Kasztalska 1

Aleksandra Kasztalska, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of English
Southern Arkansas University

CONTACT INFORMATION
Aleksandra Kasztalska
1960 Columbia Rd 10 E
Magnolia, AR 71753
USA
765-409-9781
akasztalska@saumag.edu

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Linguistics Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 2015

The Role of World Englishes in Supporting International Teaching
Assistants' Professional Identity and Development
Margie Berns (Chair), Becky Brown, Myrdene Anderson, Tony Silva

MA in Linguistics Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 2011

Language Biases in the U.S. Media's Portrayal of Immigrants
Becky A. Brown (Chair), Margie Berns, John D. Sundquist

BA in Psychology and French Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LA 2009

(summa cum laude) David Stafford (Adviser), Dana Kress (Adviser)

ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT

Assistant Professor of English, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, AR 2015present

Intermediate Grammar (ENGL 0183)
Composition I (ENGL 1113)
Composition II (ENGL 1123)
Comparative Grammar (ENGL 3034)
English Language Studies (ENGL 3653)
Second Language Acquisition (ENGL 4013)
Teaching People from Other Cultures (ENGL 4003/5003)

Graduate Instructor, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 20112015

First-Year Composition for International Students (ENGL 106i)
Introduction to Linguistics (LING 201)
Fundamentals of Phonology and Morphology (LING 311)

Instructional Assistant/Tutor, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 20142015

Classroom Communication for International Students (ENGL 620)
Pedagogy and World Englishes (ENGL 629)
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Graduate Teaching Assistant, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 20102011

Introduction to Linguistics (LING 201)
Sociolinguistics (LING 565)

FELLOWSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND GRANTS

Faculty Research Fellowship and Grant, Southern Arkansas University 20162017

Year-long $4000 fellowship and grant to support the development and piloting of a novel composition
curriculum.

Travel Grant, Southern Arkansas University 2016

$800 grant to cover conference expenses at the 2016 meeting of the American Association for Applied
Linguistics.

Purdue Research Foundation Summer Grant, Purdue University 2013

Summer grant to support Ph.D.-level graduate students. One grant awarded in Linguistics each year.

Lynn Fellowship, Purdue University 20092010

One-year-long fellowship, with three additional years of support, offered to incoming Ph.D.-track
students in interdisciplinary graduate programs. One fellowship awarded in Linguistics each year.

Nancy M. Christian Scholarship, Centenary College of Louisiana 20052009

One of four full-ride four-year-long scholarships awarded to incoming freshmen each year.

HONORS AND AWARDS

Recipient, Graduate Teaching Award (Linguistics), Purdue University 2015

Annual award given to select Graduate Teaching Assistants in recognition of outstanding contributions
to teaching and learning. One recipient selected from the Linguistics Program each year.

Recipient, Quintilian Award for Introductory Composition, Purdue University 2014, 2015
Annual recognition granted to instructors of Introductory Composition at Purdue based on their student
evaluations. The recipients evaluations place them in the top 10% of all Composition instructors at
Purdue.

Recipient, Kneale Award in Linguistics & Cultural Analysis, Purdue U. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
At Purdues annual Literary Awardsa campus-wide professional writing competitionreceived a
total of two First-Place awards, three Second Place awards, and five Honorable Mentions.

Finalist, Braj B. Kachru Student Award, International Association of World Englishes 2013
One of three finalists for the Braj B. Kachru Student Award, selected among student applicants
presenting their work at the 2013 meeting of the International Association of World Englishes in
Tempe, AZ.

Recipient, Outstanding Psychology Student Award, Centenary College of Louisiana 2009

Annual recognition awarded to a single student graduating in Psychology, selected based on the
students academic achievements in the field of Psychology during his or her studies at Centenary
College.
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Recipient, International Engagement Award, Centenary College of Louisiana 2009

Annual recognition awarded to a single graduating student, selected based on the students
achievements in promoting intercultural understanding while at Centenary College.

Recipient, Freshman Leadership Award, Centenary College of Louisiana 2005

Annual recognition awarded to a freshman student, selected based on the students academic
achievements and extracurricular initiatives undertaken during the first year of his or her studies at
Centenary College.

MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION

Kasztalska, A. (2016). Examining the Linguistic and Professional Identities of International Teaching
Assistants in the Composition Classroom. Currently being revised and to be resubmitted to the Journal
of Language, Identity & Education.

PUBLICATIONS

Swatek, A. & Kasztalska, A. Write an E-mail to Your Friend in England: Assessment of the Written
English Matura Exam in Poland. International Political/Policy Contexts of Second Language
Writing Assessment collection. (forthcoming)

Kasztalska, A. (2015). Slavic Blood and Flow: Language and Nationalism in Polish Hip Hop. In J.
Pelkey, S. Walsh Matthews, & L.G. Sbrocchi (Eds.), Semiotics 2014: The Semiotics of Paradox (p.
361-371). Ottawa, Canada: Legas.

Kasztalska, A. (2014). The Impact of English on Contemporary Poland. World Englishes, 33(2), 242-
262.

Kasztalska, A & Madrid, E. (2010). La Posie dexpression creole. In Kress, D.A. (Ed.), Anthologie de
posie louisianaise du XIXe sicle (pp. 229-231). Les Editions Tintamarre.

INVITED TALKS AND PANELS

Kasztalska, A. (2017). Making a Transition: From Graduate Student to Faculty Member. Invited to be
one of several panelists at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Applied
Linguistics, Portland, OR.

Kasztalska, A. (2016). World Englishes in the Global Context. Invited online presentation to the
Universidad Externado de Colombia.

PRESENTATIONS

Kasztalska, A., & Swatek, A. (2017). Multilingualism and Native Speaker Bias: the Case of the English
Matura Exam in Poland. Paper to be presented at the Politics of Multilingualism: Possibilities and
Challenges Conference, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Swatek, A, & Kasztalska, A. (2016). Write an E-mail to Your Friend in England: Assessment of the
Written English Matura Exam in Poland. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwest
Association of Language Testers, West Lafayette, IN.

Kasztalska, A. (2016). The Impact of World Englishes on the Professional Identity and Pedagogical
Practice of International Teaching Assistants in the Composition Classroom. Paper presented at the
2016 Meeting of the American Association for Applied Linguistics, Orlando, FL.

Kasztalska, A. (2015). Polish Your English with Donald: Satirical Use of English in Polish Internet
Memes. Paper presented at the 8th Central and Eastern European Media and Communication
Conference, Zagreb, Croatia.

Lam, C., Kasztalska, A., & Li, W. (2014). Language Myths vs. Linguistics. Poster presented at Purdue
Universitys Next Generation Scholars Fair for local middle school students, West Lafayette, IN.

Kasztalska, A. (2014). I Wanted an English Teacher: ITAs Struggles as Non-White, Non-Native

English Speakers. Paper presented at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America,
Seattle, WA.

Kasztalska, A. (2014). Grandmatka and Slavic Blood: Forms and Functions of English in
Contemporary Polish Music. Paper presented at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Semiotic Society
of America, Seattle, WA.

Kasztalska, A. (2014). Soccer, Faith, and Patriotism: Polish Internet Memes as Social and Linguistic
Commentary. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Central States Anthropology Society,
Normal, IL.

Kasztalska, A. (2014). Feel Like At Home: How English is Shaping Poles Identities As Global
Citizens and Non-Native Speakers. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American
Association for Applied Linguistics for Applied Linguistics, Portland, OR.

Kasztalska, A. (2013). Language Play and Linguistic Resistance in Polish Internet Memes. Paper
presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Chicago, IL.

Kasztalska, A. (2013). Why Johnnie Cant Read About Poland: Absence of Central and Eastern
European Voices in Mainstream ELT Discourses. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the
International Association of World Englishes, Tempe, AZ.

Kasztalska, A. (2013). The Role of English in Forging National and Professional Identities in Post-
communist Poland. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of Indiana Teachers of English to
Speakers of Other Languages, Indianapolis, IN.

Kasztalska, A. (2013). Language Play and Glocal Identities in Polish Internet Memes. Paper presented
at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, Dayton, OH.

Kasztalska, A. (2013). Doth Cake Be False and Other (Pseudo)Archaisms in Internet Memes. Paper
presented at the Annual Meeting of the Central States Anthropological Society, St. Louis, MO.

Kasztalska, A. (2012). Why Dont We Let Steves Hat Smoke Gregs Joint? The Humor of Internet
Memes. Paper presented at the AAAI Fall Symposium on Artificial Intelligence of Humor,
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Arlington, VA.

Kasztalska, A. (2012). This is Your Brain on Memes. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the
Semiotic Society of America, Toronto, Canada.

Kasztalska, A. (2012). I Can Has Culture? Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Central States
Anthropological Society, Toledo, OH.

Kasztalska, A. (2011). Language Biases in the US Medias Portrayal of Immigrants. Paper presented at
the Interdisciplinary Graduate Interdisciplinary Symposium at Purdue University, West Lafayette,
IN.

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Developer and Instructor, Magnolia/Columbia County Literacy Council, Magnolia, AR 2016present

Developed curriculum for adult ESL learners at a local literacy organization.
Identified texts and multimedia resources to provide students with authentic English language
content and designed original course content.
Collaborated with others in designing course materials and facilitating class meetings.

Developer and Writer, Lumenus USA Institute for Global Citizenship, Valparaiso Uni. 2013
Developed ESL curriculum for an intensive English language program at Valparaiso
University.
Identified texts and videos to provide students with authentic English language content and
designed original materials to target specific skills in the domains of Speaking/Presenting,
Listening/Viewing, Reading/Interpreting, and Writing/Expressing.
Collaborated with other content developers and regularly reported to project supervisors.

Online Content Developer, Online Writing Lab (OWL), Purdue University 2012
Developed original writing and research resources for students in experimental psychology.
Regularly reported to the project supervisor and created a sample research paper with detailed
explanations of the APA style features and writing conventions. Content available at:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/670/07/
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/670/

Employee & Intern, Intercultural Engagement Office, Centenary College 20072009

Provided clerical support, helped organize intercultural fairs and other events, and was fully
funded to attend the 2007 NAFSA (North American Foreign Student Advisers) Conference in
Minneapolis, MN.
Answered international students inquiries about admissions criteria, funding, and living in the
U.S, and developed related online resources. Content available at:
http://www.centenary.edu/international/faq
http://www.centenary.edu/international/fa

Features Editor and Staff Writer, The Conglomerate, Centenary College 20072009
Attended staff meetings, assigned stories, edited staff submissions, and helped promote the
student-run weekly newspaper.
Created original news, arts, and satirical articles, as well as comics and interviews.
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Received funding to attend the 2009 National College Journalism Convention in San Diego,
CA.

TUTORING

Tutor in the Linguistics Program, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN 20142015

Elements of Linguistics (SLHS 227)
Provided weekly individual tutoring in linguistics to an undergraduate student.
Helped the student grasp key course concepts, identify mistakes on assignments and exams, as
well as develop effective learning strategies.

Conversational Partner, International Center of West Lafayette, West Lafayette, IN 20102015

Oral and written English communication
Tutored a Chinese graduate student who wanted to develop her communicative competence in
English.
Offered feedback on the students pronunciation, grammar, writing, and assisted the student in
adjusting to life and education in the U.S.

Instructor, International Center of West Lafayette, West Lafayette, IN 2012

Introductory French
Taught introductory French through weekly classes that introduced adult students to basic
concepts in French grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, and culture.
Designed class materials and exercises that incorporated authentic language content and media.

Tutor, Literacy Volunteers of America, Shreveport, LA 2008

Oral and written English communication
Tutored two adult immigrants who wanted to improve their communicative competence in
English.
Identified authentic texts and audiovisual materials, and designed handouts as well as exercises
to develop the students pronunciation, writing, grammar, and intercultural competence.

Tutor, Noor Womens Association, Tucson, AZ 2008

Oral and written English communication
Tutored two adult immigrants who wanted to improve their English communicative
competence.
Identified authentic texts and audiovisual materials, and designed handouts as well as exercises
to develop the students pronunciation, writing, grammar, and intercultural competence.

SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP

Digital Content Creator, @LINGUISTICSHULK, Twitter 2013present

Co-moderated a popular Twitter account dedicated to advancing linguistic descriptivism and
tolerance.
Regularly published tweets pertaining to linguistics concepts, presented in a humorous,
accessible format.

Organizer, Shut Up & Write!, Southern Arkansas University 2016present

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Organized weekly meetings for faculty to work on their research and writing.
Encouraged faculty collaboration and networking in a comfortable campus setting.
Offered refreshments sponsored by a small grant from SAU.

Presenter, Youth Writing Festival, Southern Arkansas University 2016

Offered a writing workshop at the annual festival for local middle and high school students.
Developed original materials.

Committee Member, Peer Observation Form Committee, Southern Arkansas University 2016
Worked as part of a faculty team tasked with revising the English Departments peer
observation form.
The developed form was immediately adapted by the English Department.

Instructor, Upward Bound, Southern Arkansas University 20152016

Designed lectures and activities to help prepare local high school students for college writing.
Led regular class meetings with three different groups of students.
Assisted at the annual Learning Fair.

Judge, Youth Writing Festival, Southern Arkansas University 2016

Read and evaluated submissions to the annual festival for local middle and high school
students.
Assisted with participant registration.

Judge, Writing Contest, Southern Arkansas University 2016

Read and evaluated submissions to the annual undergraduate writing contest.

Judge, ESL Writing Contest, Southern Arkansas University 2015

Read and evaluated submissions to the annual ESL writing contest.

President, Purdue Linguistics Association, Purdue University 20122013

Led weekly staff meetings and organized professional development and social events for
Linguistics students and faculty, including technology workshops and research presentations.
Coordinated promotional campaigns and represented the organization at official campus events
Co-Chaired the 2013 Purdue Linguistics Association Student Symposium.

Secretary, Purdue Linguistics Association, Purdue University 20112012

Participated in weekly staff meetings, as well as helped organize professional development and
social events for Linguistics students and faculty.
Represented the organization at official campus events.
Helped organize the annual 2012 Purdue Linguistics Association Student Symposium.

Linguistics Senator, Purdue Graduate Student Government, Purdue University 20102011

Participated in monthly meetings of the Purdue Graduate Student Government, voting on
proposed legislation and representing graduate students in the Linguistics Program.
Took detailed meeting notes on proposed legislation and policy changes, and shared relevant
information with Linguistics students.

Committee Member, Purdue Linguistics Association Student Symposium 2011, 2012, 2013
Served on the Abstract Selection, Promotion, Event, and Housing Committees for the
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Symposiums.
Reviewed abstracts, promoted the Symposium on campus and through social media, supervised
event catering, helped with event set up and tear down, and matched presenters with local hosts.

Secretary, International Society for Cultural Awareness, Centenary College 20072009

Participated in weekly staff meeting and helped organize intercultural awareness events for
Centenary students, faculty, and staff.
Promoted and represented the organization at campus events.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Association for Applied Linguistics 2013present

Society for Linguistic Anthropology 2013present
International Association of World Englishes 2012present
Linguistic Society of America 2011present

LANGUAGES

Polish: native
English: native-like
French: advanced
Spanish: intermediate
Japanese: beginner