Second Language Studies is delighted to welcome Ms. Nai Yi “Nerry” Htoon from Myanmar! Ms. Htoon is a virtual fellow in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP), a program of the U.S. Department of State that runs from March 16-April 10, 2026. SLS serves as her institutional fellowship host. Along with an MA in English from Yangon University of Foreign Languages, Nerry also has earned a CELTA certificate and is a candidate for a DELTA certificate. She serves as the Training, Development and Recruitment Director at International House Yangon-Mandalay, where she focuses on hiring, professional development, and well-being of the school’s teachers. She also is the Academic Head of the English Language Program at the American Center Yangon (a nonprofit program run by the U.S. Embassy), teaching exam preparation classes and conducting voluntary community teacher training programs for teachers and monk teachers in remote areas of the country. In her fellowship, Nerry is especially interested in learning more about current American practices in second language pedagogy along with expanding her knowledge related to teacher development and support. She will be working directly with Kenny Harsch (serving as fellowship host for SLS). She hopes to talk with faculty and program directors who have similar interests, and to find a project that allows SLS to tap into her knowledge and experience.

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For more information and to apply, please follow this link:

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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of PhD Candidate Rickey Larkin, Jr. The text below, , also includes a guestbook if you would like to leave any memories for his family:

Rickey was a remarkably intelligent and compassionate soul whose life was marked by deep curiosity and a thoughtful spirit. He was a PhD candidate (ABD) in the Department of Second Language Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where he was writing his dissertation on language policy in the Philippines. Nearing completion of his degree, Rickey’s work reflected his passion for language, communication, and the power of words to bridge cultures and connect people.

Rickey loved to write—not just academically, but personally—as a way to reflect, communicate, and build understanding. His intellect was matched by his empathy, and his presence left a meaningful impact on everyone who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to:

1. Rickey’s family, with all donations going directly to Rickey’s memorial service. The following link can be used to donate directly to his sister, Amberly:
2. The department’s SLS Enrichment Fund. Donations will be used to support students whose work aligns with Rickey’s research passions. Please give or give via check made payable to “University of Hawaii Foundation” and indicate the gift is to support the SLS Enrichment Fund 121-4590-4.

If giving to either cause, please indicate that the donation is “in memory of Rickey Larkin, Jr.”

The family also wishes to invite you to his memorial service in Ohio:

Date/Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 12:00–4:00 PM
Location: Michael J. Colligan Lodge, Veterans Park, 20 New London Road, Hamilton, OH 45013

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On May 15, 2020, the Second Language Studies Student Association (SLSSA) hosted a virtual Graduation Cooler recognizing the Spring and Summer 2020 MA, AGC, and PhD graduates.

Here is the list of the Spring 2020 graduates:
MA
– Jarrid Baldwin
– Kiyoko Newsham
– Leeseul Park
– Moe Steinmueller
– Mie Watanabe Tobias
– Tian Wang
– Shiori Yamauchi

AGC
– Fátima Gatón
– Hoa Thi Nguyen

PhD
– Haerim Hwang
– Anna Mendoza
– Lin Zhou

Games and activities as well as an eCard for every graduate were organized by SLSSA. Congratulations to all our Spring and Summer 2020 graduates!

Please visit this post again later in the summer to view the names of the Summer 2020 graduates.

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Bethany Schwartz and Fred Zenker, both PhD students in SLS, have been awarded the Language Learning Dissertation Grant. Bethany will use her $2,000 grant for data collection in Wai‘anae for her dissertation entitled “Patterns and Effects of Style-Shifting in Pidgin (Hawai‘i Creole) Speaking Children”, while Fred will use his $2,000 grant for summer data collection in Korea for his dissertation titled “Resumptive Pronouns in Second Language Production, Comprehension, and Processing.” Congratulations, Bethany and Fred!

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Fall 2019 graduate Les Black has been hired at as an Assistant Professor specializing in English Language Teaching starting April 1st, 2020.

Congratulations!

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The SLS Brown Bag Lecture Series on November 14th, 2019 featured the Mānoa campus’ first ever “BAM” (Bachelor’s & Master’s) Pathway experience & feedback presentation hosted by current MA students Victoria Lee and Magdalena Petko. The lecture was formatted to explain the BA/MA pathway in the SLS Department, as well as allow for the current and former cohorts to share their perspectives in navigating the 10-11 semester program. Presentation materials included an informal survey of the first cohort on their experiences, as well as a survey of faculty members’ perspective in teaching classes with BAM Pathway students.

The is a program that allows students to take certain classes in their fourth year to count both towards a BA and an MA, accelerating their graduate studies by up to a year and allowing students to graduate with both their BA & MA in five years.

Program Officer Wendy Pearson (Office of the Provost) praised the SLS Department and the BAM Pathway students for their pioneering efforts. Pearson mentioned this is the first direct feedback she has heard from a BAM Pathway program, and appreciated the advice both to students and faculty in their presentation.

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The webinar took place on November 1, 2016, and its recording is now publicly available:

Title: Theorizing Your Practice: Action Research in L2 Writing
Facilitator: Dr. Betsy Gilliland, Assistant Professor of Second Language Studies, University of Hawai‘i
Description:
As writing teachers, we may sometimes feel like published research does not understand the realities of our classrooms. A promising activity reported in a journal article seems impossible to enact under the actual circumstances of our workplaces. At the same time, we don’t feel like we have the time or know-how to conduct research on our own.
This is where action research comes into play. In an action research study, teachers ARE the researchers, selecting the focus and methods of a study and analyzing data from their deep knowledge of their own classrooms. Action research can be done within the busy schedules of most writing teachers and can further allow teachers to create their own professional development in ways that meet their actual needs.
In this online session, I will give a short introduction to the concepts of action research in language teaching and then facilitate an interactive discussion among participants around key questions about action research. We will share ideas for conducting research, forming research groups for peer support, finding research mentors, and sharing research findings, among other topics.

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