Karen Lichtman
Department of Romance Languages & Literatures
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Linguistics Program
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Binghamton University
Emails klichtman@gmail.com
klichtman@binghamton.edu
Location Binghamton, NY
ABOUT
I moved to Binghamton University in 2024, after teaching at Northern Illinois University for ten years. I am teaching in the Linguistics Program and the Department of Romance Languages & Literatures.
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At NIU, I was an associate professor of Spanish Linguistics in the Department of World Languages and Cultures and the director of World Language Educator Licensure.
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My research focuses on instructed second language acquisition . Specifically, I look at the interaction between learner-internal factors, such as age, and learner-external factors, such as amount of language exposure and type of instruction, as learners acquire second language morphosyntax and phonology.
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
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Teaching: beginning & intermediate Spanish classes; undergraduate/graduate Spanish Linguistics classes; introductory & advanced Linguistics classes; Teaching Methods classes; K-12 Spanish classes
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Program Administration: hiring & collaborating with assistant director & university supervisors; growing enrollment; student advising; curriculum design
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Research: peer-reviewed journal articles; book on TPR Storytelling, many conference presentations, MA thesis supervision, mentoring undergraduate researchers
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Professional development for language teachers: research on Comprehensible Input methods, practical training for pre-service teachers
WORK EXPERIENCE
2024-present
Adjunct Lecturer
Department of Romance Languages & Literatures
Linguistics Program
Binghamton University
2012-2023
Assistant/Associate Professor of Spanish Linguistics
Director of Educator Licensure
Department of World Languages & Cultures
Northern Illinois University
2015
Graduate Program Faculty
Southern Oregon University Summer Language Institute
Guanajuato, Mexico
2000-2005, 2021-2022
Spanish teacher
Grades K & 3: Sunrise Spanish program, Williamstown, MA
Grades 5-9: Rippowam Cisqua School, Bedford, NY
Grades 4-8: Blacksburg New School, Blacksburg, VA
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Linguistics, 2012
Specialization in Psycholinguistics
Certificate in Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.A. in Linguistics, 2009
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
B.A. in Spanish & Psychology, 2002​
Williams College
MEDIA COVERAGE
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Speaking of Language podcast
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The Motivated Classroom podcast
- Do children soak up language like sponges? New York Times article
- Do children soak up language like sponges? New York Times Parenting article
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The acquisition/learning distinction. Talkin’ L2 with BVP podcast
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10 reasons to be bilingual: Mastering a second language has hidden perks. NIU Newsroom article