Faculty

Sprague has an M.A. in teaching English as a second language from Pennsylvania State University, where he focused on second language writing and theories of second language acquisition. He served as an English language fellow sponsored by the U.S. State Department from 2015 to 2018. In that capacity, he traveled through China providing training in teaching methodologies. He has previously lived in Beijing, Chengdu, Shenyang and Kaifeng.

Ben’s research interests include academic listening and speaking skills, integrating technology into language learning, and programs where English as the medium of instruction (EMI). His research on EMI programs included a study into the needs and provisions of language support for such programs in public universities in China for his dissertation.  The results of that study were presented at the 2023 EAP/ESP Conference at the University of Nottingham, Ningbo China. Ben holds a B.S. in Accountancy from the University of Akron and an M.A. with distinction in Teaching English for Academic Purposes from the University of Nottingham (UK), where he served as the Course Representative for his peers.  Before joining Duke Kunshan University, Ben had 12 years of experience teaching at the tertiary level in China, including at several double first-class universities such as East China Normal University.

His professional interests include student assessment, cooperative learning, and pedagogical practices for improving student writing. Before teaching in China, he taught English learners for several years at major universities in the United States. Castrejon has a B.A. in English education and an M.A. in teaching English as a second language with an option in rhetoric and composition from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Email: b.castrejon@dukekunshan.edu.cn Phone: 0512- 36657875 Office: CC2061

Her research focus lies in the intersection among psychology, language learning and teaching. She is especially interested in how the acquisitional processes of Chinese as a second language can be explained from a psychology perspective. Recently, her research interests have expanded into multilingual identities of learners and foreign language teacher education. Chen has a B.A. in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages and a M.A. in linguistics and applied linguistics from Beijing Language and Culture University, and a Ph.D. in second language acquisition, specializing in speech processing and phonetics, from the University of Iowa. She has been teaching and tutoring Chinese at universities and summer intensive programs since 2011. Email: mengtian.chen@dukekunshan.edu.cn Phone: 0512-36657558 Office: CC1082

His primary interest is in utilizing action research and other qualitative research methods to promote good teaching practices and further explore professional development. His teaching interests at Duke Kunshan include English for academic purposes and the teaching of writing. In general, he is strongly interested in promoting the learning of all foreign languages. He has served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Sichuan province and as a U.S Department of State English language fellow and specialist in Chengdu and Beijing. Through these programs, he has worked extensively in teacher development. Tebbe has a B.A. in German from Denison University, an M.A. in German from the University of Cincinnati, and an M.A. in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) from Columbia University, Teachers College.  Email: christopher.tebbe@dukekunshan.edu.cn Phone: 0512-36657820 Office: CC1083

Chang’s research interests focus on the area of pragmatic and effective communication in academic and commercial environments, particularly in a cross-cultural setting.  Chang taught English enhancement and cross-culture communication classes at Shanghai Jiao Tong University for the last couple years. Before that she worked as a risk management consultant and risk communication trainer for companies in Europe, Israel and China.  Chang has a B.A. in communication studies from University of California, Los Angeles and an M.A. in the same discipline from Stanford University.  Email: danielle.chang@dukekunshan.edu.cn Phone: 0512-36658831 Office: CC2071

His primary research interests focus on independent language learning, intercultural communication, language teaching, diglossia and the historical development of written Chinese vernaculars. Snow has a Ph.D in East Asian language and cultures from Indiana University. He has taught English at Nanjing University and, before joining Duke Kunshan, was director of the English Language Center at Shantou University.