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headshot of Sungdai Cho

Sungdai Cho

Director, Center for Korean Studies; Professor, Korean and Linguistics; Professor, Korean and Linguistics; Graduate Director

Center for Korean Studies; The Linguistics Program; Department of Asian and Asian American Studies

Background

Cho's main research areas are (1) Syntax and Morphology, and (2) Language Pedagogy for Korean. In regards to theoretical linguistics, he is particulary interested in causative, passive constructions, honorific expressions in Korean, and how they are placed in the Northeast Linguistic area. In regards to language pedagogy, he is especially interested in National Standards for Learning Languages and Assessment. After receiving his doctorate in Linguistics from the University of Hawaii he taught for seven years at the University of Michigan, Indiana University and Stanford University. He joined Binghamton University in 2000. He has published seven books including two language textbooks through University of Hawaii Press; edited two books with Korea University Press; and has two forthcoming books at Cambridge University Press on Language pedagogy and Korean linguistics. Three additional books are under contract with Cambridge University Press and Routledge. He is a founding director of the Center for Korean Studies at Binghamton University initiated in 2008. He was former chair of Korean Special Interest Group (SIG) at American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), co-chair of the “National Standards for Learning Korean” task force associated with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and SAT Korean chair in Educational Testing Service by College Board for the past ten years. He frequently organizes conferences for Foreign Language Pedagogy and Korean Linguistics. He also hosted the 2008 AATK (American Association of Teachers of Korean), 2008 ICKL (International Circle of Korean Linguistics) conference at Binghamton University and will host the 2018 workshop on “Korean at the Nexus of Northeast Linguistic Area" at Seoul National University.

Education

  • PhD, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
  • MA, SUNY at Buffalo
  • BA, Kon-Kuk University

Research Interests

  • Syntax and Morphology
  • Passive; Causative; Sluicing; Honorifics
  • Language Pedagogy
  • National Standards
  • Assessment

Teaching Interests

  • Structure of Korean
  • Korean Language (All levels)
  • East Asian Linguistics
  • Morphology and Syntax
  • Language, Culture and Society in Korea
  • Pedagogy for East Asian Languages
  • Advanced Korean Linguistics

Awards

  • Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching

Research Profile

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