Dr. Peyman Nojoumian: 2025 Award Winner
Dr. Peyman Nojoumian has played a central role in shaping the USC Dornsife Persian language program through the development of a student-centered curriculum grounded in language proficiency levels and real-world application. His courses are designed to help students achieve measurable progress across all four language skills by using authentic materials, task-based learning, and cultural immersion. Dr. Nojoumian has created opportunities for experiential learning through community-based projects, such as a field trip where students interact with native speakers at local restaurants and markets, culminating in food critiques written in the target language. In the library, students locate and translate books, pose questions to staff, and engage with the language in a meaningful academic context. His curriculum also includes group projects, role-plays, and interactive discussions that build both language confidence and cross-cultural awareness.
In addition to his classroom innovations, Professor Nojoumian launched a pilot Virtual Reality (VR) project that allows students to navigate maps and follow directions in the target language –an initiative featured at an international conference and which will be published in a forthcoming academic volume. His students in advanced Persian create full-length documentaries that involve conducting interviews, narrating, translating, subtitling, and editing. Peyman also developed a multilingual smartphone dictionary app with nearly 10,000 entries to support student learning outside of class. As a certified ACTFL Workshop Facilitator, he mentors language instructors around the world, further extending his impact on the field. Dr. Peyman’s work reflects a deep commitment to student success, culturally informed pedagogy, and educational innovation.
The Professional Development Committee is excited to announce the opening of nominations for the Dornsife Excellence in Language Teaching Award. This newly established award celebrates excellence and dedication in language education at our institution.
We invite nominations of RTPC language faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding achievements over the last three academic years (2021–2024). This award recognizes individuals who excel in teaching and have significantly contributed to the language community through various commendable activities. Faculty from all RTPC ranks are eligible.
Evaluation Criteria:
Nominees should demonstrate:
- Excellent student course evaluations.
- Development or use of innovative materials and activities in the classroom.
- Presentations on evidence-based or research-based SLA pedagogy at national or international conferences.
- Receipt of research, educational, teaching innovation, or professional development grants related to language pedagogy.
- Leadership or active service on pedagogical committees, working groups, or associations (departmental, college-level, state, or national), or mentoring of junior faculty or ALs.
- Initiation, organization, or supervision of extracurricular events such as language clubs, movie nights, or cultural exchanges.
This award provides an opportunity to honor the hard work and impact of language faculty who go above and beyond in their commitment to language education and cultural enrichment.
There is no monetary compensation for the award.
Application Process:
To apply, please submit the following materials covering the 2021–2024 academic years:
- A brief statement (approximately 500 words) highlighting your contributions, including reflections on the development or use of innovative materials and activities.
- Three complete sets of student evaluations (one per year from a language or culture course).
- A current CV, including an updated list of committee services and extracurricular activities organized.
Submission Deadline: The deadline for 2025-2026 nominations will be announced in Fall 2025
Award Committee Members
Evgeny Dengub (chair), Teaching Professor of Russian, Director of the Basic Language Program, and Director of the Center for Languages and Cultures, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures
Emily H. Anderson, Professor, Department of English, Dornsife Undergraduate Dean
Rob Filback, Professor of Clinical Education, Chair of the Master of Arts in TESOL Program, Co-Chair of the Higher Education Concentration, Rossier School of Education