51³Ô¹Ï

Bio

Dr. Moustapha Fall, Associate Teaching Professor in French & Francophone Studies at the School of Languages, Linguistics, and Cultures, holds an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia. Specializing in second language acquisition, literacy education, and inclusive pedagogy, he has taught in Canada and the U.S. As leader of the Inclusive Pedagogical Cluster, he advances research, global teaching, and community engagement. Author of six books and numerous articles, his work on early mother tongue literacy and second language learning has earned awards including the 2024 Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award and the UVic President’s Campus Kudos. He has presented internationally in Central America, North America, Francophone Africa, and Europe. Dr. Fall is the current President of the 51³Ô¹Ï Association of Black Professors and Academics (UVABPA). 

Courses

• FRAN 170 - Intensive French III
• FRAN 180 - Intensive French IV
• FRAN 265 - Global French Connections
• FRAN 401 - Teaching and Learning French

Selected publications

Recent Books in Press

• Fall, M., & Kane, B. (in press). Evaluating reading comprehension in Senegalese EFL classroom: Pedagogical strengths and challenges. University of Ghana Press.
  
  
• Fall, M., & Thiam, M. (in press). Entre islam et l’islam : Regard croisé sur le paysage confrérique du Sénégal. L’Harmattan 

Other Books

• Fall, M.m & Fosting . L (2015). Traditions orales Postcoloniales: Discours d'ouverture de Boubacar Boris Diop. L’Harmattan.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2014).Legacy of a Linguistic Crisis in Sunu Gaal: Freeing Senegalese Education System from the Shack;les of French Colonial Education. Lambert Academic Publishing.

Articles 

• Fall, M., & Kebe, A. (2025). Language and multilinguism in Senegal: From colonial legacies to contemporary educational issues. Revue ASTR-Ghana, 2(2), 11–24.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2025). School children at the crossfire between home literacy and school literacy in Senegal. Revue du Centre de Recherches sur la Critique Littéraire Africaine (C.R.C.L.A.), 8, 49–50.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2023). Legacy of a French colonial policy and planning: Re-assessing its impacts on the current Senegalese language policy and planning. Revue de Recherches sur la Critique Littéraire Africaine, 7, 71–88.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2023). The impacts of the “French only-policy” on reading on L2 French reading comprehension for Wolof-learners of L2 French in Senegal. Revue Internationale de Langues, Littératures et Cultures (LARAC), 27.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2022). Les variations du français oral ouest-africain: Richesse ou handicap linguistique? Groupe de Revue Littéraire et Linguistique, 30, 145–157.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2020). Leopold Sedar Senghor: The debate over a linguistic decolonization. Horizons Littéraires, 4, 1–17.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2019). Le français d’Afrique noire: Problématique d’un « héritage linguistique ». Groupe d’Études Linguistiques et Littéraires, 3, 119–131.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2018). The benefits of L1 early decoding skills in Arabic in learning L2 in French in Senegal. Groupe d’Études Linguistiques et Littéraires, 2, 229–249.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2013). From home to school: Bridging the literacy gap in L1 learners of L2 French in Senegal. Northwest Linguistics Journal, 1, 21.

Selected presentations / talks / workshops

Keynote Speaker

• Fall, M. (2025). Repenser la littératie à l'ère des mutations numériques globales : enjeux d'apprentissage et de transformation. Gaston Berger University, Senegal.

Invited Guest Speaker Talks

• Fall, M. (2025). Transmission or Transformation: Dilemma over a Pedagogical Approach in Language Classroom. Applied Linguistics Master Seminar, SLLC, 51³Ô¹Ï (UVic).
  
  
• Fall, M. (2024). Understanding Research on Literacy Education in the Context of Africa. HUM 480, 51³Ô¹Ï, Dr. Adrienne William Boyarin, Acting Humanities Associate Dean.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2023). Highlighting Black Educational Leadership. Faculty of Institute of Teaching, LTSI, 51³Ô¹Ï, under Dr. Korpan

Conference & Seminar Presentations 

• Fall, M. (2022). Cracking the Code: How to Motivate Students to Learn in Class. 51³Ô¹Ï, British Columbia.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2020). Exploring International Instructors’ Experiences and Adaptive Strategies. LTSI, 51³Ô¹Ï, BC.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2020). Media Representation, Arts & Black Identity. Panel Conference on the Canadian Strategic Plan for the Decade of People of African Descent, 51³Ô¹Ï, BC.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2020). Understanding Literacy Divide in the Context of Francophone Africa. Department of Linguistics, 51³Ô¹Ï, BC.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2019). Status of French around the Francophone World. Department of French, 51³Ô¹Ï.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2017). Le rôle de la langue maternelle dans l’apprentissage d’une langue. Department of French and Francophone Studies, 51³Ô¹Ï, BC.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2015). From Home to School: Bridging the Literacy Gap in L1-Wolof Learners of L2 French in Senegal. Department of French, University of Connecticut (U.S.).
  
  
• Fall, M. (2013). Teachers’ Sensitivity to Students’ Learning. Universidad Nacional de El Salvador, Central America.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2013). L’éducation occidentale de Samba Diallo dans l’aventure Ambiguë de Cheikh Hamidou Kane. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2013). World Day Peace and Africa. Douglas College, Vancouver, BC

Workshops Led 

• Fall, M. (2020). 
  The Do’s and Don’ts of Teaching in a Foreign Language Classroom.
  Department of French and Francophone Studies, 51³Ô¹Ï.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2019).
  Cracking the Code: How to Motivate Students to Learn.
  LTSI, 51³Ô¹Ï.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2018).
  Techniques et Méthodes dans l’enseignement d’une langue seconde.
  Département de français et études francophones, 51³Ô¹Ï.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2018).
  Ce qu’il faut comprendre de l’évaluation : trois mots-clés.
  Département de français et études francophones, 51³Ô¹Ï.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2017).
  Trouver les bons codes : comment motiver les étudiants à apprendre dans un cours de Labo.
  Département de français et études francophones, 51³Ô¹Ï.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2016).
  Understanding Assessments: Design, Purpose and Outcomes. 
  Department of French, University of Calgary.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2016). 
  Effective Methods of Teaching in a Foreign Language Classroom. 
  Department of French and Francophone Studies, 51³Ô¹Ï.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2013).
  Teacher-centered versus student-centered learning: The dilemma over a Teaching Approach. 
  Department of French, University of British Columbia.
  
  
• Fall, M. (2012).
  Getting Ready with your Teaching Portfolio. 
  Department of French and Francophone Studies, University of British Columbia.

Current research projects

Moustapha Fall is working on two major projects related to teaching and learning. The first, with Dr. John Archibald, studies Wolof multilingualism by examining people who speak more than three languages. The second, Fall's individual project, investigates how heart-centered (emotionally empathetic) teaching impacts student motivation in language classes. This large-scale, longitudinal study gathers data from instructors and students at several Canadian universities to understand their views on this approach.