Saeed Karimi Aghdam Ordaklou
Saeed Karimi-Aghdam, PhD
Professor of English Applied Linguistics and Didactics
Faculty of Education and Arts, Nord University
Saeed Karimi-Aghdam is Professor of English Applied Linguistics and Didactics at Nord University. He holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics (Second Language Acquisition) from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. His scholarship is situated at the intersection of applied linguistics, second language acquisition, educational psychology, and English didactics, with a sustained focus on theory-driven and socially grounded approaches to language development.
His research draws on Vygotskian sociocultural theory and dynamic systems theory to examine second language development as a historically situated, socially mediated, and process-oriented phenomenon. His work addresses foundational theoretical and methodological questions in applied linguistics and contributes to ongoing dialogue between psychological theory, philosophy of science, and language education. He has published in leading international journals, including Human Development, Written Communication, Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, and Applied Linguistics.
Professor Karimi-Aghdam teaches courses in English didactics, second language acquisition, English teaching methodology, and research methods at undergraduate and graduate levels. His teaching is closely integrated with his research and emphasizes conceptual clarity, theoretical rigor, and relevance to educational practice.
He serves on the editorial boards of Language and Sociocultural Theory and the Journal of Applied Linguistics and Applied Literature: Dynamics and Advances, regularly reviews for international journals, and presents his work at major international conferences. His academic career spans universities in Iran, Finland, and Norway, and he has delivered invited lectures and talks across Europe, North America, and West Asia.
His current work includes research on second language motivation in Nordic educational contexts, theoretical analyses of mixed-methods research in applied linguistics, and collaborative projects in English didactics. His broader academic agenda is to advance conceptually rigorous and socially informed research that bridges theory, methodology, and educational practice.
Professor Karimi-Aghdam’s teaching is research-informed and grounded in his work in applied linguistics, TESOL, and English didactics. He holds professional teaching certifications and has supervised MA students, co-supervises a doctoral project, and has examined MA and PhD theses. His pedagogical expertise is supported by advanced training in university pedagogy, teacher education, professorial development, and doctoral supervision. He has also delivered guest lectures and invited talks internationally.
Professor Karimi-Aghdam’s research is situated in applied linguistics and second language acquisition and engages closely with Vygotskian sociocultural theory, dynamic systems theory, and English didactics/TESOL. His work addresses theoretical and methodological questions concerning language development, drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from psychology and philosophy of science. He has published in leading international journals, including Human Development, Written Communication, Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, and Applied Linguistics. He serves on the editorial boards of Language and Sociocultural Theory and the Journal of Applied Linguistics and Applied Literature: Dynamics and Advances, regularly reviews for international journals, and presents his research at major international conferences.