Connections. A journal for Foreign Language Educators

is a publication by the Foreign Language Association of Northern California

Connections

A Journal for Foreign Language Educators 

ISSN Online: 1945-0478 

ISSN Print: 1945-046X

Contributors

SECTION ONE: RESEARCH

José Franco. Mr. Franco is a teacher of multilingual learners in Lexington School District 4, South Carolina, and a doctoral student in Educational Technology at Universidad Da Vinci (UDAVINCI) in Mexico City, Mexico. His research interests include students with interrupted formal education (SIFE), migration, and language-teaching technologies. He is active in TESOL International Association as Member-at-Large of the PK–12 Interest Section and serves as an editor for the Korea TESOL Journal.

Franco, José. Becoming through Migration: Identity Assemblage and Multilingual Affinities of a Migrant Teacher, Lexington School District Four, South Carolina, USA

Chin-Sook Pak, PhD. Dr. Pak is an Associate Professor of Spanish at Ball State University. Her research and teaching interests focus on community engagement for students of Spanish. She is the recipient of the Outstanding Scholarship Publication Award by AATSP and numerous teaching awards.  Email:cpak@bsu.edu

Marie-Line Brunet, PhD. Dr. Brunet is an Associate Professor of French at Ball State University. She specializes in French and Francophone Studies with a focus on 20th and 21st century Literature & Cinema. Her research focuses on the interplay between cinema and literature, migration, Renoir studies, and pedagogy. Email: mbrunet@bsu.edu

Pak, Chin-Sook & Marie-Line Brunet. Textbook Affordability Matters: World Language Faculty Perspectives on Open Educational Resources (OER) Implementation and Challenges, Ball State University

Sun Young Park, EdD. Dr. Park is an Associate Professor at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California. She has over twenty years of experience in teacher training, Korean language instruction, and faculty development in higher education. Her research interests include teacher efficacy, professional development, and motivation. Email: sun.young.park@dliflc.edu

Kara Mac Donald, EdD. Dr. Mac Donald is an independent instructor serving foreign language and English language learners. She has over twenty years of experience in language teaching, teacher training, and faculty development across K–12 and higher education. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and TESOL and a doctorate in Applied Linguistics.

Park, Sun Young & Kara Mac Donald. The Use of Authentic Materials in World Language Learning and Teaching, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

SECTION TWO: EXPLORATION

Mahmoud Altalouli, PhD. Dr. Altalouli is a TESOL and bilingual education specialist at the State University of New York, Brockport. His research focuses on multilingual literacy, the reading–writing connection, and the integration of AI in higher education, with a current emphasis on faculty perspectives and ethical implementation.
Email: maltalouli@brockport.edu

Altalouli Mahmoud. A Model for AI Use in Reading and Writing Tasks, University of New York, Brockport

Leslie Sherwood, EdD Candidate. Ms. Sherwood is a doctoral student in Curriculum & Instruction, specializing in Language, Diversity, and Literacy Studies. With a background in TESOL, she teaches academic communication skills for both resident and non-resident university students. Her research interests include AI literacy, multilingualism, social belonging, and public speaking. Email: lessherw@ttu.edu

Sherwood, Leslie. Decolonizing Second Language Writing. Texas Tech University

Jean Young Chun, PhD. Dr. Chun is an assessment specialist in the Curriculum Development Division at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) in Monterey, California. Her research interests include second language assessment and AI integration in language instruction and testing.
Email: jeanyoung.chun@dliflc.edu

Sonia Perchaud. Ms. Perchaud is a curriculum specialist in the Curriculum Development Division at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California. Her research interests include pedagogical material development, second language acquisition, and instructional design.
Email: sonia.perchaud@dliflc.edu

Chun, Jean Young & Sonia Perchaud. Enhancing Language Accuracy and Fluency through AI-Integrated Classroom Instruction, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

Svetlana Davidek, MA. Ms. Davidek is a bilingual education specialist at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, specializing in critical discourse analysis and its applications in intensive language instruction. Her interests include differentiated instruction for diverse learners. Email: svetlana.a.davidek@dliflc.edu

Mariya (Masha) B. Serttunç, MA
Ms. Serttunç has taught in the Russian program at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Her work focuses on learning support services and faculty development in intensive language environments. Email: mariya.serttunc@dliflc.edu

Davidek, Svetlana & Mariya Serttunc. Beyond Grades: The Power of Ungrading in Language Learning, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

Midori Ishida, PhD. Dr. Ishida is an Associate Professor in the Department of World Languages and Literatures at San José State University. Her research focuses on discourse, pragmatics, and second language acquisition. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5908-4024 Email: midori.ishida@sjsu.edu

Ishida, Midori. Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) for Creating One-person Comedic Storytelling in L2, San José State University

Saadet Ebru Ergul. Ms. Ergul is Coordinator of the Special Languages Program and Lecturer at Stanford University in Stanford, California.

Alice Miano, PhD. Dr. Miano is Coordinator of the Spanish Language Program and Advanced Lecturer at Stanford University in Stanford, California. Email: alimiano@stanford.edu

Lyris Wiedemann, PhD. Dr. Wiedemann is Coordinator of the Portuguese Language Program and Senior Lecturer at Stanford University in Stanford, California.

Ergul, Saadet Ebru, Alice Miano & Lyris Wiedeman. Three Approaches to Interculturality: Collaboration, Technology, and Community, Stanford University

Tanya de Hoyos, EdD. Dr. de Hoyos serves as Spanish Team Leader at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Her work centers on active listening strategies to improve communication and learning outcomes in diverse educational settings. Email: tttdehoyos@yahoo.com

Ivanisa Ferrer, EdD. Dr. Ferrer is Chairperson of Continuing Education at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Her current research interests include transformative learning, self-discipline, and effective teaching with technology. Email: ivanisa.ferrer@yahoo.com

De Hoyos, Tanya & Ivanisa Ferrer. The Interplay of Pragmatic and Linguistic Competence: A Lifelong Process of Language Mastery, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

Ying Amatya, EdD. Dr. Amatya is a professor of Chinese at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Her research interests include curriculum design, language immersion, and technology-integrated language instruction. Email: ying.amatya@dliflc.edu

Amatya, Ying. Enhancing Mandarin Chinese Listening: Overcoming Homophone Challenges by Bridging Instruction and Technology, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

Kara Mac Donald, EdD. Dr. Mac Donald is an independent instructor serving foreign language and English language learners. She has over twenty years of experience in language teaching, teacher training, and faculty development across K–12 and higher education. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and TESOL and a doctorate in Applied Linguistics.

Mac Donald, Kara. A Relationships-based Model for One-on-One Tutoring, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

SECTION THREE: BOOK REVIEW

Lisa Fischler, PhD. Dr. Fischler is an academic support specialist at Hartnell College in Salinas, CA. She holds a Ph.D. in political science and an MA in TESOL. She has been a tenured college professor for more than 20 years.

Reviewed by Lisa Fischler. Practical Language Testing, (2025), 343 pages, ISBN 978-1-032-44728-5

Michelle Omidi, EdD. Dr. Omidi serves as Chairperson at Continuing Education in the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Her research interests include educational psychology and instructional technology.

Ivanisa Ferrer, EdD. Dr. Ferrer is Chairperson of Continuing Education at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Her current research interests include transformative learning, self-discipline, and effective teaching with technology. Email: ivanisa.ferrer@yahoo.com

Reviewed by Michelle Omidi and Ivanisa Ferrer. The Power of Language: How the Codes We Use to Think, Speak, and Live Transform Our Minds (2023), 288 pages, ISBN ‎0593187075

Liza E. Martinez, EdD. Dr. Martinez is Professor of English as a Second Language at Arizona Western College. Her professional interests include English language teaching, faculty development, and educational leadership. Email: Liza.Martinez@azwestern.edu

Reviewed by Liza E. Martinez. Serving the Academic, Social, and Emotional Needs of Multicultural Newcomers (2025), 122 pages, ISBN 9780472039883