Bio
Sara Afifi is a PhD student in Applied Linguistics and Technology at Iowa State University. She holds an associate’s degree in Computer Science and a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Her research interests include computer-assisted language learning with a focus on second language writing and the use of automated writing evaluation systems for assessing and improving students’ academic writing abilities. Prior to joining ISU, she worked as a teaching assistant in an academic writing course at Shiraz University’s Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics and also taught English to children and adults at several English language institutes and Shiraz University Language Center.