Muhammad Ali Khan (PhD Linguistics, 2013) tells how his time at Lancaster shaped his future and began his career in the United States teaching English, academic writing and linguistics to a diverse range of students.

"When I arrived at Lancaster University on January 1, 2009, to begin my PhD in Linguistics, I knew I had found a place that would shape my future. I had completed two master’s degrees in English Language and Linguistics in Pakistan, but it was Lancaster’s reputation for excellence in sociolinguistics and applied linguistics that drew me in—especially the ground breaking work of Mark Sebba, whose book Spelling and Society first caught my attention.

My PhD focused on language policy, identity, and migration—topics that mirrored my own experience as a multilingual speaker raised in complex linguistic landscapes. Through rigorous training in discourse analysis, ethnographic methods and language education theory, Lancaster equipped me with the analytical and practical tools I would carry across continents.

I was fortunate to be mentored by some of Lancaster’s most distinguished scholars—Mark Sebba, Geoffrey Leech (late), David Barton (late), Alan Waters (late), Paul Chilton, Norman Fairclough, and Jane Sunderland. Their generosity, sharp thinking, and belief in socially engaged research shaped not only my scholarship, but also my teaching and leadership.

After completing my PhD, I moved to the United States and joined the Community College of Philadelphia. There, I taught English, academic writing, and linguistics to a diverse group of students, many of whom were first-generation college learners and multilingual speakers themselves. My training at Lancaster helped me foster a classroom environment grounded in critical thinking and inclusion.

In 2020, I began a two-year appointment as a Virtual Educator with ENS University of Antananarivo in Madagascar. I led curriculum reform in teacher education, taught undergraduate linguistics courses, and supervised PhD research. This role allowed me to apply my Lancaster experience in a Francophone African context, balancing academic rigour with local realities.

In 2023, I collaborated with Saudi Aramco on a professional development project to enhance communication and leadership skills for industrial workers—a unique opportunity to bring applied linguistics into a corporate multilingual environment.

Most recently, I was awarded a second Fulbright in 2024–2025 as a Scholar to Algeria, where I teach Sociolinguistics and English for Specific Purposes at Badji Mokhtar University. I also lead the university’s transition to English-medium instruction (EMI), training faculty across disciplines to design and deliver content in English. These efforts have been deeply informed by my doctoral research and Lancaster’s emphasis on language as social practice.

In February 2025, I had the honour of participating in the Silver Jubilee of International Mother Language Day at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. It was an unforgettable experience, where I had deep and inspiring conversations with scholars, diplomats, and educators from across the globe. We exchanged ideas on the challenges and opportunities of multilingual education, language rights, and mother-tongue policy in diverse socio-political contexts. That day reinforced the global relevance of the work I began at Lancaster.

Throughout this journey, Lancaster has remained a touchstone. The University instilled in me a commitment to intellectual integrity, collaborative inquiry, and social responsibility. I remain active in international networks such as TESOL, AAAL, and IATEFL, contributing to conversations on EMI, teacher development, and language policy.

I am writing this piece from Lancaster’s central library, just across from University House. I’ve returned to visit my supervisor Mark Sebba and to reconnect with the place that shaped who I am. Over breakfast with Mark and his wife Sharon, I said to him, “You changed my life.” He responded, “You did everything.” That moment reminded me of what makes Lancaster special—not only its research excellence, but the care and dedication of its people."