M. Sedique Popal

Dr. Sedique Popal is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of San Francisco, where he teaches applied linguistics courses and coordinates the MA TESOL program. He also serves as the President-Elect of the California Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL). Throughout his career, Dr. Popal has taught English and applied linguistics and has trained teachers in seven countries across four continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. He has presented at numerous national and international conferences, including TESOL, KOTESOL, AZTESOL, CATESOL, and the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE). In 2021, Dr. Popal authored A Grammar Book for Teachers. In addition to his academic accomplishments, Dr. Sedique Popal is the founder and president of the Noor Islamic and Cultural Community Center (NICCC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the religious, educational, and social needs of the growing Muslim community in Contra Costa County and surrounding Northern California communities. Through NICCC, Dr. Popal has helped Afghan refugees secure housing and essential services and items needed as they resettle in the United States. Dr. Popal also started an after-school program for students in grades K–12 to provide youth-based support at NICCC.

• Applied Linguistics
• Research in Second Language Acquisition
• Sociolinguistics
• Cross-Cultural Communication
• Community Engagement

• Code-Switching and Code-Mixing in Bilingual Communities
• TESOL Methods
• Second Language Acquisition

• University of San Francisco, Ed.D in Education with Concentration on Second language Acquisition, 1992
• San Francisco State University, MA in English with Concentration on TESOL, 1985
• Kabul University, BA in English Literature, 1976

• Assistant Professor in TESOL Program, University of San Francisco
• MA TESOL Program Director, University of San Francisco
• Lecturer in TESOL Program, University of California, Berkeley Extension
• ESL Professor, College of Alameda

• Ignatian Service Award (2022), University of San Francisco
• Outstanding Service Award (2019) as PEAC (Peralta Community Colleges  ESL Council) Founder, Peralta Community Colleges, Oakland, California.
• Distinguished Professor Award (2019), ESOL Department, College of Alameda, Alameda, California 
• Distinguished Faculty Award in Excellence in Teaching (2012-2013) University of San Francisco
• Outstanding Educator of the Year (1999-2000) University of San Francisco, CA
• Honored Professor of the Year (2000-2001), U.C. Berkeley, California
• Outstanding Service and Dedication Award (2017), Noor Islamic and Cultural Community Center, Concord, California

• Popal, S. (2022). Lesson Planning for Teaching English as a Second Language, Pittsburgh, PA: Dorrance Publishing. 
• Popal, S. (2021). A Grammar Book for Teachers. Pittsburgh, PA: RoseDog Publishing