Kris Lewis
kristinablewis.bsky.social
Kris Lewis
@kristinablewis.bsky.social
Applied Linguist, TESOL educator, Asst Prof, they/them, nonbinary queer neurodivergent educator
**Opinions are my own, I do not speak for my employer**
Pinned
I'm excited to finally be able to share this article, just published in TESOL Quarterly, where I explore the possibilities of inviting (student) teachers to create and collaboratively analyze memes as a way to reflect on their (practicum) teaching experiences and identity development.
Using Memes to Facilitate TESOL Student Teachers' Reflections on Identity
While reflection on one's own developing language teacher identity is a valuable experience for TESOL student teachers, written reflections and concerns about evaluation make it challenging to engage...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Today, some of my students did a fabulous job teaching their classmates—students studying English, creative writing, and technical writing—how to use em dashes and en dashes correctly and effectively.
October 21, 2025 at 8:26 PM
It sure is some sort of mind trip to go from thinking you're underpaid just because you're in an undervalued department (still true) to realizing that you're also significantly underpaid compared to folks hired after you in that same department.
Tell me again how my department cares about DEIJ?
October 9, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Hey, look: my university is hiring in TESOL/bilingual ed.
But because this position is in the school of ed (not arts & sciences), you'd make more money and have significantly better resources than me. Fun times.
Assistant/Associate Professor of Bilingual-Bicultural Education | Jobs | Illinois State
Search Illinois State job listings and apply for open positions that match your skills and career goals.
jobsearch.illinoisstate.edu
October 9, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Kris Lewis
"Intentionally or not, Trump is adding weight to this burden that women are already carrying as family health managers." - my thoughts in this terrific piece from @bcrodriguez.bsky.social for @19thnews.org on the gendered burdens of attacks on Tylenol and vaccines.

19thnews.org/2025/09/chil...
Trump’s vision for childhood vaccines could hurt working moms the most
“Intentionally or not, Trump is adding weight to this burden that women are already carrying as family health managers."
19thnews.org
September 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Kris Lewis
📢Call for Proposals
ITBE 2025 Virtual Fall Workshop
💠Theme: Evolving Voices in TESOL: Advocating for our Profession and our Learners
🗓 Date: October 18, 2025
📍 Location: Virtual (Zoom)
⏱ Submission deadline: Tuesday, September 2, 2025
👉 See more www.itbe.org/2025_fall_vi...
#ILTESOL #ITBE
August 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
New pub alert: How do Russian language learning materials (textbooks and a digital app) for verbs of motion align (or not) with principles of second language acquisition? Showcasing the thesis work of my first MA student, Elena Petrova. Part of a special issue on teaching Russian verbs of motion.
A Pedagogical Analysis of How Unprefixed Verbs of Motion are Presented in Instructional Materials for Beginner Russian Language Learners
It is well-known that verbs of motion (VoM) are quite challenging for Russian language learners. We analyze four VoM-specific pedagogical materials (three textbooks and one mobile application) for their usefulness in supporting second language acquisition and the development of new thinking-for-speaking (TFS) patterns in beginner-level Russian language learners. Focusing on directionality, scaffolding, comprehensible input, the use of visuals, and communicative activities, we highlight how these materials lay a foundation for understanding VoM but are not sufficient for helping learners fully develop new TFS patterns. We pose recommendations for future research, teaching, learning, and materials development in the area of Russian VoM.
scholarsarchive.byu.edu
August 5, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Glad to live in Illinois today.
Illinois has enshrined protections to meet this very moment.

In a time of increasing overreach and hateful rhetoric, it's more important than ever to reaffirm our commitment to the rights and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community.

You have a home here always.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court upholds a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in a huge setback for transgender rights.
June 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by Kris Lewis
I have a new blog post that tries to lay out just what is at stake with Trump's attempted fascist takeover of higher education. Check it out and share widely!

educationallinguist.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/t...
This Is How a Democracy Dies—One University at a Time
During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump didn’t exactly hide what he was planning. He said he’d take control of higher education—and in the 100+ days since his second inauguration, he’s been …
educationallinguist.wordpress.com
May 13, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Reposted by Kris Lewis
It's that time of year so porting a 🧵from the Bad Place

Scaffold your teaching evaluations. Scaffold your teaching evaluations. Scaffold your teaching evaluations. 1/17
April 29, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The best part about having my SLA students write annotated bibliographies on topics related to L2 learning is that I get to read some of the the cool articles they find... so much interesting work folks are doing!
April 22, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Kris Lewis
i think people are missing the forest for the trees with this one. RFK Jr wants complete centralized knowledge of every American's health in order to exact control on what medications are allowed and in order to fabricate "evidence" for each and all of his nonsense theories.
Gun registry? No. Autism registry? Yes?

Fuck ALL the way off.
April 22, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Reposted by Kris Lewis
Bring back *everyone* who was sent from the U.S. to CECOT in El Salvador. *No one* should be sent there. ALL their rights were violated. ALL of them should come home.
April 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Kris Lewis
Happy Trans Day of Visibility!

✊ trans rights are human rights. full stop. #TDOV #tdov2025
March 31, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I have often wished for these kinds of mentors, both when I was a doctoral student and now as an assistant prof. Now, I'm trying to balance protecting myself (sometimes from the very same folks who *should* be protecting me) and doing better by those coming up behind me.
I wish all scholars were afforded the same kinds of protection that I was extended as a master's & doctoral student, then as an assistant professor.

At each level, there was one mentor who was determined that I was going to succeed. They weren't always gentle w/ me, but they shielded me from a lot.
March 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Heading to #AAAL2025 later this week... Santoi Wagner and I will present preliminary CA work on mentor praise in post-observation meetings with novice teachers: "Beyond 'great': Expanded positive assessment sequences in post-observation meetings." Saturday, 10:10-10:40 in Tower Court B.
March 18, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Mid-tenure review portfolio: submitted.

If US higher education doesn't entirely implode in the next couple years, I think I've got a shot.
March 12, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Today's unexpected #professorlife email: A county parole officer writing to confirm that someone had completed community service hours in a community ESL class I supervised last semester. Except, I've never heard of this person and my signature was clearly forged. Oof.
March 12, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Reposted by Kris Lewis
ISO Language teachers for gender justice

Are you a language teacher who wants to learn more about gender justice & collaboratively make free resources to support the teaching and learning of nonbinary ways of doing languages other than English?

Interest form: bit.ly/GenderJustPL...

Please share!
February 28, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I'm three days back to full-time professor life from medical leave and already feeling cynical, disrespected, and potently undervalued in my work... not just nationally, but locally, on my campus and in my department. It's hard to express how much I love this work and hate it at the same time.
March 5, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Reposted by Kris Lewis
ISO Trans/nonbinary people to hire as (non-English) language experts

Are you trans and know a language other than English? I'm looking for people who are in-community and want to collaboratively develop free language learning materials.

Interest form: bit.ly/TLangExpert

Please share!
February 26, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Eighteen years ago, between graduating from college and starting to teach English abroad, I learned that I carry a genetic mutation that greatly increases my lifetime risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer.

Five days from now, I'm scheduled for a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy.
January 16, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Reposted by Kris Lewis
I've wanted to write something about academic accommodations for a while, and in the absence of other inspiration, I'm just going to put it here.

I have a few points to make but first a bit of context about me. I'm profoundly deaf in my right ear. Basically can't hear anything in it. 1/
June 15, 2024 at 9:06 PM
I didn't know how neurodivergent I was when I was writing my dissertation, and that made it so much harder. But what did help, even in the not-yet-knowing, was trying to be okay with what I could do and consider it "enough" (I just can't think/focus/write 8 hours a day, even if I'm on fellowship).
December 31, 2024 at 10:10 PM