Faculty

Lixing (Frank) Tang

Clinical Professor of Foreign Language Education

Lixing (Frank) Tang

Phone: (212)998 5460
Email:

Professor Tang has been teaching English as a second/foreign language in both secondary schools and colleges in China and the United States for over thirty years. He has also been a teacher trainer and professor in Shanghai Teachers University, Baruch College--The City University of New York, and New York University. He is currently Co-Director of Multilingual Multicultural Studies, which is comprised of Programs of Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL), Bilingual Education, and Foreign Language Education. His research interest includes second/foreign language teaching methodology, second language reading strategy, learning strategies, and cross-cultural studies.


Links

Degrees Held

  • Ph.D. New York University
    TESOL
  • M.A. Shanghai Teachers University
    Engish Education
  • B.A. Shanghai Teachers College
    English Language & Literature

Research Interests

  • Foreign/second language teacher education
  • Foreign/second laguage teacher professional development
  • Learning styles and learning strategies
  • Teaching Chinese as a foreign language
  • Action research in second/foreign language classrooms
  • Comparative education

Awards

  • 2012 : Distinguish Contribution Award to the Field of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign language. Special Tenth Year Anniversary Award by The Greater New York Association of Chinese Language Teachers (CLAT-GNY).
  • 2012 : Startalk Grant ($58,084) on teaching Chinese as a foreign language in immersion programs, funded by the National Foreign Language Center.
  • 2012 : A one-year grant award of $81,725 from the Freeman Foundation to continue the research and training of Chinese language teachers in American schools, February 1, 2012 – January 31, 2013.
  • 2011 : Professional development and reserach on Chinese language teachers, a one-year grant ($135,000) from the Freeman Foundation
  • 2010 : A three-year scholarship grant ($280,000) to support the training of Chinese as a Foreign Language Teachers from Hanban, Ministry of Education, China
  • 2007 : Developing Chinese Language Teachers ($400,000); a three-year grant from the Freeman Foundation to develop Chinese language teachers for American schools
  • 2007 : A three-year tuition scholarship grant ($310,000) to support the training of Chinese as a Foreign Language Teachers from Hanban, Ministry of Education, China
  • 2008 : Curriculum Research Award ($40,000) from the Teaching Excellence Partnership Project
  • 2007 : Assistance to Developing Chinese language teachers: A grant from College Board ($75,000) to provide scholarship to students who are being traine teach Chinese as a foreign language in US K-12 schools
  • 2006 : The 2006 James A. Lydon Distinguished Service Award, New York State Association of English Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages (NYS TESOL)
  • 2006 : Curriculum development grant ($40,000) from the Partnership for Excellence to develop teaching training modules in teaching content areas to English Language Learners
  • 2001 : Training for All Teachers NYU/Region 10 (CSD #6) of NYC Department of Education ($1.2 million); a five-year grant from the US Department of Education to train middle school teachers in working with English Language Learners
  • 2000 : Training for All Teachers Grant: NYU/BASIS of NYC Department of Education ($700,000); a three-year grant from the US Department of Education to train high school teachers in working with English Language Learners
  • 2001 : A grant from the US International Broadcast Bureau to develop an English learning radio program English USA Part II for Voice of America ($55,000)
  • 2000 : Teaching Excellence Award--School of Education, NYU
  • 2000 : A grant from the United States International Broadcast Bureau to develop an English learning radio program English USA Part I for Voice of America ($55,000)

Selected Publications

  • “Popular culture in teaching Chinese as a foreign language.” Journal of Chinese Language Globalization Studies. Minzu University of China, Beijing, Vol.2, No, 1, 2012.
  • “Assessment in Task-based Learning.” NYS TESOL Journal Idiom. 2011.
  • Book review: “Brain-compatible differentiated instruction for English language Learners.” Idiom 40 (1), Journal of NYS TESOL, 2010.
  • Meeting the Needs of Students with Limited or Interrupted Schooling. Co-autho with Andrea DeCapua & Will Smathers. University of Michigan Press, 2009.
  • "The Human Brain-based Teaching and Learning of Foreign Languages." Foreign Language World. 6, pp. 76-80, 2008.
  • Brain-based Learning in a Second Language Classroom. IDIOM 38 (2), pp. 1, 11-13, 2008.
  • China Chants II: Practicing the Rhythm of American English. Co-authored with Carolyn Graham. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2008.
  • "The New TOEFL iBT and Its Preliminary Washback Effect." Journal of Teaching Foreign Language Abroad, 1, pp.55-61. 2007.
  • "Educating Students with Interrupted Formal Education." Educational Leadership, 64, pp.40-46. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), 2007.
  • "Getting Certified as a Teacher of Chinese as a Foreign Language in the U.S." Journal of Teaching Chinese as Foreign Language, Beijing International Studies University Press, 2006.
  • "Addressing Challenges and Needs of SIFE." Idiom, Vol. 35, No. 4. New York State Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, 2005.
  • China Chants I: Practicing the Pronunciation of American English. Co-authored with Carolyn Graham. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2005.
  • "Twenty-five Years of Jazz Chants." Idiom 31 (3), pp. 4-5 & 17, New York: NYS TESOL, 2003.
  • English USA Book II. Companion book to the English Radio Program for Voice of America. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2003.
  • English USA Book I. Companion book to the Chinese-English Radio Program for Voice of America. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2002.
  • "Chinese Language Schools in the U.S.: Needs for ofessional Development." Journal of Chinese Language Association 36 (1), 81-106, 2001.
  • "Multiple Intelligences Theory and Teaching English as a Foreign Languages." Foreign Language World, 80 (4), 24-32, 2001.
  • "Whole Language Instruction In China: Teachers Belief in Theory versus Practice and Constraints." College ESL, Vol. 9 (1 & 2), 2000.
  • An Advanced English Reader: Developing Reading Comprehension Skill. Book Two. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 1999.
  • An Advanced English Reader: Developing Reading Comprehension Skill. Book One. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 1998.
  • A Course in Practical English Writing. Shanghai East-China Normal University Press, 1998
  • An English Reader: Developing Reading Skills. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 1998.
  • Communicative Spoken English. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 1997.
  • Teaching English as Foreign Language In China: Methods and Techniques. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press. Pp. 277, 1984.

Courses

  • Teaching Foreign Languages: Theory and Practice
  • Workshop in Teaching Foreign Languages
  • Teaching Second Languages: Theory and Practice
  • Second Language Acquisition and Research
  • Culminating Seminar in Multilingual Multicultural Studies
  • Advanced Research Seminar in Multilingual Multicultural Studies
  • Doctoral Seminars in MMS

Presentations (Partial)

  • "Preparing qualified Chinese language teachers: Collaboration between universities in China and the U.S."  Presentation at Annual National Chinese Language Teachers Conference. Washington, DC. 2012.
  • "On the road to literacy: Big books and strategies." Panel presentation at Annual Chinese Language Teachers Conference, Washington, D.C., 2012.
  • DistinguiqchedInternational Scholar Lecture Series at Minzu University of China, Beijing, March 2012. 
  • "Design, sotry, meaning: Innovative approaches to teaching foreign languages." A one-day professional development workshop for foreign languages teachers at the StarTalk program at George Mason University, Washington, D.C., October, 2011.
  • Keynote Speech: "Popular culture and teaching of Chinese as a foreign language."  International Research Forum in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign language, Beijing, July, 2011.
  • "Critical issues and trends in Chinese language teacher edcucation." Inviteed panel presentation at the 2011 National Chinese Language Conference. San Francisco, April, 2011.
  • "Teaching clinic: Innovative lessons and room for improvement." Invited prsentation at 1the 2011 National Chinese Language Conference. San Francisco, April, 2011.
  • "Design, story, empathy, meaning in teaching Chinese as a foreign language." Invited lecture at Confucius Institute of School of Oriental and African Studies, Univesrity of London.  March, 2011.
  • Teaching Chinese in American schools: Development, challenge, and trends." A two-day lecture series to faculty of the International MA Programs on Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language from 34 colleges and universities in China, sponsored by Hanban, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China, July 2010.
  • A whole new mind: The need to activate the right brain in learning." Lecture at Summer Institute for College English Teachers, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, July, 2010.
  • Developing Chinese Language Teachers: Challenges and Strategies." Invited Plenary Session Speaker at the Third National Chinese Language Teaching Conference in Washington, April, 2010.
  • Brain-based learning in teaching Chinese as a foreign language." Panel presentation at Third National Chinese Language Teaching Conference in Washington, April, 2010.
  • "Practice in teaching foreign languages." Invited lecture at Confucius Institute of Turin University, Italy, March 2010.
  • "Brain research and implication to foreign language teaching." Keynote presentation at Annual  College Faculty Summer Conference, Shanghai International Studies University, August 2009.
  • "Psychology, linguistics, and foreign language teaching." Presentation at Chinese LanguageTeacher Summer Professional Development Program, Shanghai, July 2009.
  • "Learning strategies and developing English language skills." Presentation at Summer Professional Development Program for Teachers, Hangzhou, July 2009.
  • "Games in teaching Chinese as a foreign language." Presentation at Chinese Language Teachers Forum, New York University, May, 2009.
  • "Second language acquisition Update." Panel presentation at Annual Conference of American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA, April, 2009.
  • "Educating Prospective Math and Science Teachers to Teach ELLs." Annual TESOL Convention. Denver, CO,  April, 2009.
  • "Learn to teach, Teach to learn: Recruitment, retention, & professional development." Presentation at the Annual National Chinese Language Conference, Chicago, March, 2009.
  • "Chinese language teacher preparation: Lesson gained and lesson learned." Presentation at the Annual National Chinese Language Conference, Chicago, March, 2009.
  • "International dialogue: Preparing Chinese language teachers." Presentation at the Annual Nationl Chinese Language Conference, Chicago, March, 2009.
  • "Teaching Chinese vocabulary: Way and Ways." Presentation at Annual Conference of American Council of  Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTUL), Orlando, FL, November, 2008.
  • "Project-based learning in teaching Chinese as a foreign language." Panel presentation at the First National Chinese Language Conference, Washington, D.C., April, 2008.
  • "Training Chinese language teachers." Panel presentation at the First National Chinese Language Conference, Washington, D.C., April, 2008.
  • "Identifying and working with students with interrupted formal education." Annual conference of International Association of Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), March, 2007.
  • "Recent brain research and foreign language teaching." Invited key-note speaker. Annual Summer Institute for College English Instructors.  Shanghai, China.  July, 2006.
  • "Jazz chants and teaching English to young children." Invited lecture. Talenty Educational System, Bejing, China.  July, 2006.
  • "Getting Certified in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language." Panel presentation at Annual Conference of American Council of Teaching Foreign Languages (ACFUL), 2006.
  • "Teaching Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE)" Presentation at Annual Conference of NYS TESOL, Saratoga, NY, 2006.
  • "Project-based learning in teaching foreign languages." Presentation at the Annual Conference of NYS Foreign Language Conference, New York, 2006.
  • "Teaching Chinese in American Schools." Presentation at East China Normal University, 2006.
  • "Humanistic Approach to Foreign Language Teaching." Presentation at the National Institute for College English Teachers, Shanghai, China, 2006.
  • "Recent Brain Research and implications to Foreign Language Teaching." Keynote speech at the Second International Conference on Foreign Language Teaching Methodology in China. Shanghai, March, 2006.
  • "Addressing Challenges and Needs of Students with Interrupted Formal Education." Presentation at the Annual Conference of National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE), Phoenix, AZ, January, 2006.
  • "ESL and Content Teachers: Collaboration, Mentoring, and Inquiry." Presentation at the Annual Conference of National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE), Phoenix, AZ, January, 2006.
  • "Teaching Foreign Languages: Art or Science." Workshop at the professional development day for Asia’s Society’s international high school network, Staten Island, NY, November, 2005.
  • "Educating Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE)," Presentation at the annual conference of New York State TESOL, NYC, November 2005.
  • "Challenges and Hopes for Teachers of Chinese as a Foreign Language in the U.S." Keynote speech at the Annual Conference of the National Association of Chinese Schools in the U.S., Edison, NJ, August, 2005.
  • "Project-Based Learning: Teaching College English." Presentation at the National Institute for College English Teachers, Chengdu, China, July 2005.
  • "Getting Certified as a Teacher of Chinese as a Foreign Language in NYS." Presentation at the First World Chinese Conference, Beijing, June 2005.
  • "Teaching English Pronunciation: Past and Present." Keynote speaker at the Annual City-wide Conference for English Teachers in Shanghai.  March, 2005.
  • "Affective Factors in Working with English Language Learners." Panel presentation at 2004 NY Statewide Asian Education Roundtable.  March, 2004.
  • "Teachers as Researchers:  Needs and Ways." Keynote speech at the International Conference on English Teaching Pedagogy, Shanghai, China. March, 2004.
  • "Emotional Intelligence and English Language Learners." Kickoff Conference of ESL Academy, NYC Department of Education,  January, 2004.
  • "ESL and Content Teachers: Collaboration, Mentoring, and Inquiry." Paper presentation at NYS TESOL Annual Conference, Rye, NY, Nov. 2003.
  • "Emotional intelligences and its application to teaching second languages." Workshop presentation at NYS TESOL Annual Conference, Rye, NY, Nov. 2003.
  • "Psychology and Foreign Language Teaching." Lecture at 2003 Summer Institute to College Teachers of English, Shanghai, China, July, 2003.
  • "Teacher Research: What, Why, and How." Keynote speaker at the End-of Year Conference for Training for All Teachers program at New York University, May, 2003.
  • "Action Research: Principles and Procedures." Lecture at 2003 Winter Conference of Training for All Teachers Program at New York University, January, 2003.
  • "Focus on Form in Second Language Classrooms." Panel presentation at the 25th New York State Applied Linguistics Winter Conference, NYS TESOL, February, 2003.
  • "Humanistic Approach to Teaching Foreign Languages." Keynote speaker at the Annual Conference of Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese.  Japan Society, November, 2002.
  •  "The Changing Winds in Teaching ESL Writing." Lecture at 2002 National Summer Institute for College English Instructors, Shanghai, China, July 2002.
  • "Is Language Teaching an Art or a Science?" Lecture at Talenty Educational System, Shengyan, China, July 2, 2002.
  • "A Comparison and Contrast of the Educational Systems in the U.S. and China." Lecture at Talenty Educational System, Shengyan, China, July, 2002.
  • "Multiple Intelligences in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language." Presentation at the Third International Conference on Chinese Pedagogy, Nanjing, China, June, 2002.
  • "English Radio Shows: Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow." Lecture at US International Broadcasting Bureau’s Southeast Asian Seminar on English and Radio, Bangkok, Thailand,  April, 2002.
  • "Teaching English Reading: Applying Research to Practice." Lecture series (4 lectures)  at the 2001 National Summer Institute for College English Instructors, Shanghai China, July, 2001.
  • "Teaching reading to college students". Demo lesson at the National Summer Institute for College English Instructors, Shanghai International Studies University, China, July, 2001. 
  • "Teaching language across content areas." Lecture at Shanghai Teachers University, China, July, 2001.
  • "Emotional intelligence in second language teaching" Annual New York State TESOL 2001 Annual Conference, Rye Brook, New York, November 2001.
  •  "Teaching English homonym, homograph, and homophones." Radio Show at Voice of America's  English Teaching Forum Program, US International Broadcast Burear, Washington, DC, January, 2002.
  • "Humanistic Approach in Language Teaching." Lecture at the National Summer Institute for College English Instructors, Shanghai, 2000.
  • "Language Through Music." Presentation at Northeast Conference of the Teaching of Foreign Languages, New York, City, April, 2000.