
Dr. Joe Alvaro
Biography:
Dr. Joe Alvaro has a PhD in English from City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, an MSc in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Aston University, Birmingham, UK, an Advanced TESOL Honours Diploma from Sprott-Shaw College and a TESL Certificate from the ESL Teacher Training Centre.
Dr. Alvaro is a Sessional Faculty member at University Canada West teaching Critical Analysis and Writing. He aims to create an engaging and supportive learning environment that fosters academic success. Dr. Alvaro is inspired to share his knowledge and experience with his new students and looks forward to working in partnership with them.
Experience and Expertise
Dr. Alvaro is a highly experienced teacher who has worked at prestigious institutions in various locations around the globe. As a specialist in designing and delivering English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses, he has extensive experience training international students from a wide range of backgrounds.
While at City University of Hong Kong and the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (Qatar), Dr. Alvaro developed and taught EAP courses for both undergraduate and graduate students in the social sciences and humanities.
In addition to his teaching roles at these and other tertiary institutions, he taught business English for HSBC's Corporate Language program in China and coordinated IELTS Examiners for the British Council in Hong Kong and Shanghai for almost 16 years. Due to his work with international students from various cultural backgrounds, he is well-versed in cross-cultural pedagogy.
With his broad teaching experience, Joe's instructional expertise includes academic discourse, cross-cultural communication, and the development of world Englishes as a branch of socio-linguistics.
Publications and Scholarly Activity
Journal Articles:
- (Discourse analysis of media articles)
Alvaro, Joseph James (2015). Analyzing China’s English-language media. World Englishes 34(2): 260–277. DOI: 10.1111/weng.12137. - Alvaro, Joseph James (2013a). Discursive representations of a dissident: the case of Liu Xiaobo. Discourse & Society 24(3): 289–314. DOI:10.1177/0957926512471760.
Alvaro, Joseph James (2013b). - Political discourse in China’s English-language press. World Englishes 32(2): 147–168. DOI: 10.1111/weng.12006.
- Alvaro, J. (2004). Face-negotiation and politeness systems in an intercultural workplace. Chinese English Language Education Journal (CELEA) 27(5).
- Chapters
Bolton, Kingsley and Alvaro, Joseph James (2016). Political Discourse and World Englishes. In Carol A. Chapelle and Lia Plakans (Eds.) The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics. John Wiley & Sons. DOI: 10.1002/9781405198431.wbeal1462. - Conference talks
Alvaro, Joseph James (February, 2021). “E-Learning and EAP: Problems, solutions & applications.” Online Seminar – Academic English in a Virtual Setting: Aspects and Sustainability, February 2021, hosted by the Language Center, Doha Institute--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH0nOQIDVfM&t=2903s. - Alvaro, Joseph James (2013). “Mob Organizer: How China’s state-media portrays dissent.” Research Seminar, City University of Hong Kong.
- Alvaro, Joseph James (2013). “Re-imagining the Chinese Hero.” Imagining Globality Conference (2013), China Institute, University of Alberta at Edmonton, Canada.
- Alvaro, Joseph James (2012). “Harmonious Society? Political terms in China’s English press.” World Englishes Conference (2012), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
- Alvaro, Joseph James (2011). The Discourse of legitimization in China’s English press: Notes on theory and practice. Research Seminar, City University of Hong Kong.
- Media articles
Alvaro, J. (2018). As soft power fails, China turns to sharper measures. Hong Kong Free Press (3 March 2018). Available at: https://hongkongfp.com/2018/03/03/better-loved-feared-soft- power-fails-china-turns-sharper-measures/. - Alvaro, J. (2017). Death of Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo is a reminder that the road to democracy is a long one. Hong Kong Free Press (14 July 2017). Available
at: https://hongkongfp.com/2017/07/14/death-peace-prize-winner-liu-xiaobo-reminder- road-democracy-long-one/. - Alvaro, J. (2017). Human rights and Chinese culture. Hong Kong Free Press (10 September 2017). Available at: https://hongkongfp.com/2017/09/10/human-rights-chinese-culture-nation- stood-individual-far-not/.