Frances Boyd

Dr. Frances A. Boyd has been at Columbia University teaching language and mentoring teachers for over 30 years. She has developed and taught courses in all levels of academic English, English for Business Purposes, English for International Teaching Fellows, and graduate courses in TESOL Curriculum and Pedagogy. A specialist in content-based curriculum that integrates language skills and critical thinking, her writings have appeared in TESOL Quarterly, English for Specific Purposes, Set the Stage!: Teaching Italian through Theatre, among other professional books and journals.

Boyd is a frequent presenter and featured speaker at national and international professional conferences. She has consulted with universities in China, Colombia, Mexico, and Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia) to develop international faculty and academic English Language curriculum. Recently, in conjunction with the Shanghai Ministry of Education, she developed and taught a course in outcomes-based academic English for Chinese English professors from 26 universities. Her current research interests include vocabulary acquisition and English Language program accreditation processes.

Boyd has served in the University Senate, coordinated the ALP Intensive Language Program, and served as the ALP Curriculum Director. She is currently active on the editorial board of MexTESOL Journal. Her professional work has been recognized with the NYU Malkemes Prize for Professional Writing as well as the New York City Citation for Excellence from the Mayor’s Council on Adult Education. Her book with Garrison Keillor was cited on Page One of the Wall Street Journal for “bringing humor” to language learning.