An article published by Dr. Kathy MinHye Kim, BU Wheelock clinical assistant professor of Language Education, has been selected as one of the “Best of the Modern Language Journal in 2019.”

Co-authored by Aline Godfroid of Michigan State University, the article “Should we listen or read? Modality effects in implicit and explicit knowledge” appeared in the August 2019 issue of the journal. It examines the role of input modality in learning second language (L2) grammar and forming different types of L2 knowledge. The authors isolated the effects of the two distinct features of auditory and visual input: the physical medium of input (aural or visual) and the presentation method (word-by-word or simultaneous).

“I have a strong desire to apply second language acquisition research informed by cognitive psychology to pedagogy, and I think this paper reflects that interest very well.” explains Dr. Kim. “I am so grateful to have received this award.”

An international refereed publication, the Modern Language Journal promotes scholarly exchanges among researchers and teachers of all modern foreign languages and English as a second language. The journal links research findings to teaching and learning in a variety of settings and on all educational levels.

At BU Wheelock, Dr. Kim specializes in understanding how adult learners encode and retain L2 knowledge. She earned a PhD in Second Language Studies at Michigan State University with an interdepartmental graduate specialization in Cognitive Science, and has received grants from the National Science Foundation, the International Research Foundation for English Language Education, and the National Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations/Modern Language Journal.