Dr. Robert Bianchi

Dr. Robert Bianchi is an Associate Professor of English at VCUarts Qatar, where he has taught courses in composition, literature, linguistics, and religion since 2011. His research interests include online learning, religiolinguistics, code-switching, language and identity, and corpus-based discourse analysis. His doctoral work in applied linguistics at Lancaster University explored the vitality of 3arabizi as a vehicle for vernacular literacy. Robert has studied fifteen languages to varying levels of mastery and enjoys translating Classical Arabic and Farsi religious texts into English.

Robert began his career in K–12 and Special Education in his native Canada in the early 1990s before transitioning into ESL/EFL and teaching in Japan from 1997 to 1998. He then returned to Canada, where he earned an MA in TESL at York University. In 2000, Robert moved abroad again to teach in Oman, followed by the UAE. In 2006, he relocated to Qatar, serving as Faculty Developer (EFL) at the College of the North Atlantic–Qatar (now the University of Doha for Science & Technology).

A writer and podcaster, Robert explores the intersections of language, culture, and spirituality. His Relearning to Learn podcast—co-hosted with Dr. Akintunde Akinade of Georgetown, Dr. Muhammad Modassir Ali of HBKU, and Aia Zaina, a VCU alumna—reimagines education through learner agency and purpose. His Roots of Being podcast explores themes of self-discovery through the lenses of systems theory, language, and spirituality.