Farnaz Karimian (MA, OCELT) is an English language specialist who has spent about 15 years working across Ontario’s ESL landscape, from colleges and universities, to private language schools and settlement programs.

Her work is grounded in a simple but important question: how can English language education be more responsive, more inclusive, and more reflective of the world learners are navigating? Drawing on her background in Applied Linguistics, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and Critical Digital Pedagogy, she designs learning experiences that centre equity, multimodality, and real-world relevance. She is particularly interested in dismantling barriers in language education and exploring  what it means to decolonize ESL curriculum in ways that are thoughtful, practical, and actually doable.

Over the years, Farnaz has taken on a range of roles: teacher, teacher trainer, curriculum developer, academic coordinator, professional development organizer, and most recently, podcast host and producer. She’s known for bringing people together and turning ideas into meaningful action. During her time on the TESL Toronto Board, including two years as President, she led initiatives that created space for real connection and professional growth. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors at TESL Ontario, contributing to ongoing conversations about where the field is heading. 

Outside of her professional work, she enjoys slower moments like caring for her plants, spending time with her cat, cooking for her loved ones, biking through the city, and lingering in cozy coffee spots with friends.