Okim Kang
Assistant Professor, Applied Linguistics
Office: BAA (Bldg 23) Room 325
(928) 523-2059
okim.kang@nau.edu
OKIM KANG, Ph.D. (University of Georgia 2008)
Assistant Professor, Applied Linguistics
Special Interests: Speech Perception, L2 Pronunciation, L2 Oral Assessment and Testing, World Englishes, Language Attitude, & Second Language Acquisition
Education:
- Ph.D., 2008. University of Georgia, Athens, GA
- M.A., 2003, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Recent Publications/Presentations:
- Kang, O., Rubin, D., Pickering, L. (In press). Suprasegmental measures of accentedness and judgments of English language learner proficiency in oral English, Modern Language Journal.
- 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.
- Kang, O. (2009). ESL Learners’ attitudes toward pronunciation instruction and varieties of English. The Conference of Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching/the Technology for Second Language Learning, Iowa State University, Ames, IA.
- Kang, O. (2009). Impact of prosodic characteristics of accented English on ratings of L2 oral performance. American Association for Applied Linguistics, Denver, Colorado.
- Kang, O., & Rubin, D. (2009, March). Using contact theory to improve US undergraduates' attitudes toward ITAs. Academic Session, Teachers of English to Speakers to Other Languages Convention, Denver, Colorado.
- Kang, O. & Rubin, D. (2008). “Intra-rater reliability of oral proficiency rating”. The East Coast Organization of Language Testers, Washington D.C.
- Kang, O. & Rubin, D. (2008). “Reverse linguistic stereotyping: Measuring the effect of listener expectations on speech evaluation”. International Association of Language and Social Psychology, Tucson, AZ.
Selected Grants :
- Educational Testing Service (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
Professional service:
- Consultant & External Reviewer, Listening and Reading Test Development, U.S. Defense Language Institute.