Nari Kim (김나리)

Ph.D. Candidate, Second Language Studies

Michigan State University

I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Second Language Studies program at Michigan State University, advised by Dr. Peter I. De Costa. My research examines how students’ and teachers’ emotions and investments shape language learning and teaching in the age of AI, with a particular focus on building more inclusive language classrooms. I am particularly interested in the structural tensions between classroom realities and broader social forces, examining why research-informed approaches often struggle to translate into practice. My work draws on classroom-based qualitative inquiry, narrative approaches, discourse analysis, and participatory design to address questions at the intersection of language education and human agency.

Interests
Teacher Education
Emotion & Investment
Digital Literacies
Multiliteracies
Inclusive English Language Teaching
Trajectory
Michigan State University
Ph.D. Candidate, Second Language Studies
Daegu National University of Education
Major: English (Minors: Japanese, Chinese)
Susan M. Gass Outstanding Research Award
Michigan State University, 2026
U.S. Department of State, 2023–2025
The Ohio State University, 2021–2022
The Ohio State University, 2022
Recent News

Research

As a language learner, teacher, and teacher educator, I study how emotion and investment shape language teaching and learning in the age of AI. I am particularly interested in how young language learners and the teachers who work with them can be repositioned as critical, agentive participants rather than deficient subjects.

My research primarily draws on participatory, ethnographic, narrative, discourse analytic, and other qualitative approaches to investigate language learning and teaching. I also collaborate across methodological approaches, including quantitative and experimental research using tools such as eye-tracking. My dissertation integrates the research questions below through work with multilingual elementary students in language classrooms. See below for selected publications and presentations organized by research strand.

Across all three strands Research–Practice Divide

Questions that come from classrooms, and go back to them.

Conducting classroom-based research grounded in real educational concerns

Using participatory design, ethnography, narrative inquiry, and systematic synthesis

Collaborating with teachers and returning research findings to classrooms and communities

Related publications
Question 01 Critical Digital Literacies & Multiliteracies

How do language teachers and learners critically engage with AI and digital technologies as sites of agency and power?

Negotiating the affordances and constraints of AI for language learning and teaching

Interrogating bias, exclusion, ideology, and power in digital platforms and algorithms

Exploring digital multimodal composing as a space for agency, and social action

Related publications
Question 02 Emotions, Identity & Investment

How do emotions and investments shape and get shaped by the contexts of language learning and teaching?

Investigating how learners' emotions and investments influence language learning

Examining how language teachers' emotions, investment, and well-being shape language teaching

Examining why pedagogical ideals often struggle against the realities of classroom practice

Related publications
Question 03 Inclusive English Language Education

How can English language education treat learners' linguistic repertoires as assets?

Questioning who defines "inclusion" and whose knowledge counts

Centering social justice by valuing students' diverse linguistic repertoires (e.g., Global Englishes, translanguaging) in classroom practice

Related publications

Publications

I support the Postprint Pledge, a movement toward making scholarship more accessible. If you or your institution do not have access to any of the publications below, the postprint links will open an accepted version of each publication that is freely available.

2026
Single
First / Corresponding
Co-authored
2025
Single
First / Corresponding
Ped
Co-authored
Journals
Language Teaching System Applied Linguistics Language and Education Foreign Language Annals Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice World Englishes Pedagogies: An International Journal Journal of English for Research Publication Purposes Journal of Modern Research in English Language Studies
Book Publishers
Routledge Elsevier John Benjamins

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Single author First / corresponding author Guest editor

Digital Literacies & Multiliteracies

Emotions, Identity & Investment

Research–Practice Divide

Methodology

Book Chapters

In Revision & Under Review

Revise & Resubmit

SINGLEKim, N. Responsible well-being as social justice: Voices from teachers of young learners in South Korea.Revise & resubmit
SINGLEKim, N. Young learners as language detectives: Exploring linguistic landscapes.Revise & resubmit
FIRST / CORR.Kim, N., Hendriwanto, H., Cheng, J., & De Costa, P. I. Developing inclusive English language teaching as identity-in-practice: A chronotopic perspective from Indonesia.Revise & resubmit
Cheng, J., Hendriwanto, H., Kim, N., & De Costa, P. I. Negotiating algorithmic colonialingualism in GenAI language policy: A practice-based study of Indonesian indigenous pre-service teachers.Revise & resubmit

Under Review

SINGLEKim, N. Extending teacher agency from the individual to the collective: A study of emotion labor among elementary English teachers.Under review
De Costa, P. I., Lee, V. W. Y., & Kim, N. Linguistic entrepreneurship. In P. Montgomery, P. I. De Costa, P. Sah, & K. Bernstein (Eds.), Bloomsbury Handbook of Language Ideologies. Bloomsbury.Under review
Hwang, K., Kim, N., & Choi, W. Translanguaging-focused professional development for PreK–12 TESOL teachers: A systematic review.Under review

Presentations

Teaching

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching centers on helping students develop their identities as capable language learners and fostering a curiosity and passion for language that continues beyond the classroom. I design lessons that make room for risk-taking, treat mistakes as part of learning, and ground language use in authentic, contextualized work. I draw on an asset-based pedagogy that recognizes students’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds as resources rather than deficits, inviting their home languages, families, and ideas into the classroom.

I work with both current and future language teachers. As a practicing teacher licensed in Michigan, Alabama, and South Korea, I try to carry these commitments into my own classroom.

Language Teacher Education

Teach undergraduate courses in the TESOL minor at MSU that connect SLA theory with classroom practice, focusing on learner identity, investment, and equity in linguistically diverse settings.

Mentoring

Mentor doctoral students and early-career scholars on qualitative research methods, dissertation writing, and scholarly publication through coursework, guest lectures, and invited panels.

K-12 Practitioner Roots

Draw on a decade of experience in elementary multilingual and EFL education in my work in teacher education and research.

Current Teaching
MSU logo
Michigan State University
Department of Linguistics, Languages & Cultures
At MSU, I teach undergraduate courses in the TESOL minor that help future language educators connect second language acquisition theory to classroom practice in linguistically diverse settings.
LLT 307 Methods of Second and Foreign Language Teaching Instructor · Summer 2026

National and international approaches, methods, materials design, learner characteristics, and needs assessment in ESL and foreign language settings. Survey, evaluation, and application of major effective methods and materials.

LLT 361 Second and Foreign Language Learning Instructor · Summer 2025

Basic principles of learning a second or foreign language. Issues in first language acquisition. Theories of second language learning. Aptitude, motivation, attitude, learning grammar, age, learning in a classroom, myths, and facts about second language learning.

Student Feedback · LLT 307, Summer 2026

“Nari is an extremely empathetic instructor who clearly cares about the quality of teachers in this next generation. She cares about her students and about the kind of teachers they want to be. She is also personable, and I felt that she cared about my learning and success.”

“Her content is really helping me do what it is supposed to do: get me thinking about ELLs’ needs and how to create content that will help them be successful. Her content is relevant, and I can tell she constructed it with our work in mind, making me want to be more attentive.”

“I would say she is super on top of her side of things. Whether it’s making assignments accessible or having strong communication, she’s on it. Her lectures really pull everything together and narrow the content down, so it isn’t overwhelming and I know what is expected of me.”

“Nari did a great job of making the course feel engaging and supportive. The activities and assignments helped me really focus on the different needs that students have so that, overall, my lessons and activities are inclusive and can be done by all my future students.”

Student Feedback · LLT 361, Summer 2025

“I could tell that she really cared about teaching the material and knew a lot of information about it. She was very good at explaining concepts and being there for students.”

“Nari was super flexible and communicative. She also gave long, thorough feedback on each assignment that I really enjoyed reading and found very helpful.”

“She put so much effort into engaging with us. All the feedback she gave me was very helpful and thorough.”

“I have developed a much deeper knowledge of the theoretical basis of language learning and skills on making an inclusive lesson plan.”

Invited Talks & Guest Lectures
Oct 2025
Coding Qualitative Data + MAXQDA
Guest Speaker (invited by Dr. Peter I. De Costa) · LLT 874 Qualitative Research in Second Language Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Oct 2025
Advice for QRPs and Thesis
Invited Panel · Student Organization of Second Language Acquisition and Pedagogy (SOSLAP), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Oct 2025
Creating K-12 Research Spaces Through Relationship Building and Intentional Timing
Panel Presentation · In C. Cinaglia (Organizer), Doing Research in K-12 School Contexts. Second Language Studies Anniversary Homecoming, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Nov 2024
Research Synthesis: Ethical Considerations and Reporting Practices in Narrative Inquiry Research
Guest Speaker (invited by Dr. Peter I. De Costa) · LLT 874 Qualitative Research in Second Language Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Oct 2024
Surviving Graduate School
Invited Panel · Student Organization of Second Language Acquisition and Pedagogy (SOSLAP), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
K-12 Teaching Experience
10 years · English & General Education Teacher
Elementary Classroom Teacher, Multilingual Education Leader & Dispatched Teacher
Before entering graduate school, I served as a full-time English Language Teacher and General Education Teacher across three Daegu elementary schools for ten years — teaching EFL, serving as homeroom teacher, leading government-designated multilingual research programs, and directing cross-cultural initiatives for multilingual immigrant students.
Educational Academy for Boys & Girls
Volunteer Teacher
Columbus, OH, USA · Spring 2022

Supported teachers with English as a second language (ESL) instruction and materials development. Observed classes every Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 to 11:30 throughout the entire semester.

Daegu Sehyeon Elementary School
Full-time English Language Teacher
Daegu, Republic of Korea · Mar 2021 – Aug 2021

Taught English as a foreign language (EFL) to elementary students before entering graduate school.

Daegu Education Training Institute
Department of Global Education · Dispatched Teacher (Competitively selected)
Daegu, Republic of Korea · Sep 2019 – Feb 2020

Competitively selected as a leading English teacher by the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education. Completed a 6-month intensive TESOL training program, focusing on learner-centered instruction and development of online/offline class materials.

🏛
Government Funding
$13,000  · Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education · 2019
Daegu Jukgok Elementary School
Full-time English Language Teacher
Daegu, Republic of Korea · Mar 2016 – Aug 2019  ·  Mar 2020 – Feb 2021
·Taught English to elementary EFL students across grades 3 to 6.
·Elementary English Teacher Class Mentor (2017–2021, competitively appointed): mentored in-service elementary English teachers through classroom observation, analysis, and professional feedback.
·Designed and implemented a maker education program that integrated language and literacy learning — using 3D pens to bridge hands-on creation with English communication skills.
·Designed robot-assisted language learning lessons by integrating programmable hamster robots and block-based coding (Entry) to support collaborative, embodied storytelling and interactive English communication. (see photos below)
·Integrated augmented reality into English lessons to create interactive classroom experiences that deepened student engagement with language content.
·Served as an instructional coach for in-service elementary English teachers: conducted systematic classroom observations, provided evidence-based feedback, and offered ongoing professional development support.
·Directed operations of the Daegu Character Education Center (Mar 2017 – Aug 2019): managed a district-wide program serving 2,000+ students annually from 21 schools, overseeing instructor recruitment, program planning, budgeting, scheduling, and official documentation.
·Daegu–Australia Telecollaboration Research Group (Mar 2016 – Aug 2021): participated in global telecollaboration research with Southmoor School, Australia. MOU signed between Daegu City Office of Education and Victoria Southwestern Office of Education, involving 23 classes across 19 Daegu schools.
Teaching Awards · Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education
🏅
Excellence in Teaching Award — English (3rd Prize)
DMOE · 2016
🏅
Daegu Contest for Technology-Enhanced Teaching Materials (2nd Prize)
DMOE · 2020
Daegu Inji Elementary School Govt.-designated Research School
Full-time English Language Teacher
Daegu, Republic of Korea · Mar 2012 – Feb 2016

Multilingual & Multicultural Research School Mar 2015 – Feb 2016

·Designated by the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education in South Korea.
·Played a key role in implementing multicultural and multilingual policy tasks, which significantly influenced policy development related to multicultural education.
·As a result of these efforts, the school was honored with the Excellence Award for School Management, and I received a citation for excellence from the Office of Education.
Multilingual and multicultural program activities at Daegu Inji Elementary

UNESCO Teacher Exchange 2015

Hosted two in-service Vietnamese teachers as part of the UNESCO "Learning for Empathy" Teacher Exchange initiative. Co-conducted bilingual and cultural classes, and collaborated on cross-cultural curriculum development.

S2AEM Teaching Across Borders conference, Seoul Traditional tea ceremony with Vietnamese teachers at Daegu Inji Elementary
Teaching Awards · Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education
🏅
Excellence in Supporting Underachieving Students
English Education · DMOE · 2014
🏅
Outstanding School Award (Multilingual Education)
DMOE · 2015
🏅
Excellence in Educational Activities Award (Multilingual Education)
DMOE · 2015
Technology-integrated English classroom activities at Daegu Jukgok Elementary Students engaged in coding and robotics activities at Daegu Jukgok Elementary
Teaching Certificates & Licenses
Professional Teaching Certificate – Elementary K–5 (All Subjects), K–8 (ZG Endorsement)
Michigan Department of Education
Issued Sep 2025 · Expires Jun 2030
Professional Educator Certificate – Elementary (K–6)
Alabama State Department of Education
Issued Nov 2025 · Expires Jun 2031
Elementary School Teacher License
Ministry of Education, Korea
Issued Feb 2012 · No expiration

Service

Service Philosophy

I believe service is an essential part of sustaining a collaborative and supportive field. My service work includes reviewing scholarship, mentoring graduate students, organizing academic events, and offering invited teaching and workshops. Through these efforts, I aim to support accessible and supportive field.

Peer & Conference Review

Manuscript review for journals in applied linguistics and language education, with abstract review for the TESOL Convention and AERA since 2023.

Invited Talks & Workshops

Panels at Michigan State University on K-12 research partnership, qualitative research practices, and graduate-school life.

Leadership & Community

Symposium organizing volunteer, KERIS content reviewer, and a member of the SLS graduate community.

Professional Service

Scholarly Review

Manuscript, Abstract & Content Review

Since 2023 I have served as an ad hoc reviewer across applied linguistics, education, and multicultural venues.

  • Journals · Manuscript Review (Ad-Hoc since 2025)
    • Foreign Language Annals
    • Language & Education
    • Language Policy
    • Educational Review
    • Educational Studies
    • Educational Research and Evaluation
    • TASK
    • Multicultural Perspectives
  • Conferences · Abstract Review (Ad-Hoc since 2023)
    • TESOL International Convention & Expo (Advocacy, Social Justice & Community Building strand)
    • AERA, Bilingual Education Research SIG
    • AERA, Second Language Research SIG
  • Programs · Content Review (Ad-Hoc since 2024)
    • Korea Education and Research Information Service (KERIS), online teacher-training programs

Knowledge-Sharing

Invited Talks & Workshops

I use invited panels and student sessions to translate research methods and graduate-school experience into practical guidance for peers and newer students at Michigan State University.

  • 2025 · SLS Anniversary Homecoming: Panel on creating K-12 research spaces through relationship building and intentional timing, in Doing research in K-12 school contexts (Organizer: C. Cinaglia).
  • 2025 · SOSLAP Graduate Student Organization: Invited panelist, “Advice for QRPs and Thesis.”
  • 2024 · SOSLAP Graduate Student Organization: Invited panelist, “Surviving Graduate School.”
Title slide for Nari Kim's SOSLAP panel, Advice for QRPs and Thesis Title slide for Nari Kim's SLS anniversary panel, Creating a Mutually Beneficial Community: K-12 Research Partnership

Institutional Service

Closing slide thanking colleagues and student volunteers, including Nari Kim
Nari Kim with the symposium team and the invited keynote speaker Dr. Ofelia Garcia delivering the symposium keynote on translanguaging as the audience watches

Association & Program Work

I contribute through the program structures that make scholarly exchange possible, helping organize events and host visiting scholars who connect the wider field.

  • Symposium organizing volunteer: supported logistics and on-site coordination for the 2025 Graduate Student Symposium on Engaged Multilingual Pedagogy and Intersectionality.
  • Invited speakers hosted: Ofelia García (CUNY Graduate Center) and Jon Wargo (University of Michigan).
  • Field visibility: represented the Second Language Studies graduate community across program and conference-facing events.

Community Engagement

Nari Kim volunteering at the COSI Language Pod — children exploring an interactive exhibit, her COSI Labs in Life volunteer badge, and the language research lab

The Language Pod

I contribute to making language science accessible to the public. I took part in public-facing language science at the Language Pod, the COSI (Center of Science and Industry) lab devoted to the study and communication of language.

  • Public science communication: explained language research to visitors and led interactive demonstrations about the science of language.
  • Research outreach: supported participant recruitment for ongoing language research studies.

Fellowships & Grants

Doctoral Level$111,213
Fulbright Graduate Student Program Award
U.S. Department of State
$80,000
2023–2025
Dissertation Completion Fellowship
College of Arts & Letters & Graduate School, MSU
$10,000
2026
Duolingo Dissertation Research Grant
Duolingo
$5,000
2026
Susan M. Gass Outstanding Research Award
Second Language Studies, MSU
$1,000
2026
College of Arts and Letters Merit Scholarship
Michigan State University
$3,000
2023
Global Studies Graduate Student Recruitment Fellowship
Michigan State University
$2,000
2023
MSU Internal Scholarships & Travel Grants
Graduate School Summer Fellowship
College of Arts & Letters
$4,500
2024
Dissertation Research Enhancement Fellowship (awarded twice)
Arts & Letters / SLS
$1,700
2026
Graduate School Fellowship
The Graduate School
$600
2026
Graduate Fellowship Award (awarded three times)
SLS Program
$1,053
2024–25
Conference Travel Grants (awarded four times)
Arts & Letters / SLS / Applied Linguistics
$2,360
2024–26
Master’s Level$95,533
University Fellowship
The Ohio State University
$95,533
2021–2022
Student of the Year Award
Department of Teaching & Learning, OSU
2022
Elementary Teacher Level$13,000
Elementary English Teacher Intensive Research Training
Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education
$13,000
2019
Daegu Contest for Technology-Enhanced Teaching Materials (2nd Prize)
Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education
2020
Excellence in Teaching Award (English, 3rd Prize)
Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education
2016
Outstanding School Award (Multilingual Education)
Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education
2015
Excellence in Educational Activities Award (Multilingual Education)
Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education
2015
Excellence in Supporting Underachieving Students (English Education)
Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education
2014
Excellence in Teaching Award (English, 1st Prize)
Daegu National University of Education Elementary School
2011
Undergraduate Level$14,523
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan
$9,000
2009
Semester Honors (Merit Scholarship)
Daegu National University of Education
Awarded every enrolled semester based on academic merit · 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
$2,667
2007–2011
Youth Delegation Overseas Experience (Australia)
Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Republic of Korea
$1,856
2010
🏆 Excellent Achievement Award (Youth Delegation)
Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Republic of Korea
Intergovernmental Youth Representative Exchange Program (China)
Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, Republic of Korea
$1,000
2008
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