Okim Kang, PhD  

Okim Kang, Ph.D. (University of Georgia 2008) 
Assistant Professor, Applied Linguistics
Office: BAA (Bldg 23) Room 316
(928) 523-2059
okim.kang@nau.edu

Special interests

Speech Production & Perception, L2 Pronunciation & Intelligibility, L2 Oral Assessment and Testing, Automated Scoring & Speech Recognition, World Englishes, Language Attitude, Language Learning Outcome Assessment, and Second Language Acquisition

Education

• Ph.D., 2008. University of Georgia, Athens, GA
• M.A., 2003, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Selected Recent publications 

Kang, O. (invited). Enhancing communication between undergraduate students and International teaching assistants. Studies in Graduate and Professional Student Development.

Kang, O. (invited, accepted). Narrative review: The effectiveness of L2 pronunciation instruction. Applied Linguistics.

Kang, O. (May, 2013). Linguistic analysis of speaking features distinguishing general English exams at CEFR levels B1 to C2 and examinee L1 backgrounds. Research Notes.

Tracey, D., Fraser, H., Kang, O., & Thompson, R. (forthcoming). Accent and ethics: Issues that merit attention. In A. Mahboob and L. Barratt (Eds.), English in a multilingual context.

Kang, O., & Rubin, D. (in press). Reverse linguistic stereotyping. In J. Levis and A. Moyer (Eds.), Social influence in L2 pronunciation:  Trends in Applied Linguistics.

Kang, O., & Pickering, L. (2013). Using acoustic and temporal analysis for assessing speaking. In A. Kunnan (Ed.), Companion to Language Assessment (pp.1047-1062). Wiley-Blackwell.

Kang, O. (2012). Impact of rater characteristics on ratings of international teaching assistants’ oral performance. Language Assessment Quarterly, 9, 249-269.

Kang, O, & Rubin, D. (2012). Intra-rater reliability of oral proficiency ratings. Journal of Educational and Psychological Assessment, 12, 43-61.

Kang, O.. & Rubin, D. (2012). Inter-group contact exercises as a tool for mitigating undergraduates’ attitudes toward ITAs. Journal of Excellence in College Teaching, 23 (3), 159-166.

Kang, O. (2011). ESL students’ perceptions of pronunciation instruction in inner circle countries.  New Zealand Studies in Applied Linguistics, 17, 99-106.

Kang, O., & Pickering, L. (2011). The role of objective measures of suprasegmental features in judgments of comprehensibility and oral proficiency in L2 spoken discourse. Speak Out, 44, 4-8.

Kang, O., Rubin, D., Pickering, L. (2010). Suprasegmental measures of accentedness and judgments of English language learner proficiency in oral English, Modern Language Journal, 94, 554-566.

Kang, O. (2010). ESL Learners’ attitudes toward pronunciation instruction and varieties of English. In J. Levis & K. LeVelle (Eds.), Proceedings of the 1^st Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching (pp. 105-118). Ames, IA: Iowa State University.

Kang, O. (2010). Salient prosodic features on judgments of second language accent. Speech Prosody.http://speechprosody2010.illinois.edu/papers/100016.pdf

Kang, O. (2010). Relative salience of suprasegmental features on judgments of L2 comprehensibility and accentedness. System, 38, 301-315.

Kang, O., & Rubin, D. (2009). Reverse linguistic stereotyping: Measuring the effect of listener expectations on speech evaluation. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 28, 441-456.

Kang, O. (2008). The effect of rater background characteristics on the rating of International Teaching Assistants Speaking Proficiency. Spaan Fellow Working Papers, 6, 181-205.

Rubin, D., & Kang, O. (2008). Writing to speak: What goes on across the two way street. In  D. Belcher, D., and A. Hirvela, (Eds.), The oral/literate connection: Perspectives on L2 speaking/writing connections. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. 

Selected Recent Presentations

Kang, O. (2013). English learners’ pronunciation gains in the ESL context. New Sounds, Montreal, Canada. 

Kang, O., & Wang, L. (2013).  Linguistic features that distinguish examinees’ proficiency levels. American Association for Applied Linguistics, Dallas, Texas.

Kang, O. (2013). Pronunciation Research and Practice in EFL Contexts. TESOL 2013 Intersection (SPLIS, EFL, NNEST). TESOL Convention, Dallas, TX. 

Kang, O., & Staples, S. (2013). Recent Research Regarding ITAs: The Dynamics of Interaction.ITA Academic Session. TESOL Convention, Dallas, TX.

Kang, O. (2012). Communication Enhancement Through Prejudice Reduction Between ITAs and Undergraduate Students, ITA Colloquium, American Association for Applied Linguistics, Boston, MA.

Kang, O. (2012). Pronunciation features distinguishing examinees’ performance at different proficiency levels. Pronunciation Second Language Learning and Teaching. Vancouver, Canada.

Kang, O., & Nicodemus, C. (2012). Students’ individual characteristics that predict success in studying languages abroad. American Educational Research Association (AERA), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 

Kang, O., & Staples, S. (2012). Impact of collaborative project-based intercultural interaction. TESOL Convention, Philadelphia. 

Kang O., (2011). Perceptual Judgments of Accent by Native Speakers and Non-native Speakers of English. Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching. Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

Kang, O. (2011). Communication Enhancement with L2 Speakers through Attitude Changes. Presidential plenary, “L2 Accent and Ethics: Issues That Merit Concern” with Tracey Derwing, Helen Fraser, and Ron Thompson. TESOL Convention, New Orleans, NJ.

Kang, O. (2011). Learners’ perception toward pronunciation instruction and varieties of World Englishes.  AAAL, Chicago, IL. 

Selected External Grants

Cambridge ESOL Funded Research Program (2013).Impact of Different Task Types on Candidates’ Speaking Performances and Interactive Features that Distinguish between CEFR Levels.

TOEFL Board Grants, ETS (2011-2012). Thresholds of second language study for oversea immersion.

Cambridge ESOL Funded Research Program (2011-2012). Linguistic Analysis of Speaking Features Distinguishing General English Exams at CEFR levels B1 to C2 and Examinee L1 Backgrounds.

TOEFL Board Grants, ETS (2010-2011). Students’ individual characteristics that predict success in studying languages abroad.

TOEFL COE Grants, ETS (2006-2007) with Don Rubin and Lucy Pickering. Relative Impact of Rater Intercultural and Language Background, Rater Language Attitudes, Rater Training, and Measurable Elements of Pronunciation on TOEFL iBT Speaking Proficiency Scoring.

Spaan Fellowship Fund: Second & Foreign Language Assessment (2006). International Teaching Assistants (ITA) Speaking Proficiency. 

Recipient of “Most Promising New Scholar at NAU” 2012 award.