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Jason S. Killam

Jason S. Killam

Education

  • Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics, Indiana University, Bloomington, 2011
  • M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics, Indiana University, Bloomington, 2007
  • M.A. in Spanish, University of Texas at Arlington, 2005
  • Teaching Certification, University of Texas at Arlington, 1996
  • B.A. in Spanish and International Business, North Park University, Chicago, 1992

Selected Research

My main areas of research involve Second Language Acquisition and Sociolinguistics. I am interested in syntactic and phonological variation in Spanish, native speaker perception and use of variable structures and how learners acquire these variable aspects of language.

Courses Taught

  • Elementary Spanish I
  • Intermediate Spanish I and II
  • Applied Phonetics
  • Composition and Grammar
  • Professional Spanish
  • Ministry in Spanish
  • Foundations of Latin American Societies
  • Aspects of Language Learning
  • Student Teacher Observation

Advice for Students

Treat language acquisition as skill-building and relationship-building rather than learning facts about the language. Like playing an instrument, playing a sport, dancing, drawing, painting, gardening, etcetera, it is important to make attempts, fail, learn from your mistakes and get better with effort. More importantly, learning a new language is about people. While that may seem obvious, it is easy to get caught up in treating language learning as solely an academic endeavor. Once I focused on learning Spanish to communicate with others in their heart language, it was much more meaningful. I hope it will be for my students, as well.

Selected Publications & Presentations

  • Killam, J., Fafulas, S. y Díaz-Campos, M. (2024). Una historia de la enseñanza del español en los Estados Unidos. Revista Internacional De Lenguas Extranjeras / International Journal of Foreign Languages, (21), 121-138. https://doi.org/10.17345/rile21.3900
  • Killam, J., Madsen, K., Barnes, L., and Gagnier, M. (2023). Using Assessment Data to Ensure Proper Student Placement in Foreign Language Classrooms – Focus on the ACTFL APPT. Pennsylvania Modern Language Association Fall Conference. Seven Springs, Pennsylvania.
  • Killam, J. and Carnevali, J. (2021). PACE and Processing Instruction: Exploring two unique ways to incorporate grammar in the classroom. IUP Spring Methodology Conference on Foreign Language Teaching. Indiana, PA.
  • Killam, J., Wilson, L., Buynack, K., Dibernardo, J. and Huhn, C. (2019). Encouraging Interconnectedness in Your Pennsylvania Community. 2019 Pennsylvania Modern Language Association Fall Conference. State College, Pennsylvania.
  • Huhn, C., Killam, J. and Yamamoto, J. (2019). ACTFL/CAEP Teacher Preparation Programs in PA: Facing Our Future. 2019 Pennsylvania Modern Language Association Fall Conference. State College, Pennsylvania.
  • Killam, J. (2019). Differential Object Marking in Costa Rican Spanish. 2019 Kentucky Foreign Language Conference. Lexington, Kentucky.
  • Díaz-Campos, M. and Killam, J. (2017). Contribuciones de los estudios de percepción en la identificación y la descripción de las variedades diatópicas y diastráticas del español contemporáneo. In Leonor Orozco and Alonso Guerrero Galván (Eds.). Estudios de variación geolingüística. Mexico: Secretaría de Cultura / Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.
  • Killam, J. (2016). Facilitating Language Acquisition Through Input-Processing Principles and Structured Input Activities. IUP Spring Methodology Conference on Foreign Language Teaching. Indiana, PA.
  • Killam, J., Fafulas, S. and Geeslin, K. (2015). Complex syntax in L2 Spanish: Simultaneous narrations of the pear stories film. 34th Second Language Research Forum, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Killam, J. (2015). The Descriptive Power of Definiteness (not Specificity) in the Acquisition of Direct Object Marking in Spanish. 2015 Kentucky Foreign Language Conference. Lexington, Kentucky.
  • Killam, J. (2014). Direct Object Marking and Word Order Processing in Spanish: An Unclear Connection. In Ryan T. Miller et al (Eds.) Selected Proceedings of the 2012 Second Language Research Forum. 101-109. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press.
  • Killam, J. (2014). Mistakenly Encouraging the Faulty First Noun Principle in the Classroom. 2014 American Association for Applied Linguistics Conference. Portland, Oregon.
  • Killam, J. and Fafulas, S. (2014). An exploration of the acquisition of complex syntax in L2 Spanish. 2014 Georgetown University Round Table of Languages and Linguistics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
  • Geeslin, K., García-Amaya, L., Hasler-Barker, M., Henriksen, N. and Killam, J. (2012). The L2 acquisition of variable perfective past time reference in Spanish in an overseas immersion setting. Selected Proceedings of the 14th Hispanic Linguistics Symposium. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press. 246-259.
  • Killam, J. (2012). Direct object marking and word order processing in Spanish: An unclear connection. 31st Second Language Research Forum, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • Díaz-Campos, M. and Killam J. (2012). Assessing Language Attitudes through a Matched-guise Experiment: The Case of Consonantal Deletion in Venezuelan Spanish. Hispania 95(1), 83-102.
  • Geeslin, K., García-Amaya, L., Hasler-Barker, M., Henriksen, N. and Killam, J. (2010). The SLA of Direct Object Pronouns in a Study Abroad Immersion Environment Where Use Is Variable. In C. Borgonovo et al (Eds.) Selected Proceedings of the 12th Hispanic Linguistics Symposium. 246-259. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press.
  • Geeslin, K. García-Amaya, L., Hasler-Barker, M., Henriksen, N. and Killam, J. (2010, October). Variability and the SLA of perfective past time reference in Spanish in an abroad immersion setting. 14th Hispanic Linguistics Symposium, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
  • Fafulas, S. and Killam J. (2010, March). Sociolinguistic Predictors of Use of the Present Simple and Present Progressive Forms in the Spanish of Caracas, Venezuela. Seventh Annual Graduate Student Conference on Luso-Brazilian and Hispanic Literature, Linguistics and Culture, Bloomington, Indiana.
  • Díaz-Campos, M. and Killam, J. (2008, November). Assessing language attitudes through a matched-guise experiment: The case of consonantal deletion in Venezuelan Spanish. New Ways of Analyzing Variation 37. Houston, Texas.
  • Geeslin, K., García-Amaya, L., Henriksen, N., Hasler, M. and Killam, J. (2008, October). The development of variation of clitic pronouns among second language learners of Spanish in an abroad immersion program in León, Spain. 12th Hispanic Linguistic Symposium. Laval University, Quebec, Canada.
  • Killam, J. (2008). Differential Object Marking (DOM) in Spanish: Variable use of the Personal ‘A’ marker with Direct Objects. Fifth Annual Graduate Student Conference on Luso-Brazilian and Hispanic Literature, Linguistics and Culture, Bloomington, Indiana.

Hobbies/Interests

  • Music – playing instruments, thinking in song lyrics
  • Sports – triathlons, disc golf, if something spins, I’m definitely in
  • DIY – figuring out how to make it, maintain it, fix it

 

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