Leslie Grant is an Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching & Learning in the College of Education at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She teaches courses in the Linguistically Diverse Education Program and the Teacher Education Program. Leslie received her Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Northern Arizona University in 1994. The following year she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Educational Testing Service. Then, from 1995-2004, she was a faculty member in the MA TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) in the Department of English Language and Literature at Central Michigan University. She joined the Linguistically Diverse Education Program at UCCS in 2004.

Ph.D. - Applied Linguistics with an emphasis in Teaching English as a Second Language, 
Northern Arizona University - 1994
Dissertation: "Reliability and Validity of the Arizona Classroom Teacher Spanish Proficiency Exam"

M.A. - Bilingual Multicultural Education, 
Northern Arizona University - 1989

B.S. - Secondary Education, Spanish major 
University of Wisconsin at Madison - 1985

Bilingual/Bicultural Certificate,
Wisconsin at Madison - 1985

Graduate Courses

CURR 5700 Introduction to ESL/ Multicultural Education

CURR 5701 Methods and Materials for ESL/Multicultural Education

CURR 5702 Literacy for Linguistically Different Learners

CURR 5703 Methods, Materials, & Theories of Assessment for ELLs

CURR 5704 Practicum in ESL/Multicultural Education

CURR 5705 Capstone: Second Language Acquisition

LEAD 5700 Introduction to Research and Statistics

CURR 5090 Research Project

T ED 4800/5800 ESL for Educators

T ED 3010 Early Diversity Practicum

Fall and Spring Field Experience

Undergraduate Courses

T ED 3010 Early School Diversity Practicum

T ED 4600 Field Supervision Elementary School Experience

T ED 4630 Practicum Elementary Student Teaching

Introduction to Linguistics

Pedagogical Grammar

Modern Grammar

English for Academic Purposes (Grammar, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Oral Proficiency)

Previous Job Experience

• Site Professor, Otero Elementary School
  2007
• Central Michigan University
  • Professor, Department of English Language and Literature
    1995 - 2004
  • Program Coordinator, English as a Second Language Program
    1997- 1998
• Instructor, English for Specific Purposes, Delphi-Saginaw Steering Systems
  1996
• Postdoctoral Fellow, ETS TOEFL
  1994 - 1995
• Instructor, English as a Second Language Program, Mercer County Community College
  1994
• Instructor, Graduate level Research & Testing, Chihuahua, Mexico
  1993 - 1994
• Northern Arizona University
  • Associate Director of Special Language Programs/ESL Teaching
    1990 - 1994
  • English Instructor
    1991 - 1993
  • Spanish Instructor
    1988 - 1992

Publications

Journals

• “Culturally Responsive Classrooms through Arts Integration.” (with N. Reif). 2010. Journal of Praxis in Multicultural Education, 5(1), 100-115.
• “Multilingualism in the United States: Where We’ve Been and Where We Are.” 2009. Black History Bulletin, 72(1), 33-40.
• “A Teacher-Verification Study of Speaking and Writing Prototype Tasks for a New TOEFL.” 2004. (with A. Cumming, P. Mulcahy-Ernt, and D. Powers). Language Testing, 21, 2. (38 pp).
• “Exploring Multiple Profiles of Learners’ Writing Proficiency.” 2003. (with S. Jarvis, D. Bikowski, and D. Ferris). Journal of Second Language Writing 12, 4. (26 pp).
• “Using Computer-Tagged Linguistic Features to Describe L2 Writing Differences.” 2000 (with A. Ginther). Journal of Second Language Writing 9, 2. (22 pp).
• “Testing the Language Proficiency of Bilingual Teachers: Arizona’s Spanish Proficiency Test.” 1997. Language Testing 14, 1, (23 pp).
• "Reliability of a Computerized Scoring Routine for an Open-Ended Task." (with Joan Jamieson and Nora Berbisada). 1993. System, 21, 3 (40 pp.).
• "Success, Failures and Dropouts in Computer-Assisted Language Lessons." (with Joan Jamieson and Nora Berbisada). 1993. CALL Journal, 4, 1 (19 pp.).

Book Chapters & Encyclopedia Contributions/Proceedings

• “Tests.” In press. In C. Chapelle (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
• “Structuring Online Discussions to Promote Meaningful Exchanges.” (with B. Frye). 2010. In L. Gómez Chova, D. Martí Belenguer, and I. Candel Torres (Eds.), Proceedings of International Technology, Education, and Development Conference. Valencia, Spain: IATED.
• “The Influence of Proficiency, Language Background, and Topic on the Production of Grammatical Form and Error on the Test of Written English.” 1997. (with Ginther) In A. Huhta, V. Koheonen, L. Kurki-Suonio, and S. Luoma (eds),
• Current Developments and Alternatives in Language Assessment: Proceedings of LTRC 96. Jyvaskyla: Authors and Centre for Applied Language Studies.
• “New Technologies in Language Assessment.” 1996. (with L. Frase, J. Burnstein, and A. Ginther) Annual Review of Applied Linguistics.
• "Developing Computer-Assisted Language Lessons." (with Joan Jamieson and Nora Berbisada). 1992. New Ways in Teaching Reading. Alexandria, VA: TESOL.

Research Reports

• “A Teacher-Verification Study of Speaking and Writing Prototype Tasks for a NewTOEFL.” 2005. (with A. Cumming, P. Mulcahy-Ernt, and D. Powers). Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service.
• “Computer Analysis of the TOEFL Test of Written English.” 1999. (with L. Frase, J. Faletti, and A. Ginther). Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service.
• “A Review of the Academic Needs of Native English-speaking College Students in the United States.” 1996. (with A. Ginther). Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service.
• Test Projects Focus on Grammar 5: An Integrated Skills Course Assessment Pack. 2006. (with J. Jamieson, C. Chapelle, B. Gray, X. Jiang, H. Liu, and K. Zimmerman). White Plains, NY: Pearson Education.
• Longman English Interactive Assessments. 2002. (with Jamieson, J., C. Chapelle, L. Grant, Y. Acension, and P. Garcia). NY: Pearson Education.
• Newsletter “An Inside Look at Creating a Video-Formatted Listening Comprehension Test (with Karol Walchak). August 2000. MITESOL Messages.
• ERIC Document “Testing Bilingual Teachers' Language Proficiency: The Case of Arizona.” 1995. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service).

Presentations

International & National

• “Structuring Online Discussions to Promote Meaningful Exchanges.” (with B. Frye). International Technology, Education, and Development Conference. Valencia, Spain. March, 2010.
• “Incorporating the Arts into Content Area Instruction .” (with Nancy Reif, Linda Button, and Greg Button). Mini-symposium presented at National Association of Multicultural Education, Denver, Colorado, October, 2009.
• “Structuring Online Discussions in Teacher Training Programs: A Look at Student Postings and Student Perceptions
• .” American Association of Applied Linguistics, Denver, Colorado, March, 2009.
• “TESOL Practicum Online as a Reflective Model.” (with Michael Brunn). American Association of Applied Linguistics, Costa Mesa, California. April, 2007.
• “Shaping Assessments from Current ESL Practices .” Invited plenary speaker for Michigan TESOL. Mt. Pleasant, MI, October, 2006.
• “Exploring Multiple Profiles of Learners' Writing Proficiency.” (with Scott Jarvis). American Association of Applied Linguistics, Arlington, Virginia. March, 2003.
• “Making Use of Teacher Expertise for Placement Test Validation.” American Association of Applied Linguistics, Salt Lake City, Utah. April, 2002.
• “Investigating Topic Effect on Second Language Writing.” TESOL Convention, St. Louis, Missouri. February-March, 2001.
• “Incorporating Video into Listening Comprehension Testing.” (with Karol Walchak). TESOL Convention, St. Louis, Missouri. February-March, 2001.
• “A Comparison of Textbooks Written for L2 Writers and Texts Written by L2 Writers.” (with Karol Walchak). American Association of Applied Linguistics, St. Louis, Missouri, February, 2001.
• “Tutoring, Training, and Teaching: Writing Center Work as TESOL Practicum.” (with MaryAnn Crawford and Shinji Okumura). Symposium on Second Language Writing, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, September, 2000.
• “Computerized Tagging of L2 Writing Differences.” (with April Ginther). American Association of Applied Linguistics, Seattle, Washington, March, 1998.
• “The Influence of Proficiency, Language Background, and Topic in the Production of Grammatical Form and Error on the TWE.” (with April Ginther). Language Testing Research Colloquium, Tampere, Finland, July, 1996.
• “Bilingualism.” Invited presentation for Northern Arizona University, Office of International Studies’ summer program for French teachers of English as a Foreign Language. Program sponsored by Council for International Educational Exchange. July, 1996.
• “Current State Requirements for Testing Bilingual Teachers’ Language
• Proficiency.” TESOL Convention, Chicago, Illinois. March, 1996.
• “TOEFL 2000 Test Design: Research and Development.” (with J. Carson, F. DeVincenzi, D. Eignor, A. Ginther, J. Jamieson, M. Schedl, and C. Taylor). TESOL Convention, Chicago, Illinois. March, 1996.
• "Oral Proficiency Assessment: Multidimensional Considerations." American Association for Applied Linguistics, Long Beach, California. March, 1995.
• "Testing Bilingual Teachers' Language Proficiency: The case of Arizona." Language Testing Research Colloquium, Long Beach, California. March, 1995.
• "Implementing an Integrated, Culture-based Language Program." (with Randi Reppen). TESOL Convention, Baltimore, Maryland. March 1994. Earlier version presented at NAFSA Region II Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona. November, 1993.
• "Successes, Failures and Dropouts in Computer-Assisted Language Lessons" (with Joan Jamieson and Nora Berbisada). TESOL Convention, Vancouver, Canada. March, 1992.
• "Computer-Adaptive Language Lessons: Bases for Changes" (with Joan Jamieson and Nora Berbisada). TESOL Convention, New York City, New York. March, 1991.

Regional

• “An Investigation of Teaching Innovation: The Evolution of Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) and Enhanced Technology Use in Middle School Classrooms .” (with Catherine Kelly and Barbara Frye). Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, October, 2009.
• “Fostering Meaningful Online Discussions.” (with Michael Brunn). Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association. Sun Valley, Idaho, October, 2006.
• “Impartial/Unbiased Observers: Critiquing our Pedagogies for Effective Change.” (with Michael Brunn). Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association. Sun Valley, Idaho, October, 2006.
• “Putting your Entire Program Online: A Panel Discussion.” (with Michael Brunn, Jana Jo Watt, Virginia Lindley-Brunn, and Yvonne Bogard). Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, October, 2005.
• “Studying the Practices of a Successful ESL Teacher.” (with Michael Brunn). Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, October, 2005.
• “Variation in Highly Rated Timed Writings.” (with Scott Jarvis). Midwest Association of Language Testers, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, October, 2003.
• “Teacher Validation of TOEFL Prototype Test Task Performance.” Midwest Association of Language Testers, Oak Brook, Illinois, January, 2002.
• “Student Perceptions of a Video-Based Listening Comprehension Test.” (with Karol Walchak and Elif Sebnem Sari). Midwest Association of Language Testers, Ann Arbor, Michigan, May, 2001.
• “Oral Dialogue Journals.” Region I MITESOL, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. May 1996.
• "Second Language Reading of University Spanish Students." LASSO Conference, Tucson, Arizona. October, 1992.
• "Developing Adaptive Computer-Assisted Language Learning Lessons" (with Joan Jamieson and Nora Berbisada). Rocky Mountain Regional TESOL Conference, Phoenix, Arizona. January, 1990.

State

• “Building Cultural Experiences into Teacher Training.” (with Stephanie Dewing). Colorado TESOL, Denver, Colorado, November, 2010.
• “Podcasts and Vodcasts for Teacher Training.” (with Yvonne Bogard). Colorado TESOL, Denver, Colorado, November, 2009.
• “A Transformational View of Technology in the 21st Century in Teacher Education.” (with Linda Button, Yvonne Bogard, and Cindy Brown). Colorado Learning and Teaching with Technology Conference (COLTT). Boulder, Colorado, August, 2009.

   

• “Too Much Information? Let's Capture Student Interest Through Technology in the New Millennium.” (with Linda Button, Yvonne Bogard, Eileen Bicking, and Cindy Brown). Conference on Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship in the Third Millennium University. Denver, Colorado, March, 2009.
• “Options for Online Teacher Training.” (with Yvonne Bogard). Colorado TESOL, Denver, Colorado, November, 2008.
• “An Integrated Research-based Academic and Situational Curriculum.” (with Carole de Casal and Yvonne Bogard). Colorado TESOL, Denver, Colorado, November, 2007.“Promoting Cohesive Groups and Meaningful Discussions Online.” (with Michael Brunn). Colorado TESOL, Denver, Colorado, October, 2006.
• “Challenges and Practices of Developing Online Programs.” (with Michael Brunn, Virginia Lindley-Brunn, and Yvonne Bogard). Colorado TESOL. Denver, Colorado, November, 2005.
• “Describing Effective Instruction in Elementary School ESL.” (with Michael Brunn). Colorado TESOL. Denver, Colorado, November, 2005.
• “Placement Testing on the Computer: Issues and Obstacles.” (with Hui-Mei Fan). Michigan TESOL. Ann Arbor, Michigan, October, 2003.
• “Devising a Program-Specific Holistic Writing Rubric.” (with Susan Dyste). Michigan TESOL. Auburn Hills, Michigan, October, 2002.
• “Asking ESL Teachers about Student Performances on TOEFL Prototype Tasks.” Michigan TESOL. Ann Arbor, Michigan, October, 2001.
• “Practical Classroom Research for ESL Teachers.” Invited presentation at the Region I MITESOL meeting. Saginaw Valley State University, Saginaw, Michigan, February, 2001.
• “The Role of Student Feedback in Test Evaluation.” (with Karol Walchak). Michigan TESOL, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October, 2000.
• “Using Video to Test Listening Comprehension.” (with Karol Walchak). Invited presentation at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, March, 2000.
• “Grammar in Context: Increasing Metalinguistic Awareness in the English Classroom.” (with Peter Fries and William Spruiell). Michigan Council of Teachers of English, Lansing, Michigan, October, 1999.
• “Updating Listening Comprehension Testing.” (with Karol Walchak). Michigan TESOL, Ann Arbor, Michigan, October, 1999.
• “Describing L2 Students’ Writing at Different Proficiency Levels.” Michigan TESOL, Lansing, Michigan, October, 1998.
• “Placement Testing at the University Level.” (with Elizabeth Berriman, Susan Dyste, and Lisa Rumisek). Invited presentation for Michigan Association for Foreign Student Affairs, Ann Arbor, Michigan, March, 1998.
• “Assessing the English Skills of ESL Learners.” (with Susan Dyste). Michigan TESOL, Ann Arbor, Michigan, September, 1997.
• "Can a Computer Score Students' Guided Writing?" (with Nora Berbisada). AZ-TESOL Conference, Tucson, Arizona. March 1991.
• "Developing Biliteracy Through Predictable Books" (with Randi Gilbert and Gloria Trillo). Arizona Association of Bilingual Education (AABE), Flagstaff, Arizona. March 1989.

Local and Professional Development

• “Working with Young ELLs.” Professional Development Workshop on Culturally Responsive Teaching at Aurora Public Schools. Aurora, Colorado, September, 2009.
• “Working with Second Language Writers in the Writing Center.” Invited presentation given to the Writing Center staff at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. November, 2007.
• “Applying for PhD Programs (and enjoying it).” Invited to participate in the an English graduate student forum. Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, October, 2002.
• “Budgeting Your Time.” Invited presentation for the International Teaching Assistant Program (ITAP). Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, August, 2001.
• “Using Test Information for Outcomes Assessment: Focus on Locally Developed Tests” (with Marcy Taylor, and MaryAnn Crawford). Presentation invited as part of the Assessment Testing Workshop, Central Michigan University, January, 2000.
• “Grammar Instruction: How Different Philosophies and Different Teaching Strategies Fit Together.” (with Peter Fries and William Spruiell). Invited presentation given for Mt. Pleasant School District, April, 1999.
• “International Students and Academic Concerns.” (with Peter Fries, William Spruiell, and Karol Walchak). Open forum designed to discuss issues that faculty across campus have with respect to international students. Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, May, 1998.
• “Understanding the International Student: Academic Concerns.” (with Peter Fries, William Spruiell, and Karol Walchak). Invited presentation for a Diversity Grant Workshop, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, February, 1998.
• “Teaching International Students: Opportunities and Challenges.” (part of a invited panel of speakers). Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, February, 1997.

Awards & Recognition

• Promotion and Tenure. Awarded promotion and tenure at UCCS.
  Fall 2008
• Promotion.  Awarded promotion to rank of Professor.
  Spring 2003
• Faculty Research and Creative Endeavors (FRCE) Premier Display grant. Awarded grant for presentation “Making Use of Teacher Expertise for Placement Test Validation.”
  Spring 2002
• Faculty Research and Creative Endeavors (FRCE) Premier Display grant.  Awarded grant for presentation “Investigating Topic Effect on Second Language Writing.”
  Spring 2001
• Faculty Research and Creative Endeavors (FRCE) grant. Awarded grant for research “Investigating the Effect of Topic on Second Language Writing.”
  Spring 2000
• Faculty Teaching and Program Development (FTPD) grant. Awarded grant for development of video-based test of listening comprehension.
  Spring 2000
• Promotion and Tenure. Awarded promotion to rank of Associate Professor and tenure.
  1999 & 2000
• Merit Pay Increase. Selected for merit pay increase for teaching.
  Spring 1998
• Outstanding Professor for Professor Appreciation Day. Selected by  Panhellenic Council for teaching excellence.
  Spring 1997
• Outstanding Faculty. Selected by Mortar Board for teaching excellence.
  Fall 1996

University

• Dean's Review Committee (RPT)
  2010 - present
• Dean's Search Committee
  2010 - present
• Academic Program Review Committee
  2009 - present
• Diversity Committee
  2010 - present
• Technology & Innovations Committee
  2008 - 2010
• Search Committee Chair for department tenure-track position
  2009 - 2010
• Assessment Committee
  2008 - 2009
• Search Committee Chair for department tenure-track position
  2008 - 2009

Community

• Member, Pikes Peak English Language Acquisition Directors' Forum

State /National

• Member, Higher Education Linguistically Diverse Education (HELDE)
• Member, Editorial Board for Pedagogy
  1997-2006
• Reviewer for Language Learning
  2005-present
• Program chair for Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association (NRMERA) annual conference in Sun Valley, ID
  2006
• Coordinator for TOEFL Policy Council Award for International Participation at TESOL (TESOL Awards Standing Committee, TESOL Organization).
  1998-2001
• Chair for the TESOL Fellowship for Graduate Study (TESOL Organization)
  1996-1998
• Member of the English as a Second Language Content Advisory Committee (Michigan Department of Education)
  1998-2000
• Member of the Ad Hoc Referent Committee (Michigan Department of Education)
  1997