Dr. Rula Diab is associate professor of English/applied linguistics in the Department of Communication, Arts and Languages. She was appointed assistant provost for academic affairs in September 2018. Dr. Diab served as the founding director of the LAU Writing Center during 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. She was also the chair of the then Department of English. She teaches courses in linguistics and advanced academic writing and is the recipient of the LAU Teaching Excellence Award for the academic year 2016-2017.

Research Interests

Her research interests include individual difference variables in second language acquisition, particularly language learners’ beliefs, preferences, and attitudes toward language learning, in addition to the area of second language writing.

In spring 2005, her research project investigating university students’ and teachers’ preferences for error correction and feedback in the EFL writing classroom received the TOEFL Board Award for International Participation in TESOL. Her research has appeared in international refereed journals such as The International Journal of English Linguistics, System, The Linguistics Journal, TESL-EJ, and TESL Canada Journal.

Professional Memberships

She is a member of several professional organizations, including TESOL, American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL), International Writing Centers Association (IWCA), and the Middle-East North Africa Writing Centers Alliance.

Selected Publications

• Bahous, R., & Diab, R. (In press). Engaging pre-service teachers in critical reflective practice in a private higher education institution in Lebanon. In Cirocki A., Gao A., & Wyatt M. (Eds.) Developing Reflective ELT Practitioners through Teacher Education: Insights from Asian Contexts. Springer.
• Naffi, N., Davidson, A.-L., Winer, L., Beatty, B., Germain-Rutherford, A., Diab, R., Focarile, T., Rukavina, D., Hornsby, D., Strickland-Davis, S., Boujaoude, S., Côté, S., Raiche-Savoie, G., Racine, J.-F., Camara, L., De La Haye Duponsel, N., & Kropf, V. (2023). Moving Forward After COVID-19: New Directions for Teaching and Course Design in Higher Education. International Journal of Technologies in Higher Education, 20(2), 68-85. https://doi.org/10.18162/ritpu-2023-v20n2-07
• Hamadeh, W., Bahous, R., Nabhani, M., & Diab, R. (2020). Using social media to enhance second language learning. Computer Assisted Language Learning Electronic Journal, 21(2), 134-151. 
• Arayssi, S., Bahous, R., Diab, R., & Nabhani, M. (2019). Language teachers’ perceptions of practitioner research. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. DOI 10.1108/JARHE-04-2019-0076
• Diab, R. L. (2017). Foreword. In L. R. Arnold, A. Nebel, and L. Ronesi (Eds.), Emerging writing research from the Middle East-North Africa region. University of Colorado Press: Boulder, CO.
• Bacha, N., Bahous, R., & Diab, R. L. (2012). Gender and politeness in a foreign language academic context. International Journal of English Linguistics, 2(1), 79-96.
• Diab, R. L., & Balaa, L. (2011). Developing detailed rubrics for assessing critique writing: Impact on EFL university students’ performance and attitudes. TESOL Journal, 2(1), 52-72.
• Diab, R. L. (2009). Lebanese EFL teachers’ beliefs about foreign language learning. TESL Reporter, 42(2), pp. 13-31.
• Diab, R. L. (2009). Lebanese university students’ perceptions of ethnic, national, and linguistic identity and their preferences for foreign language learning in Lebanon. The Linguistics Journal, Sept.2009 Special Edition, pp. 101-120. Retrieved from https://www.linguistics-journal.com/2014/01/07/lebanese-university-students-perceptions-of-ethnic-national-and-linguistic-identity-and-their-preferences-of-foreign-language-learning-in-lebanon/
• Diab, R. L. (2009). [Review of the book International English in its sociolinguistic contexts: Towards a socially sensitive EIL pedagogy]. TESL-EJ, 12(4), R-3. Retrieved from http://tesl-ej.org/ej48/r3.html
• Diab, R. L. (2006). University students’ beliefs about learning English and French in Lebanon. System, 34(1), pp. 80-96.
• Diab, R. L. (2006). Error correction and feedback in the EFL writing classroom: Comparing instructor and student preferences. English Teaching Forum, 44(3), pp. 2-13.
• Diab, R. L. (2006). Teaching practices and student learning in the introductory research methods class. TESL-EJ, 10(2), A6 (28 pages). Retrieved from http://tesl-ej.org/ej38/a6.html
• Diab, R. L. (2006). [Review of the book Studies of fossilization in second language acquisition]. Teachers College Record, Article ID 12335. Published February 27, 2006. Retrieved from http://www.tcrecord.org/content.asp?contentid=12335
• Diab, R. L. (2005). EFL university students’ preferences for error correction and teacher feedback to writing. TESL Reporter, 38(1), 27-51.
• Diab, R. L. (2005). Learner beliefs about foreign language learning: What have we learned so far? Texas Papers in Foreign Language Education, 9, pp. 103-116.
• Diab, R.L. (2005). Teachers’ and students’ beliefs about responding to ESL writing: A case study. TESL Canada Journal, 23(1), pp. 28-43.

Academic Degrees

• PhD in Foreign Language Education, with an emphasis in TEFL, University of Texas at Austin, US
• MA in TEFL, American University of Beirut, Lebanon
• BA in English, American University of Beirut, Lebanon