Somayyeh Ariyanfar

English Language Teacher and PhD Researcher with extensive experience at the University of Rochester, specializing in curriculum development, academic mentoring, and innovative teaching methods. Proven success in enhancing communication skills and fostering inclusive, engaging learning environments.
My research spans academic writing, genre-based teaching, metadiscourse markers, and linguistic modality in educational and social contexts. Applying the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework, I have designed flexible, student-centered courses, presented at academic conferences, and published two articles.

Currently pursuing a PhD in Teaching, Curriculum, and Change, I focus on human-machine interaction in knowledge representation, reasoning, and writing. I am developing GroupWrite AI, an interdisciplinary innovation addressing AI overuse and promoting mindful AI use. My goal is to design educational tools that enhance critical thinking, writing, and decision-making, with applications across education, marketing, banking, military, public relations, and engineering.

• Journal Reviewer, TESL-EJ: Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language University of California, Berkeley. (2020)
• Teaching English to Adults and Kids (2019), Safir English Language Academy
• EFL Teaching Certification, Iran Language Institute

• University of Rochester

[Published]

• Ariyanfar, S., & Mitchell, R. (2020).Teaching Writing Skills through Genre: Applying the Genre-based Approach in Iran. International Research Journal of Management, IT and Social Sciences, 7 (1), 242-257. DOI:10.21744/irjmis.v7n1.843
• Harfal, Z., & Ariyanfar, S. (2024). Building Comprehension: A Step-by-Step Approach for High School EFL Students in Indonesia. Pijar : Jurnal Penelitian Bidang Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran, 4(2), 39–45. https://doi.org/10.56393/pijar.v4i2.2689

[Submitted]

• Mitchell, R., & Ariyanfar, S. (2023). Getting towards L1-like Writing in Examinations
• Ariyanfar, S., & Mitchell, R. (2023). Facilitating L2 Writing Competence through Cognitive Content Awareness: A Case Study of Iranian Students

[On process]

• Ariyanfar, S., & Mitchell, R. (2023). Developing Excellence: A stand-alone IELTS Task 1 Writing App. [https://english-n-all.com/IELTS-writing/]

[Conerence papers]

• Ariyanfar, S. (2025, April 12). Human-AI Interaction in Knowledge Representation, Reasoning, and Learning. Paper presented at the 46th Annual Applied Linguistics Winter Conference (ALWC), NYS TESOL, Virtual.
• Ariyanfar, S. (2025, June 14). Human-AI Interaction in Knowledge Representation, Reasoning, and Learning. Presentation at the 5th Annual VirtuaTELL Conference, Rethinking Literacy to Empower Multilingual Learners: Putting Humans in the Center in a Rapidly Shifting Digital and Educational Landscape, Virtual.
• Ariyanfar, S. (2025, July). Embedding Values and Equity in Grammar Instruction: Saadi's Gulistan in Practice. Roundtable presented at the KPCEL Conference, Tenaci, Memphis.
• Ariyanfar, S. (2019, February 1). Exploring metadiscourse markers deployments over a genre teaching approach: A comparison between regular and motivated EFL writers. Paper presented at the 5th International Conference on Language, Discourse and Pragmatics, Ahvaz, Iran.
• Ariyanfar, S., Kavousi Saleh, R., & Memari, M. (2018, November 16). The comparison of Iranian EFL learners' use of metacognitive reading strategiesin their mother-tongue and in English as a foreign language. Paper presented at the 16th International TELLSI Conference Futurology of English Language,Teaching and Literature,Shiraz University, Iran.
• Ariyanfar, S. (2017, October 5). Exploring generic structure progression in motivated and regular students' texts. Paper presented at the 1st International Conference on Language Focus, Urmia, Iran.
• Mohammadi, E., & Ariyanfar, S. (2017, October 24). The relationship between Iranian EFL students' acculturation and cultural intelligence, Paper presented at the 3rd Conference on Interdisciplinary Approaches to Language Teaching, Literature and Translation Studies , Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.

[Presented]

• "Integrating Metadiscourse Markers into Language Teaching Syllabuses" at the Fifth International Conference on Language, Discourse and Pragmatics, Ahvaz/ 2019

[Attended]

• "Coding Qualitative Data: Different Approaches and Theoretical Foundations", held by Prof. MehdiRiazi at Shiraz University, Iran/ 2018
• "An Innovative Method of Teaching Writing Skill", held by Ezat Amirbakzadeh Kalati, Urmieh/ 2017
• ”Introducing Applications of Systemic Functional Linguistics Under the auspices of The Australian Systemic Functional Linguistics Association, the University of New South Wales". Sydney, Australia and University of Zanjan, Iran/ 2017
• Edward Tenable Implementation of Innovative Teaching in classes: A Call for Professional Development", held by Soraya Behroozizad, Urmieh/ 2017
• "text-based Lesson Planning and Teaching", held by Harni Kartika Ningsih, Urmieh/ 2017
• "Teaching Process: Stimulating Thoughts", held by Sameerah T saeed, Urmieh/ 2017
• “Functional Parameters in Genre Analysis", held by Prof. Alireza Jalilifar at University of Zanjan/ 2016

• Reviewing and evaluating research articles [https://tesl-ej.org/wordpress/]
• Researching and studying theories, methods, and approaches employed in language education.
• Teaching English as a second/ foreign language [https://youtu.be/tXodnd8CdOk]
• Creating and curating various types of content.

• Academic writing
• Genre-based teaching
• Metadiscourse markers
• Linguistic modality

• Teaching
• Communication
• Team work
• Problem-solving
• Sports

• Https://www.tellsi.org/
• https://neurocogling461127351.Wordpress.com

[Project 1]

Manager: Rod Mitchell (ESOL teacher, Grad MFL mentor)

Leader: Somayyeh Ariyanfar

Together, they are developing a research-based, practical language teaching and learning website [https://english-n-all.com/]

Project summary:

Teacher-focused information and guidance on Systemic Functional Linguistics, Cognitive linguistics, Functional and Cognitive Approaches, as well as more general information on a range of teaching methodologies and theories. Student-centered site for PTE, IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, EIC, ESP, EAP, writing skills, etc., Forums for 1) student discussions, 2) language teacher discussions, 3) linguists' and translators’ discussions. 

[Project 2]

Writers: Rod Mitchell & Somayyeh Ariyanfar

Developing the initial draft of a grammar guide that follows the principles of Systemic Functional Linguistics and Cognitive Grammar with the intention of publishing it