Tara A. Waller
PO Box 144534Abu Dhabi, UAE050 454 3144twaller99@gmail.com
Objective:
To enter a progressive work environment that respects innovation and leadership that will promote the organization at a local
and global level by continually encouraging development as professionals in the field.
Education & Training:
Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Linguistics; ABD expected 2013
Leadership Development Training: A Conceptual Framework
Macquarie University; Sydney Australia
Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); May 2006
Bridging the Research-Practitioner Gap Through Lesson Study
Teachers College, Columbia University; New York, NY
New York State Teacher Certification (K-12); May 2006
Technical Professional Adobe Plus Program; 2002-2003
Adobe.com Element K; Online Certificates
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Japanese Studies; May 1998
Willamette University; Salem, OR
Professional Experience:
Zayed University: Instructor
Abu Dhabi, UAE; February 2009 – Present
 Teaching classes in Academic Bridge Program (ABP) to develop language skills for university entrance
 Participating on committees to revise the faculty evaluation system, promote departmental research and professional
development activities through cooperation with administration and colleagues
 Representing the ABP on the University Research Standing Committee as the first ABP faculty member on said
university-wide committee
 Maintaining created website for department’s professional development and research needs
 Working on revising assessment tools and methods
 Developing and creating curriculum materials including online vocabulary and grammar activities
 Organizing and maintaining information/resources for program levels on internal shared network
 Creating system for resource management on SharePoint Server and developing training modules for faculty
Kanda University of International Studies: Senior Lecturer
Chiba, Japan; May 2006 – January 2009
 Taught 90-minute classes for general, computer, business, and other English purposes
 Regularly lesson planned, graded, advised, and participated in the usual functions of a professor at a university
 Created curriculum and materials for general freshman and sophomore English courses
 Developed curriculum for a computer elective course on using MS Office and web design in English
 Conducted research projects and participated on professional development committees for career advancement in
teacher training
 Published and presented research project results at various conferences and in journals/book chapters
Tohoku University: Instructor
Sendai, Japan; September 2007 – January 2009
 Taught high-intermediate to advanced presentation and discussion skills to undergraduate and graduate students
Tara Waller CV/Resumé
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Developed curriculum and materials for the course
Worked with top officials in course progression and future management
Lambert University: Professor
Tokyo, Japan; July 2006 - January 2007
 Taught online and on-campus teacher-training course for Teaching English to Young Learners for TESOL program
 Conducted on-campus teacher-training workshops
 Participated in the development of teacher-training curriculum
Marble Hill for International Studies: Student Teacher
Bronx, NY; January 2006 - April 2006
 Developed lesson plans and taught them for literature and social studies-related topics for 52 10th grade ESL students
 Worked collaboratively with cooperating teacher to lesson plan and team-teach
P.S. 165: Student Teacher
New York, NY; September 2005 - December 2005
 Taught 30 third grade mainstream students with a few ESL students in all subjects
 Focused science lessons on the solar system; the sun-earth relationship; and the earth-moon relationship
 Taught social studies lessons on how to understand maps and introduced the country of Kenya
Tokyo International University of America: Project Assistant/Temporary English Instructor
Salem, OR; May 2004 - August 2004
 Taught two weeks to prospective students in English conversation, grammar and cultural studies
 Worked collaboratively to develop curriculum for short-term teaching position and frequently had group reflection on
teaching methods and materials to improve daily teaching strategies
 Designed and managed organization’s website
Kyoto Gakuen Junior/Senior High School: Contracted Native-English Teacher
Kyoto, Japan; April 2003 - March 2004
 Taught nearly native-level English reading and writing skills to students planning to study abroad
 Wrote lesson plans and prepared all supplemental materials to required textbooks for various subjects
 Facilitated student discipline and classroom management in English and Japanese
 Worked in close cooperation with others for curriculum development
WhalesWeb.Com: Assistant Web Designer and Production Assistant, Web-based Training
Tokyo, Japan; February 2001 - February 2003
 Created web pages for online courses in English and Japanese; organized site structure and page design
 Worked with graphics and colors to create an aesthetically pleasing site
 Assisted in rewriting and debugging JavaScript and HTML code
F. J. Kurdyla and Associates: Resident Lecturer
Tokyo, Japan; August 1999 - August 2000
 Edited and translated Japanese language textbooks for the Japanese Exchange Teaching program
 Served as a Help Line operator for foreigners learning the Japanese language
 Taught spoken business English and business and technical writing in English to employees of various major Japanese
companies on a one-on-one basis and in a large classroom setting
 Worked one-on-one to cover presentation skills to various company workers
City of Kawagoe Board of Education: Assistant Language Teacher
Kawagoe, Japan; Board of Education; August 1998 - July 1999
 Assisted Japanese teachers in teaching English in junior high and elementary schools
 Created lesson plans for classes
 Translated vocabulary, grammar, etc. from English to Japanese
 Conducted seminars for foreign language teachers
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Tara Waller CV/Resumé
Leadership Experience
Zayed University Academic Bridge Program: University Research Committee Representative
Abu Dhabi, UAE; September 2009 – 2011
 Served as the Recorder in the 2010 – 2011 academic year
 Spearheaded representation of the program on the university-wide committee to promote research
 Collaborated with peers on research policies
 Developed resources to facilitate effective research practices
 Provided help on research projects with colleagues through individual work or group workshops
Zayed University Academic Bridge Program: Professional Development Committee Chair
Abu Dhabi, UAE; June 2010 – January 2011
 Organized and promoted professional development activities throughout the academic year
 Created a professional development website for the program
 Maintained the committee budget
 Collaborated with colleagues and supervisors on solidifying committee vision, mission and goals and objectives
 Led meetings and facilitated collaboration amongst colleagues to meet program development goals
Kanda University of International Studies: Research Project Coordinator
Chiba, Japan; April 2007 – January 2009
 Facilitated research projects and materials development for the International Languages & Cultures department
 Collaborated with other departments regarding professional development, classes, research and more
 Coordinated with colleagues and supervisors to create and promote the departmental goals and vision
 Created course curriculum from basic to advanced courses with meaningful goals and objectives
 Managed department budget and organized teachers’ schedules
 Mentored and participated in new teacher development
 Developed leadership position handbook for ease of transition for new leaders
Teachers College, Columbia University: Student Senate President
New York, NY; April 2005 - April 2006
 Oversaw all activities of the Student Senate including committee meetings, social events, communications with the
Teachers College community
 Advocated student concerns and promoted student voice to administration, staff and faculty of institution
 Served on the Teachers College Presidential Search Committee, Committee for Community and Diversity and the
College Space Committee; served as an observer on the Teachers College Board of Trustees
Teachers College, Columbia University, Student Senate Arts & Humanities Department Representative
New York, NY: September 2004 - April 2005
 Organized Program Ambassadors system to full represent all constituents in a department with 10 programs
 Developed regular social activities for students to meet and relax together
 Supervised Arts Celebration to showcase current student talent in the Arts and Music programs
 Worked collaboratively with other student organizations to sponsor academic and social events
 Served on Student Life Committee, Committee for Community and Diversity, Middle States Standards Subcommittee
and the Space Committee
Professional Presentations:
2006 Graduate Student Forum, Tampa, FL; March 13, 2006
The Art of Persuasion for Secondary School
2007 TESOL Conference, Seattle, WA; March 22, 2007
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Tara Waller CV/Resumé
Lesson Study as a Classroom Research Tool
2007 4th Annual RELC International Seminar; April 23 – 25, 2007
Using Lesson Study for Classroom Research & Materials Development
2007 Independent Learning Association Japan Conference; October 5-8, 2007
Now Showing: Learner Autonomy Brought to you by Lesson Study
Promoting Autonomy through an Investigative Curriculum for Sophomore English
2007 Japan Association for Language Teaching Conference; November 23-25, 2007
Three Methods of Collaborative Teacher Development;
CSI: Communicative Skills through Investigations
Academic Publications:
“Four Teachers Looking for a Lesson: Developing Materials with Lesson Study” (2011). Materials Development Series.
“Cooperation, Communication and Critical Thinking through Content-Based Investigative Tasks” (2010). TESOL Classroom
Practices Series.
“Cross-Departmental Collaboration through Lesson Study” (2009). Kanda Journal (21) Kanda University of International
Studies. Chiba, Japan.
“From Isolation to Collaboration through Lesson Study” (2008). JALT2007 Conference Proceedings.
“Investigative Tasks in ILC Curriculum” (2008). Kanda Journal (20) Kanda University of International Studies. Chiba, Japan.
“Member’s Profile: Tara Waller” (2008). The Language Teacher (32, 9). The Japan Association for Language Teaching.
Relevant Memberships:
Member, TESOL organization, since October 2004
Member, ASCD organization, since May 2006
Member, TESOL Arabia organization, since February 2009
Member, IATEFL (Leadership and Management SIG), since January 2009
Member, ILA, since November 2010
Honors and Awards:
2004-2005 Recipient Minority Scholarship
2005-2006 Recipient Minority Scholarship
2006 Recipient of Betty Fairfax Professional Development Fund Grant
2006 Recipient of KUIS ELI Conference Funding
2007 Co-Recipient of the Research Institute & Language Education Research Grant
2009 Recipient of Start-up Research Initiative Fund at Zayed University
Languages:
Studied for 3 weeks at the Machu Picchu Spanish School in Cuzco, Peru in February 2007
Finished 8-week intensive introductory Spanish course at UCLA in Summer 2005
Obtained 2nd level proficiency according to the Japanese Language Proficiency Exam in 2001
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