Letter from the Editors
Agata Guskaroska, Iowa State University, Iowa, USA
Raju Dhuli, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, India
Dear readers,
With this latest edition of As We Speak, we begin a new year by highlighting what remains fundamental to education: the exchange of knowledge between teachers and researchers. While AI dominates many conversations, the heart of effective teaching still lies in sharing our experiences and proven classroom activities. It is with this spirit of collaboration that we present our latest newsletter, where educators can discover practical approaches that have been tested and refined in real learning environments.
Our feature article showcases Dr. Lily Compton's insights into oral language development practices for international teaching assistants (ITAs) at Iowa State University. She explores current approaches, innovative support systems, and introduces the second edition of a freely available Open Educational Resource for teachers and learners worldwide.
For those interested in Arabic language instruction, Mahdi Duris dives into the specific challenge of teaching the ʿAyn (ع) pronunciation to English speakers. His article offers practical strategies for mastering this unique sound that often proves challenging for learners.
Addressing a universal concern in language education, Andrias Susanto examines speaking anxiety in online classes. His research presents effective strategies to help students overcome this common barrier to language acquisition and improve their performance in virtual learning environments.
Drawing from his experience as a speaking consultant at Iowa State University's Center for Communication Excellence, Dr. Erik Goodale shares insights into addressing lesser-discussed yet persistent pronunciation challenges faced by international graduate students. His article outlines targeted strategies that have proven successful in his practice.
We are grateful to our contributors for sharing their expertise and invite you to become part of our community by submitting your work for our next edition. Submissions may include traditional articles, book or technology reviews, or lesson plans. The deadline for our July publication is May 15.
Hoping to see you all in California!
With warmest regards,
Agata and Raju
Agata Guskaroska holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and Technology from Iowa State University (ISU). She has taught EFL/ESL, composition, and online courses, including a MOOC on technology in language teaching. She is the author of the books Teaching Pronunciation with Confidence and Oral Communication for Non-native Speakers of English. Currently, Agata is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at ISU, working on the development and institutional implementation of a new English Language Proficiency Advisory Program. Her research focuses on computer-assisted language learning, pronunciation teaching, and technology acceptance.
Raju Dhuli, a PhD scholar in English Language Teaching at IIT Bhubaneswar, holds an MA in English from Central University of Andhra Pradesh, excelling in UGC NET in Linguistics in 2019. His research initiated in 2021, targets improving speaking skills among rural secondary school students. His research interests include vocabulary development, speaking skills, second language acquisition, and language assessment and teacher education. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8909-5103