USC.edu

Nina Kang

Master Lecturer
Email ninakang@usc.edu Office PSD 106J Office Phone (213) 740-0079

Biography

Nina Kang is a Master Lecturer in Academic and Professional Writing and the Assessment and Testing Coordinator for the American Language Institute, USC. She has enjoyed teaching all over the world including Uganda, Uzbekistan, China, Korea, Bulgaria, and Serbia & Montenegro. As an English Language Fellow in Eastern Europe, she developed a great interest in the use of cultural rhetoric in writing and information literacy skills. As a trained librarian, she’s also interested in providing information-rich contexts for students to develop their critical thinking and writing skills. She has presented at numerous international conferences and has been involved in teacher training and EOP curriculum development as and English Language Specialist in Vietnam and Lebanon through the US Department of State. Her areas of interest include language assessment and testing, intercultural writing and issues of academic integrity, authentic assessments via use of portfolios & other project-based medium, academic help-seeking skills of international students, technology-enhanced teaching & learning, and EAP/EOP curriculum development.

Education

  • Ed.D. , University of Southern California

  • Research, Teaching, Practice, and Clinical Appointments

    • Master Lecturer | Assessment & Testing Coordinator, University of Southern California, 2008-
    • Adjunct Faculty, Los Angeles City College, 2005-2008
    • Adjunct Faculty, Pasadena City College, 2005-2008
    • Adjunct Faculty, Orange Coast College, 2000-2001

    Visiting and Temporary Appointments

    • English Language Fellow (US Dept of State) , University of Montenegro (Serbia & Montenegro), 2004-2005
    • English Language Fellow (US Dept of State) , University of Sts. Cyril and Methodius (Bulgaria), 2003-2004
    • Visiting Professor, Hannam University (Daejon, S Korea) , 2001-2002
    • English Lecturer, Karakalpak State University (Uzbekistan),

    Other Employment

    • Reference Librarian, Parlow Library, Harbor/UCLA Medical Center, 2005-2008

  • Research Keywords

    • English Language Testing & Assessment
    • Intercultural Writing and Academic Integrity Issues
    • Open Educational Resources (OER) via use of Creative Commons Licensing in ELT Curriculum Development
    • Authentic Assessments Integrating Portfolios and Collaborative Writing Models
    • Graduate-Level Writing / Writing for Publication
    • Academic Help-Seeking Skills and Faculty-Student Interaction Development
    • Curriculum Design in Online and Blended Classroom Contexts
    • Use of Technology in the Classroom / Hybrid Forms of Instruction Delivery
    • English Language Testing & Assessment
    • English Language Curriculum/Program Development in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Occupational Purposes (EOP) contexts
    • English for Special Purposes (ESP) specifically focusing on scientific and technical writing among graduate students
    • Content-Based Instruction
    • English for Occupational Purposes (EOP)
    • Teacher Training of English Language Teachers

  • Conference Presentations

    • From In-Person to Online Assessments: Administering High-stake Writing Exam , TESOL International Convention & English Language ExpoTalk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Pittsburgh, PA, 03/2022 –
    • Developing Metacognitive Skills via Portfolios , Japanese Association of Language Teachers (JALT) International Conference Talk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Nagoya, Japan, 11/2019 –
    • Bridging Gaps: Academic Help-Seeking as First Step to Critical Thinking , TESOL International Convention & English Language ExpoTalk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Atlanta, GA, 03/2019 –
    • Research Writing: How to Write a Literature Review , USC-OIS Workshop Series Lecture/Seminar, Office of International Services (OIS) , Invited, Los Angeles, CA , 03/2019 –
    • Intercultural Writing: How to Avoid Plagiarism as an International Student , USC-OIS Workshop Series Lecture/Seminar, Office of International Services (OIS) , Invited, Los Angeles, CA , 02/2019 –
    • Authentic Assessment: Developing Meta-Cognitive Skills via Student Portfolios and Self-Assessments , TESOL International Convention & English Language ExpoTalk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Chicago, IL, 03/2018 –
    • Academic Help-Seeking Skills in Language Learners , JALT International Conference Talk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Tsukuba, Japan, 11/2017 –
    • Use of Polling Apps for Authentic Assessment of Language Learning , JALT International ConferenceLecture/Seminar, Invited, Tsukuba, Japan, 11/2017 –
    • Technology Enhanced Classroom , TESOL International Convention & English Language ExpoTalk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Seattle, WA, 02/2017 –
    • Effective and Stress-Free Testing through the Use of Polling Apps , CATESOL Annual Conference Talk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Anaheim, CA, 11/2015 –
    • Collaborative Writing through the Use of Survey Tools , KOTESOL International ConferenceTalk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Seoul, S. Korea, 10/2015 –
    • Developing Survey Items , USC Student Affairs Assessment BootcampLecture/Seminar, Invited, Los Angeles, CA , 06/2014 –
    • Learning Outcomes , USC Student Affairs Assessment BootcampLecture/Seminar, Invited, Los Angeles, CA , 06/2014 –
    • Using Existing Data , USC Student Affairs Assessment BootcampLecture/Seminar, Invited, Los Angeles, CA , 06/2014 –
    • Blackboard: Use of eLearning Platform , CATESOLTalk/Oral Presentation, Invited, San Diego, 10/2013 –
    • Collaborative Writing: Use of Survey Tools (Qualtrics) , CATESOLTalk/Oral Presentation, Invited, San Diego, 10/2013 –
    • Business English: Teaching the Stock Market , 2005 Regional Mid-Year Conference, English Language Fellowship Budapest, Hungary Talk/Oral Presentation, U.S. State Department, Invited, Budapest, Hungary, 01/2005 –
    • Effective Language Teaching & Classroom Management , 2004 Peace Corps Teachers TrainingLecture/Seminar, U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria, Invited, Sofia, Bulgaria, 05/2004 –
    • Effective Language Teaching: Collaboration and Student Reinforcement , English Teacher Training WorkshopTalk/Oral Presentation, English Dept, University of Montenegro, Invited, Niksic, Montenegro, 03/2004 –
    • Integrating Technology in the Classroom , 2004 Regional Mid-Year Conference, English Language FellowshipTalk/Oral Presentation, U.S. State Department, Invited, Belgrade, Serbia, 01/2004 –
    • APA Style Workshop Lecture/Seminar, USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occu, Invited, Health Sciences Campus, USC , Fall 2022
    • APA Style Workshop Lecture/Seminar, USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occu, Invited, Virtual, Fall 2021
    • Bridging Gaps: Academic Help-Seeking as First Step to Critical Thinking , TESOL International Convention & English Language ExpoTalk/Oral Presentation, Invited, Atlanta, GA, 03/2019
    • Strategies to Prevent and Detect Plagiarism using Turnitin.com , Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)Poster, ACRL, Invited, San Jose, CA, Spring 2003
    • Effective English Teaching: Creative Ideas for the Classroom , English Teacher Training WorkshopLecture/Seminar, English Dept, Karakalpak State University, Invited, Nukus, Uzbekistan, Spring 2000

    Other Presentations

    • Assess and Motivate: Student Portfolios and Self-Assessments in the EFL Classroom, American English Live: Teacher Development Series , Online , 2018-CONT
    • Multi-Modes of Feedback in Large Classroom, English Language Specialist Project hosted by U.S. Department of State , Virtual, 2021-2022
    • Curriculum and Course Design in English for Occupational Purposes (EOP) Contexts , English Language Specialist Project at the Hanoi University of Industry (hosted by US Dept of State) , Hanoi, Vietnam, 2016-2017

  • Committees

    • Co-Chair, Faculty Review Committee, American Language Institute, 08/2015 – 05/2017
    • Co-Chair, Writing Curriculum/Matrix Committee, American Language Institute, 2015-2016
    • Member, Outreach Committee, American Language Institute, 2014-2015
    • Member, Curriculum Development, American Language Institute, 08/2013 – 05/2015
    • Member, Interview Committee for Fulbright’s English Teaching Assistant (ETA) applicants, USC, 2013-2014

    Review Panels

    • University of Southern California, Offices of Community Expectations and Academic Integrity, 10/2022 –

    Media, Alumni, and Community Relations

    • Mentorship, Ed.D. Mentorship Program, USC Rossier School of Education, 2015-2016
    • Mentorship, Increasing Access Mentoring Program (IAM), Pullias Center for Higher Education, 2015-2016

    Other Service to the University

    • Talk on “Intercultural and Academic Integrity Issues”, USC Marshall School of Business, MS in Business Analytics Program, 08/2018 –
    • Talk on “Intercultural and Academic Integrity Issues”, USC Marshall School of Business, MS in Finance Program, 06/2018 –
    • Talk on “Common Writing Issues for Non-Native English Speaking Students: Cultural Rhetorical Modes of Writing”, USC Public Diplomacy Graduate Program, 01/2017 –
    • Talk on “US Culture and Society” for Visiting Students from University of Southern Denmark, 08/2016 –
    • Talk on “Common Writing Issues for Non-Native English Speaking Students & Tips for Faculty Working with NNES Population”, Writing Program , 08/2015 –
    • Talk on “Intercultural Writing: Principles and Strategies” aimed at Cinema School TAs working with international students. , Fall 2020