
Dr. Valia Spiliotopoulos
Biography
Dr. Valia Spiliotopoulos is a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Department of Language and Literacy Education, and Academic Coordinator of the French specialization in the Bachelor of Education program in the Faculty of Education at UBC. Her research examines how content-based language learning approaches, language assessment, intercultural education, and language policy can impact bi/multilingualism and academic success. Her teaching and program development in the Bachelor of Education program and at the graduate level focus on both French and English language learning methodology and theory. Valia also has extensive experience in leading projects related to the assessment of learning for accreditation, curriculum redesign, and faculty development in educational technology at the university level.
Valia completed a B.A. and B.Ed. at UBC, an M.A. at Laval University, and a PhD at UBC. Prior to her current role, she was an Associate Professor of Professional Practice at Simon Fraser University where she assumed a variety of educational leadership roles; she was the Coordinator of the graduate, in-service teacher education program, and Director of the former Centre for English Language Learning, Teaching, and Research. She has also served as the Associate Director of the Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation unit at the University of Victoria, and was a Lecturer at the University of Toronto’s Graduate Centre for Academic Communication (formerly the Office of English Language and Writing Support).
Projects
Applicant: Drs. Stephanie Arnott, Mimi Masson (U of Ottawa)
Co-investigator(s): Dr. Meike Wernicke (LLED), Dr. Valia Spiliotopoulos (LLED), Drs. Paula Kristmanson, Joseph Dicks, Karla Culligan, Josée LeBouthillier (U of New Brunswick)
Project objective(s): Examine present practices and standards in Canadian K-12 French as a second language (FSL) education with a focus on initial teacher education and identifying strengths, challenges and opportunities regarding FSL teacher preparation, mentorship and retention.
Granting Agency: SFU CELLTR, $11,200
Principal Investigator. Roumi Ilieva; Co-investigator: V. Spiliotopoulos
Granting Agency: BC Ministry of Education, $30,000 granted
Co-Principal Investigators: Cecile Sabatier and Valia Spiliotopoulos
Granting Agency & Amount: UBC Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund Grant, $34,500 granted
Co-Principal Investigators: Valia Spiliotopoulos & David Silver
Granting Agency & Amount: UBC Teaching and Learning Enhancement Grant, $22, 000 granted
Principal Investigator: Valia Spiliotopoulos; Co-Investigators: Kirk Kristofferson, Carson Woo, David Silver, Thomas Allard
Granting Agency & Amount: BC Campus Program Development Fund, $12,000 granted
Principal Investigator: Valia Spiliotopoulos; Co-Investigator: Scott Gerrity
Granting Agency & Amount: UVic Learning & Teaching Development Grant, $14,000 granted
Principal Investigator – Gweneth Doane; Co-Investigators: Teresa Dawson, Cynthia Korpan, Valia Spiliotopoulos
Selected Publications
Journal Articles and Chapters






Spiliotopoulos, V. (2011). Towards a technology-enhanced university education. In A. Kitchenham (Ed.). Blended Learning across Disciplines: Models for Implementation. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Abraham, N. & Spiliotopoulos, V. (2009). From periphery to participation: Examining Post-secondary students’ online communication in a collaborative writing project using wikis. Readings in Education and Technology, pp. 152 – 164.
Bournot-Trites, M., Belliveau, G., Spiliotopoulos, V. Seror, J. (2007). The role of drama on cultural sensitivity, motivation, and literacy in a second language context. Journal of Learning through the Arts. 3.1, 35 pages.
Spiliotopoulos, V. & Carey, S. (2005). Investigating the role of identity in L2 writing using electronic discussion boards. Canadian Modern Language Review, 62 (1), 87 – 109.
Spiliotopoulos, V. (2003). Developing multiliteracy in adult ESL learners using on-line forums. International Journal of Humanities, 1, 1 – 15.
Spiliotopoulos, V. (2003), Fostering interactive academic writing using electronic bulletin boards. Contact: Special Research Symposium Issue, 29 (2), 48 – 68.
Research Reports
Sabatier, C., Spiliotopoulos, V, Léger, R. & Pajot, D. (2017). French as a second language and British Columbia’s second language education policy. Research report submitted to B.C. Ministry of Education.
Sabatier, C., Spiliotopoulos, V. & Pajot, D. (2016). Programmes de Français langue seconde: Examen des politiques linguistiques éducatives pan-canadiennes. Research report submitted to the BC Ministry of Education.