Aicha Rahal

Aicha Rahal is a researcher in linguistics. Her research interests include language pedagogy, sociolinguistics, language policy, and psycholinguistics. She is the author of many research papers, the author of two forthcoming books on language acquisition, and the co-editor of the book World Englishes and Language Assessment. She was a former online teacher assistant with the US Department of State and the University of Oregon. She was the laureate of the Africa Award, Liverpool 2019 and the laureate of the TIRF-DDG grant from The International Research Foundation for English Language Education. Aicha Rahal is extremely grateful to The International Research Foundation for English Language Education (TIRF) and its partterns for their invualuable support and their appreciation of her research. She would like to dedicate her publications to TIRF.

Publications

Design and Validation of Research Tools and Methodologies
Design and Validation of Research Tools and Methodologies
Aicha Rahal, Mária Adorján. © 2025. 484 pages.
In academia, the quality of research is intricately linked to the methods and tools used in the research process. Linguistics, a field at the forefront of deciphering the...
Testing the Content Validity of Questionnaires: The Role of the Think-Aloud Protocol
Testing the Content Validity of Questionnaires: The Role of the Think-Aloud Protocol
Aicha Rahal. © 2025. 16 pages.
This chapter explores the application of the think-aloud protocol as a validation tool for assessing the content of research tools, a questionnaire as an example. This validation...
Member Checking as a Validation Tool
Member Checking as a Validation Tool
Aicha Rahal. © 2025. 18 pages.
Member checking (MC) is often reported as a tool used to enhance the trustworthiness of qualitative research. It is described as a continuous process during data analysis. This...
Internationalization of Higher Education: Perspectives on EMI Policy in Tunisia
Internationalization of Higher Education: Perspectives on EMI Policy in Tunisia
Aicha Rahal. © 2023. 17 pages.
Internationalisation has become essential in higher education to prepare institutions for participation in the global environment. English as a medium of instruction (EMI) is...
Improving Tunisian Higher Education Through Revising Language Policies: Analysis of Language Policies Research in Tunisia and a Comparison With the International Scenario
Improving Tunisian Higher Education Through Revising Language Policies: Analysis of Language Policies Research in Tunisia and a Comparison With the International Scenario
Aicha Rahal. © 2023. 12 pages.
This chapter explores and analyzes publications on language policies in Tunisia and compares Tunisian research to the international scenario. The comparison is based on...
English or Englishes?: A Question of Multilingual Reality
English or Englishes?: A Question of Multilingual Reality
Aicha Rahal. © 2022. 15 pages.
The discipline of World Englishes has been one of the most thriving branches of English linguistics. This branch has become the focal focus of considerable debate. The chapter...
Transdisciplinary Approach to Linguistic Diversity: Can We Co-Exist Without “One English”?
Transdisciplinary Approach to Linguistic Diversity: Can We Co-Exist Without “One English”?
Aicha Rahal. © 2022. 14 pages.
In this chapter, the author shows the reality of English. Some light is shed on the features of today's English. Then, the debate between monolithic standard and pluralist...
English as a Lingua Franca: Approaches to Bridge the Gap Between Theory and Practice
English as a Lingua Franca: Approaches to Bridge the Gap Between Theory and Practice
Aicha Rahal. © 2022. 12 pages.
English has occupied a unique place in today's interconnected world. The emergence of ELF opens questions revolving around the change of the teaching and learning habitus....
Phonetic Fossilization: Is It a Matter of Perfection or Intelligibility?
Phonetic Fossilization: Is It a Matter of Perfection or Intelligibility?
Aicha Rahal. © 2022. 17 pages.
Fossilization is a common linguistic phenomenon among learners. It presents an obstacle that hinders the process of learning and prevents learners from acquiring the target...
The Major Developments of Learner Language From Second Language Acquisition to Learner Corpus Research
The Major Developments of Learner Language From Second Language Acquisition to Learner Corpus Research
Aicha Rahal. © 2021. 13 pages.
Given the fact that there is a constant debate among monolinguists and pluralists, this chapter aims to explore the main developments in learner language. It focuses on the...
Cultural Problems in Teaching and Learning of English as a Foreign Language in Tunisia
Cultural Problems in Teaching and Learning of English as a Foreign Language in Tunisia
Aicha Rahal. © 2020. 19 pages.
Culture now becomes a key element in most educational systems, particularly in Higher education, where cultural Studies are an essential part of most language instruction. The...
English as a Lingua Franca: Approaches to Bridge the Gap Between Theory and Practice
English as a Lingua Franca: Approaches to Bridge the Gap Between Theory and Practice
Aicha Rahal. © 2020. 12 pages.
English has occupied a unique place in today's interconnected world. The emergence of ELF opens questions revolving around the change of the teaching and learning habitus....
English or Englishes?: A Question of Multilingual Reality
English or Englishes?: A Question of Multilingual Reality
Aicha Rahal. © 2019. 20 pages.
The discipline of World Englishes has been one of the most thriving branches of English linguistics. This branch has become the focal focus of considerable debate. The chapter...
Transdisciplinary Approach to Linguistic Diversity: Can We Co-Exist Without “One English”?
Transdisciplinary Approach to Linguistic Diversity: Can We Co-Exist Without “One English”?
Aicha Rahal. © 2019. 14 pages.
In this chapter, the author shows the reality of English. Some light is shed on the features of today's English. Then, the debate between monolithic standard and pluralist...
Phonetic Fossilization: Is It a Matter of Perfection or Intelligibility?
Phonetic Fossilization: Is It a Matter of Perfection or Intelligibility?
Aicha Rahal. © 2018. 22 pages.
Fossilization is a common linguistic phenomenon among learners. It presents an obstacle that hinders the process of learning and prevents learners from acquiring the target...
Cultural Problems in Teaching and Learning of English as a Foreign Language in Tunisia
Cultural Problems in Teaching and Learning of English as a Foreign Language in Tunisia
Aicha Rahal. © 2017. 18 pages.
Culture now becomes a key element in most educational systems, particularly in Higher education, where cultural Studies are an essential part of most language instruction. The...