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International Center for Academic and Professional English Kayla Landers

Kayla Landers

Language Specialist and ITA Liaison
(610) 758-6180
kml315@lehigh.edu

About Me

I grew up in western Pennsylvania. Although it was a very rural area, I grew to love language learning and learning about different cultures and places. With that passion, I received my undergraduate degree in secondary education and Spanish. I was fortunate during my undergrad program to study abroad, with varying lengths, in Alcala de Henares, Spain; Costa Rica; Ecuador; and Oaxaca and Mexico City, Mexico.  During my time in Mexico City, I was a student teacher in 3rd-8th grade ESL at the American School Foundation. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and decided I would further my education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Upon graduation, I started teaching at a community college where I was for about 6 years. I have been at Lehigh University since June 2015. What I like best about my job is working with top students from around the globe! My students are exceptionally bright, motivated, creative, and inspiring. I am really lucky to do what I do!

Education

M.A., TESOL
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

B.S., Spanish Education
Slippery Rock University

Philosophy of Teaching

ESL students come from diverse backgrounds and bring with them different experiences and skills; therefore, it’s important for me to teach and assess in a variety of ways, thus allowing creativity in the class while taking cultural values and differences into account. Clear goals, based on students’ needs and university requirements, must be set so students have a clear picture of what will be accomplished. Classes should be relevant and meaningful. Ongoing revision and improvement is fundamental by incorporating recent research and trends in the discipline. Furthermore, self-reflection in my teaching is vital to continually progress as a teacher.

Professional Interests

  • Second Language Writing
  • Culture and Pragmatics
  • Presentation Skills
  • Eco-composition/ Environmental Education
  • Task-based learning
  • Collaborative learning

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Oral Presentations
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2022, Mar. 25). Video as a metacognitive tool for International Teaching Assistant Preparation [Conference session]. TESOL International Convention, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2022, Mar. 24). Why process writing still matters: Empowering and inspiring through e-Portfolios [Conference session]. TESOL International Convention, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2022, Mar. 23). Digital literacies to support the writing process: Pedagogical significance of e-Portfolios [Conference session]. CCCC Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.
  • Landers, K., Menius, M., & Wilson, M. (2021, Dec. 4). The perceived challenges of International Teaching Assistants and how to support their transition into the classroom [Meeting session]. 2021 CGS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2021, Mar.). Say what you mean: Supporting graduate students with pragmalinguistic competence [Conference session]. TESOL International Convention, Virtual.
  • Landers, K. & Newbegin, M. (2020, Sep. 19). Bringing the world together: Art to validate identity [Conference session]. LVAIC TESOL Conference, Virtual.
  • Cusumano, T., Landers, K., Newbegin, M., & Reiss, E. (2020, Apr.). Multimodal writing: An equitable approach in cross-cultural composition courses [Conference session]. TESOL International Convention, Denver, CO. (Conference canceled due to COVID-19)
  • Cusumano, T., Landers, K., Newbegin, M., & Reiss, E. (2020, Apr.). All the world’s a stage: Monologue to dialogue [Conference session]. TESOL International Convention, Denver, CO. (Conference canceled due to COVID-19)
  • Landers, K., & Wilson, M. (2020, Mar.). IELTS USA teacher workshop [Pre-conference workshop]. TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo, Denver, CO. (Conference canceled due to COVID-19)
  • Landers, K. & Newbegin, M. (2019, Apr.). Using Panopto to maximize instructional time [Symposium session]. Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning 2019 Symposium on Teaching and Learning, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.
  • Landers, K., Newbegin, M., Veto, M., Whitehouse, B., & Zakos, H. (2019, Apr.). Panel: Google Apps and CourseKit [Symposium session]. Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning 2019 Symposium on Teaching and Learning, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.
  • Dunne, L., Landers, K., McKeen, K., & Seferaj, K. (2019, Mar.). IELTS USA teacher workshop [Pre-conference workshop]. TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo, Atlanta, GA.
  • Landers, K., &, McKeen, K. (2019, Jan.). IELTS USA mini-teacher workshop. Chicago Bilingual Nurses Consortium, Chicago, IL.
  • Cameron, D., & Landers, K. (2018, Nov.). IELTS USA mini-teacher workshop. FLS International Boston Commons, Boston, MA.
  • Landers, K., &, McKeen, K. (2018, Sep.). IELTS USA mini-teacher workshop. American Heritage School, Boca Delray Campus, FL.
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2018, Mar.). Building community in first-year composition courses through collaborative writing projects [Conference session]. TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo, Chicago, IL.
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2017, Apr.). Collaborative writing with a mission [Conference session]. PennTESOL East Spring Fling: Innovating and Educating for Change, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2017, Apr.). Engaging students through organic gardening [Conference session]. PennTESOL East Spring Fling: Innovating and Educating for Change, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2017, Apr.). StepUp Intensive English Program- International Peace Garden [Symposium session]. Symposium on Teaching and Learning: Community-engaged Teaching, Learning, and Research: Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2016, Apr.). Teaching English through environmental education [Conference session]. TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo, Baltimore, MD.
  • Donatto, T., Landers, K., Newbegin, M., & Reiss, E. (2016, Apr.). Dispelling stereotypes through community interactions. Community-engaged Learning and Research Symposium: Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.  
Poster Presentations
  • Landers, K., & Menius, M. (2022, June 1). The perceived challenges of International Teaching Assistants and how to support their transition into the classroom. NAFSA 2022 Annual Conference & Expo. Denver, CO.
  • Cusumano, T., Landers, K., Newbegin, M., & Reiss, E. (2020, Apr.). Virtual reality: Transporting global issues to local composition classrooms. TESOL International Convention, Denver, CO. (Conference canceled due to COVD-19)
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2016, Feb.). Teaching environmental responsibility in an Intensive English Program through organic gardening. LVAIC Sustainability Conference: Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.  
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2016, Apr.). Teaching environmental responsibility in an Intensive English Program through organic gardening. Community-engaged Learning and Research Symposium: Lehigh University. Bethlehem, PA.  

Publications

  • Landers, K. (2021, June). ITAs community events update. ITAIS Newsletter: The Newsletter of the International Teaching Assistants Interest Section.
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2020, Dec.). Art to validate identity. HEIS News: The Newsletter of the Higher Education Interest Section. 
  • Cusamano, T., DiFiore, R., Landers, K., Newbegin, M., and Reiss, E. (2020, Sep.). All the world’s a stage: From monologue to dialogue. As We Speak. . ./aez wiy spiyk/ The Newsletter of the Speech, Pronunciation, and Listening Interest Section.
  • Cusamano, T., Landers, K., Murphy, A., & Newbegin, M. (2018, Apr. 24). Teaching ESL Writers Research Through Eco-Composition, Environmental Responsibility Professional Learning Network Newsletter, 8.
  • Landers, K., & Newbegin, M. (2017, Spring). Lesson plan: Collaborative writing with a mission, PTE Voices Newsletter.

Webinars

  • Hearrell, A., Huidobro, C., Landers, K., & Zew, K. (2022, April 26). Build and expand your profile with Bridge's exam prep micro-credentials. [Webinar].
  • Landers, K. (2020, Aug.). Utilizing Panopto as a teaching tool for ITA courses. [Webinar].
  • Landers, K. & Newbegin, M. (2020, July 22). Innovative solutions to the student mobility crisis: Virtual college success academy. [Presentation for the LU Global Innovator Series Online].
  • Camacho, A., Challenger, B., Landers, K., & Wilson, M. (2020, Apr.). Moving ESL instruction online: Considerations, Experiences, and Advice. [Webinar].
  • Landers, K. & Wilson, M. (2020, Mar.). IELTS Writing for instructors [Webinar].
  • Landers, K. & Wilson, M. (2020, Feb.). An overview of IELTS for instructors [Webinar].
  • Bitsadze, N., & Landers, K.  (2018, Jan.). IELTS USA writing [Webinar]. 

Languages Spoken

English, Spanish