http://bild-lida.ca/blog/uncategorized/refusing-to-inhabit-the-binary-reflections-on-language-culture-and-identity-in-the-colonial-bubble-by-paul-meighan-chiblow/

Refereed Policy Studies & Research Reports

Pearson Education. (2017). A standard setting study to establish concordance between the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE A) and the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). Harrow, Essex: Pearson Education.

NOTE:

Only some of my refereed publications are archived here and available for educational purposes only and NOT for distribution, sharing, or commercial use.

Multimedia

AAAL 2021 Virtual Conference (Multilingual Matters Graduate Student Award Presentation)

Plurilingual Lab. (2021, March 25). AAAL 2021 virtual conference presentation: (Re)viewing our relationships with the worlds: Foundations for decolonial and equitable English language learning [YouTube video file]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T5FU1jRdOg&t=881s

My Research Story (Paul J. Meighan)

Plurilingual Lab. (2020, Sept 25). My research story - Paul J. Meighan [YouTube video file]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8TrFA3w3H4&t=3s

Brief Teaching Experience

Easy Peasy English, London, England

ESL Teacher / Online Curriculum Planner

July 2011–Present

● Teacher of English as a Foreign/Second Language (EFL/ESL, EAP, EBP), responsible for the schemes of work and lesson curriculum.

The TEFL Academy, Toronto, Canada

TEFL Teacher Trainer / Online Assessor

January 2017–February 2020

● Teacher trainer for TEFL course, responsible for delivery of lessons, marking of lesson plans/certification requirements, and assessment of ability leading to issue of TEFL certificate.

McGill University, Montréal, Canada

Office of First Nations and Inuit Education (OFNIE)

Foundations of Second Language (L2) Education

January 2021

● Sessional course instructor and syllabus coordinator for intensive 4-week BA (Ed) Essentials of Foundations of Second Language (L2) Education course for OFNIE and Cree School Board at McGill University.

McGill University, Montréal, Canada

Office of First Nations and Inuit Education (OFNIE)

Essentials of English Grammar

October–November 2020

● Sessional course instructor and syllabus coordinator for intensive 3-week BA (Ed) Essentials of English Grammar course for OFNIE and Cree School Board at McGill University.

Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales

Pre-sessional EAP Instructor

July–September 2019, 2020

● Instructor of English for Academic Purposes (EAP course, responsible for delivery of lessons, assessments, marking, and preparation of students for university courses.

McGill University, Montréal, Canada

Advanced Methods in TESL Instructor

January–February 2020

● Teacher trainer for TEFL course, responsible for delivery of lessons, marking of lesson plans/certification requirements, and assessment of ability for elementary/secondary undergraduate Education course.

George Brown College, Toronto, Canada

ESL Instructor

November 2017–May 2019

● Responsible for planning and delivery of lessons, assessments and grading, extra-curricular events for Level 8 and 9 General English, and Level 8 Business English.

INTO Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland

ESL Instructor

March 2016–August 2016

● Responsible for the planning, delivery of lessons and preparation for formal examinations (e.g. IELTS).

INTO University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland

ESL Instructor

July 2015–August 2015

● Responsible for the planning, delivery of lessons and preparation for formal examinations (e.g. IELTS).

Oita City Board of Education, JET Programme, Oita, Japan

ESL Teacher

August 2011–October 2011

● Teacher of English for Oita City Board of Education, responsible for the planning, delivery of lessons and preparation for formal examinations at Japanese High School.

Old Palace of John Whitgift School, London, England

Spanish Teacher

September 2010–July 2011

● Teacher of Spanish, responsible for the planning, delivery of lessons and preparation for formal examinations.

St Augustine’s Church of England Primary School, London, England

Spanish and French Teacher

May 2009–June 2009

● Teacher of Spanish and French, responsible for the planning, delivery of lessons and preparation for formal examinations.

Academic Awards

2020–2023: Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canadian Graduate Scholarship (CGS)

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

2021: Multilingual Matters Award

American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL)

2019–2020: Emerging Scholar Award

DISE, McGill University, Montréal, Canada

2019–2020: Graduate Excellence Entrance Award

DISE, McGill University, Montréal, Canada

2019–2020: Graduate Research Enhancement & Travel Award

DISE, McGill University, Montréal, Canada

2019–2020: Graduate Research Enhancement & Travel Award

DISE, McGill University, Montréal, Canada

2008–2009: Robertson Trust Postgraduate Scholarship

Robertson Trust, Glasgow, Scotland

2002–2006: Robertson Trust Undergraduate Scholarship

Robertson Trust, Glasgow, Scotland

Paul J. Meighan

Learner-(re)searcher PhD candidate, McGill University SSHRC scholar

Welcome! / Fàilte!

About

Publications

Multimedia

AAAL 2021 Virtual Conference (Multilingual Matters Graduate Student Award Presentation)

My Research Story (Paul J. Meighan)

Brief Teaching Experience

Academic Awards

Contact