My primary research area is second language acquisition (SLA). More specifically, I am interested in how second language learners develop listening comprehension proficiency, especially the cognitive processes by which this skill becomes automatic. I am also interested in the application of complexity (complex systems/dynamical systems) theory to the developing language system and how this perspective changes the methodological tools we use in SLA. I use both classroom- and laboratory-based experiments in my research in order to improve our theoretical understanding of how languages are learned and to offer practical suggestions for pedagogy.
