​Aya is an Okinawan-Japanese Canadian from the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations (Vancouver), currently working and residing in Tiohtià:ke (Montreal). She received a BA in Linguistics from Simon Fraser University and is a new PhD student in Applied Linguistics at Concordia University, under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Burton. Her research focuses on heritage language maintenance, critical policy analysis, and the complex relationships between language and power. Aya is on a lifelong journey to learn Japanese and Uchinaaguchi and support the vitality of minoritized languages in Canada. In her free time, Aya enjoys hosting dinner parties and indulging her creative spirit through textile arts, cooking, and writing.

Projects

• Discrimination in academic settings at Canadian universities
• Addressing social-justice approaches to diversity through the lens of emotions with critical multilingual language awareness among pre-service ESL teachers

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

1. Burton, J. & Halliday, A. C. (under review). Identity ecologies of pre-service ESL teachers in Québec: Translanguaging practices and the politics of belonging. Journal of Language, Identity & Education.
   
   

Blog Posts

1. Halliday, A. C. (September 2025). Being seen and belonging: Reflections from a summer of 茶道 [Web blog post on belonging, identity, language, diversity (BILD) research group].
2. Halliday, A. C. ​(June 2024). I know Tea, but not my ABCs: Exploring ceremony and ritual in heritage language maintenance [Web blog post on belonging, identity, language, diversity (BILD) research group]. 

PRESENTATIONS

Conference Presentations

1. Halliday, A. C., & Burton, J. (2026, March). Challenging Disciplinary Boundaries in ESL Teacher Education Through Anti-Racist Translanguaging Practices [Conference Presentation]. American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL) Conference. Chicago, United States.
   
2. Halliday, A. C. (2026, February). Speaking Right: Raciolinguistic Ideologies and Linguistic Labour in Higher Education [Invited Works in Progress Session Presentation]. Concordia University JoyLab, Montreal, Canada.
   
3. Halliday, A. C., Burton, J., & McDonough, K. (2025, June). Examining Linguistic Discrimination in Higher Education: Centering Student Experiences [Conference Presentation]. Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics (CAAL) Conference. Toronto, Canada.
   
4. Halliday, A. C., Burton, J., & McDonough, K. (2025, April). Preparing Teachers for Diversity: Addressing Microaggressions in [Second] Language Classrooms [Conference Presentation]. Canadian Association for Second Language Teachers (CASLT) Conference: Languages Without Borders. Montreal, Canada.
   
5. Halliday, A. C. (2025, March). Exploring Informal Language Education Through the Japanese Tea Ceremony. [Conference Presentation]. Graduate Student Symposium of the Department of Education (GSDE) [Winner of the People’s Choice Award]. Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
   
6. Halliday, A., & Lu, L. (2024, March). Exploring accent hierarchy: Student perceptions of English teachers in Montreal. The Education Graduate Students' Society (EGSS) Conference 2024. McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

GRANTS, awards and scholarships

​​Awards

• 2026 Outstanding Engagement Recognition Award, Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance

​Scholarships

• Concordia University Faculty of Arts and Science Graduate Fellowship

Lab Members