Saihua Xia

"In all my teaching, I strongly believe what Diane Larsen Freeman said: 'It is not our responsibility to ENTERTAIN our students but it is our responsibility to ENGAGE our students.' No matter which type of TESOL classes I teach, I consistently consider students as active learning-constructors — constructing language teaching knowledge, skills and critical thinking ability together with teachers and peers."

Education

• Ph.D., State University of New York (SUNY), Albany
• M.S., SUNY, Albany
• M.A., University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China
• Academic Visiting Scholar, University of Cambridge, UK
• Visiting Scholar, Dept of English, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• B.A., Hunan Normal University, China

Highlighted Publications

• Chinese Students’ Transcultural Strategies: Intentions to Navigate Identity Conflicts and Expand Their Identities Through Hong Kong Study Experiences. Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education, 15. 2, 2023, pp. 63-93.
• Developing Awareness of Questioning Strategies for Second Language Learner Teachers. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 11. 6, 2020, pp. 853-862. 
• Editor, with Dr. Latricia Trites, on "Advanced Language Learning Issue as a Complex Issue: An Introduction." Indian Journal of Applied Linguistics 38.1 (Jan-Jun 2012).
• "Classroom Pragmatic Factors: A Two-year Study of 7 East Asian Students' Verbal Participation Intentions." In Pilar G. Blitvich & Marcia Macaulay (Eds.) Pragmatics and Context. Toronto: York University Press /Antares (2012): 307-343.
• "Are they ready to participate? East Asian students' acquisition of verbal participation in American classrooms." Issues in Applied Linguistics, 17.2 (2009): 137-157.
• "Using telephone conversations to develop awareness of pragmatic skills: An activity-theory-driven approach." Indian Journal of Applied Linguistics (IJOAL), 35, 2 (2009); 7-31.
• Negotiating frames through refusal acts: A pragmatic analysis of native/non-native speakers' interactions in problem-solving telephone conversations." The Open Journal of Applied Linguistics, 1 (2008): 18-29

Courses Taught

• Applied Linguistics for Second Language Teaching (online and classroom-based)
• Bilingual Education
• Course and Syllabus Design (online and classroom-based)
• Curriculum Development (online)
• Developing Intercultural Competence (online and classroom-based)
• Integrated Skills Seminar
• Language and Culture
• Language Testing (online and classroom-based)
• Linguistics and Grammars
• Methods and Materials for Teaching ESL (online and classroom-based)
• TESOL Field Experience
• TESOL Practicum and Internship
• Research in Second Language Learning and Teaching
• Special Topics: Pragmatics and Language Teaching
• TESOL Practicum: Study Abroad

Areas of Specialization

• ESL/EFL Teacher Training
• SLA
• Pragmatics
• Cognitive Approaches to Second Language Learning
• Methods, Strategies, and Techniques for Language Teaching
• Language Teaching Curriculum Design

Awards and Distinctions

• Nomination, Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award, Murray State 2021
• College of Humanities and Fine Arts Excellence in Service Award, Murray State, 2020
• CISR Grant, Murray State,  2007 & 2014
• Sandra Flynn Professor of the Year, Murray State University, April 2011
• Board of Regents Teacher of Excellence, Murray State University, 2010

Leadership and Service

• TESOL International: Nominating Committee
• TESOL International: Professonal Development Professional Council (PDPC)
• TESOL International: Second Language Writing Interest Section Committee
• KYTESOL Board Leadership Roles: President, Past President, Vice President
• Professional Development Officer; Affiliate and Publication Liaison, KYTESOL Board
• Affiliate and Publication Liaison
• SETESOL Conference: Co-Chair
• Associate Dean (served five years): School of Foreign Languages, Beihang University, Beijing. 
• Assistant to the Dean for Student Affairs: School of Foreign Languages, Hunan Normal University China

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

• TESOL International Association
• American Applied Linguistics Association (AAAL)
• KYTESOL 
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Reviewer