Language Education Research Group

The Language Education Research Group brings together faculty, researchers, and staff across SDSU with expertise in applied linguistics, second language acquisition, language pedagogy, English as a Second Language (ESL), heritage language education, and less commonly taught languages. Hosted by the Language and Applied Research Center (SDSU-LARC), the group fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to advance research on language teaching and learning.

The group serves as a collaborative space for developing research initiatives, pursuing external funding opportunities, sharing expertise across disciplines, and addressing emerging issues in language education. Members represent a broad range of languages, educational contexts, and methodological approaches, creating opportunities for innovative research with both local and global impact.

Current Projects

Generative AI in San Diego's Language Classrooms

Rooted in the Language Education Research Group, SDSU-LARC and SDSU language faculty are currently collaborating on a research initiative examining how language educators are integrating generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into teaching and learning. The project explores teachers' experiences, instructional practices, professional development needs, and perspectives on the opportunities and challenges presented by GenAI.

This project is funded by the College of Arts & Letters' R-Next Initiative.

This study includes educators working in community language schools, K–12 programs, community colleges, and universities, with particular attention to heritage language and less commonly taught language (LCTL) instruction. Research participants represent a wide range of language programs, including Arabic, English as a Second Language, French, German, Japanese, Persian, and Spanish.

Through classroom observations, interviews, and focus groups, the project seeks to document effective and responsible uses of GenAI while identifying the unique needs of language educators. Findings will contribute to a research agenda that supports thoughtful AI integration in language education and informs future professional development, policy, and instructional practice.

  • Shahnaz Ahmadeian Fard
  • Rosalva Alamillo
  • Mari Ocando Finol
  • Mat Schulze
  • Naseh Shahri
  • Dris Soulaimani
  • Jun Takahashi
  • Alfredo Urzúa Beltrán 

  • George Liao 
  • Daniel Knickerbocker