We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate Dr. Kefyalew Woreta Haile, a senior lecturer at Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia, as our Member of the Month of September 2025 for a consecutive month! Dr. Kefyalew's exceptional engagement and contributions continue to set an exemplary standard for the community.
About Dr. Kefyalew
Dr. Kefyalew Woreta Haile is a senior lecturer and researcher at Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia, specializing in English Language Teaching (ELT). With over 18 years of teaching experience at various educational levels, he brings deep expertise in language instruction and teacher training. At Wolaita Sodo University, Dr. Kefyalew currently teaches basic language skills to undergraduate students and pedagogical methods to in-service teacher trainers. He also advises, mentors, and coaches MA and PhD students, helping shape the next generation of language educators and researchers.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Kefyalew is actively involved in volunteer and community-based projects focused on building the pedagogical capacity of both school and university teachers. His efforts center on enhancing instructional quality through innovative, evidence-based practices. In addition to his teaching and training roles, Dr. Kefyalew also serves as a reviewer and editorial board member for several reputable international journals and publishers in the field of language education.
Reflections on Gender-Responsive Pedagogy
Dr. Kefyalew recently shared his practical reflections following the Community of Practice gender-responsive pedagogy challenge designed to raise awareness and promote gender responsive pedagogy within our communities of practice:
'I used several gender-responsive teaching tips in my lessons, such as recognising different learning styles, using inclusive methods, and creating a welcoming classroom environment. These efforts helped me see how a gender-responsive approach can improve student participation and make learning more fair and supportive for everyone. I used simple strategies like giving students different roles in group work and encouraging turn-taking during class discussions.'
Professional Development Highlights
Following his high engagement during the one-week challenge, Dr. Kefyalew has been granted a free place on the NILE professional development course titled 'Global Citizenship in Language Teaching.'
This eight-week course will give Dr. Kefyalew hands-on experience in selecting, adapting, and designing teaching materials that both foster criticality and draw connections between issues relevant to his local context and the wider world—empowering both him and his learners to become active, engaged global citizens.