A native of Canton, China, Dr. Liang loves language studies and enjoys exploring theory and practice in language learning and teaching! He currently teaches in the graduate and undergraduate TESOL programs that offer teacher education courses to both pre- and in-service English teachers. Before joining the faculty at Biola in 2001, he directed an ESL program in the University of California, Riverside Learning Center. Dr. Liang received his doctorate in TESL/TEFL at the University of Texas at Austin in 1997. Dr. Liang is very active in research and is a frequent presenter at the TESOL and CATESOL conferences. His current research interests lie in pedagogical ESL grammar, ESL materials, second language reading and writing, and technology-enhanced language learning.
Invited Workshops & Featured Presentations
- Liang, J. (September, 2016). “The non-native speaker teacher: Identity, development, and the sustaining faith.” Invited talk at Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California.
- Liang, J. (June, 2016). “NS-NNS teacher collaboration: Where faith meets professional development.” Plenary address at the 2016 Christians in English Language Teaching (CELT) Conference, Seoul, Korea.
- Liang, J. (November, 2015). “Five ways to use technology in the reading classroom.” Invited featured presentation at the 2015 Annual CATESOL Conference, Anaheim, California.
- Liang, J. (May, 2014). “The differentiated grammar classroom: Framework, techniques, and tasks.” Christians in English Language Teaching (CELT) Conference, Christ’s College, Taipei, Taiwan. Liang, J. (March, 2014). Toward developing strategic readers. Christians in English Language Teaching (CELT) Conference, Multnomah University, Portland, Oregon.
- Liang, J. (April, 2013). “Humanizing grammar teaching”. One day workshop at University of Delaware English Language Institute, Newark, Delaware.
- Liang, J. (January, 2012). “Writing assessment: What, how, and when”. Post-conference workshop on language teaching at Christians in English Language Teaching (CELT) Conference, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Liang, J. (October, 2011). “Teaching grammar with digital technology”. One-day workshop for CATESOL Orange County Workshop, Biola University, La Mirada, California.
- Liang, J. (September, 2010). “Teaching grammar with digital technology”. Invited featured presentation at the 2010 CATESOL Los Angeles Regional Conference, California State University, Fullerton, California.
- Liang, J. (April, 2007). “Teacher development: Essential to NNESTs’ teaching success”. Half-day pre-conference workshop at the 38th annual California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) conference, San Diego, California.
Refereed Presentations (Selected)
- Liang, J. (March, 2019). “Reading to learn rather than learning to read: Making post-reading purposefully meaningful.” Practice-oriented presentation at the 2019 Christians in English Language Teaching (CELT) Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Liang, J. (December, 2018). Using authentic materials in a differentiated grammar classroom. Practice-oriented presentation at the 49th Annual CATESOL Conference, Anaheim, California.
- Liang, J., (December, 2018). “Creative projects, meaningful learning: Technology-supported PBL in Chinese secondary EFL.” Practice-oriented presentation at the 49th Annual CATESOL Conference, Anaheim, California.
- Liang, J., & Rice, S. (October, 2017). “Abstract to concrete: Helping students make sense of college level reading.” Practice-oriented presentation at the 48th Annual CATESOL Conference, Santa Clara, California.
- Liang, J. (March, 2017). “Pre-reading strategies: What, how, and when.” Teaching demonstration at the 2017 CATESOL Los Angeles Regional Conference, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, California.
- Liang, J., & Xie, F. (April, 2016). “Beyond exams: Project-based instruction in a secondary context in China.” Paper presented at 50th Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conference, Baltimore, Maryland.
- Liang, J. (April, 2015). “Five research-based instructional techniques that enhance ESL students’ strategic reading.” Teaching demonstration at the 2015 CATESOL Los Angeles Regional Conference, California State University, Los Angeles, California.
- Liang, J. (March, 2015). “Grammar-based reading strategies to enhance reading comprehension.” Practice-oriented presentation at the 2015 Christians in English Language Teaching (CELT) Conference, Toronto, Canada.
- Liang, J. (October, 2014). Teaching grammar with mobile technology. Teaching demonstration at the 45th Annual California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) conference, Santa Clara, California.
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Liang, J. (October, 2013). "Grammar in the Composition Classroom - Ideas, Tools, and Pedagogy." CATESOL College/University Level workshop at the 44th Annueal California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) Conference, Oakland, California.
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Liang, J. (April, 2012). “Toward developing strategic readers.” Teaching demonstration at the 43rd Annual California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) Conference, Oakland, California.
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Liang, J. (March, 2012). “From language learner to language teacher: Reflections on holistic learner development and teacher identity of non-native English speaking teachers.” Paper presented in a colloquium “Developing Ethical and Respectful Minds: Research and Practice” at 46th Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Liang, J. (March, 2012). “Cultivating spirituality in an online Christian teacher education program.” Paper presented at Christians in English Language Teaching Conference, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Liang, J. (April, 2011). “When do student writers not use writing strategies?” Teaching demonstration at the 42nd annual California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) conference, Long Beach, California.
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Liang, J. (October, 2010). “Teaching grammar with digital technology.” Teaching demonstration at the 2010 CATESOL Los Angeles Regional Conference, California State University, Fullerton, California.
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Liang, J. (April, 2010). “Towards a task-based approach to grammar teaching.” Teaching demonstration at the 41th annual California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) conference, Santa Clara, California.
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Liang, J. & Grove, T. (March, 2009). “Measuring academic ESL student writers' metacognitive awareness of writing strategy.” Paper presented in a colloquium entitled "New Approaches to Strategies for Developing Self-Regulated Writers" at the 43rd Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conferences, Denver, Colorado.
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Liang, J. (March, 2009). “Discrepancies between writing strategies perceived by ESL student writers and writing instructors.” Paper presented in a colloquium entitled "New Approaches to Strategies for Developing Self-Regulated Writers" at the 43rd Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conference, Denver, Colorado.
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Liang, J. (April, 2008). “Teaching grammar with video clips.” Workshop at the 39th annual California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) conference, Sacramento, California.
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Liang, J. (April, 2008). “Writing assessment with multi-trait rubrics.” Paper presented in a colloquium entitled "Innovations in Assessing Writing" at the 42nd Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conference, New York, New York.
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Liang, J. (April, 2007). “Teaching grammar with digital technology.” Demonstration at the 38th annual California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) conference, San Diego, California.
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Liang, J. (March, 2007). “Language scaffolding in second language writing.” Paper presented in a colloquium entitled "Grammar in the ESL Composition Classroom" at the 41st Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conference, Seattle, Washington.
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Liang, J. (March, 2006). “Toward a three-step pedagogy for fostering self-assessment in a second language writing classroom.” Paper presented in a colloquium entitled "Self-assessment in Second Language Writing" at the 40th Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conference, Tampa, Florida.
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Liang, J. (April, 2005). “A conceptual framework of self-directed learning in second language writing.” Paper presented in a colloquium entitled "Towards a Pedagogy for Developing Self-directed Writers" at the 39th Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conference, San Antonio, Texas.
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Liang, J. (April, 2004). “Perspectives on second language writing pedagogy.” Colloquium presented at the 38th Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conference, Long Beach, California.
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Liang, J., & Rice, S. (April, 2003). “A framework for assessing Generation 1.5 learners' grammar errors.” Paper presented at the 34th annual California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) conference, Pasadena, California.
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Liang, J., & Rice, S. (April, 2002). “Four constraints in L2 learners' metacognitive knowledge of writing.” Paper presented at the 2002 annual American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) conference, Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Liang, J., & Rice, S. (March, 2002). “Reading to write: Generation 1.5 students in crisis.” Paper presented at the 33rd annual California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) conference, San Francisco, California.
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Liang, J., & Rice, S. (March, 2001). “A psycholinguistic approach to college ESL composition.” Paper presented at the 35th Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conference, St. Louis, Missouri.
Biola University